It's been a while...

I know I know, it seems like Mark and I have dropped off the face of the planet with this three week old post here. I guess we kinda feel like we have life has been so busy. Mark works 25-35 hours a week and is taking 17 credits. I work about 8 hours (research) and am taking 15 credits in three different locations. Yes, there are those days when dishes don't get done for 5 days in a row and the laundry piles up for two weeks just because we don't have time! seesh. I can't believe Fall is already so far gone.


But despite our 14+ hour work days Mark and I still find time to have our share of fun. Truly, is is one of the things we do best. This Falls activities have included a couple camping trips, making homemade apple cider donuts, drives up the canyon, biking, halloween decorations, a J-dog party at the house, rock climbing, and a sweet movie night (thanks Evansons for the projector).

Other fabulous news: Mark got his MCAT score back and he absolutely nailed it! We are oh so excited. That blasted test stole him away for two whole summers, but it payed off and we are incredibly grateful. I have never seen anyone work so hard, so long. He is such a great example to me in so many ways - this is just one. Talk about work ethic. Way to go my sweet!

I also realized I never posted about the wedding: my big brother Dane was married on September 25 to Tracie. They are such a beautiful couple - she handles Dane so well! hah. It was a perfect day and so wonderful to see two pure, incredible people be sealed in the Temple. Really I have never seen Dane giddy before this day - he was all smiles. And Tracie was gorgeous, this picture doesn't do her justice. Included are a few pics from that day:

Sibling smoosh - here we all are.

Had to have a least one of my favorite niece in here...she is such a joy!

And this one of my mom, just because she looks so great in this picture.

...he is so dang cute.

Now for a couple by Mark
(these don't do the acutal photos justice...blogger just doesn't have the greatest image quality)

I don't know what it is about this one but I just love it!


And this is the random one.
The hummingbird whisperer you see here is my 83 year old grandpa,
who we call Baba-jun (farsi).
He really does tame wild birds. I remember sitting at his house
in California when I was a little girl. We were eating
breakfast and he told me to hold very still as he placed a peanut
in my ear.
Shortly after a blue jay came out of nowhere,
hopped onto my shoulder and gingerly plucked the peanut out of
my ear.
No joke.
That's Baba-jun. One with all nature, ha.
He is also the 84 year old who is passing you on the ski slopes.
Still skiing 3-5 days a week in the winter.
What a great example to me.

Wow, how does that make up for three weeks of lost time??