M4NTHS

4 months of marriage means about 4 months in Portland, and the summer is coming to an end. This is the first Fall in 16 YEARS where I DON'T HAVE SCHOOL! Which kind of means a longer summer, right? But at the same time, I went to Bath & Body Works the other day and smelled the most DELICIOUS candle (Pumpkin Caramel Latte) and I just about died--so although I don't want summer to end, I also want fall to start! Anyways, the summer has brought us many adventures, and so here's a picture book version of our latest and greatest (heads up: TONS of pictures!)

People from Payton's work put a Softball team together, so here's to my first softball season ever! Of course, Payton was a stud out there.

Part of the team! Photo credit to Melanie :)

Typical Sonic run after a game :)

My sister graduated from the Utah College of Dental Hygiene! So a Utah road trip was in order.

bff Alex graduated as well!

We went on a muddy razor ride in Utah with the fam, and it was the grandest of times!

We hiked to the Timp caves..

...and ended our adventure by going to Hokulias.

Of course we had to go to Cafe Rio...

...and obviously Slab as well :) Yay for Utah trips!

Then, a couple of weeks ago, Payton and I paid a visit to the Portland Rose Garden, because who doesn't love an impromptu stroll through scented heaven? Seriously though, I'm in love with the smell of roses! Just a peak at some of our favorites:

(and I didn't even edit these!)

So here's a story for you. Payton went to San Francisco last week for a few days on a business trip, and as a result, I was just looking for things to do. One Wednesday night I was reading a book on our couch, and I heard some loud music coming from a few blocks outside. So naturally, I had to go see what was going on over in our hood. I walked to the park that was down the street, and there had to be a couple thousand people there enjoying food booths and a free concert!  I had to know more, so I asked a random lady what the shindig was all about, and she said the park holds a free concert every Wednesday night over the summer. WHAT?? I was already telling myself "I can't wait till Payton is back so we can go to one next week" when she then said this was the last week they were doing it until next summer. Of course that would happen to me. But I didn't let the bad news stop me from enjoying the "here and now" so I decided to go into the middle of the crowd and dance the night away all by myself (except for the fact I tried to find a place where other single ladies were dancing so I wouldn't appear so "alone and single"). I spent a while singing along to POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME, SWEET HOME ALABAMA, ANY WAY YOU WANT IT and YOU SHOOK ME ALL NIGHT LONG, until the concert ended and the field lights came on. Which meant the entire field went from "concert lights" to "as bright as can be." Which meant time for me to leave because I didn't want all of Lake Oswego to know that I went to a concert all by myself. But really, it was great fun and now I can't wait till next summer!

And then there was Labor Day weekend. (September is clearly the best month...a holiday, my birthday, a mix of summer and fall...perfection to say the least!) Anyways, Payton and I went to Bend this past weekend, and it was great just like it always is!

We hiked the butte, which is where we got engaged last November! Perfect view of the city.

Also went putting with these peeps...

and spent Saturday paddle boarding and kayaking with this guy of mine :) 

So don't worry guys, you are now up-to-date! And within the next few weeks, we will be doing the COLOR RUN and going to CHICAGO, so stay tuned all you wonderful people! And since I have to end with my latest projects...

I made this as a wedding present for one of my best friends from BYU. Half of the heart is where he is from, and the other half is where she is from :) Shout out to Ryan & McKenzie!

We love you all,

us