Caleb graduated from basic training this summer. I was able to go out there for his Basic graduation.  It was really a fun adventure being able to go to family day and graduation day.  They had fun ceremonies for each event and thankfully the ceremonies were not too long because we were all EXTREMELY anxious to see our soldiers! I was able to spend the whole day with Caleb on both days.  It was the best thing ever!!! It felt like it had been SO SO long and I cherished every moment I was able to have with him before he left for his AIT training.

Per usual a Chesley family gathering is always epic, total chaos, loud and crazy fun! Dashed with a few tears here and there 😉  This years was in Park City, Utah at the Deer Valley Club.  We spent plenty of time turning into prunes at the pool and jacuzzzz (my personal fave).  We had fun adventures throughout the week and the weather was perfect!

My Mom’s dreams came true with a family pic of almost all of us, minus 10… the photographer would have had to put it on panoramic if the other 10 were here!

We flew down the Alpine Slides and Coasters, took over downtown Park City, and went boating!

Get Ready to tuck and roll Garrett!

Killed it on 2 hikes! One to Mt. Timpanogos in 104 degree heat… It was a gorgeous hike and the caves were truly a sight to see and a welcoming 45 degrees! I think I almost cooled down by the end of the cave tour… maybe. 😉

It was an awesome time! Love this crazy bunch!

I was able to have a wonderful long weekend with my parents, family and friends in San Diego.  My parents just returned from their LDS mission in New Zealand. I loved hearing all their stories and experiences they had while they served there. It sounds like their lives were truly enriched by being able to serve The Lord for the last year and half. Their homecoming talks were really special and I’m grateful I could be there to hear it in our home ward, which I hadn’t been back to in 6 years.  It was a ton of fun seeing so many familiar faces that had a huge impact on my life as a youth there in Laguna Beach. As well as seeing old friends that happened to be there, totally a pleasant surprise.

My bestie Jill and I had a blast! I took her surfing for her first time and she did awesome! I was impressed by her go for it attitude towards a difficult sport.  And I believe she may have a new found respect for how challenging surfing can be and tiring 😉  It felt so good to be back in Southern California and to surf! I have missed surfing and the beach, THEREFORE I soaked up every ounce of sunshine, sand and ocean as I could. I also consumed as much delicious Mexican food as I could and In-N-Out naturally!  All and all it was a much needed trip and I loved every second.  There’s nothing like going home and being with family. Can’t wait to go back.

Happy Birthday to our lil’ wolf!

Caleb and I went over to Steven’s Pass for a long weekend with some friends, Ryan and Stephanie.  Caleb and Ryan have been best friends for about 12 years now + or -. Any way they’ve known each other for a really long time!  We all get along really well and have a ton of fun together. The weekend in Steven’s Pass was a blast, we found this awesome little cabin to rent for the weekend with hot tub, fire pit and BBQ. It wasn’t far off from a river that was really beautiful. We got there Friday and on Saturday we decided to go on a hike. We heard that Lake Serene was the best hike, challenging but totally worth it. It was a 8 mile hike and about 2500 ft elevation, 4M up and 4M down! The hike up was difficult with 27 switchbacks for the last mile and half… it was a work out!  But the lake was truly worth the climb. It was so beautiful up there and the hike itself was really gorgeous too with a huge waterfall and breathtaking views.

Here’s some shots of our cabin and the hike.

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Jill and I did the 3.55 mile obstacle course run called Warrior Dash this weekend. It was a sunny not too hot but beautiful summer day in North Bend, WA.  We had so much fun running this course together! We were cracking up and having a good old time throughout the whole run.  About a mile in we hit our first obstacle which was jumping over a wall and under a fence about 3 of them. There were cargo nets, army crawling, climbing multiple walls, leaping over fire, and lastly crawling/swimming through a huge pool of mud!!!

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For the Fourth of July Caleb, Anchor and I went to Kirkland, WA where his parents live for a mini vacation.  We were there for about 5 days it was beautiful weather, great food, lots of family and friends and a ton of fun. AAAAAAAS usual I did not take enough photos… so here’s a few things we did.

On the Fourth we went to North Bend to hang out at Caleb’s grandparents’ house for the afternoon. We than headed over to a friend’s house for the rest of the day and had a great time.

We love downtown Kirkland, it kind of reminds me of my home town so naturally I feel in love with it really quickly.  We ate in downtown Kirkland a couple of times; it’s along the shore of Lake Washington, which is a really beautiful area. Caleb’s brothers came with us a few times and we wandered around the town and ate lunch. An amazing lunch actually! IF by chance anyone reading this blog are ever in the area… The Slip in Kirkland GET THE PEANUT BUTTER BURGER!!!!! It’s the most amazing burger I have ever tasted. Peanut butter? really? on a burger? OH YES! PB on a burger blew my mind! Not to mention the patty was deliciously juicy. I rarely get super jazzed about food but I’m actually REALLY looking forward to having another one of those!

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We went out to lunch with Jill and meet up at Pike’s Place. Jill has been telling me about this oh so awesome mac n’ cheese that she frequently gets for lunch (she works in Seattle). And I decided I was tired of hearing about it and wanted to try this “awesome” mac n’ cheese.  Well… It was in fact awesome. It was the best mac n’ cheese and a side of delicious baguette from a French bakery down at Pike Place too and we topped of lunch with a macaroon, which really did the trick.  It was crazy crowded but totally worth it and it’s always great to see Jill.

Jill and I also played some soccer while I was there. She’s on an intramural team, so it was a lot of fun dusting off the soccer cobwebs and trying to look like I still know what I’m doing… I was very sore the next day let me TELL YOU!

We really made the rounds this trip including visiting friends in MT. Vernon, which is where the Tulip festival is. It is also a really pretty area, a different kind of beautiful than the Kirkland area. We had a great time visiting with them and had a yummy dinner at the Porter House. Granted it was no PB burger but that’s hard to compete with!

Happy Fourth Everyone!

Hello everyone I would like to introduce you to Anchor Bay! He is our new 1 year old pup! We just got him from the Pullman Humane Society on Monday. They were great to work with and told us everything they could about our lil’ guy.  He’s a mix… we’re thinking maybe a terrier/chihuahua mix.

He was really shy at first, but is quickly warming up!  I don’t think he got a whole lot of love at his previous home and he’s real timid around strangers. But I think it’s safe to say he seems to be really happy with his new home and is getting PLENTY of attention. haha He’s our little love bug and we love him!!! We lucked out getting this sweet pup. 🙂

I finally took the plunge! I have a shop on Etsy. I also do commissioned pieces if interested let me know. I only have a couple of pieces available at this time on Etsy, but will add more when I can. 🙂

http://www.etsy.com/listing/79690083/bicycle?ref=pr_shop

Caleb went to Seattle for about 2 weeks to see family, attend weddings and see friends.  He’d be able to write this better than myself since I wasn’t there… But from what he’s told me he had an amazing time!

We drove over together and I was able to see some of his family and hang out with my best friend for the weekend. We had an awesome time! Long overdue trip, so glad I was able to visit.

I left to go back to Pullman on Sunday. Caleb attended 3 weddings within his 2 weeks there. One of which was for a best friend of his. He was a groomsman and was looking sharp if I do say so myself! It was a beautiful wedding in Blaine, WA.

BUDS 4 life!

Wedding!

He also got to go shooting with his brother-in-law, brothers, and dad.  He was pretty stoked about this and it appears he had a GREAT time.

It was one of his good friends Birthday so they all went to a Mariner’s game and got rowdy in King’s court.

Caleb and David the Bday boy

The group in King's Court

He also attended his cousin’s wedding and a good friends wedding, which I don’t have any pictures of… sorry BUT Congrats to Carter and Maggie! And Lucas too!!