Seattle

        We had so much fun in Seattle with our families last week! We did soooo much I can't even believe we squeezed it all in! It really is the most amazing place and we spent a fair amount of our trip discussing and dreaming about our future living there (fingers crossed)! Here are some photos from my iPhone of some of the cool things we were able to do :)

Mariner's game! We lost but it was still pretty magical to get to go to a baseball game :)

Like really, how dreamy is Safeco. I mean really.

On my Dad's birthday we spent the morning at the Tacoma Glass Museum. We saw a bunch of Chihuly's stuff and it was so cool to watch people blowing glass (in a workshop that was like a million degrees). Impressive stuff.

This is the marina just outside the museum. Must. Live. Near. Water. 

In the afternoon we golfed (it was my first time and I was pretty terrible) but my dad got a birdie! Is that what it's called? Haha, I'm excited to try to improve my swing with more practice ;)

These are some cupcakes I baked for my Dad's birthday! I made the raspberry lemon cheesecake and coconut cream cupcakes from Your Cup of Cake which I CANNOT recommend enough. She's brilliant. They were delicious.

We spent the night at Mitch's family's cabin at the base of Mount Rainier and ate breakfast at The Highlander. I had the best giant pancake of my life. It was stuffed with huckleberries. I'm still dreaming about it.

August 28 marked our one year wedding anniversary! Before we got married, we agreed to visit the temple every year on our anniversary to perform sealings. I highly recommend it!

We are super in love.

Obviously.

Six years, folks. Picture on the left is only a couple months into dating and the picture on the right is on our one year wedding anniversary. Time flies!

The day after our anniversary we got to come back to the temple to see Mitch's mission companion get sealed! It was so lovely.

Weddings are just the best. (Mitch was a groomsman, hence the uncharacteristic suspenders)

Their reception was in La Conner, about an hour north of Seattle. It is the most darling town in the world. Ending up in La Conner would be okay by me.

Oh, yeah. And then we had to drive home which mostly sucked. But at least I got to snuggle up in the backseat of the truck for most of the drive.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy birthday to this bright spirit! She's kind, intelligent, persistent and strong. The world is an infinitely better place with her in it. Trust me. 

Marriage Perks

I'm a firm believer in marriage and it's the little things that make it the absolute best. Here are a few of my favorite parts of being married to Mitch ;)

1. Random notes, texts or towel swans waiting for me when I least expect it
2. Waking up to arms around me
3. A patient and skilled ukelele instructor
4. Someone to watch all my favorite shows with (read: The Astronaut Wives Club)
5. Having a personal builder of custom furniture (I know, spoiled)
6. That look of pure love in his eyes when I'm listening to my favorite song
7. Someone who makes me feel like Gisele Bundchen when I feel (and probably look) like Edna Mode
8. Someone to hold hands with at church
9. Someone who totally gets my favorite place because it's his, too (Seattle)
10. Forehead kisses, amirite?

Songs I Can't (won't) Stop Listening To

        The following is a compiled list of my favorite songs from the past few years. They are so powerful to me; they each have literally induced chills and/or tears at some point in my life. I can't express eloquently or completely enough how much music means to me and connects to the deepest parts of my soul. I will just let these songs speak for me:

P.S. 

All of these make great belt-out-in-the-shower songs! Tested and approved ;)