Sunday dinner with the Richards

Can you say Spring three times fast!

I enjoyed an evening with Paul's family while he was at work :(

We started the festivities with some quality trampoline time

I am absolutely aware that I am the oldest my ten years:)
-My future cousins

The little ones working hard in the kitchen

The feast my father in law Jim made

next we decorated Easter eggs

Paul came home in time to decorate Bunny and carrot cookies

Simultaneously dying eggs and frosting cookies

My personal favorite is Paul's Rasta bunny--where is it's ears?

When the little ones went home, we got a little more creative!

 Heggy Potter

Thin Red Line

This morning Paul, Jack and myself all went to Flatirons church.  It's our home away from our home:)

This is a blurry version of what it looks like

It sometimes can be crowded but we still love it

Sometimes we just enjoy sitting by the fireplace

Our church has an important program where men choose to take responsibility and live as closely to Christ as they can.  It’s called the Thin Red Line.  The men cross the red line, sign an affidavit and shake the hand of a leader in the church.  In return they receive a band signifying their commitment.

Today, my brother Jack, decided to cross the red line and join Paul on the other side. 

Needless to say we were very excited/proud of him!

The victorious fist pump from mentor to mentee (brother in law) Note the matching bands 

To celebrate we took a trip to Paris---Café de Paris to be exact.

the epic box of questions

We had so much fun playing the “What would you do” game.

Some of the memorable questions were:

What are some of the redeeming qualities in your nemesis?

If you had no risk for the day, what would you do?

Would you rather have a job where you where the wealthiest person in the world, or the happiest person in the world?

It’s days like today that we grow closer together and learn even more about each other.

What we are up to now

Hello everyone,

 Paul and I are counting down the days till Spring Break.  

Our lives have been focused on completing this semester and planning our Summer course load.  

At this point, we both will be taking 4 full time classes this summer. It's safe to say the only Richard family tan will be  from the rays of sun coming through the library window. The florescent lights might bleach our skin to the color of computer paper.  In the end it will be completely worth it.  

Even in the middle of craziness we somehow find time to escape for a few hours of relaxation.   It has been incredibly beautiful in Boulder.  We are so fortunate to live 10 min away from hiking trails.

Today between classes we stopped for delicious sushi at Hapa on Pearl Street. 

 We take every moment to get to slip away for some little dates here and there. 

Pancakes from Snooze on Fat Tuesday, we were feeling adventurous:the one on the left is Cranberry Ham, the middle is Bacon Heath Bar, the Right is Buffalo Chicken/ Ranch and the top is Blueberry cheesecake

Our first plate we painted together

In the midst of all our studies we haven't had a lot of time for wedding planning-- just a little here and a little there, but that is what Moms are for ( the queens of project management).  I don't quite know what we would do with out her!  We now are patiently awaiting December 28th it seems to just inch along.

Chapter One: The Beginning aka How I Suckered Paul into Marrying Me!

Paul and I officially met Senior year of High School (go Coyotes) in Ms. Newton's literature class.  I sat in the front and he sat in the back. It's up for debate if we ever exchanged words, but I defiantly noticed the handsome, tall man.  I was just sure my incredibly extroverted personality freaked/ creeped out Paul's quiet but thoughtful outlook on life.

Three years later, a friend invited me to attend a month long backpacking trip. The only person I thought I knew going was the friend who invited me- boy was I going to be surprised.  Seeing as I had never been camping-- I agreed to go.  (God's first miracle in our relationship) Then I had to break the news to my mother.  For someone who was afraid to let me sleep in my tree house because of bears in the suburbs she miraculously let me go (God's second miracle in our relationship).  I showed up to the informational meeting and my heart jumped when I saw Paul,  I suddenly got super excited.

Our first day on the trail, we were hiking the Teton Crest Trail, we somehow got very lost and added a few miles (to our 15 to 18 mile hike).  I went to sleep that night silently crying in my sleeping bag, but I kept reminding myself how this trip was very worth it!

On our second day we were hiking and I fell down a steep grade of rocks.  I somehow used my ice axe to slow me down, but my pack had slipped up and kept pushing my face into the ground.  I was the last one down, and I was freaking out.  Before I knew it Paul had re-climbed the trail and came and got me (he didn't even make fun of me).  I think it was that moment I knew he was the one for me. He never officially asked me out--it was just known that we were together.

A month and 4 national parks later we were inseparable.

With the love of my life before we hiked the Grand Canyon.  You have to love that I have to stand on my pack to reach Paul

Hiking in Yellowstone

Sliding down the trail in the Tetons in Wyoming

Paul and I in Zion, Utah We love climbing trees

When we arrived home it was as if we had been together for years.  When you're with someone 24 hours a day for as long as we were, without the escape of TV, Facebook, or other distractions you know if you can spend the rest of your life with them.  

Were we spend most of our days

Paul felt the same way.  Throughout the time we were traveling Paul had planned to take the semester off and continue traveling.  But a week into classes, much to my happiness Paul met with CU advisers, got accepted, applied for classes, and got on campus housing.  (all on the same day- another Godly miracle)

Our Engagement photo at Boulder Creek

All of the National Parks we went to that summer (our first date)

Tetons in WY

Yellowstone

Zion Utah

Grand Canyon