U2, baby!!

I can't tell you how long I've been waiting for this day!  Probably about a year and a half since we first bought tickets!  As most of you probably know, they had to postpone their June 2010 show because of Bono's emergency back surgery.  We were super disappointed when he injured himself, but ooh boy, it was SO worth the wait!  U2 is probably my favorite group ever.  I could listen to their music all day every day and it would never get old!  And let me tell you... They put on one HECK of a show!  

It was I N C R E D I B L E ! ! !

Sitting in our seats. We didn't have the closest seats, we were right in the middle, but I LOVED it because you could see everything!!!  [since "the claw" type stage was freakin' ginormous!]

Our group!  Jared, me, mom, dad, Heather, Kelly, Becky, Dave.

That stage was a m a z i n g ! ! !

Oh, I was SO ready to rock!

Apparently this is Jared's ready-to-rock face... Nice, honey.

The Fray opened the night!  I love The Fray, so I had a blast!

Waiting for U2 [who took their sweet time, by the way... 1.5 hrs after The Fray]... check out all those people!

This screen was incredible!  Most of the time it was a normal screen at the top, but it would stretch out like this too, SO COOL!

The one and only...   :)  BONO!

Wow!  Seriously, that stage was so amazing, there are no words!

Everyone with their cell phone lights :) Looked awesome!

How awesome is this?!

Take advantage of this video, it only took me 2 days to figure out how to edit it so that blogger would stop giving me an error when I tried to upload it.  And I still had to cut the video in half.  I swear, blogspot hates me!  Anyways, this is most definitely one of my favorite songs [City of Blinding Lights], so I'm sorry that the sound is really crappy [it was pretty dang loud] and my camera isn't the best at taking videos.  But I hope you get a feel for how awesome the stage/concert was! 

Well, as you can certainly tell, U2 was absolutely amazing.  I can't wait for the next time they come to Utah, because I sure as heck am going!!!  

23rd Birthday!

Wow, this is probably going to be a long post!  I just had the best birthday and there are so many pictures I want to share!  :)  So bear with me!  This year my birthday was on a Sunday, which can be not so fun... Except it gave me a reason to celebrate all weekend long!  :)  It was pretty relaxing overall--just what I needed!

Jared and I hung out at the park for a good chunk of the day.  It was so nice outside and there was an awesome bike race going on at Sugarhouse Park just for my birthday!...okay, maybe that part was a coincidence, but I think it sounds better saying it was all for ME!  So that was for sure fun... Except I have to share this awful story-- As soon as we got there [you can still see the crowd behind us in the pic], there had been an accident.  We didn't think much of it because bikers crash quite frequently.  But apparently a 4 year old little girl had run out in front of the bike pack...  Needless to say, it was a heartbreaking sight.  The poor thing had to be taken away in an ambulance :( I sure hope she's okay!

Beautiful day at the park!

After a nice day at the park, I had to take some pictures with my baby of course!  My sweet Maxy baby bought me a nice card [small excerpt from the card-- "Thank you for cleaning my poopy fur and clipping my nails. I will try not to bite you so much."] and some pretty flowers  :)  Isn't he so thoughtful??

Max loves his Mama :)

Next stop... THE MELTING POT!!!  Oh goodness, I sure do love this place!  I have a good reason too, since Jared proposed to me there!  :)  But seriously, could food taste any better?!  Oh, I had been so excited for this place for months!  I don't think I have ever eaten so much in my entire life...  It's two days later, and I still feel sick at the sight of food!

 

After our absolutely amazing dinner, I had to walk it off, so once again we headed to the park.  Oh man, I seriously don't remember the last time I felt so full.  I probably could have stopped after the second course of our four course meal!!!  But no way in heck could you have kept me from eating all that amazing food!

Check out my poor food baby :(

I had the best weekend!  A wonderful Saturday with the best hubby in the whole wide world, a great Sunday spent with family...  I am just so blessed!  Thank you to all my amazing family and friends who took the time to think of me and wish me a happy birthday!  I really am so grateful for all those around me and I don't know where I'd be without a single one of you!  I love all of you!  Especially, and most of all, my sweet husband Jared.  Thank you for everything you did for me this weekend [let alone what you do for me ALL the time!]...  I love you so, so much and don't know what I would do without you. 

I am SO blessed!!!

Jared's New Toy :)

For Jared's graduation gift, I told him that he could finally buy his long-awaited mountain bike that he's been saving for, and I'd pay the difference [since, of course, Jared wanted the fanciest bike].  So, yesterday, we went to Bingham Cyclery and he finally got to buy his bike, helmet, biker shorts [not the spandex-type, don't worry], and biking gloves!!!  I must say, I thought for sure I'd have buyer's remorse as soon as we walked away, but his bike is actually really cool!  I am for sure kind of jealous... I might have to buy me one now!

At Pioneer Park [across from Bingham Cyclery] showing off his new toy!

Testing out his shocks... Pretty intense, if I do say so myself!

Jared picked out a 2011 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp, whatever the heck that means... But it's amazing, nonetheless!  We got to go test it out on part of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail last night after it stopped raining, and although it's way too big for me [I nearly killed myself trying to get off because my feet couldn't touch the ground... good thing Jared was there to catch me or I would have some nasty scrapes!], we had a blast!!!

Jared in his gear before his ride!

Jared is off riding the Shoreline again right now [look how pro he looks in his gear!], and I'm sad I couldn't go with him... But hopefully we can save up so that I can get a cheap bike for me so we can go riding together!  So if anyone wants a biking buddy, I'm sure Jared will be up for the challenge since he has a lot more free time now!

Race For The Cure!

In celebration of my mom, our family has gone to the Race For The Cure from year one [the year she was diagnosed with breast cancer].  With the exception of one year [my best friend's wedding], we have gone every year!!!  It always surprises me how much the crowd grows year after year!  The first year there were only a few hundred, and this year there were over 20,000 participants!!  It is such a fun time, and this year was my first time actually running the 5K, so it was an extra fun time for me!  Although I must say... It was really hot while running and dodging all the walkers and strollers... ugh!

All the runners... Plus two little ones who felt left out :)

The whole fam! [minus my brother Dave's family, we missed you!]

Jared was my support!  Thanks love for staying with me the whole race :) I know it was hard for you to not finish #1 for once... But I am so thankful that I had you to support me through the whole ~3.1 miles~ ...whoopty-doo!  But it meant a lot to me!  Next stop, RAGNAR!

Of course, the whole point of this race was my mom.  She's coming up on 15 years cancer free, and I couldn't be more proud :) I will always remember how optimistic and loving she still was while going through chemotherapy.  I never once heard her complain, not even when she had every right in the world to be upset.  She was diagnosed the day before my 8th birthday, and the fact that she waited until after my birthday to tell the family must say something about how selfless she is, right?

I love you Moo Moo, you are truly an inspiration to me and many others around you.  XoXoX

Graduation Day!!!

Neither of us can believe the day came, but Jared finally graduated with his Bachelor's Degree (HONORS degree, mind you) in Philosophy!!  I am SO proud of him!  You are truly an example to me Jared, thank you for all your hard work, in absolutely everything you do!!!  I'm sure it will pay off! 

It sure was a windy day, but other than that it was perfect!!  It definitely made me want to work harder for my own degree!  Ahh, it seems so far away...

Also, congratulations to our brother-in-law Ryan!!!  Or should I say DOCTOR RYAN!!!  He graduated with his Pharmacy degree the exact same hour Jared graduated, so we were super sad we didn't get to go to both graduations.  But it was fun meeting up afterward and taking pictures with everyone!  We are thrilled he was finally offered a job (only a few minutes before graduation)!!!  Now they can stay in Utah and raise little baby Crew around family! :)

For his big day, I gave Jared the gift of being able to pick out his Specialized mountain bike that he's been saving for!  So I'm sure that will be a future blog post!

Congratulations again sweetheart, I love you so much!  You are truly my hero!!!  Now it's my turn to concentrate on school.....!