Ragnar 2010

Sharon was nice enough to find out her work was doing the Ragnar and got us all signed up.  I have been wanting to do this for a couple of  years but it's somewhat hard to find a team to jump on to.  The race was super fun, yet tiring.  We started in Logan at 11:30 and we had some pretty awesome runners on our team.  For Evan's legs he seriously rocked them. He was all smiles for all his running, and amazingly enough his knee didn't give him any problems.  Keep in mind though, right after we took this picture he turned the corner to a gigantic hill which he wasn't smiling about.  But Evan has the best attitude about everything, so regardless he was still all smiles for the whole race.  Here is Evan finishing and being a spokesperson for Propel water. 

However, I was not all smiles for my first leg.  I was all pumped up seeing how good everyone was doing so I take off on my leg feeling great even though it's this dirt road that's kicking up dust everytime a car drives by, plus the heat, plus it was this non-stop uphill road.  By mile 2 I was almost in tears because I was so tired but I wasn't even close to being done.  I had to run 7.4 miles.  Evan tried calming me down, but I didn't really calm down until another 1 1/2 miles when I saw my sweet dad come driving up and yelling that I can do it and he would stop every mile to talk to me and give me water.  Without him, I would've been super super done.

Evan had to run again in the middle of the night around midnight or 1 and he kicked ass.  He ran 8 minute miles and just killed people.  He said he felt great and he looked great too, sorry no pictures, it was pitch black.  All you could see was his headlamp and reflective vest.  My next leg was 4 miles and I still wasn't really into it from Avon so I didn't get great times but I did much better then my first leg.  We went to North Summit highschool to sleep for 3 hours and shower for 2 bucks each and then woke up again at 6am to do our final legs.  Evan once again did AMAZING and I was so excited for him I forgot to take pictures on his leg, SORRY!!  We are getting better at taking pictures even though it doesn't seem like it some days.  My last leg I felt great, I was on track for 8:30-9 minute miles and then I turned the corner onto mile 2 and wanted to die.  There was this enormous hill that didn't stop for a mile.  I ran the first half thinking it was over, and turned the corner and no it wasn't done.  So once again, my legs said they were done haha.  Evan was such a sweetheart and once I got to the top of the hill he ran the last mile with me so I would finish and he kept talking to me the entire way down saying you can do this, you will finish and you will pass people.  And what do ya know, I did!


Overall it really was a fun experience and we are planning on doing it again next year, just as long as I don't get Avon Pass again.  Like always Evan excels at any physical challenge presented to him.  He rocks it, I love that he has that competitive nature of to do good no matter the pain.  Wish I had that kind of dedication, when I feel the pain I start to stop.  Let's be honest.  Next race, 10k!  

Alabama 2009

We went to Alabama about 8 months ago, so last November.  Sorry for the super late pictures.  I forgot I had them.  Anyway, we went to a Bama game and it was kind of a whirlwind trip.  We flew stand by with tickets from my parents, thanks guys!  But with that came flying from Salt Lake to Vegas then Vegas to Atlanta then Atlanta to Florence.  So it took us from 6 in the morning and we didn't get to Alabama until around 11 or midnight.  But every trip is fun with Evan, so we didn't mind.  We ate some yummy BBQ and enjoyed quite a great game in a gigantic stadium.  Thanks Mom and Dad for a fun weekend!

This sums up everything

Everyone who knows me, I am a Sex and the City junkie. And this quote makes me smile from ear to ear because it sums up my life perfectly and it's so great when you know you found it.

I'm looking for love. Real love. Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can't-live-without-each-other love.

And this is the definition of my marriage and my relationship with my best friend.

Cute little survey I found

Yes, I'm a sucker for these interesting surveys about each other so here it is!


How old are you & Evan?
We both are 24, Evan turns 25 in 4 months though...

How long have you been together?
Almost 2 years in October, been married for 6 months.

What are your occupations?
I work for Rossignol as a dealer service representative working with the Midwest, Evan works for Valley Mental Health they deal with ex-convicts who have drug addictions and they get them back on track. Basically he is amazing and saves lives everyday!

How did you meet?
Well...this is a long story. We went to elementary and middle school together so we have known each other for awhile. We went to different high schools and colleges and have always been facebook friends. Evan started emailing me just asking how things were, and we ended up going to dinner one night and it was magic from there!

How did you get engaged?

For our 10 month anniversary he took me to a really nice dinner up at Snowbird at the Steak pit that was outside and it was so beautiful and as we were driving down the canyon he asked if I had been back to our elementary school. It was on our way home so we decided to swing by to play around on the playground. Once we got there we turned a corner and I saw this table and chairs with candles and flowers and told him how cute that someone set that up. I was completely clueless he was about to propose and I turned around and he proposed while I was screaming and jumping up and down. Needless to say I said yes, and yes he did have to do his speech twice because I missed like 90% of it the first time. I will remember it forever!

Tell us about your wedding day:
We got married at Tuscany (the restaurant not the city) and it was all the in morning/afternoon which made for an early morning. I wasn't nervous at all until like 5 minutes from the location and I realized wow I was getting married how cool! I was a touch late so I basically ran in threw on my dress and got married. It was hands down the prettiest most amazing day ever.

Define Love:
Love is like a cool drink of water on a hot day. It's refreshing and comforting. It's always patient and kind, and you know for certain when it's real and the good kind of love. You can see when people are in love, they have a glow about them. It is the best feeling to have to be in love everyday.

What is the toughest part of being in a committed relationship?
The only thing that is hard is adjusting to living with someone. Evan and I didn't live together before getting married. So getting down making dinner and both of us keeping the house clean was tough maybe the first week but after that it doesn't feel hard at all. It comes easy, plus Evan helps and tells me when I need to do things as well. A marriage is a partnership, both people need to help and contribute. If Evan is doing something, I can always help with small jobs to make the big job go by fast.

What is the best part?
The best part about being married and in love is waking up to my best friend everyday. Coming home to him everyday and spending every moment with him. We laugh on a regular basis, we go shopping in sweats and laugh at each other when we know we both look terrible. Everyday is an adventure.

What is the best day the two of you have had together?
There was a Sunday when we took our dogs hiking. It was so relaxing and so wonderful and everything was so bright and walking with Evan through the woods was so peaceful. We went and got lunch after sitting outside and it honestly felt like the most perfect day.

What makes you different from other couples?
I think everyone has a different kind of love. Evan and I have the best kind. We love the outdoors, skiing, running, backpacking (hopefully we will see), boating, we love doing things together that we have interest in. Plus this keeps you active and finding so many things you can do together as a couple. I love doing sports with Evan because it makes things so much more fun then rather sitting inside when Utah is such a beautiful state to have fun in. I also feel like Evan has helped me mature to not freak out over little issues. Also, we love each other for our quirks. I think everyone has special traits and that's what makes every person special. Especially my husband.

What is your favorite thing to do together?
Swimming, boating, skiing, running, backpacking (we will see), badmitten, hiking, playing with our adorable dogs, going to coldstone in our sweats, getting stickers to put on our cars, walking to the park to play fetch, if Evan is involved I love it.
Do you have a song?
"Then" Brad Paisley, our first song married!

What is the most essential element of making it?
Trust, patience, and love. All these things are completely intertwined. Without patience you lose love, without love you lose trust. It's bitter cycle. Also marrying your best friend and having a million things in common and laugh your way till you're 80!

What are your hopes for the future?
Like 10 years children probably, traveling the world together just the two of us, every year growing more in love.

Anything else the world needs to know about love?
Yes, your husband should be your best friend. They hold your heart and I can 100% say that my husband is my best friend and the best thing that has ever happened to me and I hope everyone can experience what I have.

Entitled

I'm venting. I personally don't understand why some people feel so entitled lately. I understand when you are a boss or overseeing people you need to manage. I completely understand that. But doesn't somewhere draw the line of an employee asking for help, or confused and in return getting yelled at? I personally do not see the logic in that. If you are implementing a new program and there are employees who are confused and are actively trying and asking for help, you, as a manager, boss need to help. That is your job plain and simple. Lately I feel as a lot people, American in general, feels entitled. Like if something goes wrong, clearly it wasn't their fault. It was someone elses and since something happened someone else should fix it. I know this isn't a positive, feel good blog but everyone in general needs an attitude adjustment. What happened to the days where everyone was positive and had a kind word to say. Now it's boiled down to getting flipped off on the freeway and people maybe muttering hello while traveling up and down the staircase at work. I personally think everyone has lost their general manners. For instance, when someone holds a door open you say thank you. If a waitress/waiter brings you a drink you say thank you. You say please when asking for something. And also for the person being polite by holding the door, you say you're welcome. None of this silent looks and expectations. It's not hard to be polite, it takes an extra 5 seconds of your day or two extra words from your vocabulary. It's honestly sad how much people don't care about other people. I honestly 100% think that people need to start caring for people.

Where were you 6 months ago?

You may not notice but six months back from today most of you were sitting at Tuscany watching Rachel and I get married. Whoever told me that marriage was going to be hard is a giant liar. Being married to Rachel could not be easier, and more fun. In just six months we have skied in Whistler Canada, bought a house, bought a car, found two dogs, built a new kitchen, built a new shower, and even spent a birthday in Vegas. I have never had so much fun in 6 month of my life. Whoever also told me that in-laws were going to be a hassle also lied. I could not have hand pick better in-laws, Rachel’s parents have been nothing but gold for us. It’s been a real pleasure learning from them and taking a lot out of their personal experiences. Then there is Rachel, where do I start. Luckily nobody told me I was making a big mistake marrying her, because they would have been wrong as well. Rachel is amazing, she shocks me every day when I realize how cool my wife is. She is so caring and really cares about my family. I have seen where spouses will just fake their way around their in-laws just to make their husband or wife happy but Rachel is one of the few that actually cares, and it makes me love her even more. So for now marriage could not be more of a blessing for me and their has been no time in my life that I have been this happy, and have done so many new things.

Outside Fun

Lately Evan and I have been loving hiking and going for walks outside. It makes me so happy and plus we have the dogs with us and you can tell they are having so much fun that it makes me love it all that much more. We have found a new place to take them, it's Tanner Park. It's over around 2700 S and 2700 E, roughly. And you hike down into the canyon bottom and it's off the leash dog park. It's around like a 3 mile loop with a stream winding through and the dogs love it. I recommend if you have a dog to 100% go. It is so so much fun and the dogs love jumping in the water. Well at least ours do, well maybe not Alta she is kinda a girly girl and lays on her belly trying to not get in the water. BUT Torre positively adores the water. And nothing makes me happier then watching her jump in and come out dripping wet.
I think summer is an all around happy season. I honestly have no idea how you could be in a bad mood during the summer months because there is something ALWAYS going on. Whether it's a Bees game, or just going hiking, or going for a walk around your neighborhood. The weather has been so nice, and I love BBQ's and everything that involves that. And last Sunday was super fun having family come over to swim. Jackson is so freaking funny when he is swimming. And Baylee is getting so good at floating on her back, good job! Anywho, just wanted to spread the good summer vibes because Evan and I have been having a lot of fun lately with just doing the little things. I really hate being inside during the summer and watching TV when there is so much you can do in Utah. We really live in such a great state if you love doing outdoorsy things.

Oh, besides the outdoors, the indoors haven't liked us lately. Our toilet started the revolution last night which equals toilet on the front lawn. I thought these things were super heavy, but Evan just lifted up the big white thing and plopped in on our lawn like it was nothing. Hooray for strong husbands! I probably would've cried because a) I have no arm muscle and b) I would've looked at him like he was crazy if he asked me to move that thing. But Evan is the strongest guy ever and is super handy and got the pipe to stop leaking! It's so wonderful having a husband who is so handy and can do all these things. I have no idea what the tools even are that he is using, and he is just going to town when it comes to fixing stuff. I'm amazed everyday and he does such a good job.

As a side note, GO USA!!!

$25 dollar shorts

So the husband and I went shopping on Monday. He needs new shorts, I just needed to go shopping for serenity. No I wasn't in desperate need of anything, but I'm a girl and I shop. That's what I do. So we leave American Eagle and Evan can't justify spending 40 dollars on shorts. And I quote, "I want to find 25 dollar shorts", to which I reply those don't exist unless we are Target. Yes we both LOVE Target. So the trek continues with the husband absolutely positive he can find 25 dollar shorts. Well, believe it or not we found 20 dollar shorts. Long story short, my husband is a deal finder and like he says, "stick with me kid and you will learn a few things."

And that's why I love him so, he makes me laugh everyday. Not just giggle, but crying laughing hard.

I Love....

I love these things....


Well honestly I love any fruit candy, fruit snack, anything that tastes fruity period. But Gushers also remind me of summer for some reason. So yes I might eat 3 packs a day of these little beautys, but they are heavenly delicious.

Oh also, in case you haven't heard....we are proud owners of one of these cool little treats.


Yes, we sold the gas guzzling Xterra for this cute little thing. It is enormous on the inside and the doors are tons better. I hated the Xterra back seat, personally speaking sitting back there and also from family having to sit back there and hating getting in and out. And the Element was an all around great deal. Evan and I are extremely excited about our new purchase and he has already cleaned it 3 times now. The dogs aren't allowed in it now. Which is saying alot, because how could you not let this adorable dog in?


That's really all we have been up to, besides training for the Wasatch Back. Life is great at the Howard house!