Summer!

I can't believe June is almost over! So on that note, here is our summer to do list, because Joel loves all of my lists so much!

1. Go camping. At least once.
2. Hit up the growers markets. I even have one at work!
3. Sip a delicous wine while listening to live jazz
4. Harvest our garden
5. Figure out how to make that watermelon cocktail
6. Host our BBQ/Party...finally
7. See the movie about the naughty bear"Ted"
8.  Play hookey
9. Lounge by the pool
10. Go hiking
11. See an opera at the Santa Fe Opera
12. Get a new Coach bag at the Santa Fe Outlet
13. Raid the summer sales to stock up on swimsuits, sandles, and sundresses for Jamaica
14. See an Isotopes game
15. Play in a park
16. Collect another wine festival poster
17. Finish choosing pictures for our wedding album-so hard, I love them all!
18. Go dancing
19. Wake up on a Saturday. Start driving. See where we end up. Oops and close enough that we can still get to work by on Monday :(
20. Perfect my golf game...well at least birdie

Adventures of the Andersons

Well, 9 months into marriage I can say that it has definitely been an adventure so far! This first year of marriage has been one of the most exciting, happy, carefree times of my life, and I so many big things have happened this past year, not to mention having the most amazing husband ever!  We've been focused on traveling, setting up and improving our home, adjusting to living together, and loving life together as newlyweds.

I fully moved into Joel's house after our wedding last year, although it didn't take me long to feel right at home. Although, it did need a few feminine touches to bring the once bachelor pad to life! Joel's family has often commented to us that it wasn't really a "home" until we changed it together, and it was very important to me to really make it our home and a place we can retreat and relax and be a reflection of us as a couple. It started with throwing out the old, bringing in the new, and generally organizing. Since then, we've ripped up the flooring and with the amazing help of my parents we have laid tile in our kitchen, hallway, and bathrooms. It's been 3 months so far, and we're almost done! It's been hard work but fun having my parents help, and my mom especially loves the "quality time" with Joel! Even my niece Raelyn wanted to get in on the action.

Over the past few months we have seriously considered moving to a bigger house and a neighborhood with a little more character and closer to work for both of us. Despite being "work neighbors", poor Joel's schedule is so varied with the late nights, early mornings, and overnight shifts that we can't carpool and are really feeling the need to be a little closer. One of our favorite neighborhoods is the Ridgecrest, Nob Hill, or Country Club area, but with that comes older homes that need repairs. After all the work on our house it's hard to swallow moving somewhere that will need so much work! So that brought us to some of the newer homes in the Bosque/Oxbow area, then we think if we're looking there we might as well look at the North Valley or Corrales…I go back and forth.

After much discussion, calculating, and looking, we've decided to go back to our original plan and stay in Albuquerque and stay in our same house for a few more years. I have about another year until I can sit for the exam for the clinical social work license, which has been my goal since graduating. We know our dream house is out there and just have to be patient and snatch it up when the time is right!   

Lubbock

We have been more than ready for a little get-away, so we were thrilled when Joel's sister Jill and brother-in-law Brad invited us at the last minute to visit them in Lubbock. We had a great time grilling, lounging by the pool, visiting, golfing, and making the rounds at some local breweries and shopping. They are wonderful hosts and we always have so much fun together! They even gave us some great advice for fixing up our house, and my flowers are loving the pots they gave us.

Stay-Cation

This past weekend we enjoyed a "stay-cation" and decided to just enjoy being off and taking in some things around town. We drove up to Taos to see the Gorge, and I have to admit that although it was breathtaking, I was terrified! Joel did his best to keep me calm, although he loved taking pictures of me clinging on for dear life!

 

We hit several of our favorite wineries on our way up, and even visited a new one, Casa Abril. We really enjoyed this small family owned winery and were surprised to learn it takes about 3 bunches of grapes to make one bottle of wine. That is after about 10 years for the vines to mature, and if the grapes survive freeze, fire, or draught, and harvesting, juicing, bottling, and waiting and waiting and waiting! This got us thinking back to a beautiful home in Corrales with its own tiny vineyard, just enough to make a barrel or two for us and sell the rest of the grapes…hmm….

 Back at home, we enjoyed a delicious brunch the next morning at one of our favorite places, Indigo Crow Café in Corrales. I love their laid back atmosphere and the gorgeous patio, not to mention the BEST eggs benedict ever! We had happened to meet the owners a few weeks back while trying some cocktails at the Apothecary Lounge, and after that night we were their new BFF's.

We eased into the work week with a round of golf, and despite our amateur status we did ok with a round of "best ball." I keep telling Joel that I'll play better if he gets me a golf outfit and I actually look like a golfer! But we plan to keep playing and see how it goes…