Happyversary

Friday June 25th marked Cody and mine's two-year anniversary. Amidst the craziest of school, having projects due Monday, tests on Tuesday etc we still found time to celebrate our love.
We split the activities into two days, since Cody has classes until 3 on Fridays and the main activity he planned was going to take all day.

Friday, after classes, we headed down to Idaho Falls where a new Panda Express had opened. I cannot tell you how good that panda tasted. I felt like I had transported back to Washington to good familiar Chinese food. But the interesting thing about Idaho is that anytime anything partly major comes to town EVERYONE has to get a piece of it. I have never been inside a more packed restaurant. There was a huge long line that snaked around the tables and booths and tons and tons of food coming out nice and fresh. I'm pretty sure there was one guy that was just in charge of orange chicken and another just in charge of chow mien. After dinner (and the real reason we were in IF) was to go see Toy Story 3 in 3D. I could not have been more happy with the third movie... except for that monkey. As always the Toy Story people delivered an excellent balance of the Toy Story we first grew to know and love and more creativity and amazing animation than I could've thought. I'm still sketchy about everything being in 3D but I will always see computer animated movies in it. It is simply stunning what they can do now.

The next morning Cody told me to be ready by 8:30 in the morning to set off for our surprise adventure. Nothing starts an adventure off right than McDonald's. So of course we had to stop and get some breakfast. Honestly if there wasn't food involved right away I might not have been motivated enough to wake up.

Where were we heading exactly? Why no other than Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

The trip was so amazing and so much fun and a much needed break from routine. The drive was a treat in itself. It was countryside of Idaho and some Wyoming that felt like I was headed back to Washington. There was trees and mountain passes and having the sun beaming on us didn't hurt either.

Once we got into town we headed right for Teton National Park. Cody knew where he wanted to take me so I just got to enjoy the scenario and spot a couple of antelopes on the way. Inside the park we went to Hidden Falls at Jenny Lake.



You can take a ferry across or just one way so we chose to take the hike around the lake and then ferry back across. I'm glad we didn't cop out of a gorgeous hike.



It really was such a northwest-feeling treat to be back around trees and trails and water and most of all friendly out-doors people! I have always loved that when you're out hiking or just outdoors everyone is instant friends with you. Everyone you meet on a trail always gives you a big smile and hello. The fall was gorgeous. It was a giant cascading waterfall that just led into rapid after rapid down the mountain. It was especially nice of the waterfall to coat us with a nice mist after taking the long hot walk up to it. Definitely worth it. Definitely want to go back.

looking back on the ferry

After leaving the park we wanted to walk around Jackson just to see the cute little town and some of its stores. But first we needed to eat, which was apparently too much to ask for at 2:30 because all the restaurants don't even open until 5:30. Luckily we found a tavern and got to eat yummy cowboy burgers (BBQ sauce and onion rings on the burger) out on the terrace overlooking the square. The only crappy part was that was right when America was playing their last world cup game and every so often there would be exclamations coming from everybody inside and from the bar across the street also. So I had to make periodical visits in and see what all the commotion was about.

Don't be too excited Cody..

cool archway in the town square made up of antlers

We couldn't have asked for a more gorgeous day. And I couldn't ask for a better person to share it with.

Spirit of Ricks

This past week was Spirit Week on campus. I haven't participated in any activities in any of the semesters I've been here which kind of makes me feel lame... But for some reason at church when the paper went around to sign up for the Ward 50 Lap Relay I put my name down.
I'm actually really happy that I did it because it was a really cool experience.
I knew that all these events happened and I knew people got really into them but it was cool to be a part of it. Being on the inside makes it a completely different experience.
As you can tell from the name of the event it was 50 laps but a relay so ideally a ward would have 50 people sign up so one lap would go to one person. We had about 10 people who ran double laps and finished somewhere in the middle. My lap was really good for the first 250 yards... then I was reintroduced to my good friend the sprinting wall and then that good ol I want to puke and faint at the same time feeling. I think I ran like I was still in high school shape but was quickly reminded that I am indeed not.
This was the opening event so we got to see the giant torch get lit and were surrounded by wards in cleverly thought up attire.Most wards did colors, ours did 80's but the best ward dressed up like nerds. Not just pulled up pants nerds. We're talking different patterns and plaid matched with high water cords with giant classes and anything from harry potter to twilight t-shirts. They definitely won the most clever outfits in my book.

My roommates Kayla and Shaleena also participated.

Hurray for spirit.

To Me Pops

For mother's day I gave my mom 23 reason why I love her (23 being the number of years she's been my mom). I thought it only appropriate to do the same for me dad. So here they are (in no order of importance):

23) You're my sports buddy. You got me into sports. You helped coached me and always made sure that you were involved in whatever team I was on at the time. You made sure you were at every game but the thing that meant the most was the after-game debriefing. You somehow always saw the same things I saw and always encouraged me to become better.

22) You gave me my Taylor button nose

21) You allowed cats (and various rodents) to accumulate in my life (despite your many arguments against them). I never got that puppy but the three kitties made up for it. Thanks for putting up with all of the spraying, barfing, rodent catching nonsense that you had to go through and thanks for being the one who cleaned it up. ps. i know you love them especially when they snuggle up when you're in your chair

20) All the many many many many many many many many many puns/jokes/jests ALL throughout my childhood. I attribute my quick witted mind to you. Although we do more eye-rolling than laughing we wouldn't love you as much if you weren't this way.

19) Papa Taylor. I love that any of my friends or people I knew from school could come over and instantly feel welcome. You instantly just tried to be buddies with them (even if they didn't get all the jokes right away). Just the fact that all of my friends loved you so much is a testament to what an awesome guy you are.

18) You picked mom :)

17) Although we never really picked up on it you always tried to instill a good work ethic in us. We curse Saturday Work days but I am glad for what you were trying to do for us. Even if you think you failed you didn't, some of it did stick.

16) You are a Taylor, which makes me a Taylor and there isn't anything I'm more proud of. I don't know why but I've always felt more connected to the Taylor heritage and it's roots. I love where I come from and am really going to be sad the day I have to give up the name (but I still will be one my heart).

15) I love that you work so much for our family. You always made sure we had everything we needed and even some wants. I truly appreciate that you provided for our family.

14) Thanks for letting me have the cliche dad that sits in his recliner and snores. I'm seriously not being sarcastic. I love that you were one of those dads.

13) BBQ. steaks, salmon, shrimp, chicken. Whatever it is, you're the best.

12) Thank you for being the priesthood leader in the home that I could look up to. I never doubted how much the gospel meant to you growing up. You always kept me on the right path, but still allowed me my agency. Thank you for being the dad that I could look up to.

11) It's cool that your middle name is just a letter... that stands for nothing but has the period after it to throw people off the scent

10) I loved driving around in the blue truck growing up and you sometimes letting me shift. This was the time you had your rad cowboy had and blue plaid coat. Just one of your classic looks (along with bronco's jersey and red/white/blue coat)

9) (No offense meant to the extended Taylors) But thank you for taking the leap of faith to bring us to Washington. I love Washington and I can't imagine living anywhere else and falling so much in love with it. If we hadn't have moved I wouldn't know the amazing people that I know.

8) I'm glad you're good at computers. I've never felt lost around technology and whenever I had any problems I had a direct line to a helper person. You've saved me from a lot of panic/stress/clueless-ness that could've been a part of my life

7) Thanks for telling me my hair/outfit looks pretty on days that it did

6) I love that I had another person in the family that understood the importance of punctuality like I did. I would've gone crazy had I not had someone to sympathize with me

5) I loved take your daughter to work days!! And sorry for never knowing what you did more than "he works with computers"

4) Your willingness to sacrifice for this family, whether it be as small as being the last to serve himself up at dinner to make sure we all got enough to eat to having to put up with idiots everyday at work. You put us first and that means everything.

3) Thanks for all of the daddy-daughter dates over the years. I always loved when we'd go see movies together. Taking time just for me meant a lot.

2) You always supported me in anything I did. I've never been anything but 'awesome' to you. You always gave me praise when earned, but also knew how to push me to become better when I was less than the potential you saw in me. But I still never could fail in your eyes.

1) I am most like you. We get each other. We understand situations the same. There is no doubt that I am your daughter. I am my father's daughter. Little tendencies or opinions I have about things you feel the same way. We can totally identify with each other and understand each others frustrations. I can go to you with my problems and know that you'll understand.

I LOVE YOU DAD!!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY.

heart,
Jessica

Lately

Updates on the going ons around here

Memorial Day Weekend:
Cody's family thought that since we had a three-day weekend that it would be a good opportunity for them to come since BYU-Idaho and then we could all go to Yellowstone. Overall it was a very nice vacation... just a little stressful since I really needed that week to get some projects done and study for tests for the week after. I still utilized the in-the-car driving time to study and do some readings, because really I couldn't afford not to.
The first night they stayed in Rexburg where we went hot tubbing at their hotel. Then the next morning we took them on a tour of campus. It wasn't everything it could've been due to it being Memorial Day Weekend so Rexburg had turned into a ghost town and the student store was closed for the weekend. We still showed them all of the buildings we had our classes in and then we headed off to Yellowstone.
We got into West Yellowstone, checked into our hotel and then headed off for the day inside the park. Sadly enough it was rainy, cold and windy the whole weekend. We were blessed with breaks of sun whenever we would get out of the car to see something. Mostly we went to the hot springs and headed to Old Faithful with stops along the way.
Park Highlights:
-Upon entering the park we were stopped for about 20 minutes in a long train of cars that weren't moving. People were saying there were buffalo just standing in the middle of the road not moving. When we started going again and passed the buffalo, turns out one had given birth in the middle of the road. The little new pitiful thing was too cute. We couldn't get a picture of it thanks to "move along" ranger. But there was a whole tiny herd of mother and baby buffalo all matted and damp from the rain.

-Cody's mom was determined to see a bear. The whole time we were all on bear patrol and were to alert her in case we saw one. This resulted in us stopping and walking back from the car about 40 feet to look on an island where she saw two bears. The bears were stumps. And then while us girls were sitting in the car waiting for Cody and his dad to see more hot springs Julie started screaming she saw one in a tree... but this bear was in fact a raven (a monster sized one at that).
-I saw a wolf!! Cody's dad spotted it driving by so we pulled over and got his really nice binoculars out so we could see him better. And there he was just romping around the river sticking his paws into dirt holes. It was kind of magical seeing a wild wolf just out and about. (This was my favorite part)

It got a little steamy..

Too bad the smell doesn't translate into pictures

For dinner we went to Wild West Pizza, apparently a popular pizzeria, not over the top cheesy western themed (not going to lie I was a little worried). Then back to the hotel for the night.
Sunday we went to the park again to see the side we hadn't been to, looked at some painted pots, bubbling mud holes and more animals, then headed back to Rexburg. Cody's family was quite disappointed that no where in town was open for dinner (remember it's Sunday). We ended up eating at jack in the box and was reminded why I never eat there. But later felt stupid when we remembered Apple Bee's was open. Then more hot tubbing, which really might've been the highlights of my weekend.
It was nice of them to brave the 12 hour drive to come down, but I think Cody's mom really missed him. Julie really enjoyed seeing the place where Cody goes to school and overall approved of the place (good thing she didn't come in the winter, but saw it in it's pretty spring state).

My mommy sent me a care package that the Uskoski's delivered to me. Included were two potatoes and some potato rifles. Best toy ever. We just went outside my apartment and just went at it. People would walk by with either giant smiles or really confused looks. One girl asked if we were shooting potatoes at each other, which when we said yeah she just started cracking up saying "only in Idaho...haha". I ended up with potato bits all over my shirt and hair (don't wear black to a potato fight). But we're thinking of buying some more potatoes and making this a new hobby. :) only in Idaho.


Midterms are OVER!! I can't believe I'm past the half-way mark of my semester. It is quite bittersweet. I'm glad to have some projects behind me, knowing there is only a few left. But I really love my classes and the opportunities each of them give me. This is the last time I'll really be getting this kind of instruction from this caliber of teachers. I'm glad I'm almost done (believe me, I need a vacation), but I'm not glad I'm almost done. I'm definitely going to miss my roommates and just the college setting. This is the time of life that everybody says "enjoy, because this is the only time you'll get to do this". While I am enjoying it and it's going to be very hard to grow up and move on to other things.

Cody, his roommates Shane and Dan and me are all playing on a RecSports Soccer team. I really didn't think I was going to play sports this semester but I'm glad I chanced upon this team. It has been really fun. I haven't played soccer since high school and it feels good to be out there again. I thought I might've forgotten everything but it always amazes me at how much my body can remember. Cody and Shane are amazing forwards and players so it's really fun to watch them just go in and tear it up. I don't think I could've handled being in the hype of the World Cup and not being able to play, so I'm really glad I get to get all this pent up soccer energy out of my system. We've won 2 games and lost 1 (the last win coming down to a PK shoot out, with Cody scoring the last winning shot).

Really right now I'm just getting more and more excited about meeting my niece. It is killing me being so far away from it now that it's getting down to D-Day (or would it be b-day....).

Just forty more days until home.