.:29:.

Eric turned 29 on Friday...kinda a big day. I mean in the realization that he is almost 30-it's a scary thing people. We went to Cody and ate Sushi-a cheat in his super strict eating, but well worth it (Cody has an amazing sushi restaurant...if you ever go I recommend the Rainbow roll and the Fried rice bowl). We competed in a crossfit competition (see the post below), hung out with family, enjoyed the sun, and watched Cam play baseball. I think it was a pretty great birthday for him in one of his most favorite places with some of his most favorite people! Here are 29 things I love about my 29 year old hot hubbster:

1. He is an amazing teacher
2. His zest for life
3. His give it a 150% attitude...if he wants something there is no holding him back
4. He is a great brother
5. He is awesome with his mom
6. He is an amazing coach
7. He started a new program at Pinedale with very little support
8. If he doesn't know something he will do research to learn
9. His devotion to his health
10. He is money savvy
11. He is great with kiddos
12. He can encourage and reach kids that most people can't
13. He is willing to go above and beyond without recognition or pay
14. He lets me be me
15. We can travel together
16. He isn't afraid to try new things
17. He rarely complains about my cooking
18. He is becoming a grill master
19. He has an amazing bod (yea, it might be TMI...but he's worked hard for it & since he's my hub it's okay-lol)
20. He is a great fishing guide (I am basing this off the one time he has taken me...he was pretty patient and didn't freak too bad when I ran his boat into the rock wall-whoops!)
21. He is always trying harder to be better
22. His basketball skillz
23. He lets me be me
24. He goes to church with me
25. He works hard to support us
26. He'll get dirty and work on the house
27. He's level headed
28. He is silly...and usually it's funny
29. His story telling abilities

Happy birthday Mister Oram...I hope it was a great one!

Crossfittin'

I told Eric for his birthday to pick what we wanted to do. After some debating he decided to go go to Cody to compete in their first crossfit competition versus staying in Pinedale to camp in the rain. The competition was called The Amazing Race...and amazing it was. We put a team together with T & Lib. They have never done crossfit before and I have only done 3 workouts so we were definitely the underdog. However we came in 5th of 6 teams. The teams we competed with were amazing-so friendly and encouraging...great since Eric is the only one who really had an idea of what we were getting into. Eric has been doing Crossfit for about 8 months and is looking for a place to certify as a level one trainer. We will be in Hawaii when they're offering the certification he wants to go to...so he is keeping his eyes open for the next one. This was one of the hardest workouts I have ever done...there is a reason why crossfit is so successful-it works! Eric is a testament to that-he looks amazing! Here is a lowdown on the relay style competition...because I know you all are going to want to try it:
*20 Burpee's
*20 95lbs (deadlifts for girls and overheads for guys)
*20 Kettlebell swings (35lbs for girls and 55lbs for guys)
*20 walking lunges
*Run 3/4 mile with sandbags (20lbs, 30lbs, 40lbs)
*As a team complete: 100 sit-ups, 100 push-ups, 100 overhead raises (girls 20lbs, guys 40lbs), and 100 squats
*Swim across the pond-that has the coldest water you will ever experience...try to find something around 30 degrees (think you might drown because you can't breathe...empathize with those who have gone through hypothermia)
*Re-do the first 4 drills in reverse: 20 walking lunges, 20 Kettlebell swings, 20 Deadlifts, and 20 burpee's
...that will take around 30 minutes (if you want to be competative) and then you might find yourself on the ground trying to decide if that was the greatest gift you could have ever given your husband...or the cruelest way he could have ever wanted to celebrate his birthday. The next day you may also find yourself unable to lift your arms to do your hair or get a shirt on. ({lol}) It was a great way to jumpstart my working out (better than P90X could ever be) and it was awesome to be able to say that I comepeted. I am glad Eric pushed us all into doing this-he is an inspiration as far as eating and working out are concerned...hopefully he will have whipped my flabby buns in to shape by the time we head out for Hawaii.

Sore muscles for all my friends!
Liz

Learning...

I am always thinking I would love to take up this new hobby...or that one...or maybe both. Usually it ends up becoming overwhelming, or sitting on the shelf until next month I might actually have time. This one has been sitting in the garage for about a year and a half...but, I finally learned something new with one of my most favorite people-my mom. She helped me to tackle this old chair I got for free (or stole from a garage where it had been abandoned{with permission from the actual garage owner}...I like to think it was rescued). I think we did a pretty great job for first timers, but I know I couldn't have done it without my mom, especially since I was sick on and off throughout the project. We pulled out about 10,000 staples, but we were able to put it all back together with very few problems. It went from nasty dirty mauve to a soft new brown to put in our bedroom.

I can't wait to see my parents again-they're always teaching us new things. I love when they are here and I loved having my parents come for the long weekend! I hope next time they can come in sunshine with no projects to do...and no illness!

.:Six:.

We've hit six years...today to be exact. We're at six years and onto to eternity. It's been:

Six years...of getting to know my best friend.

Six years...of ups and downs.

Six years...of laughter and life.

Six years...of lots of love with a little heartbreak.

Six years...of adventure.

Six years...of devotion and caring.

It's crazy to see those old people holding hands on the park bench and think wow-they've made it a long time, but I am starting to get it...after six years of marriage experience. It gets easier and I have learned that your love won't diminish if you help it grow. We're working at learning what works for us-and although we aren't ever perfect, I love what we are and what we have and I wouldn't trade it for anything. It's like the book Aladdin that I read with the kids today: you could take the easy way and use magic to get something, but it will always vanish...or you could work hard for what you have and make it last forever. Our love is like that-the road might not always be easy, but it is most definitely worth it. I also heard a song today that said something to the effect that: there were two young kids who got married with cheap wedding bands (maybe our weren't and maybe he doesn't even own his anymore but...)and they had nothing to their name but big dreams and the belief that they would make it, and I thought-yea our love is like that. In six years I have learned that it takes love, work, trust, God, and the belief in what we have. I believe in what we have-an eternal marriage, the starting of an eternal family-nothing is more important to me than that and I love knowing that Eric will be my eternity...my one and only for the rest of forever.

Eric is an amazing person...so fun loving and caring. Great with the kids he works with. He has a huge zest for life and goes at everything he does with 110%. He loves me despite my quirks and OCD-like issues. He supports and trusts me and the decisions I make. He is willing to go on my crazy adventures with me (even when he never sees me because I am working hard to pay for those adventures). He is willing to take a backseat and let me lead when I need to. He involves me in his life and activities. He wants me to be a part of his family and wants to be a part of mine. He is adorable with babies and little ones...and someday I know he will make an amazing dad. He is amazing to his mom. He loves his family. He brings the priesthood into our home. He's not afraid to ask questions. He works hard and isn't afraid to get dirty. He knows how to play and relax. He is great to snuggle. He lets me use him to warm up at night. He puts up with my moods and my crap. He loves to joke and laugh. He is a talented ball player and an amazing coach. He isn't afraid to dream or to work hard to achieve what he wants. Most of all he's wonderful...he's hot...and he's mine for all eternity :0).

Love you so much babe...happy anniversary! Here is to another 6(x10)!

Heart

I wanted to give props to some amazing kids...I am sure we don't ever give it enough. It seems hard sometimes to find kids that are good. It's tough to be good and do the right thing...especially when it is the least cool thing to do-but that is exactly what these kids are and are doing (and there are many more like them in Pinedale and all over). It takes heart-that's all there is to it. Parents help, coaches help, friends help, teachers help-but honestly it all comes down to the kid. They have to want it more than anything else and they have to work hard all the time-and these 2 do. It is a reminder to me that the world will still be in good hands...if we continue to encourage kids and help kids, we'll have more like this-the good ones, who have heart.

To all my friends...praise a kid, you never know who needs it most and they are all deserving.

Always~Liz

BTW...these photos are of 2 of Eric's track kids this last weekend when we hosted Regionals. Both qualified for State which is this weekend. The top one went to State last year in Shot Put and is going back to defend his title.

Whew...

We have been working like crazy it seems! I have finally posted some of our old adventures...hopefully I can get around to doing Christmas soon ;0). Anyways, check out the posts, there's a few of them. While you're at it check out Eric's new work...it's pretty inspiring-he's doing big things for the kids and he's just the man for the job! Eric has an amazing passion for Athletics and Physical Educations and overall kids in general. He has done a ton of work on this and it is going to be amazing! This is one of the posters I created that they will be using for their new program. We're both happy and healthy and busy as ever. Me with 3 jobs+photography (we're saving for Hawaii in August!) and him with Track/Work/Pure Performance/and hopefully ZERO. Love all our friends!! And remember to work hard so you can slow down and take a vacation from life :0)!

Cruisin'!!!

Eric and I went on our Spring Break with our friend Scott to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Honduras, and Belize. It was soooo amazing! We were on the Carnival Legend and we had an absolute blast seeing sites and getting tan-it was such a nice break from the snow! We used the new underwater camera we bought for Eric's guiding-and I think it worked awesome. It was so much easier than lugging around my beast, and the underwater photos are so cool (although next time I think they'll be better on the right setting-haha). We did so many things in 7 days! We hung out with family in Florida and ate amazing food, went snorkeling, held sea turtles/monkeys/parrots/stingrays, saw a Mayan temple, went to Hell, ate some more amazing food on the cruise, mini-golfed, and went zip lining. We had a chance to work out together and relax-it was a much needed break and the sun was just what the doctor ordered (literally.:lol:.)!