Year Two!

Today is our Second Anniversary! Time has seriously flown by, it feels like just a few short months ago I was being introduced to Austin at the Summer Games Opening Ceremonies! Staying out as late as I was allowed to, squeezing in every last second with him before he had to leave. We were so young (we still are) and had so much fun falling in love. We didn't have much time to get to know each other before Austin left for Basic Training but we sure tried!

Austin took this pic the day he told me  he loved me!

 A few days after he left is when I realized I was going to marry him! Mind you, I haven't even started my senior year yet and I've already met my husband. I hadn't really thought about it until my mom asked me, "do you think your going to marry him?" It hit me like a ton of bricks but I knew it was right! Austin came back for Christmas, I was with him every single day for 17 days until he left again and then came back for good in February. He took me ring shopping in March and then proposed in May, he was able to make it to my Graduation and then was deployed in June. He was gone for 8 months but still made it home in time for Christmas again! March 2nd, just two months and a few days after he came home we were sealed for time and all eternity in the Manti, Ut Temple. We barley knew each other but I am eternally thankful that we made the choice!

Our wedding day, outside the Manti Temple!

Our first year of Marriage started in Kanarraville Ut were we lived in a tiny trailer and learned A LOT about one another! Everyone says the first year of Marriage is hard, I didn't believe them until a few months after our first anniversary. I didn't realize how not perfect it was until it got immensely better! Moving in with someone that you don't know very well and trying to make a marriage work is some seriously hard work! Austin's job had him gone basically all summer, we made the best out of the time we had together but as soon as the fire season was over he was ALWAYS home. I was so used to him being gone that I didn't know what to do with all the time we had together, its pretty safe to say that it was hard to get used to in the beginning, but we did and things started to get better. 

Our first place together! 

Austin and I moved into my parents basement on our first Anniversary for a few different reasons. Austin was trying to get a school date for a medical course that the military offers out of Fort Bragg and the next fire season was about to start. It was hard for me to live alone the first fire season we had so I was glad to be moving back, we also didn't know when the Army was going to give Austin a school date and didn't want to be stuck in a rent contract. So back to the parents we went! Again, I didn't realize how not perfect it was until after the fact. Hind sight is always 20/20! Even tho our marriage hasn't been "perfect" doesn't mean I would change a single thing about it! Every disagreement or tear shed has taught us so many different things about each other, it has made our marriage into what it is today and I believe its so close to perfect that I don't see how it could get any better!! Like I said tho, hind sight is 20/20 and I'm positive its only going to get better! 

Our first Anniversary photo's! 

Austin and I have since moved out of my parents basement and are living right down the road from them. We finally got a locked in date to move to North Carolina and by some crazy stroke of luck we found this place that fits our time schedule perfectly. Same with Austin's job! After the crappy fire season he had last summer he found a new job and once again we were so blessed because the company is leaving Cedar the same time we are moving! So many things have been working in our favor and I know that its not luck, its blessings! The biggest reason we are able to make our marriage work is because we pick our battles, not everything is worth disagreeing over. I didn't learn that until recently, I'm really glad that I have because my marriage has changed into something so amazing! I'm so lucky to be growing up and turning into the person I want to be with Austin, he is such an amazing example of selflessness and pure love. He is going to be such a great daddy to our future children, he is already such an awesome husband and such a great friend to have sticking up for me and always taking my side. Two years of marriage, so many things learned and its only just begun! Here's to another year, I look forward to what we have planned for the next few years! Hold on babe, cause we are about to grow up some more! I love you so much Austin, I'm lucky to have you! Happy Anniversary!!

Couples getaway!

Who doesn't love a getaway? It wasn't anything special or extravagant, just a bunch of friends in a small condo, in a small town! But really, it was the most fun I've had in a long time! At first the guys had planned to surprise all their wives for Valentines day and then realized they couldn't really plan and entire weekend without saying a word, so they turned the planning over to their ladies! Silly boys...
   Austin and I along with three other couples shared a three room condo for three nights! (Austin and I had to go down a day late, he couldn't get work off.) Mike and Mikell, Derek and Megan, and Stephen and Shelly all got the bedroom's while Austin and I shared the small pull out couch in the living room! We started our trip with an afternoon of shooting shotguns, pistols and rifles, Derek told us about a "gong" that is about 350 yards away so we were all pretty excited to see if any of us could hit it, I did! Austin, Stephen and Derek also hit it, but I was pretty proud of myself. After three shots tho, my shoulder was so sore I didn't even want to shoot pigeons! Don't worry tho, when those four boys get together it turns into a shooting contest and the girls never get a turn. Their imaginations are so hilarious when it comes to "trick shots," they do trick shots because just standing there and shooting is boring and they need a challenge haha! Pour Austin doesn't have as long of legs at Stephen and he had picked this tricky trick shot which I thought was dangerous because what they were standing on was absolutely not stable! I just about fell out of it just sitting on it! I cant remember if they made this shot or not! It sure was funny to watch tho! Stephen is so creative. he wanted to do a dance for one of his trick shots!

and then there's Stephen.

Austin, basically doing the splits.

We spent hours at the shooting range, we went through two case's of clay pigeons and quite a few boxes of shells. Its so fun to sit back and watch Austin with his friends, he's been so close with all three of them for so many years, he's lucky to have such good friends that have stayed with him for so long! After our shooting adventure we hit up the local Mexican restaurant, Edna's or Nedra's I'm not sure which one it was but the pepper on my chimichanga burned the holy shit out of my chapped lips and Austin just sat there and laughed! Our night was filled with laughs, games and heart to heart conversations about where our futures are taking us! Mike and Mikell have a little boy who is 8 months old, he is so adorable, so adorable that he actually makes Austin a little bit baby hungry! Stephen and Shelly are expecting their first baby in May, a little girl! We are so excited for them and really sad to be moving all the way across the country before their little bundle is born! boo!!! Thank heavens for Skype :) Derek and Megan already own a house and are going to college, and then there's Austin and myself. He works his butt off while I'm a stay at home wife, I'm extremely baby hungry while he is not in any sort of hurry to bring any little Aubrey or Austin into the world yet! Moving on! Sunday after we checked out of the Condo we went and explored the Montezuma Cave! It was a pretty steep hike but we all made, pregnant Shelly and scared of heights Mikell and all! I didn't realize I was scared of  small spaces until I got all the way into the cave and I got really nervous, started sweating and couldn't breath very well! oops!! I took a quick trip inside, saw what there was and went right back out! Austin on the other hand is all about exploring! He was the only one that would fit in one of the tubes, so ya, in he went! Litterally army crawling, Stephen followed him and ended up getting stuck, Austin had to pull him out.

The history behind this cave is pretty crazy! Some people think that there is some ancient treasure hidden in the caves, I believe it maybe because I love the National treasure movies and I think it would be super fun to hunt for treasure!

Together in the opening of the cave!

Austin in the opening of the cave! 

 How cool would that be?! Maybe one day huh! On our way back to town from the cave we stopped at this little photo opp place that was super cute! We managed to get a group picture together which is rare, I don't think our group of friends has any pics together! Good thinking Meg :) Even when we try to take pics, someone is picking their nose, someone (probably Austin or Stephen) is grabbing a boob, possibly both! Hair in the face, sticking to chap stick, basically its just always a disaster! So finally one turned out! I also got Austy to take a normal pic where he is actually smiling and not groping me! He's such a cooperator!

We are going to miss our friends so much! It was so fun to get away with all of them together, and hopefully we can squeeze in just one more short trip before Austin and I take off! I love each and everyone of them, they are all so different but such amazing people! Friends are just as important to Austin and I as our family is, they basically are the siblings we never had! I keep making it sound like we are leaving FOREVER! We aren't, just 10 short months, I'm sure it will fly by, hopefully anyways! Until next time everyone, have a lovely Sunday! xoxo Aubrey!

Proud to be an American!

There are absolutely no words to express my love and pride I have for this country and my family that serves it! I am so lucky to have so many selfless men in my life that are willing to put their lives at risk for the freedom of our country and its people.

  I grew up loving my country because of all the stories I heard from my grandpa's. Both of my Grandpa's served in the United States Army as well as my Great Grandpa Bennett.

 This is my Grandpa Olsen! He is so full of wisdom, jokes and stories about anything you could dream up. Being a sheep farmer he has a very good work ethic, he worked for everything he had, raised 12 children after his service in the Army. Every time I visit him he tells me the same story about the motor pool, and I love it just as much as I did the first time he told me about it! I'm truly lucky to call this man my grandpa, I look forward to visiting every chance I get, I wish it was more often. His stories are the memories of him I hold closest to my heart! I love you Grandpa, thanks for everything you've taught me, and your service to our country! 

This handsome man is my Great Grandpa Bennett. (my mom's mom's dad, confusing?) I only have a few memories of him, but they are some of the funnest I have. My Grandpa Bennett was such a fun Grandpa, he passed away when I was 4 and I think its kind of amazing that I remember him. He served in World War 1 in the Philippines. Although I dont remember him telling me any stories about the war I do remember feeding him salsa and accidentally dumping the whole bowl all over his face. I also remember asking him to hold my ice cream cone from McDonald's while I climbed up onto his bed, getting up there and seeing what was left of my ice cream in his beard. The last memory I have of him was not being allowed to go to his funeral. My mom didn't want to deal with 4 year old twins so she left us home. Back in 2006 I attended my Great Grandma Bennett's funeral where she was buried next to her husband at Camp Williams. It was cool to my 13 year old mind to actually see where my Grandpa's resting place. I look forward to meeting him again on the other side, catching up with him and laughing about the ice cream and salsa incidents! Hearing stories about me as a little girl and about his service in the Military.

If you don't already know this man, then your life is not complete. This is my Grandpa Tripp, he passed away just a few weeks after I got married. It was so hard to see such an amazing man leave this world, but such a relief to see him out of pain! Recently I attended a funeral, one of the speakers read a poem and I couldn't help but think how perfect it fit his situation. "God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be, so he put his arms around you and whispered, "Come to me." With tearful eyes we watched you and saw you pass away and although we love you dearly we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best." I loved my Grandpa dearly and was extremely blessed to live walking distance away from him. I got to see him whenever I wanted and he always had something witty to say to me or something to teach me. I took a welding class in High School and that was one of my Grandpa's many specialties. He was so excited when I brought one of my first welds over to show him. He was so proud of me and that's a feeling I will never forget! After that day him and I had a few welding projects to do, I will always treasure the lessons he gave me and I will never forget the day we welded my parents house to the giant I beams under it! This grandpa, to my knowledge was never deployed out of our country, but he was in the Military for a number of years. Regardless of the task's he did while in the service I'm still incredibly thankful for him and his sacrifices! 

These two are my Uncles, Shane and Steven. They both served in the National Guard unit out of southern Utah, the 222nd. I was young when they deployed, I remember writing them letters and sending care packages. The thing I remember the most is when they came home! Our whole family was there to welcome them back, there were so many smile and so much love that day! My uncle Shane (on the left) has since passed away and my uncle Steven is now a Chiropractor. Their sacrifices were so appreciated by our whole family. They deployed in the heat of the war in Iraq, we were so lucky to be able to welcome them back in one piece! There were so many men and women that didnt make it back to their families, but we did! We will be forever thankful for that! Thank you Shane and Steven, I'm lucky to have two selfless uncles, and Steven, you will be such an example to my future boys!

 Last but certainly not least, my Husband! I grew up loving the men in my family that served our country, little did I know, I would be loving my very own hero! My future children get to have a solider for a dad and I get to be forever thankful, proud and in love with one! I don't have words to express how thankful I am for his sacrifices, he does so much for me and for our futures. Our kids are going to have the best example of love for our country, just like I did! I look forward to where the Military takes us and I cant wait to bring little ones into the world with Austin! I can never tell him enough how much I love him and I never feel like he actually knows how much I appreciate him. I strive everyday to show him, hopefully one day I will be able to convey it to him!
 A shout out to all of Austin's friends that he is currently serving with! I'm thankful that Austin has such great guys to be around! You guys may not know it but I love you as much as he does!!

Whats new?

Holy cow, everything in my last post back in March didn't happen! We didn't move to Salt lake instead we ended up staying with my parents for the whole summer! I loved it there because we saved a lot of money in the 7 months we were there but its so nice to be in our own place again!! Also, that dresser I gave a face lift, UGLY! What was I thinking!! I've since redone it again, thank goodness!

  So here's whats new, Austin and I totally lucked out with the place we are living in now. It just up the road from my parents, 3 beds and 2 baths for $300 a month! I love having all the alone time, peace and quiet, but still being able to walk  drive to my parents house when Austin is gone. 

  Austin this, Austin that! He's all I talk about, sorry, kind of, but not really. He got a new job after the fire season which was SO slow, it sucked! He is driving truck for Nicholas and Co. doing 5 runs a week, to Salt Lake and back. It wears him out but he is getting used to it and the money! We have so much to be thankful for, its amazing what happens when we live right! 

  We've been talking about going to North Carolina for about a year now, and it finally going to happen in April. Austin put in an application for Whisky 1 school with the Army, we got our locked in date for May 8th. He will be doing advanced medical training. Also, I forgot!! He transferred units from the 222 to the 19th special forces from Camp Williams. This coming weekend he is getting pinned as a Sargent! I'm so proud of him and all that he has accomplished in such a short time! Between all the different jobs he is doing to his military career he just amazes me everyday! I love him!

  I cant believe my last post was a few days after my first anniversary. We are coming up on our second one, it really kills me out fast time goes. Where have the last 8 months gone? I love this time of year tho, Fall and Winter are my favorite! The holidays, cozy cloths, sitting by my fire place (my house has one!!!) and all the family time that comes with all these holidays! I love being with family and this year we get to have 3 Thanksgivings! How hectic but lucky the two of us are to have both our families so close to us. A week before Thanksgiving we are having one at my Grandma's house because my cousin Malcolm is leaving for his mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thanksgiving day. But then, Thanksgiving day we will be going to Delta with Austin's family who I havent seen since the wedding, haha oops! I'm excited tho, it will be fun to meet them all again! Thanksgiving night my family is having dinner at their house. We will see how this goes...

  In the next few weeks I plan to post about a few other subjects! I wish I would blog more, most the time I forget that I even have one! Anyways, I've been crafting my pants off and I'll be showing all you guys what I've been making! Till next time! 

Refurbishing and Remembering!

This last week Austin and I moved into my parents basement to save a little money before we make our move to Salt Lake in the next month or two. Austin wasn't to thrilled about it but it was his idea. He likes being on our own and making our own way, but sometimes it doesn't hurt to ask for a little help. So we moved out of our cute I mean trashy little single wide trailer house in Kanarraville and into a room in my parents unfinished basement! Its defiantly been an upgrade.

I loved living in Kanarraville because it was away from the town and really quiet but hated the price of gas! Anyways we are at my parents now and have been for a week! I aquired a dresser, a trashy dresser that is and decided to refurbish! Yay, I love projects!

Before

After

Kylee and I riding to GC

I used scrap book paper and Mod Podge! It cost me about $10 to do the entire thing including the new knobs! I love it and I'm pretty proud of the work I did! Also this week, we celebrated my Grandpa Tripps 74th birthday, his first one in Heaven. It was such an emotional day but such a fun one! The family that could went down to Golden Corral and had dinner in Grandpas memory! Family that doesn't live in Cedar also decided to carry on with the new tradition and went to the nearest Golden Corral! Such a good idea and such an awesome way to be with our family on this emotional day! March 22nd was the day he passed away and as a family we have decided to make one of Grandpas favorite past times. Home made Pizza! I am looking forward to it! I love remembering my Grandpa, all the memories I made with him!

I am a slacker!

I honestly have NO excuse for not blogging!! My last post was probably over 2 months ago! Whats been going on?

• We moved to Salt Lake for a month, it didnt work out the way we thought it was going to!
• We are back in Kanarraville, Austin is back with the DNR and working for the winter. 
• Austin is applying for a Whiskey 1 position in the Special Forces. He just put in the app yesterday.
• We are about to have our first Christmas together!! Yay :)

With the job up in Salt Lake Austin did work for a month and then he ended up not getting it for the full year, we were okay with that. It was hard living in two different places. We weren't able to have time for each other and it made me feel really distant from him. Its weird how dependent I am on him and when he isn't around i feel like I don't function properly! Which isn't a good thing. With his DNR job he is frequently gone. All summer he was fighting fire, and our luck this Winter all their projects are out of town. They leave for the work week and come back for the weekend. All summer I had to go to my mom's for sleepovers when Austin was gone because I wasn't really comfortable staying alone in Kanarraville, but this time I talked myself into trying it out! I told my mom, "don't lock the door, I might be coming back" haha. No big deal, I drank some ZzzQuil, which its amazing! Austin called right before i feel asleep and everything was okay!! So now I'm a big girl and I cant stay home alone! I was proud :)

This Whiskey 1 position Austin has applied for is Advanced Medical training with the Special Forces. If he gets it, we will be moving to North Carolina for 7 months for the training and then Austin will be in the 19th unit that is out of Camp Williams. We would have to live up there and he would have a full time Job at Camp Williams. I'm having a hard time with wanting to move away from Utah, and doing full time Army. There are so many things I'm scared of, I don't even know where to start.  Through out the whole process of applying for the position I have felt so many crazy emotions, stress, nerves, fear of the unknown! I really feel like I'm unstable and it doesn't help that I've been slacking on the spiritual side of things. I can really just testify that having the spirit on my life makes everything so much easier. All the big decisions that need to be made are much easier to make when you have the lord on your side. I know that whatever is in store for my future with my husband is exactly what I need to grow and move forward in life, I just need to hand over the reins and let my Heavenly Father guide and direct me the way my life is supposed to go!

On a HAPPY note, I am seriously looking forward to having our first Christmas together! Austin has been gone for the last two work weeks and that has given me time to get my craft on!! I have to admit its nice not having a job! I'm glad that my husbands job can support us both, it gives me all the time in the world to be a good wife and home maker! For our first Christmas I decided that I wanted to do mostly DIY stuff. So far I've made some ornaments, a tree skirt and I'm in the process of making our stockings!! As soon as I'm done with those I will post pics but here is an Ornament and the tree skirt! I love how they turned out :) 

Oh! Almost forgot, Thanksgiving, it was our first together also. We went to St. George with Austin's family. His great Aunt from Chicago came to town for the Holiday, she is soooo sweet!! Her name is Lana, that's who Austin's mom is named after. Anyways, we spent the day there on Thursday had a lovely time and made some new memories. Then on Friday morning we made the journey up to Spanish Fork to be with my family for the rest of the weekend! In the future I don't think that will happen again! Although I wouldn't be apposed to it. Haha but it did wear us out to travel so much in just a few days! I am very thankful for my willing husband, he was so awesome about taking me where I wanted to be and being so nice about it! It was great to see so much family and catch up with all of them! Everyone has changed so much since the last time I saw them all, I don't feel like I'm growing up with if everyone else in my life is changing I've got to be changing as well! Weird how that works.. anyways, here is a pic of Austin and I on Thanksgiving with his Grandma Bakica and his great Aunt Lana. We had so much fun and it was a total success! Everyone loved the pies I made :) And everything else was soo yummy! I'm so thankful for the family that I've grown up with and the family I've married into! Love them all and Happy Holidays to everyone that reads! Hopefully I will do better with keeping up on my post's!

Catching up!

Its been a while!! I figured I should post again and catch everyone up, not sure how many people "everyone" is, maybe 3? haha
   As you all know Austin is a fire fighter, and Utah has basically gone up in flames this summer. I haven't seen him much! Last summer while Austin was in Iraq, his fire crew here went on 5 fires total!! This summer, its been closer to 20+ fire's! YIKES!! When I do see Austin, he is exhausted, I get to watch him sleep! Awesome :) Now that the fire season is coming to an end I get to see more of him. He has been looking for another job because his current job may or may not keep him on all the way threw the winter. On Monday a job fell into his lap!! Camp Williams, September 4th-30th, with a chance of having his order's extended to a full year. WOW!!! He was offered the job in the morning and he had to let them know if he wanted it by Monday evening. He took the job and he starts on Tuesday. So many different things to think about. Do we stop renting the house here in Kanarra? What if he doesn't get the job threw the winter? Where are we going to live if we decide not to rent the house in Kanarra for a month while were not there! Holy Cow! Can I just see to the future and know if he is going to get the job or not? Life would be way easier! I would be so excited to move up north, have a little adventure with just the hubby, really be on our own! But I wouldn't be sad to stay here in Kanarra inside my comfort bubble where I know I'm safe, I can run to my mom when I need a hug and see Abby and Kylee when ever I want! So many mixed emotions, and I can tell that Austin is stressed about it, its freaking me out cause I like it when Austin is in control of the situation! No control here.
I am excited that this will be Austin's look for the next month! from Mohawk and go-tee to Clean shaven and a buzz cut! (:

I am looking forward to having an adventure 

with just the two of us!! I am also looking forward to spending some quality time with my twin sister and the adorable twins that miss me!! Everyone says that moving away from home is one of the best things for a marriage so we will see what it does for us! 

   So many other things have been going on!! I started babysitting for one of Austin's work mate's. He's got a little girl, Saige! She is such a cutie pie :)
I am growing my bangs out and let me just tell you, It has not been easy!!! I went for like a month with out doing my hair because my bangs were so completely awkward I couldn't handle looking at them! This is how far they've come and I am SO PROUD!!  

After :)

Before, I did like them at the time!