11 Minute Abs = Distraction

First off, we will be going private within in the next week so if you haven't already given us your email please do so.

Next, I want to tell you about a funny story that occurred last night. Nicole and I were doing 11 minute abs together and got onto the topic of Nicole's birthday. I had gotten her gifts earlier that day but she didn't know anything about it. This is how the conversation went:

Nicole: Will you promise to tell me one thing and be honest?
Colby: Sure.
Nicole: How many birthday presents did you get me? Was it just one or was it more than that?
Colby: Hmmm. I don't think I can answer that.
Nicole: Why not? You promised to tell me!
Colby: Yeah. I can't tell you that now though.
Nicole: Please? It's really important for me to know!
Colby: Why? What does it matter if I got you one gift or if I got you thre.... Oops.
Nicole: What?
Colby: Nothing, I didn't say anything.
Nicole: Yes you did! What was it?

Well, after deciding that it really didn't matter if I got her one gift or three gifts, I finally told her what she had missed. And we had a pretty good laugh afterward. I couldn't believe that I would be so easy to fool!

Following the Trend

P.S. We're following this smart trend and going private, so comment with your e-mail if you want to view our blog.

Where did the time go?

Has it really been two months since we last posted? Life has been wonderful and busy. I don't think there's any way to fit in everything we've been doing, but we will try to share a few of the highlights.

• I am the primary president in our ward and today was our annual primary program. It was such a neat experience and something that I am also glad is now over. I was a little nervous about it all coming together, but it always does. It was another testimony building experience that this is truly the Lord's work. The primary theme this year is My Eternal Family. I'm so thankful for all of my family. My parents, Mitch, and Halli came out for the weekend and it was so fun for Colb and me to spend some time with them.
  

• Colb is starting to volunteer at the new Riverton hospital in the emergency department. He starts in a couple weeks and is really excited for this experience.
  

• I've been helping with recruiting at work and love it. I went up to Utah State about a month ago for Meet the Firms. About three years ago, I was a student at USU attending my first Meet the Firms and learning about internships. Three years later, I've come full circle and was now doing the recruiting instead of being recruited. We went to the Ryan Shupe concert at BYU for recruiting last night. I really enjoy meeting the students, plus I have to say that it is great to be on the other side! We love Ryan Shupe, and they are so talented.

• In case you didn't know, last week was National Chemistry week (I'm married to a chemist, I now know these things). We spent last Saturday at the city library doing science experiments for children. Colb has been volunteering at this event with the American Chemical Society for three years (and I've even been twice now). Playing with fire, liquid nitrogen, and slime is right up Colb's alley so he loves it and is great with the kids! My personal favorite is shaving cream art.

• One of the great benefits of marrying someone that you went to high school with is that you know the same people and have lots of the same friends. We were excited that one of our high school friends got married a couple weeks ago, so we could catch up with him and a bunch of our high school friends. It was crazy to see everyone (and kids) and talk about school and jobs and realize how grown up we all are.

• It's official! I passed the CPA! I have everything done and am now just finishing up all the paperwork. It feels so good!
  

There's actually a ton more that we've been doing, but I realized this could go on forever if I keep going. We helped tile the clinic, went to the Scarlet Pimpernel, went fishing and four wheeling, worked lots, took an institute class, played with the Duncan's new puppies, and lots more. Our days and evenings are all pretty full, but we are happy and really enjoying this stage of life. Hope everything is going well for all of you!

Colb volunteers at Primary Children's Medical Center every week.
The kids are very entertained as you can see!

1 Year Anniversary!

So, I don't really have any pictures to post at this time. I have been working a big post of the things we have been up to lately and there are some good pictures there. However, the coolest thing happening right now is that we will have been married for a whole entire year tomorrow! I can't believe how fast it has gone by. Since we got married Nicole has finished her last semester of school to get her Master's degree, started working at Ernst & Young and has been there for more than 8 months. I finished my bachelor's and have been working the University of Utah for 2 1/2 months. It is crazy! I wanted to update everyone on this amazing accomplishment and milestone for us. I know that one year is not that long but it is our first anniversary and we are so excited for it! Next, I want to thank Nicole for being such a great wife and friend. I know that I am not the easiest person to live with by far (and I eat cereal for dinner. OK?! I admit it!), but she loves me still the same. She is the best and I couldn't ask for anyone better! I love her so much and she is the greatest and best part of my life! I couldn't live without her! Here is to a great year and many more (plus eternity!) to come!

Nicole Vs. The CPA

So Nicole has been studying furiously for the CPA and takes the third section this coming Friday. She has been listening to lectures and one of the lecturers, Pete Olinto (who, by the way, actually has a few pretty funny videos on YouTube), says that there is an inverse relationship between happiness and passing the CPA. Well, it also has been making me feel bad for her! And thus the sad face at the beginning of the post. I also have things I am working on as well but it does give me a little time to catch up on our blog.

We had a great time the past month with the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house, the The Fray concert, and the Swain Family reunion. The Fray and Jack's Mannequin were awesome in concert and we got some great pictures, especially of Nicole's cousin, Dave, who was crowd surfing. I was glad to see Nicole get down in the crowd and toss those crowd surfers around! The temple open house was incredible, I would say my favorite part was the chandelier in the celestial room. For the reunion we went four-wheeling and it was awesome! I finally got some sun on my arms and legs and we all got incredibly dirty. Nicole's uncle Mike took us on this steep cliff, or maybe it was a hill, and we made it down after sliding a little bit. Actually we were sliding and Mike came running back up the hill saying "Use your back breaks!" and I was like "Oh yeah! I have back breaks too!" Anyway, it was kind of funny and we had such a great time being there with her family.

We also went to the MLS All-Stars vs. Everton FC soccer (futbol) game at Rio Tinto Stadium. The MLS All-Stars lost in a great game and an intense shootout at the end! We have had a great summer, except for the CPA part, and we are looking forward to more fun things to come!

4th of July Weekend

Colb and I really enjoyed our long 4th of July weekend. We spent time with both of our families and had a great time. The Hales Family Reunion was this weekend so we were able to see my Hales grandparents and my dad’s four sister’s families. We swam, rock climbed, hiked, played games, did skits, sang, ate lots of food, and visited. It was so fun to see everyone and we lucked out this year at only having four people in the whole family not there which is pretty good once you get up to around 50 people. We spent the rest of the weekend at Duncan’s doing fireworks, playing games, and having fun. I also learned that at the Duncan house 4th of July weekend is also full of helping dogs that got ran over by four-wheelers and had run-ins with porcupines. We are so grateful to have such wonderful families and appreciate the support and love the give us! We hope everyone had a great 4th of July weekend!

Nicole and Colby at Moonshine Arch

Dad, Halli, Colb, and Nicole on the arch

Hal and I thought it was pretty high!

The Cousins

Dave, Allie, Linsday, Nicole, and Colby

Graduation Weekend

I realized time was passing and I hadn’t posted anything about our graduation weekend. The last weekend in May we drove to Roosevelt for Tim’s (Colb’s brother) graduation from Union High School. Tim was the salutatorian and did a fantastic job speaking. Of course, he even made me tear up a bit. It was really fun because my cousins, Kamille and Veronika, were also graduating. We are so proud of all of them! Tim is getting ready to turn in his mission papers, Kamille starts college at BYU in the fall, and Veronika moved back to Germany. I can’t believe how fast we are all growing up!

Colby, Tim, and Nicole

Nicole, Kamille, Mom, and Mitch

Veronika and Tim

We woke up very early on Saturday and drove back to Salt Lake for Colb’s graduation from Westminster which was that afternoon. Colb graduated from Westminster College with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and minors in math, physics, and biology. Of course, he is amazing, extremely intelligent, and I am really proud of him. There was a graduation brunch that morning that we went to with Nelson and Trudy and then we all celebrated afterwards at Little America for dinner.

It was a great weekend full of family and celebration. Good job graduates!

Colby

Colby and Nicole with the Griffin (a.k.a. The Peep)

Colby and Nicole at Westminster