Rexburg, oh Rexburg

In case you couldn't tell from all of my previous blog posts, I LOVE Idaho. Mostly just Rexburg, but Blackfoot (where my Grandma lives) has a special place in my heart as well. The hardest thing about moving to Reno was having to leave Rexburg; but don't worry, I already wrote a long and sappy post about it here.

Rexburg is honestly the greatest little town in the world; yeah it has is oddities, but I love it! I love that it's so close to the outdoors, I love the spirit that resides in the town, and I love that the people are humble and kind and the whole "keeping up with the Jones'" hasn't overtaken the town. I was so excited when I had the chance to go back with little Calvin last week! Natalie & Mark finally got to meet him, as well as my grandma, aunt and some cousins!

Calvin was actually a champ making the 9-hour-turned-12-hour journey (thank you crazy storm that washed out the I-15)!  He mostly just stared at his dog.

When we got there my mom & dad (who decided to fly instead of drive 12 hours :) and grandma met us in Rexburg for some Craigo's! (aka- pizza pie cafe)

 I pulled out the camera and the first thing he did was his "cheesy face".

On Saturday we spent the afternoon in Blackfoot enjoying the last bits of Summer with Aunt Sandy, Alicia, her kids and Abby. Grandmas apple tree was over flowing so we spent some quality time picking bushels of apples.

Calvin also spent time bonding with Grandma (who I nicknamed the baby whisperer)

 Darwin gets his camera skills from his mother, Collette.

On Friday morning we woke up and helped Natalie finish harvesting her massive garden since the first freeze came that night. She harvests corn by the wheelbarrows and Emerson loves to help by shucking his own corn (one piece at a time) and eating it raw.

 We love Idaho!

I was also lucky enough to go and visit some good friends, but sadly I didn't get any pictures. We sure have been blessed to meet some wonderful, lifelong friends in Rexburg. We love you guys and miss you!

Biking to Jenny's Lake

The weekend before we moved (two weeks ago) my family came over to Eastern Idaho for Father's Day from….. well, everywhere. The whole family was almost there,we were just missing Melissa & Ernie (we missed you guys!). It's always an adventure when we all get together, luckily all the men us sisters have married seem to handle us all pretty well.

On Saturday morning we got up early and caravanned over to the Tetons to bike from Moose Junction over to Jenny's Lake. Those of us who there weren't enough bikes for hiked around Jenny's Lake while we waited (and lets be honest…biking before I got pregnant was uncomfortable and I am sure that wasn't going to change with a 8 month pregnant belly, I'll just stick to my 5 mile runs).

 Yeah, they are mother and son.

 I don't even know what Collette & Justin are doing….needless to say we didn't really get a good picture of the whole group, haha.

Farewell, Rexburg

Three years ago Robert and I packed a truck full of our things and headed up to the great land of Idaho. Neither of us really knew what to expect; Robert had never gone to school at BYU-Idaho, and we were going to be starting a new life as a married couple. There were definitely days that I got pretty nervous (and I may or may not have cried), especially since we didn't have any family around and none of our friends were married or up at school with us. We made a goal to be able to look back on these years with fondness, and so we hopped right in with both feet and made the best of it!

Three years later we both can agree that Rexburg was the perfect place for us during those first three years of our marriage. We can only look back on our time here with fond memories and pure joy.

 It offered so many things that we already miss:

Family

Although, I think these two are going to miss each other the most.  

Friends

BYU-Idaho (the greatest University, ever)

The Great Outdoors

Yellowstone

Ashton-Tenonia Trail

R-Mountain

The Tetons

(photo credit goes to Natalie Purcell….thanks Nat :)

Every morning when I would drive Robert to work I would see this incredible view of the Tetons. On the day we moved, I was driving Robert to work and the sun was rising up over the mountains and it was the most beautiful view of the Tetons I had seen in the previous 3 years. We liked to think of it as a special goodbye from Idaho. 

Leaving Rexburg was probably one of the most difficult things I have had to do, saying lots of good byes and realizing that we are really moving on to a new stage in our lives and leaving everything behind in Rexburg. I know lots of people sigh in relief when they leave Rexburg, but for us it will always hold a very dear place in our hearts, especially since we got to live with our dear friends and family, Natalie and Mark for two months (best two months, ever!).

Here is to moving to Reno, having a baby, and starting graduate school! I am sure it will be just as good to us as Rexburg has been and we are looking forward to the adventures we will have here in Reno.

Farewell, Rexburg. Its been real. It's been fun. It's been real fun. Until next time.

Temple to Temple Relay + A coed Baby BBQ

Last Saturday was an eventful Saturday for Robert and I. We started off our morning with a race, hosted by BYU-Idaho. It was the Temple to Temple Relay, starting at the Rexburg temple and ending at the Idaho Falls temple (39 miles). My little sisters good friend Micah is an avid runner and asked Robert and I if we wanted to join his team. We were obviously very excited and jumped all over that. 

I was a little bit slower on my leg than I would have liked (8 min/mile), but I had to remind myself that I am 33 weeks pregnant. Robert totally ROCKED his 7 mile leg, averaging 6:20 min/mile. Considering when he runs it's usually with his much slower pregnant wife, and he didn't really train it was pretty impressive. My husband is awesome. 

Overall our team got 2nd place of the 78 teams! It was a lot of fun and I am glad that in baby boy's first race he placed. Whoot Whoot!!

Right after the race we hurried home so we could set up for the Baby BBQ Robert and I were hosting for our good friends, the Cowlings. They are expecting their little girl in September and decided to make their shower a casual BBQ so we could have one last big hurrah with all of our friends and help them celebrate this fun time in their lives. 

So it wasn't too girly, we decided to play one game of root beer chugging from a bottle. It was pretty hilarious.

It was a blast! We had delicious Italian Sodas and Robert was our grill master. Three cheers for wonderful friends and pregnancy. I am just sad that we will be gone when this little girl makes her presence. She is going to be pretty dang adorable.