Rocky Mountain High

We packed in another fun weekend trip--this time to Colorado Springs and Denver! We started down in Colorado Springs visiting Amanda's grandparents and Uncle Mark, Aunt Jan, and cousin Sophie. We visited the Olympic Training Center during the day before heading to Sophie's volleyball game and then out to dinner. It was fast, but we fit lots of fun in! That night we drove up to Denver to meet up with Jason's buddies. Mike and Diane Mirowski were great hosts for everyone! Saturday started with breakfast at the Village Inn, per tradition, and then all the guys headed to the GABF, and the girls went for massages! That night we all met up for dinner at Rock Bottom. Sunday morning started with trials of Mike's new sword before we headed over to see Jason's Uncle Phil and Aunt Vonnie for a wonderful picnic at the Denver Botanical Gardens. Our friends and family took such great care of us, and it was a fabulous weekend away!

All Settled In

Well, we are all settled into our new place, and we are so happy! It already feels like home, and we are so grateful to our friends and family for the help in this adventure. We put a few shots below, mainly of spaces that were painted or changed, so that everyone can see the work we have been talking about. Casa Stremel is officially open for visitors, so we can't wait for you to visit!

Moving Time!!

Wow! Time has flown by and it is time to leave our first apartment together and move into our new home! We included a few pictures of our old apartment to remember where we started, and then shots of the moving process. Luckily we have had a ton of help. Amanda's family helped with cleaning, painting, and organizing in the days leading up to the move, and great friends the Coppuses and the Muhlesteins loaded us up on the big day. Everybody worked so hard, and we are so grateful for all the support. We love our new place!

Big Fun in the Bay Area

It's amazing how much fun you can pack into a long weekend! Amanda had a business trip to LA, and that provided the perfect excuse to swing up to San Jose and visit good friends. Friday meant a girls' day for Marisa and Amanda--filled with shopping and good food. Not much has changed since college :) That night, Jason joined in the fun with a delicious Italian dinner and a stroll around downtown Palo Alto. Saturday meant a trip to Santa Cruz for a little beach time before we traveled down to Monterey to see our friends the Torosians. We were just in time to celebrate Kat's first birthday! Before the weekend ended, we managed to work in a trip to Fisherman's Wharf to sample lots of clam chowder, and in Paul's (and Amanda's) case, stare at some yummy chocolate! It was a quick trip, but we sure had a great time!

House Hunters

Our pre wedding house hunting did not prove as promising as we had hoped, though it did provide a lesson in the frustration of short sales. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise because just a month after our wedding, we found the perfect place. We are so excited about it! It is in Oro Valley, near Amanda's family, and it cuts Jason's commute quite a bit. We can't wait to make it a home! It will be the perfect spot for us, and eventually an ideal spot to start a family. Such a blessing!

Bon Voyage, Elder Dillon!

Tuesday, July 14 was such a mix of emotions. Elder Brett Dillon left Phoenix for Johannesburg, South Africa. He will spend the next two years serving in the Cape Town South Africa mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a missionary. It was so hard to say goodbye, but we are all so very proud of him and truly excited for all the experiences he will have in South Africa. We spent Monday night up in Phoenix before we had to take him to the airport, and it was a wonderful chance to spend time laughing together and having fun before we would be separated for two years. We got to go back to the gate to see him off, and we enjoyed those last few moments. Now we can't wait to talk to him for Christmas!

The Honeymooners

We thought that booking a red-eye on Sunday night would give us plenty of time to accomplish everything that we wanted to before we left on our honeymoon, but somehow we managed to be busy right up until the last minute! We spent Sunday morning at a brunch for Amanda's brother, Brett, who was just about to leave on his mission, the afternoon loading up wedding gifts and moving them back to our apartment, and the evening having dinner with Jason's parents, Aunt Carol, Chris, Jenny, and Jake. Before we knew it, it was time to head to Phoenix for our flight! One long night later, and we were in St. Lucia. It was truly an island paradise! We went scuba diving, sailing, horseback riding, zip-lining through the jungle, and dined by candle light. We also fit in some time to relax :) There was even an ill-fated trip to a "street party." Amanda has learned that her idea of a street fair is not entirely compatible with a night-time Caribbean party reeking of pot and populated by "professional" women and local rappers. Oops. No more activities suggested by island tour guides. Luckily Jason was there to snuggle close to. Even that little incident provided a hilarious memory. Our honeymoon was such an amazing trip and such a wonderful way to start our married life together. After the busy months leading up to the wedding, it was perfect to just be together, and we got to do that in paradise!