2 Years

Yesterday the 22nd was our 2 year anniversary since Derek and my first date!

On our first date we went to a Volcanoes baseball game with our friends Jeff and Brianne (now married as well) and later went to Coldstone for ice cream where Derek "touched my back and it sent chills down my spine" as I remember. Later we went to my house and talked to my mom as she was scrapbooking until 1am.

Thank you so much for the most wonderful 2 years Derek. You have helped me to become a better person and are my support and rock. I love you!

Derek turns 25!

Sunday was Derek's 25th birthday! I made it back from Utah just in time. We had German pancakes in the morning, went to church in the afternoon and then had Thai peanut butter chicken and rice for dinner. Later the boys and thier girlfriends from the office came over to surprise Derek with a Hannah Montana pinata! We all enjoyed Crazy cake (a moist oatmeal cake) and ice cream. I was full of gifts because I brought gifts from my family. Derek got some shirts and shorts, books, and an electric shaver!

This is the first birthday I have actually been with Derek. His 23rd was two days before our first date and he was in Missouri for his 24th. Happy Birthday honey I love you!

Kathryn Strawn and Aaron Oldham

My cousin is officially married! I got to go to Utah this weekend to see the blessed event. This was my first time being a bridesmaid! Her colors were green and white and the reception was outside in his uncle's backyard. There were great green apples and limes as well as beautiful cheesecakes and the multi-level backyard was excellent for sitting, socializing and dancing! It was wonderful to go to the WHOLE wedding inside the Salt Lake Temple and be part of the wedding. I loved seeing my family - Mom, Tiffany, Pam and Don and Nikki, Benson, Corbett, Nate, Jo and of course Kayti and our new family member Aaron! Congratulations you two - enjoy the Oregon Coast for the week!

And I tag Katie and Emily because they are my new blogger buddies! :)

Picture Tag!

I am using this from Nicole and tagging Kayti and Laura because I know they'll do it :)

1. Go to http://www.flickr.com/( or images.google.com )

2. Type in your answer to the question in the search box

3. Use your favorite image of the subject.
4. Copy the html and paste for the answer.

My hometown: Salem, Oregon

Favorite hobby: reading and most recently... cooking! (but I'm just learning :)

Favorite vehicle: Shelby Mustang...yeah

Dream Career: Dental Hygienist - and I'm going to do it!

Guilty pleasure: Gilmore Girls!!

Favorite Restaurant: right now....Rudy's BBQ!

Favorite Flower: Gerber Daisy!

Favorite Color: today....yellow

Favorite Vacation Spot: well I haven't really been that many places yet, but I truly love the Oregon Coast!

Good news!

Announcement!!

Derek received the internship we were hoping for this school year! He is going to be working at the Bannock Development Center (BDC). This will be a great way for him to practice marketing skills and make great contacts in Pocatello (Bannock is the county we live in). The BDC helps smaller companies improve and grow. I am so proud of Derek and his initiative. He looked into this job and got it!

Callings!

I forgot to mention! Derek and I both received callings. Derek is the Priest's Quorum advisor. He is filling in for a member who will be gone for the summer so it is perfect. He is reflecting the important lessons he learned at ages 16-18 and thinking of stories to teach these boys such principles. He will do a fantastic job! And I am the new Primary Pianist! Because I normally am without a car during the day and no access to a piano the Primary presidency helped me out. I am borrowing a very nice keyboard from a member for the summer. It sits on a folding long table we have and has a pedal and everything! The one this is you have the set it up to speakers in order for it to make noise. There is that option or using headphones. The members who own the keyboard also gave me headphones so now I can play as loud as I want during the day (because we're in apartments) and nobody will be bothered! It is so wonderful to be playing and practicing again. I love it! And the primary chorister is amazing. She is young with two kids and so creative every week to keep those wiggly children paying attention.

I am so grateful for our callings and how our first family ward as a married couple has made us feel so welcome. Thanks McNeil ward!!

"Tall Texas Bar and Grill" is a NO!

Wow it has already been 6 months!! Derek and I wanted to celebrate so we went to a town called Cottonwood Springs were he had to make a "service call". It was close to where we were going to go for dinner in Horseshoe Bay. The drive was a long curvy road but beautiful scenery and huge homes! When we got to the customers house and Derek was helping with their VCR (which kind of did need to be checked on) I looked around and noticed lots of woodworking magazines and homemade puzzles and boxes. Then the husband asked me how I liked my box....I turned to Derek and then back to the customer and said "I'm not sure if I'm supposed to know about that". It was funny. Once we left Derek had in fact purchased a jewelry box from the family and gave it to me. It's African mahogany, shaped in a rectangle about 10" x 6" x 3". The top is carved through and it says "Derek and Shelby Moss Summer 2008 Austin Texas". What a sweet memory from Texas. Thank you honey!!

The restaurant we chose to go to that night was called "Tall Texas Bar and Grill". We figured it'd be like an Applebee's or something. We looked at a review and the chef was Pres. Clinton's chef, the steak was melt in your mouth, and the apple pie and cinnamon ice cream dessert was to die for. We thought we'd take a chance. We get there and it's definately a bar...but there is a non smoking area and we're seated. It's not as fancy as we imagined but we sat down. As we looked at the menu there was no steak options at all. There was steakcheese sandwiches, which Derek decided to try, but no steak. Well we were already there and didn't have an alternative plan so we stayed....It was the greasest food we have ever had. I couldn't finish my food. And once we left I immediately had a stomachache. However, while we were there we met a nice family who had a vacation home and they mentioned a light house. We drove by and saw more amazingly beautiful vacation homes. However, we were sick and it was time to go home.

Just another adventure in Austin, Texas! Next week: 4th of July in San Antonio. We're going to see the Alamo and the Riverwalk!