Scott's Reception

We went up to West Valley on Friday to celebrate Scott Bullock's wedding. Wedding receptions are so exciting. Two people starting a new life together. I love it. Maybe it's because I just got married not to long ago, or maybe it's because it really is special. I'm leaning toward the latter.

While driving up there, we started wondering why we could see the Bountiful temple so well. Needless to say, we decided that we should probably turn around. Luckily we made it to the reception before it was over.

The Bullocks have been long time family friends and really are more like family than friends. I love these guys. Amanda, Scott and I spent some good times together back in Maryland. I'm really happy for both of them and their decision to get married :).

Stewart Falls

Darin and I both ended up finishing work early afternoon on Tuesday. With a beautiful bright sunny day surrounding us, and Darin telling me it was my turn to plan a date, I went to work. This is what I came up with.

Destination: Waterfalls!

Protein bars from my no-longer 72 hour kit. (P.S. Protein bars are disgusting)

My little boy scout

It was great. I love being outside! The hike wasn't bad at all, but still got us in a good work-out for the day. (It's right up Provo Canyon, going up towards Sundance, just in case you wanted to check it out, which you should). Just make sure that when you go, you download  this song  so that you can listen to it over and over and over again in the car (I'm pretty addicted to it right now). Wouldn't have been the same without it.

Love My Mama!

I have a pretty stellar mama. This last picture brought me back to tons of mission memories that pretty much sum up how wonderful my mother is. The picture was taken the day she dropped me off at the MTC (what an emotional day!). My mom flew out from Pennsylvania to be with me that special day and then after dropping me off, she drove my car home to PA, all by herself. On my mission, my mom was the one person who I got an E-mail from EVERY week. I could always count on my weekly mom update sent with all her love and encouragement. On top of that I would usually get a handwritten letter and mini-packages of goodness just about every other week. While I was gone, there was an issue with deferring my student loan and in hopes of not stressing her poor already stressed out missionary more, she didn't tell me, and just started paying the monthly payments for me. I don't doubt that she prayed for me often while I was on my mission just as I'm sure she has her whole life. Her support meant the world to me and I couldn't have done it without her. I get emotional just thinking back to the mission and how much those weekly emails meant to me.

We've had our ups-and-downs just like any mother-daughter, but as time goes on I realize more and more how much sacrifice, patience, love and humility goes in to the role of mother (no doubt I will understand it even more when I am a mother!). Up until being married, my mom has always been my go-to person. While at college I never hesitated to call my mom when I needed support, sometimes even in the middle of the night (sorry mom!). She wouldn't complain, rather listened and gave me the love and support that I was looking for, and even though my go-to person has now turned into my husband, I know that she is and always will be there to answer my call.

I love my mother with all of my heart and am so thankful for everything that she has sacrificed for me and my siblings. I hope that I can be as good of a mother to my children as she has been to me.

I love you mom!!

Happy Mothers Day!!

Extra Innings

For all the non-baseball lovers reading this, why are we friends? I apologize for 2 straight baseball related posts in a row. You might just want to get used to it or stop reading because a little birdie tells me that there will be a lot of baseball talk in the future.

Tonight was another weekend baseball night for us. The Braves are playing in Colorado this weekend. We had originally hoped to take advantage of them being so close and drive out to Denver for the weekend (and visit my grandparents). However, with spring term just starting and the new job, things didn't work out in our favor. Luckily, out here in Provo we get the Colorado Rockies station so we'll be able to watch the games from the comfort of our home.

Of course I couldn't resist pulling up the Orioles game on the laptop and watching the play-by-play (closest thing to watching it without spending money or doing something illegal). The O's won in 13. Yay!!! Now the Braves are in extra innings... keeping our fingers crossed...and our arms doing the tomahawk chop...

 I tend to get really worked up at times when we stay inside for long periods of time and have to get out, but not tonight. Tonight I am completely enjoying my lazy baseball Friday with my Darin.

Happy Weekend!!

Softball Friday

It was a softball kind of Friday for the Self household.

We started off  by going to the batting cages.

             

             

Then we made our way over to the BYU softball game where somebody didn't want to smile due to a never-ending mouthful of sunflower seeds.

The game was good. Our afternoon/evening together was great. Brought me back to my softball days...made me miss it... but at least I can still enjoy it from the stands. They also shot off fireworks after the game to our favorite song by Katy Perry. Fun :).

And guess who we just happened to run into at the game?! What a fun surprise. The best part was seeing Reese clap every time the other team did something good. The cougar blood apparently hasn't sunk in all the way yet. She'll learn.

Andrew and Molly were there with all the people that Andrew works with. It was so funny to look down at their seats after they left. They left their mark.

I had 3 "want-but-don't-have-to-have-but-really-really-really-want" qualifications for my future husband (aside from my MUST HAVE list):
1. Speak Spanish
2. Be a year older than me
3. Like baseball/softball

I love that my husband has fulfilled each one these, but especially that last one (wellll...and the first one too). It's fun to share our love for baseball. Rootin' for a good year for the O's and the Braves. Let's go boys!