Porter and Fern

The day after Valentine's Day, James and I drove out to Duchesne, UT.  I needed to do some stuff for work out that way, so James decided to join me and we made a day of it. For as long as James can remember, he spent a week every summer at his grandpa's farm in Duchesne.  It is also where Sondra (my most outstanding mother-in-law) grew up.  James has so many wonderful stories about his grandparents and time spent on the farm in Duchesne.  I was excited to go see all the places I've heard about.
Before we headed out of town, we went to Eggs in the City for breakfast.  This is one of James' favorite places for breakfast in Salt Lake.  Since we didn't go out for dinner on Valentine's Day, we decided to go out for breakfast the next morning.

It was delicious!  Eating out for breakfast is so fun!  Then it was on to Duchesne.  I've driven all over the state of Utah for work, but driving out east on US-40 is one of my favorite drives.  When we got to Duchesne, we went straight to Grandma and Grandpa Merrell's old home and farm.

It was neat to see the house and land where James spent so much time with his grandparents.  It was also kind of sad to see how run down it has become.  James describes "grandma's house" as immaculate with flowers everywhere and perfectly in order.  The house looks like its abandoned now.

Here is Grandpa Merrell's old barn.

This was grandpa's farm.  He raised sheep and had cows.  James told me a story of going with grandpa to the auto service shop and borrowing a bunch of old tires and taking them up to the top of that little mountain rolling the tires down onto the farm.  Then they would drive down, gather the tires, and take them back to the shop.

Grandma and Grandpa Merrell are buried in Bluebell, UT, so we took a little detour on way home out to Bluebell.

William P. Merrell was James' great grandpa.

There's the blue bell in Bluebell!

I feel like I know Porter and Fern from all the stories James has told me.  They were incredible people.  I look forward to when I can meet them!  I feel so blessed to be married to a man who has such an amazing heritage.  We both feel so blessed to come from amazing heritage for that matter.  It motivates us to live righteously so we can see them all again someday.  Party in the CK with Porter and Fern, Harvey and Della, Harold and Edda, Allan and Marvada, and everyone who went before them!  It will be awesome!

We saw a bald eagle on the way home.  A perfect ending to our little day trip!

V-Day!

Our first Valentine's Day as wedded folks!  It was so fun!  I came out in the morning to find this on the kitchen table...

I have the sweetest husband!  Yes, that is all my favorite See's candies!

Actually, Valentine's Day started on February 1 for me.  I sat down at my desk and found a little Valentine's Day card that said one reason that James loves me with one of my favorite See's candies.  Then a similar card and candy magically appeared every single day until the 14th.  He sure loves me!
I let James open one of his presents in the morning and he had some for breakfast...

A fancy sea salt dark chocolate bar.

See all those cool mugs?  That's what James got me!  I was desperate need of some Pero/herbal tea mugs around here, so he bought me a variety.  I love them!  Then we made breakfast together...spinach feta omelet and sweet potato hash browns.

James worked for part of the day, and then we went to the temple.

Then we came home and made a delicious dinner...

Prime rib, strawberry spinach salad with feta and candied roasted almonds, roasted asparagus, fingerling potatoes, sauteed mushrooms, and Brazilian lemonade

We know how to do food around here!

Then James opened his other present.  We were watching Top Chef one night and the finale was in Hawaii.  Sam Choy was a guest judge and James made a comment that he would love one of his cookbooks.  Done and done!

Our dessert was specifically catered to me...my very most favorite...

Chocolate chip cookie dough, warm cookies, and vanilla ice cream.  Heaven!

Wanna know what else is heaven?  Being married to this guy!  He is my best friend, biggest support, and the most caring, thoughtful, selfless person I know.  Sure love him!

Boring Super Bowl

Well, the 49ers blew it again this year.  We were Super Bowl bound and then all the sudden we weren't.  We celebrated the Super Bowl anyway with James' family.  They always have a big party.  Here is a panoramic of the theater room.  It is followed by our faces with how boring the game was.  Stupid Seahawks!  Hate those guys!

Until next year 49ers...