Beautiful Fall!

  I've mentioned this before, but Utah during the fall is absolutely beautiful. The heat isn't unbearable and the colors on the mountains are stunning! Travis and I have tried to take advantage of it. We've been extremely busy with work, school and basketball, but we've tried to find time to enjoy this time of year and each other!

Last weekend I was able to run in what's called, "The Dirty Dash." It's a 6 mile run through a TON of mud and other dirty obstacles. I ran with my friends Bailey and Kim! We had so much fun and got SO dirty (clearly). It was worth it though! It was a lot of work to get clean again. 

Travis and I made pumpkin banana bread! It was SO yummy and a great way to welcome in this season. I think we finished the loaf within a day! 

I was finally able to go riding!! It was a recruiting weekend, so my coach usually takes the recruits and whoever wants to go riding! Of course, I jumped on that opportunity right away. The girl in the picture with me and Mustang is Makenzi Morrison (she's a new freshman on the team). Travis also came!! I wasn't able to get a picture of him, but he rode a mule named Gus! So cute. 

My friend, Karin Cottle, had her farewell today up in Heber! After we spent most of the day up there, we decided to make a stop on our way through the canyon to document how pretty these trees are! The pictures really don't do it justice, but the canyon is incredible right now. I loved seeing all of the colors and.. I love my husband for letting me take pictures :) 

Nothing really new..

   Things are pretty busy down here in Provo. I'm busy with basketball and school and Trav has actually been busy with some different jobs (but, that's a secret! Or else we get deported). It's crazy to think that we are most of the way through September! It's a good thing, but it's also a bad thing because the month of October is almost here... I dread it. This is what October means to me:

• Long and really hard practices..
• No games to look forward to
• Lots of midterms 
• A really, really sore body

    Once October is over... I'm a happy girl. But, Trav reminds me everyday to take ONE. DAY. AT. A. TIME! He is just so lovely.

One of my really good friends, Karin Cottle, is leaving on her mission in a few weeks! Trav and I joined her for a little dinner the other night to say our 'goodbyes' before her farewell. She's a doll and is going to do so well in Chile! Proud of this little lady. My sister-in-law, Kara, will be heading down here in about 2 months to go to the MTC. Missions are wonderful!! 

Travis is such a hard worker and I love him for that! However, I don't think he loves me so much for taking this picture! It's been beyond wonderful having him down here. I honestly don't know how we did long distance last year, yikes!! 

Lately, I have been obsessed with porridge (yes, I still call it porridge and that is what it always will be to me)!! I probably have it everyday. It is so, so good with a little brown sugar sprinkled on top and then some milk poured over it. It is so good and keeps you full!!! Even Trav is a fan. LOVE it!! 

                   

I love this

WATCH this..

"Never check your religion at the door"... Never check who you are and what you know to be right at the door, ever. Jeffrey R. Holland is the man! 

Montana Getaway!

     Remember how Travis was at home this whole past week? And how he was supposed to be coming home today? Well, there was a little change of plans, but for the better!! Yesterday started out to be a pretty gloomy and boring Saturday with nothing to do. Travis and I had been in touch all morning and he had said that there was not much for him to be doing at home. We were both kind of saying how much we missed each other and what not when he said.... "Want to meet half way?". Usually, I would kind of laugh it off and say, "I wish!', but this time... the idea didn't sound half bad.
     We decided to go for it! I quickly packed a few things, booked the cheapest hotel room in Butte and hopped in my car. Butte is about a 6 hour drive from Provo! I was so excited to see Trav and get out of Provo for a bit that I didn't mind the long drive at all. I left at about 3:00 in the afternoon and got there at exactly 9:00. I loved the drive! It was a really relaxing and beautiful. Trav beat me there and had checked in to our GHETTO room at the Rodeway Inn and Suites. When I pulled up to the hotel, I couldn't help but laugh. It was such a dive! However, I could not wait to see my husband and I thought it was kind of fun with how spontaneous we were being!

   Even though we were in Butte, which a lot of people would consider to be the arm-pit of Montana, it was still beautiful and the perfect getaway.  I loved it and I had such a fun time with Travis, even though I was on the road for the majority of the time. Travis and I have both made the drive from home to Utah and neither of us have the best feelings for it. However, today when we were driving back to Provo, I think we both gained more appreciation for it. The sun was out and everything just looked so beautiful! I really enjoyed driving back..... until we pulled into the Salt Lake Valley. 

    Being in Montana for that short time kind of gave me a small sense of how home feels. Feeling a  chill in the air again and being able to look around and not see fast-food restaurant after fast-food restaurant was so refreshing. I love so many things about home, but one of the main things I love is how authentic and real it feels! I felt that in Montana for the short time I was there. That was definitely one of the reasons as to why it was the perfect getaway for me. I needed to get back in touch with how that felt! 

    Speaking of realness and authenticity... I am so blessed to have Travis! I am able to be my true, authentic and honest to goodness SELF and he loves me for it. The same goes for him! I love that he feels he can be his true self around me! I love how real it is and it will never get old to me!! This will definitely be a Labor Day weekend to remember.