GOOD MORNING, ASHTON

With Andrew working from  sun-up to sun-down  to work full-time AND build us a house, we take advantage of every opportunity to be together. 

About 6am Saturday morning, Andrew needed to drive to Ashton and pick up a skid steer to work on our lot. I dragged my behind out of bed to accompany him. 

Now that's love. 

We watched the sunrise and talked about our ideas for the house. 

{Upon seeing this picture, Andrew laughed and said: You look all pretty and I look like a...hick! I made sure to give him a kiss for saying I was pretty. I mean, that's definitely a behavior I want to encourage for the future. And just so you know ladies, positive reenforcement when training husbands works like a charm.}

The skid steer was at this old house that Andrew is doing a major remodeling overhaul on for work. 

Old houses have such charm. Especially when there's a red barn in the back. Have I mentioned that I love red barns?

This particular house also has quite the view. 

Andrew's always excited to show me his work projects. 

And I'm always happy to see them!

So he gave me the grand tour. 

The place is stripped to the barest of bones. 

There's something strangely beautiful about aged wood and plaster.

And early morning sun streaming through it all. 

There's also something about a construction site that makes me wistful somehow. 

It may be because I was around them so much as a kid.

Just the smell brings me back every time. 

Then we hooked the skid steer up to the truck and headed back to Rexburg.  Andrew had a long day of digging ahead of him. 

THE STORY OF MY LIFE

I saw a tractor. Then, I took fifty-million pictures.

The end.

SNAPSHOT SATURDAY {speed bumps}

Speed bumps 'round these parts are removed during winter months for easier snow removal, and then returned to the roads for summer.

This means, that for the majority of the year, that posted sign in our neighborhood is lying. No speed bump.

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That is, until today.

Thanks Becca and Andrew, for being willing to take one for the team.

SPRING BREAK IN THE TETONS

Driving through miles of potato fields, and were it not for fences, there would be no way to tell where earth ended and sky began. Everything around us was white, white, white.

The falling, blowing snow made driving slightly difficult on this lonely highway.

We soon came across a little car that had slid off the road and gotten stuck in a snowbank. Its occupants were attempting to dig themselves out with snowboards. 

We pulled them out only to realize their car was too damaged from the accident to drive. We left them in the hands of a tow truck. 

See the sign peeking out of the top of the pile? I thought this might give you an idea how much snow there was once we reached the mountains. 

After an hour drive, we reached the Grand Targhee Ski Resort in...er...Wydaho, U.S.A.

Being the first day of my spring break, Andrew got work off for some half-price snowboarding. 

I ask, what could be better than combining snowboarding with half-price? I know not. 

We enjoyed thirty inches worth of new powder...on deserted slopes. People must have assumed the snow would be lousy this late in the season. 
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Boy, were they wrong. 

Most snowboarders lead with their left foot. We discovered I should be leading with my right, and changed my bindings accordingly. A a result, my progress was exponential! I keep dreaming about going back as soon as humanly possible. 

We came across some folks who preferred an alternative way of enjoying the snowfall. 

This gal, moments after taking the picture, rolled around in a fresh snow-pile before jumping back in the pool. 

Driving home at the end of the day, we came across others who weren't deterred by the spring storm. 

Spud farmers, up to their ankles in mud, prepare for the fast-approaching planting season. 

As we descended back into Rexburg, I couldn't help think of those celebrating a wild spring break on beaches in Florida. And here I was, perfectly content to enjoy the effects of a snowstorm on spud fields with my love, from the middle seat of a Dodge pick-up...ha!

FOCAL POINT FRIDAY--purple, silky bra

The focal points of the week...best and worst...

WORST:

Tuesday
*(7:30 a.m.) I catapult out of bed at about the time I am supposed to be arriving at work.

*(10:15 a.m.) A few minutes before the superintendent and the entire school board parade through my classroom, I spill my berry breakfast smoothie down the front of my blouse and favorite pair of pants.

*(2:35p.m.) I walk exhausted into the restroom where I catch sight of myself in the mirror. I am stained, looking exceptionally tired...and in the early morning rush...obviously forgot to apply makeup.

BEST:

Friday
*Driving home from work today, Erickson's GMC electronic sign flashed a beautiful 67 degree  temperature.

boo-yah.

Especially since it snowed just a few days ago...




Ummm....So-So

Today
Anyone missing a purple silky bra? About a size C cup?

I found it. On the flagpole at the elementary school this morning.

Yes, your joke was very funny. But it had to be removed before my two little flag bearers arrived and became scarred for life.

My students lead a very sheltered, Rexburgian existence, you know.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

1.)

I got a haircut last week. {side view}

I think it's pretty shnazzy. {front view}

shnazzy (adjective)

snazzy, spiffy, cool with some sophistication, a snazzier update on snappy + jazzy 

2.)

Thrift stores are the BOMB. Brand-new $30 belt from American Eagle {with the tags still on it} for one dollar.

     bomb (noun)

1. (before 1995) Something really bad; a failure 

2. (after 1995) Something considered excellent and/or the best (uses modifier "the")

Once, I was sitting in a ward council meeting when the young Sunday school president used the phrase "bomb diggity." The juxtaposition of that phrase in such a serious setting, plus the fact that none of the old, balding brethren surrounding me even batted an eyelid, made me very, very happy. 

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     bomb diggity (adjective)

totally the awesomest, no lie

I encourage all of you to use it in a sentence this week and report back to me. 

3.)

It's still winter in Rexburg. In case you were wonderin'. 

4.)

MMmmmm...There's nothing like leftover pizza for breakfast...

Please tell me I'm not the only one. 

     left·o·ver  [left-oh-ver]
noun Usually, leftovers. food remaining uneaten at the end of a meal, especially saved for later use. Like microwaved for breakfast the next day.

5.)

On a clear day, this is the view of the Tetons from where I work.

     work [wurk] 
(noun) A worldwide slave labour organization run by *The Man. A place where people have to go everyday to get paid. 

     *The Man [th uh man]
(noun) The Man is the head of "the establishment" put in place to "bring us down." The Man wields power and seeks to oppress.  In some cases, it's a male Caucasian between the ages of 60-70, with a buzzed head, and an unnatural love for the sound of his own voice. 

6.)

I thought this sunset from the other night was the bomb diggity. So I thought I'd share. 


That's all. Aren't you glad we had this talk?

GRADUATION ALBUM

Hello, Andrew. That is certainly a weird hat you've got on there.

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After years of hard work an sacrifice...

Andrew is the first college graduate in his family!

I cried through the entire thing. This was the result of several factors:

1.) I was proud beyond words.

2.)I was miserably feverish.

3.)I had insomnia from 1-4 that morning and was horribly sleep deprived.

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All of these contributed to one very emotional me.

This was the first graduating class to hold commencement in the newly built BYU-Idaho Center. In case this picture doesn't illustrate it, the place is HUGE.

Its size is comparable to the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, which seats 21,000 people. The BYU-Idaho Center is the same design on a slightly smaller scale. It only seats 15,000.

The other half of Andrew's waving, screaming fan club.

After commencement, the College of Physical Science and Mathematics moved to the Taylor Chapel for convocation.

Beforehand, Andrew chats with his good friend, Dave.

"...Andrew Dee Ashmore...Bachelor's in Construction Management..."

Hooray!

This professor ("Mort") came to shake Andrew's hand afterward, and they both bawled like babies. As such, I figured this would be an important picture to take. Andrew always seems to make best buds with the old guys.

The graduate.

And the proud wife.

...I apologize. This couldn't be helped.

Congrats, Andrew! Now, on to the future, our business, and home building for new professors moving in to teach at the growing University.

That's right. We are both graduated and yet, we are sticking around our small-town Rexburg, Idaho. Who'da thunk we'd settle here? But we are excited for what the future will bring!