I Miss Hudson, Tate, and Of Course Their Parents!

So as you know, I made a big decision last year at this time, to move to Colorado. It was a hard decision for me, I knew I needed to go somewhere different for a while, and I was really contemplating D.C. because 2 of my sisters live there. I flew out to Denver for my Spring Break to visit my close friends Brady and Kristy. At that time, Kristy was about 5 months pregnant. I absolutely loved the time I spent there, and really started to think that maybe moving to Colorado would be a better fit for me: closer to home so I could bring more things, only a 9 hour drive if I needed to go home for anything, and I would know at least some people here. I loved how beautiful it was, and knew that it would offer just as much to me at this time in my life as D.C. could, if not more. I really fasted and prayed to know what place was better for me. I didn't receive an answer, so I felt like that was Heavenly Father telling me that He trusted I would pick the place that was best. I finally settled on Colorado. I came out in July with my friend Jackie to find a place to live. I looked at quite a few places, but liked the Coyote Ranch apartments best, which also happened to be the place that Brady and Kristy lived (I PROMISE I didn't pick it just because they lived here, I swear :) ). It was official! I moved here the first part of August, and have loved every second since: the good, the bad, the hard times.

Hudson and Tate came into the world on July 4th, so by the time I came out here, they were born! My favorite thing was knowing that I had such close friends as my neighbors and could turn to them for anything. I loved spending time with all of them, and especially enjoyed watching Tate and Hudson grow. I loved them from the first time I laid eyes on them. I remember a particularly hard day here in Colorado, when I came close to giving up and moving back to Utah. I went over to their apartment, and held Tate. He instantly was laughing, and I felt an immediate peace and joy come over me. At that moment, I knew I had to stick it out here. I love those boys so much, I almost cried the night I said goodbye to them, as they were moving to Idaho for a better job fit for Brady.

Thank you Brady, Kristy, Hudson, and Tate for making my transition here easier, and for being so good to me. I appreciate you both so much for what you offer to me, and for being good, true friends. I miss you, and hope that all in Idaho is going well. I can't wait to see you guys and hold the boys!! Thank you for letting me share in their lives, it brings me so much joy that I can't express.

Shay and Nik

If you viewed my blog below, you saw some funny video of my friend ShaLynn. She and her fiancee Nik came to visit me a few weeks ago. Shay and I have been friends for over 10 years, and without fail, that girl can get me laughing. I hadn't really met her fiancee before this trip, so I was grateful to get to know him a little bit better and spend some quality time with them. We ate, walked around the 16th street mall, ate, drove around downtown Denver so they could see some fun things (Capitol, the US Mint, Invesco Field, Pepsi Center, Art Museum, etc.), played with Photo Booth for hours, walked around Main Street Parker (SO CUTE) and of course ate. Thanks for the laughs Shay and Nik, and for coming to see me, it meant a lot!

Of course I had to show the peeking blue bear!

Shay and I struggled by the cow. She of course always looks cute though.

I love this woman!!

I smell Jimmy John's!

One of my favorite things about Colorado is all the food choices, one in particular called Jimmy John's. They have the BEST sandwiches I have ever tasted! I was immediately hooked the first time I went. The problem is, it's right by my work, and everyone I work with are Jimmy John's lovers. So it's a weekly ordeal to go. I had made a goal this week to not eat out at work, to take lunch everyday. I'm usually pretty good at this anyway, but wanted to go a week without Jimmy John's. Well, the past two days I have struggled because I kid you not, I could literally smell a Jimmy John's sandwich. I smelled it at work, I smelled at my apartment, and I smelled all day again today. I finally couldn't concentrate on anything else, so I caved and got my Turkey Tom sandwich and the BEST bbq chips. I told my roommate Hil where I ate for lunch today, and when she got home, she wanted to go. We have one by our house that just opened...not good for my budget!! I rode along with her, and this one even has a drive through! I have a punch card that when you buy 10 sandwiches, you get one free, so I told Hil to get it punched. The girl came back and said, "We don't take this card, but we'll give you free bread!" She gave me a huge loaf of bread for free. Loved it! If you come to visit me, or are near a Jimmy John's, don't pass it up!!

When Shay Comes to Colorado, She Doesn't Mess Around

I love George Washington!

My first video on the blog! Yay Tawna!!

Two weekends ago, we went on a small road trip to Rapid City, South Dakota to visit Mount Rushmore, somewhere I've wanted to go for years! It was about a 7 hour road trip, but totally worth it. I squealed with delight when I first saw my George, I about scared Michelle off the road. We spent a good few hours there, walking around and visiting the museum. You can get closer to the presidents than I thought! I learned a lot of interesting facts as well.

If you know me, I have a personal love and deep respect for George Washington. Nothing against Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, or Abe Lincoln, they did a lot for our great country as well. but George holds a special place in my heart. Everyone needs to go to Mount Rushmore sometime in their life. If you need someone to go with you, I'm so there! We went in the off season so there wasn't a whole lot to do in Rapid City, but it's a quaint little town. I enjoyed my trip and seeing George!

Me attempting to kiss the Prezies

Look how close I got!

There was an awesome walkway with all the US flag, and postings when the state joined the union. Hil and I posing by Utah!

George and I. Can't wait to meet him!

Yay! Mount Rushmore!

Hil and I at the Firehouse Restaurant in Rapid City. It seemed like it was the only thing open at 8 PM on a Saturday night! (We sadly took a 4 hour nap after spending the day at Mt. Rushmore and missed out on the highlight hours of the city. Yes, we are that old :) )

How Cute!

I stole this from my sister Tabbi's blog. Look how cute my mom and dad are?! I love when my dad laughs and this smile comes out. Usually in pictures he does this weird smile that we all make fun of. So I love that his smile was captured here. And Tabbi, my little sister, is of course gorgeous as usual.

Very Grateful

I've been thinking a lot lately about things I am grateful for in my life. Everyday I think about things I'm grateful for, but a few times I REALLY think about it, to a point where I fill my soul up with love and light and feel joy that I chose the life I have. And when that happens, I want to share it. Usually it's in my journal, but why not share it with all of you? Gratitude is even better when shared!

• I've been thinking quite a bit about my heritage, the people in my family who came before me. Especially my grandparents, on both sides. I had a very meaningful dream last week about my Grandpa Rose, who has passed on to the next life. I think that's what triggered all this. I'm so grateful for the memories I have being at my G & G Rose's house growing up, watching my grandpa make things in his wood shop, the magic tricks he would play with a quarter, the way he was so quick to smile and laugh and share that happiness with us, drinking tea and playing cards with my grandma, playing night games with my cousins in my grandparents backyard. For my G & G Perkins, I treasure the times spent on the Coeur d'Alene lake, boating with my grandpa, shopping with my grandma, hearing their stories. I love the traits I have inherited from all 4 of them. I'm so blessed!!
• I'm so grateful for my parents, and what they have sacrificed to raise my brothers and sisters and I. I've really truly come to love and appreciate my mom and dad since I've been away from them. And of course, I'm grateful for my siblings. I could do a whole post on how each of them have influenced my life for the better. I'm amazed at what they have each gone through to get where they are today, the choices they've made, the lessons they've learned, and who they are. I love you Lisa, Mick, Cody, Kala, Tabbi, Trina.
  
• I'm grateful for my 2 sisters-in-law and my 2 brothers-in-law and what they contribute to my family. I love you Jen, Josh, Mack and BreAnne. Thanks for putting up with the crazy Perkins' clan!
• I'm grateful for the choice I made to move to Colorado, to challenge myself and grow more independent, even when at times it's tested my faith and made me question a lot about myself. Man, I've grown leaps and bounds the past 7 months!
  
• I'm grateful for Colorado, the beauty that's here in the mountains, the clouds, the sunsets. The kind people. I'm grateful for the drivers here, they wave all the time! I LOVE it!!
• I'm grateful for wonderful, true friends. I really have always been blessed with the best, I've always been surrounded by lots and lots of good friends. I'm grateful for those that stay in contact with me, and show me through words and actions how much they care for me even when we are miles and miles apart.
  
• I'm grateful for who I have chosen to become, the choices I have made in the past that have led me to who I am today. I'm grateful that I have an open heart, that so easily loves and accepts others. I'm grateful that I challenge myself, that I question everything on a daily basis. I'm grateful that I continue to allow myself to be open to new thoughts, ideas, and adventures. I'm grateful for people that challenge me to grow, to not stand still, but to move forward.
• I'm grateful for what I have been able to accomplish in my short 27 years of life thus far: graduating from Utah State, teaching for 4 years, moving to a new state all alone, the places I have been able to travel.
  
• I'm grateful for music, for its power to speak so directly to me, for its way to communicate for me when my words can't, for the way it moves me to tears and stirs my soul.
• I'm grateful for Malcolm, Quinn,Ammon, Aspen, Micah, Jonah, Libby, Kanyon, Abbie, my nieces and nephews who have taught me how to love so purely and so greatly. I can't even describe the huge amount of love I have for them.
• I'm grateful for laughter, and people who have a sense of humor that can get me laughing so hard I cry!
  

I could go on, but I think this is a fine list. I love how thinking about and writing down what I'm grateful for can lift my spirits greatly! Just what I needed today!

Hours of Entertainment

One awesome feature of my new Mac Book is the Photo Booth. I kid you not, my roommates and I find hours of entertainment doing different poses and laughing hysterically. Our favorite is the mirror. Below is just a small sample of what we have come up with. I can't stop laughing!!

(Just call me Ratface, from Harry Potter. Isn't this one so scary, but so funny?!)

Her head is totally floating! Isn't that awesome?!

FORT!!!

I had the great idea a few Fridays ago to build a fort in our apartment..didn't turn out like planned, but was loads of fun!!

Jessica doing a ballet pose, me doing a dog face?

Jessica looking like she's about to pounce on me, I'm scared!

My all time favorite picture. I can't get enough of my ninja move and Jessica's hair!