Saved the Best for Last

It's hard to believe high school brought us together and now we are all grown up, married, and kids are the next step on the list. It's like time never passes when we get together. Friendships like that don't happen very often, but i'm sure thankful we have one. Another bonus, getting to be an aunt to little munchkins...I will never give up that role. One and a half...and counting!  

(I mean I could just eat him up)

It almost doesn't seem real that we are all married now. It was so fun to celebrate with Johnna and spend the whole day getting excited about the big day. I wish I could say I had the confidence to get on the pole...but sadly that's not the case. However, I was thoroughly entertained the whole time, if only everyone could experience a lesson from Jen (a 40 year old in rather short spandex). I feel like those lessons should be taught by a younger generation, but then again it wouldn't have been the same experience. 

Johnna brought it back to where it all started. Four years ago this is where the weddings began, and it came to a close here too. It's hard to believe where we once were, and where we are now. I'm so thankful for all of the memories we have had together and what 12 years of friendships can create. She really was the most beautiful bride. 

It was a great way to end our summer in California. It was the best to spend time with the people we love the most. We sure will miss the sunshine, but the memories we created this summer will last a lot longer then our tans as we head back to Rexburg. 

It has been a summer to remember full of the people we love most 

who always found a way to be...

Positively Contagious 

Year ONE!

How has it already been a year?! It has been the most rewarding year being married to this man. I have learned so much about sacrifice, service, selflessness, exceeding expectations, and the true meaning of love. I can not believe how much I have learned over this last year. The most important thing Chad has taught me is to look for the positive. He is always the one to find the silver lining in every situation. No matter life throws at us, there is always something that we can learn.

I don't know what I did to deserve such a wonderful husband. This next year is going to be even better then the first. Here's to more adventures, snow cone runs, golf ball hits, drive in movies, dinners together, late night pillow talks, camping adventures, fish catching, tin foil dinners, and another year of new memories.

 I can't wait to see what the future holds for us. No matter where we are, or what life has in store 

I hope that together we can be...

Positively Contagious 

A Wedding Tradition

This summer has literally been the besssstttttt. Thanks to our lovely schedules we have had a blissful five week break from reality and two more to come. We have spent three of those weeks at the beach in Southern California and two back in our home town in Northern California. At this point the only thing I miss about Idaho  is…..well let's just say I could stay here for a lot longer. (wink wink Chad)

The best part of our break was getting to add another member to the Hilburn crew! It was so fun to be with family and friends to celebrate Josh and Jayme at the Newport temple.  It's been a year since Chad and I were sealed, so being able to experience that with Josh and Jayme was really special. 

Chad's best friend Cody 

(They are probably the cutest couple you will ever meet so don't try and compete)

Before Chad and I even liked each other Kristen and I were friends, so marrying into their family was a dream come true. But, what's even better then having one sister…TWO. I never thought the day would come where I could have sisters. Kristen and I are beyond thrilled to have another friend in the family. She fits right in, and even has blonde hair so thats a bonus.  

Kristen and Ben better find themselves a blonde too or else we could have a slight problem. 

(The girl cousins) 

Weddings are probably one of my favorite things. It is so fun to see two people in love and start their life together. Selfishly, we get to be all mushy gushy too and... there is no excuse not to whip out the camera. Seeing a family grow,being able to spend quality time together, and create lasting memories is what this summer has been about. I'm not quite ready for it to end, but before we go back to Idaho

 I hope that we can find a way to be…

Positively Contagious 

Heaven in Idaho

There is nothing I love more then summer time, add some cousin friends, and a weekend full of cabin fun YES PLEASE! It is so nice to take a weekend break from reality and just play. The views at this cabin were unreal. It was just a slice of heaven, and almost like we weren't in Idaho anymore. 

(I mean look at this view)

We took a little detour from the normal path and made a trek out to this mountain... let's just say it might have looked a little better from where we started (oops). On the plus side we talked about what to do if a bear were to pop out of nowhere. I'm not sure if we came to an actual consensus, but i'm that much more thankful there wasn't a surprise attack. 

(pregnancy announcement without a pregnancy...gone wrong, I died) 

It is so fun to live in a place with so much to explore. It helps a whole lot to have the best partner to explore with. Even better that he was a safe driver on that Razor! 

Nothing beats an Idaho summer. 

Thank you Idaho for being...

Positively contagious 

No Hitching for these Hikers

It was another great weekend here in Rexburg. The sun has found some consistency and we are ready to take full advantage (It's time for these pasty kids to get some color). Thankfully we have our trusty cousin friends to accompany us on our outdoor adventures. 

About half way up our legs started to burn, which means we are extremely out of shape, but the top was breath taking. These boys were so excited they broke in spontaneous PYT dancing (you should have seen it live).

The way down was much easier then the trek up.  There were also some lovely people we had to maneuver around who were tied together on a rope...for support we were hoping. Some brotherly love was shown when we made it to the water.

We love our little adventures, and we are so glad we have friends to join us! It gets us through the week knowing that we have something to look forward to on the weekend. I wish time would stop on these few days, but sadly that's impossible.

 Luckily we have next weekend & until then I hope we can find a few more ways to be...

Positively Contagious 

Rainy buns

 Well we went at it again. It seems to be a Monday night tradition these days. This time the weather didn't hold up so well. We had to move under a pavilion and huddle in a corner to get the coal burnin' and not get hit by the rain. There was even a crazy lightening storm, and bonus we didn't get hit!

Thanks to Chad dinner was delicious, he grills those burgers to perfection. Along with these large burgers we had some corn...but not just any corn.  At the Rexburg farmers market they sell this corn that I weirdly crave. I don't think I got it exactly right but I tried. 

This is how we did it on a grill: 

Melt butter, put it all over the corn and roll it up in foil. 

Cook it on a grill for 20-25 minutes. 

Brush some mayonnaise on it to your liking 

Sprinkle it with parmesan cheese (they use something else but this worked just as well) 

and I like mine spicy so I put chili powder!  

It's so crazy to think that the little things we do now are creating traditions for our future family. It's so fun to have time to spend together, to dream of our life to come, and to enjoy the life we live now. 

It's the best being married to this guy and I wouldn't change a second of the last nine months! 

I'm so thankful I married a man that is always and encourages me to be...

Positively Contagious