Loving the Sunshine!

Springtime has arrived, and we could not be happier. The past few weeks have not only been sunny but warm! Hallelujah! Get ready for a photo overload.

First, though, I have to dedicate a section to the wonderful weekend spent in Utah! As a Christmas present to Lindsay and I, Paul booked me flights to and from Salt Lake City. I miss so many people in Utah now that we're up here. It was so great to visit with my sister, grandparents, aunts/uncles, sister-in-laws, niece/nephew-in-laws (is that a thing?), cousins, a few hometown friends, and even my momma who was in town. 

 It was about a 40 hr trip-- quick, but perfect. I so appreciate Paul coordinating and sending me off to visit my loved ones for a few days. Thanks, Pabs!

I loved the quality sister time...

I love my seester!

CPK: our classic "sister date restaurant"

Pepperoni & pineapple...YUM! :)

And it was so nice to see some of the Moss & Avery clan. Can't believe we were around when this cute boy was born-- he's already so grown up!

Aaron Paul

In fact, there were lots of cute kiddos to see in Utah...including Baby Brynne! We were lucky to get to be there for her baby blessing. What a doll! Congrats on your growing family, Melissa & Justin! :)

Lee girls reunited + new addition Brynne Lee Weight!

Baby B fan club

I even got to stop by and see my dear fellow Kansan Melanie & her hubs Andrew! Love ya- come visit!

Ignore our creepster glowing eyes?

There are so many more friends & relatives we need to see in Provo, and we are in the midst of planning another weekend trip if possible- this time together! It was sad to leave, but the gorgeous weather + husband awaiting in Seattle certainly lessened the blow.

The sunshine has allowed for a few really fun dates & outings over the past few weeks. Here are a few:

The Mariner's Game: 

Through work, Paul scored some tickets for a Seattle Mariner's baseball game. It had been awhile since  either of us had been to a baseball game, so we were stoked. We also got free t-shirts...score!

Snoqualmie Falls: 

Paul discovered this gem on one of his long runs. One weeknight we both got off work while the sun was still shining, and we decided to take advantage. We stopped by Snoqaulmie Falls then ate at Herfy's, a local diner. It was a fabulous night of sightseeing and burger-eating. Don't even get me started on the chocolate milkshake. I was in heaven. 

Why yes, that is a rainbow!

And just last night we were able to stop by Kylie and Fayoz's wedding reception! We are so excited for the happy couple. Since we were dressed up, we made a date out of it. We stumbled upon this beautiful public park/beach area up in Kirkland called Juanita Beach. We were there just in time for the sunset.

He is so good-looking! I am a lucky girl.

I guess that is all for now. We're excited to see what May has in store for us. We are looking forward to summer, and a few visits from family and friends pretty soon here. Hope everyone is having a relaxing Sunday! :)

April 23rd

1 year ago this week Paul and I graduated from Brigham Young University! We were lucky enough to both walk in April and have our awesome families there. Go Cougs! Thank goodness that means no more finals, but we sure do miss classes and learning. 

   

Paul was there too, I promise! I just can't for the life of me find a pic! (Embarrassing) 

2 years ago today Paul and I went on our very first official date. Even as I type this, I know that this date may not technically have been our first. Throughout much of April there had been phone calls, "can I pick you up at eight?"s, and witty text messages exchanged. It's completely up for debate...BUT the date of which I speak involved a concert, a trip to the park, and (if memory serves?) a couple of cookies from Subway. No picture exists of the evening, sadly... but just know that good times were had by all.

I'll instead include a picture of the other "first official date." Paul took me to Seussical the Musical, then we made green eggs & ham. :) Creative or what??

26 years ago today my parents were sealed in the Provo, Utah temple. Thank goodness! Where on earth would I be without them?? They are the best team...continually supportive and encouraging. Together they accomplish so much, and the years have only made them stronger. I can't believe Lindsay and I lucked out getting to be their children! Thanks, parents, for making the decision to get hitched! We are all so happy that you did :)

We Caved.

It's true, folks. As I hinted at in my last post, we have indeed gone hippie. Kind of. It was bound to happen if we lived here long enough, it just happened sooner than I thought. I guess it's been a combination of Paul's ambition and interest in all things organic and natural and my reluctant realization that going green means living healthy and happily.

In case the word Seattle doesn't paint a vivid enough picture for the community that we've been living in....maybe this picture will sum it all up.

I mean...look how HUGE the compost container is! And I could barely fit a toothbrush in that tiny garbage can.

I really did put off the transition as long as possible. I mean, I'm still using a $19 semi-waterproof hoodless jacket-wanna-be that I hoped would last me through the rainy season (cough all year long) here.

Although I'm still too stubborn to buy a nice rain jacket, I did get these fabulous hiking boots from my grandparents for Christmas. I have to admit, I adore them. They make me want to hike ALL the time (MIRACLE shoes I tell you).

Next thing you know, I attend a Relief Society Activity where they talk about homemade granola. And what do you know, it is so dang cheap and easy to make! Hooked.

Confession: got this lovely picture on the web...didn't snag a pic of the granola I made.

We're even buying local, organic produce. Well, some of the time. But still! If you knew how I ate in college, you'd just be proud that we're buying produce at all. And we have to admit that it makes us feel great.

We're even on board with the green smoothies that everyone else discovered years ago (Paul included).

Most of all, I think we're just really loving the outdoors. Something about living near such gorgeous evergreen trees just makes us want to go out and celebrate Earth Day! Granted, the rain still makes me grumpy some days. But when the clouds part, let me tell you that it looks heavenly up here.

I have to close this post by reassuring my loved ones that I haven't lost my integrity. We are not vegan, or even vegetarian. We definitely see the appeal, and have been trying to use less meat in general...but I mean come on. This Kansas City girl will always love a date that involves some steak. :)

6 Months Already??

I can't believe that it has already been six months since we got hitched! In a lot of ways, I feel like we just got married yesterday and I'm still figuring out how the heck to be a wife. But in lots more ways, I can't imagine/remember what life was like before. It sounds silly, I know. I just don't know how else to describe it.

My absolute favorite things about the past 6 months:

• working as a team to accomplish goals
• having oatmeal for breakfast together before we go to work
• never saying goodnight! Hallelujah!
• Paul being a sweetheart while I figure out how on earth to cook dinner (and all other meals for that matter)
• budgeting...I'm not kidding! 
• watching documentaries about vitamins and basketball and anything under the sun
• laughing so hard my face hurts
• the sweet greeting cards (Hallmark of course), post-its, stationary notes, and vis-a-vis mirror notes that I find around every corner
• exploring a new region of the country..what an adventure and fun way to start our life together 
• marrying someone that is so dang easy to live with. I've never met a cleaner or more organized man
• exercising together (If Paul reads this he will laugh, because he has to drag my lazy bum off the couch in order to do this)
• serving in the ward nursery together! I could party with my husband and the toddlers all day long.
• knowing neither of us will ever have to go through a break-up again! 
• receiving packages from both the Priday and Moss parents OFTEN! We both feel lucky to have married into such wonderful families and have their continued support
• knowing there are SO MANY MORE half-years to look forward to with this handsome man. I lucked out big time. 

Thanks for being way better than I deserve! Happy 6 Months!

Oh, and for everyone else, look forward to a post coming soon about how we have gone totally HIPPIE! I know...brace yourselves. 

A Priday "no Moss"

At our wedding luncheon, my dad ended his toast saying that his youngest daughter would be "A Priday no Moss." We all chuckled at this pun on names...but this past week it was no laughing matter.

I finally changed my last name on my driver's license this past week from Priday to Moss. I am ashamed to say that this took me almost five months. This past week, though, I had a day off work to get over to the DMV and check it off my To-Do list. (I'm not totally awful-- my social security card was changed pretty promptly.) 

I admit that in this process, I may have shed a few tears. Pathetic, right?? Here are the reasons that I told myself this emotion was justified:

• I first had to get rid of my Kansas license and receive one from the state of Washington. Was it not enough to lose my beloved last name? There goes the last trace of my home state. 
• the DMV charged me an extra $70 dollars to change to make the above-mentioned process happen...Gross!
• I just really really love my last name. I always have. So many people have called me "Priday" or "KP" throughout my life. I attribute that to this Disney animated character:

Ladies... am I alone in feeling like a name change is a complete identity change? It certainly caught me off guard. 

I also have to point out, though, that it got me really excited. Once I properly mourned the death of my old last name, I could focus on the thrill of a new last name. Reasons I love my new last name:

• No one ever misspells or mispronounces it. 
• I get to hear little kids say "moss! moss!" everyday on nature hikes, and I smile a little bit because it reminds me of my wonderful husband. 
• It means we have officially officially started our lives together, and we are a team. That is so cheesy, I know...but true. 
• I get to hold onto my own family and also become a part of the fabulous Moss clan! How great is that??

That about wraps up my thoughts on the name-changing matter...but I'd love to hear what the process was like for anyone else! 

Valentine's Day Post (that has nothing to do with Valentine's Day)

Well, I thought I'd surprise Kristen this Valentine's Day and do the unthinkable - write my very own blog post. I can't say that I have too much experience in this area; I did have my own blog once, but it was very different from the picture-posting, love-expressing, memory-capturing prose that this blog is used to. Anyway, here it goes...

Things have been moving along as usual the past month, with the exception of Kristen working CRAZY hours. She usually gets up at 4:30am, and doesn't get back until 6:30pm. I don't know how she has time to keep me entertained, let alone be as sweet as she is when she gets home. She's my superhero (superhera?).

Oh, and we got food storage! I know it sounds lame, but I was all excited to go buy it. Something about now actually being a protector, provider, and preside-er just makes me feel good. I just feel like such a man when I buy food storage and put together 72-hr kits and mow the lawn and take out the trash and stuff. Well, maybe minus the mowing the lawn thing since we live in an apartment (I'll have to find someone's lawn to mow).

We LOVE it here. The town of Issaquah has everything we want - it's safe, it's pretty, and it has a Costco. And really, the greater Seattle area has been wonderful as well. We love the trees, the sky, the people, and the clean air. The weather isn't always perfect, but every once in a while we get days like this:  

That's the puget sound. What the heck is a sound you ask?? Well... I had no idea until I moved here (I'm embarrassed to say). But Mr. Webster defines a sound as: "A long surgical probe, typically with a curved, blunt end." Truth be told I still don't get it... 

Then there's the Salsa we made!! Thanks to my cousin Bryana Likes for providing the recipe. I don't have an ethnic bone in my body, but I do love food (and so does Kristen), so we gave it our best shot. And if I can brag for just a moment (let's be real, that's what blogs are for: brag+log=blog), let me just say that it was delicioso considering the combined whiteness of Kristen and me. We even made it two days in a row! The second time around we learned that it is even more tasty when you let it sit in the fridge for a while (and let the juices harmonize?). Needless to say, we'll definitely be making it again. As you can tell from the picture, we were so obsessed with the delicioso-ness that we didn't even think to snap a picture until it was almost too late. 

So there you have it... that's our update. That wasn't as hard as I thought. It might not be as good as Kristen's posts, but hey, I gave it my best shot. Now, if I can just convince Kristen to let us go back to this place:

(I seriously bring it up at least once a day) 

What's the deal with 2013??

Okay, guys. I know I haven't posted in awhile, and you are all worried sick. So much could have happened in several weeks months! (When did I last post??) Anyways, let me update you on what has been happening for the Moss family in this Brand New Year (I hope a certain someone picked up that reference). 

1. I want to adopt an Indian child.  

Scratch that. I want to adopt a dozen. Pleeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaasseeee?? I get to hang out with so many children from India at work, and they just melt my heart. Cutest, brightest children ever.

2. The Bachelor has returned to ABC. 

Yes, I know what you are thinking... TRASHY! And you would be absolutely right. But I can't help it....the drama, the group dates...it's like a bad accident. I can't look away. Am I alone on this? Props to  the husband for watching this with me. Bigger props for clearing away/ doing the dishes as I am glued to the screen. Isn't he the greatest??

3. Aforementioned husband continues to be wonderful. 

Exhibit A: 

And anyone who knows Paul at ALL can attest to his love for PB! Am I right??

4. I entered the tech-savvy universe! And I couldn't be happier. This iPhone and I were made for each other. The flipside of this, though, is that Paul no longer has 2 iPhones. Haha :) 

5. In other news, I saw this rooster in the Staples parking lot. TWICE! On different days! What the heck? I guess the farm fowl just wanted to make me feel I'm not THAT far from Kansas...

Side Rant: for so long I despised Kansas jokes. I've heard them all...most deal with either tornadoes or The Wizard of Oz. They just feel so hokey, and do not at all resonate with the place I am from. Maybe in the future I will devote an entire post to the worst-ever Kansas jokes...

Well, Ladies, Sean, that was the final rose blog post tonight. Stay tuned for more fun and games.