26 years old.

Yesterday I turned 26 years old. 26 YEARS OLD. How did that happen? How am I suddenly closer to 30 than 20? My mind is a little boggled by that thought. 

Despite feeling a little wary at this new older and wiser age, I had a really wonderful birthday. I've said it before, but if everyone treated everyone else like it was their birthday all the time, everyone would always feel happy and loved and special. 

Raise your hand if you think Dan should start a greeting card business. He always makes me the sweetest cards. If you're wondering what this particular card is about, on my 25th birthday he told me he loved me for the first time on our way home from Sun Valley. It is one of our favorite memories together and here we are a year later, married, and still in love. 

After a day at work and teaching dance (both filled with birthday love) I was excited to get home to Dan. He had fresh flowers, a few perfect presents, and a hug waiting for me. For someone who claims he's not good at birthdays, he did a pretty good job. And then it was off to the tennis courts. We seem to like playing tennis on all our special days--the day we got engaged, his birthday, our honeymoon, my birthday...it's becoming a tradition and I love it. 

*This family picture would not have been possible without the selfie stick Dan gave me! 

After tennis we had dinner at Caputo's (delicious), and headed to my parents house for Mrs. Backers birthday cake (it is not a birthday without Mrs. Backer's!), and presents with my family.

It's also not a birthday without my family. My parents have never missed my birthday. I feel so unbelievably spoiled to be able to say that. For example, this year my dad flew to New Jersey on Sunday at 2pm, and was back home yesterday by 4:30pm--just so he wouldn't miss my birthday. Like I said, spoiled. I love my family so much.

I got home last night with my arms full of thoughtful, lovely gifts, some birthday cake for breakfast, and a heart full of love and gratitude.
Thank you to my sweet husband, my wonderful family, and my amazing friends for making this birthday another one for the books. xoxo.

(kacey.ism 372)

Yellow as far as the eye can see.

On Friday Dan and I picked up some sandwiches from Pot Belly's, hopped in the car, and headed for the mountains. All week I've been telling him how much I wanted to see the leaves and he got us there!

I love this time of year. I think Autumn is when the Earth looks her best. She's so colorful and bright and stylish. Those pops of yellow, and red, and orange, and that soft golden light....she's just stunning. 

As we were heading up Little Cottonwood I kept oohing and ahhhing like someone who's never seen the mountains before. I kind of love that about Utah--she never gets old. 

We made it to the top of Guardsman Pass just in time to see everything lit up before the Sun tucked herself and for a nice sleep. After walking along the trail and snapping a few pictures we sat ourselves down right on the dirt (because naturally we didn't think to bring a blanket), and had a nice little picnic. 

It's funny to think that a year ago from right now Dan and I had yet to exchange I Love You's. And now here we are, casually eating sandwiches on a dirt trail in the mountains. 

I'm grateful for an adventurer of a husband. He keeps us going and exploring and prevents us from ever being boring (his worst nightmare). 

I'm also grateful for Fall. I refuse to see her as the transition from Summer to Winter. I hope she sticks around for a while. 

(kacey.ism 371)

Taylor + Tennis + a mini honeymoon + a bridal brunch

We have wasted no time saying goodbye to Summer and hello to September. And suddenly I've blinked and September is half gone, my studio is back in session, and my birthday is three weeks away. How did that happen? I really can't complain about moving so quickly into Fall. We've had a lot of fun these past couple weeks, and while I never like to see Summer go, I can't help but get excited when the crisp Autumn breeze rolls in.

There was no better way to ease out of Summer and into Fall than with the Taylor Swift concert. Yes, Carli and I wore matching T-Swift t-shirts. Yes, we sang louder than most of the 14 year old girls there. Yes, even our husbands couldn't help but love it, and her. I walked out grinning, and Dan and I continued to be entertained by our light up bracelets for days afterwards.

Dan and I snagged a few hours of sleep after the concert, woke up at 6am and headed up to Sun Valley for Labor Day weekend. It was the best. We haven't taken a trip just the two of us since our honeymoon, and now I know we need to do it more often. There's nothing like being just the two of us. We relaxed, watched a lot of the US Open, played a few rounds of tennis, went on walks, took the scooter for a spin, went on a bike ride, and ate a home cooked meal by yours truly. I love more than anything to look over at Dan and smile because he's my husband now, and know that we're taking on the world together. I feel extremely lucky.

When we got back last week I was in full bridal brunch-prep mode aka let's finally hang some pictures up in our house and make it look like our home mode. There's nothing like an upcoming party to make you whip your house into shape. Thanks to Dan it really did happen. I have pictures hanging and new shelves in our family room, and now when I walk in the room it feels like our own little home.
Ann's shower was so much fun. We had a great turnout. Everyone dined on yogurt parfaits, cinnamon twists, and homemade swig cookies. We showered the bride with presents and learned all about how much Nate loves Ann. And let me tell you, he adores her. It makes me so happy to see her so loved.

This week started off with Federer losing the US Open final (I'll still love him forever), and dance getting back in session (woohoo!), it's currently raining outside, and we speak in church on Sunday. Oh hello there, real life! Time to face the music. How about I just sit here and watch my wedding video over and over instead?

(kacey.ism 370)

Our Favorite Summer Tradition

  

Every year we plan on taking a big group of friends to Lake Powell at the end of the Summer.
And then Summer comes and is busy and crazy, and I always think it might not happen.
And then miraculously...it always does!
We take the best bunch of friends to our favorite place, and it always ends up being the best trip of the Summer.
This year was especially fun because we had a couple people who had never been before mixed in with our faithful bunch. I love bringing people to Lake Powell for the first time. It reminds me what an amazing place it is and how lucky I am to spend my summers there every year.
After four glorious days filled with surfing, skiing, paddle ball, trick skis, tubing, boat rides, good conversations, and lot of laughs we already can't wait til next year.
There will always be a next year. I'm determined to never let this tradition go.

(kacey.ism 369)

working for the weekends.

Life lately has been all about working for the weekends. 

We've been lucky enough to spend a handful of weekends in Bear Lake, be part of a 30 hour bike ride from SLC to Vegas, celebrate a best friend's wedding, and get to Lake Powell. 

Bear Lake is Dan's favorite place in the world, so I have loved spending time up there with him and his family. They have spent countless hours playing in the sandbox as kids, reading books on the back porch, learning to waterski behind their boat, admiring the gorgeous sunsets, and stargazing under a breathtaking sky for most of their lives. Whenever I'm up there I really feel apart of the Jenson clan and I love it. I love being part of the new memories they're making. I know Bear Lake is going to be a big part of my life now, and I wouldn't want it any other way. 

The bike ride we did is called Saints to Sinners. And we really did ride our bikes from Salt Lake to Vegas in a day. Well, we each rode various legs from Salt Lake to Vegas. Saints to Sinners is a ride to raise ALS awareness. We were on team Creighton's Riders. Everyone on our team (about 80) were all there to support Creighton Rider himself, who is suffering from ALS, yet still comes every year and rides his bike with his sweet wife Lisa. We felt so honored to be apart of something so special. 

Sadie and Logan are married! It was the happiest day. They were just glowing. I loved seeing Sadie, who I have known for 20 years, look happier than I have ever seen her. Those two are the perfect match. I know I've only been married for two months, but I can already say it is the best life there is, and I'm so happy they get to experience it. 

Last weekend we shot down to Lake Powell for a quick few days with the Leishmans. And even though it rained the first day and we had a wind storm somewhere in the middle, it was a much needed, memorable, happy trip. The water was warm, the skiing was lovely, and as is always the case with Powell, we spent the days smiling and laughing. We were even gifted with a double rainbow after we'd spent an hour re-anchoring the houseboat on our windy afternoon. 

We're spoiled and are heading down to Powell again soon. I'm so excited it's hard to sit still. 

Eventually we'll spend a Saturday hanging pictures, making DI runs, and adding some much needed furniture to our house. But until then we'll be doing what we can to come up with more adventures. 

(kacey.ism 368)

Happy Birthday USA

The (second) best day of the year is the 4th of July. 

**I say second because June 6th just got bumped into first place.

I love celebrating America more than I love celebrating my own birthday (and that's saying a lot).

Sun Valley does the fourth right. Well, I should say the Schneider's in Sun Valley do it right. 

We went running, rode our bikes, had a relay race that ended in a water fight, sat by the pool, and slack lined--all before 4pm I might add. 

That evening we hosted a big BBQ with wonderful friends and played our annual volleyball match. (Schneider's were victorious this year!) 

Dan and I are becoming quite the ice cream makers. It's been fun to provide everyone's favorite part of the meal, and have them like it! Phew. 

We ended our night by going to the ice show and enjoying their fireworks. 

We sang Yankee Doodle as we rode our scooters all the way home.

A friend reminded me that a year ago I said I would be married by the 4th of July, 2015. 

And I must say that looking over at my husband during those fireworks probably makes this the best 4th of July yet. 

(kacey.ism 367)

Est. June 6, 2015

The Jensons

Est. June 6, 2015

We've been living in total bliss for 18 married days now.

Much much more to come....

(kacey.ism 366)