Happy Birthday Nathan

Disclaimer: This blog is kind of a catch-all


My most wonderful husband turned 26 on Tuesday September 15th. Birthdays have always been a big deal in my family. Both my brother and I get very excited during the time of year when people start mentioning presents and especially a day all about us. For anyone who has been around me about a month before my birthday knows this about me. And I have always been pained by Nathan's lack of exuberance for his birthday. To him, it is just another day! WHAT???? Did I just hear that correctly??? Yes.... just another day!!!

This year I asked him if he could eat anywhere in the world where would he want to eat. His response.... Texas Roadhouse. A usual stop for us when it comes to going out so I was a little disappointed that it wasn't that special. But we were joined by good friends and family.
We have also been extremely busy this month with horse shows. September 10 - 13 we were in South Jordan, Utah for the Affiliate Finals and Derby. This last Wednesday through Friday Nathan went back down to Ogden for the Heritage Derby. And Wednesday we are going back down to South Jordan, Utah for the Arabian Autumn Classic. Then the following Monday I am leaving for the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Finals. I am going down to help out Annie Reynolds, Nate's old boss, with her sale horses. Whew, what a month. It has been slightly overwhelming but we are managing.
Also, as I was downloading the pictures from Nathan's birthday I found these pictures from a while ago. My dad is a huge golfer and he gave Nathan and I his old set of clubs. We have gone to the driving range and find it a nice way to spend the afternoon away from the horses. One visit we had to Sacramento we went to the driving range with my dad and these are some of the pictures from our time. We both play pretty well for two people who have no idea what they are doing.

Our First Visitors

We have officially had our first visitors in our new home. One of my dearest friends Mike Matthews and his wife Brooke drove up from Salt Lake City on Thursday and then sadly left yesterday. Mike is one of the first people I met when I first moved to Salt Lake. We had a political philosophy class together and sat next to each other and complained about how much we didn't like the class. And we have stayed friends ever since. He got married to Brooke a year ago and I got to be in the sealing room during their wedding, one of my favorite memories. She is an awesome addition to have to the friendship.

They drove up to not only hang out but to ride some horses and shoot some shotguns. It was fun being able to share what Nathan and I do everyday with them. The horses were awesome and everyone learned a lot this weekend. On Saturday Mike, Brooke, and I went out in the middle of nowhere and shot some shotguns. Nathan didn't get to come because he had to stay behind and work a horse for one of our clients.

They stayed through church on Sunday to listen to Nathan and I talk in church. Yes, we had to speak in Sacrament meeting. We spoke on the Be Attitudes that President Hinckley came up with. I think it was one our best so I was pleased. I am so grateful for good friends and thank you to Mike and Brooke for coming to visit.

Never be left behind....

Our little puppy, who isn't very little or a puppy, is so attached to Nathan and I. He goes out everyday with Nathan and hangs out in the barn or makes himself a nice little spot in the arena while Nathan rides around. Whenever we are getting ready to travel somewhere he always gets nervous when we start packing our bags because he thinks he is going to get left behind. As soon as the car door opens, he dashing in his seat and WILL NOT get out.

So last weekend we were in Malad for Preston's wedding and by Sunday he was thinking we had been there long enough and every time the car door opened he would dash in and take his seat, even if we were just trying to go to church. When it came time to leave Nathan took one of the bags to the car he opened the trunk, put a bag in, and left to get more stuff for the trunk. A few minutes later we were visiting in the kitchen and Nathan looks out the window and sees this....

Brady will do anything not to be left behind.

Preston & Lisa

My wonderful brother in law married the sweetest girl in the world on Thursday August, 13, 2009. They were married in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple, which is extremely pretty. I was always worried because Nathan and Preston spend lots of time together going to horse shows for days at a time, I wanted Preston to marry someone cool so I could hang out with someone else besides those two. And I am so pleased that Lisa joined the Kent family. It was a beautiful wedding and Nathan looked so smashing in his tuxedo.

Vehicle Graveyard

For my birthday my amazing husband, dad, and mom all pitched in to buy me my new camera. It's a Canon professional camera and I am in love with it. Just around the corner and down the road a little is what I call a vehicle graveyard, or where all old vehicles come to rest. It is about an acre filled with old vehicles of every shape and size. I have always had a random thought that it would be a great place to take some pictures. Yesterday I was on my way home from shooting sale horse videos in Glenns Ferry and as I was driving along on my way home I decided I was going to stop at this vehicle graveyard. The lighting was magnificent, the sun was on its way down and I was in love. I into the drive of this place, not realizing that someone actually lived there. The nicest old man, Slim, came out and met and let me wonder around and take pictures around his place. I left the place in a euphoric trance. Here are some of my favorites...

Birthday Vacation

I have the best husband in the world. My birthday was on July 23 and I turned 24.... man I feel old. I told my hubby that I wanted to go white water rafting for my birthday and he made it happen. We went to Jackson Hole and his cousin Andy was our guide. It ended up being Andy his wife Andrea and Nathan's family all floating the river.


The drive to Jackson Hole is so enjoyable. The road travels over hills and mountains covered in lush greens. It was a stark contrast against the bright blue afternoon sky. Floating along the river we saw about 6 bald eagles sitting high in the tree tops along the river bank. And a beaver building his home along the side of the rocks. I have only seen a bald eagle once or twice in a zoo but it was amazing to see them in their natural habitat. I was unable to get pictures of them because we couldn't bring cameras on the boat. Saturday evening after a short nap we walked around downtown Jackson and had dinner at the Silver Dollar Grill. It was a great historic restaurant, one of the first in the town. Sunday morning we woke up early and walked to breakfast at Jedediah's, home of delicious hand made sourdough pancakes. After breakfast we did some shopping and I visited my favorite shop, Moose Be Christmas. An amazing little shop full of amazing Christmas decorations. I love Christmas decorations, I wish I could keep them out year round. On our way home we stopped at the Idaho Falls Temple, walked around the temple, and took lots of pictures.

Wakeboarding

Saturday Nathan and I had the opportunity to go to Owyhee Lake and go boating and wakeboarding all day. We were invited by Darren, our horse shoer and his family and their brand new hurricane wakeboard boat. Nathan has never been out on the water except for his grandpa's little fishing boat. Wakeboarding is one of my all time favorite summer activities. There is nothing better than being on the water on a hot summer day.

I do give it to the man... he never gave up. The first thing Nathan tried was knee boarding just to get the feel of being pulled behind the boat. He tried about 10 times and wasn't able to get his knees pulled up onto the board. But he did get really good at just laying on the board and being pulled. After a short break he tried his hand at wakeboarding. After swallowing half the lake and pushing water like a pro it was time for another break. And then later he tried the air chair. Side note: Darren makes the air chair look super easy and is fabulous on it. He was getting at least ten to fifteen feet of air across the wake. So Nathan decided to give that a try and thirty tries later couldn't quite get the hang of it. I was then worrying that he was going to hate the water and I was never going to get him back on a boat.

After a little longer break, and watching everyone else go again on the wakeboard, he decided to give that one more shot. And he finally got it! I was so happy, he figured out how to get up like a pro and then just had to figure out the steering and balance. He said he had a good time and would do it again. Phew!!

Here are some pictures of Nathan and all his attempts and Darren on the air chair. There aren't any of me because I guess no one else knows how to use a camera. But I was figuring out how to get air over the wake. It was a very good wakeboarding day for me.