Mountbocce!

Josh, Bowden and Lucy 

took on 

The Hutch and me 

in round after round of Bocceball. 

The end results were less than desirable for the non-mountain folk. 

Encampment

Please read the whole story here.... BUMMER-FREE ZONE

In the afternoon of the Saturday we were in Idyllwild the Mr. and I accompanied Mr. Tate into the woods (on camp property) to check out the potential abandoned camp of a hobo. 

Josh pulling the tent out of the shrubbery.

I enjoyed the scenery

...and documented what the boys found.

Click on the link above for all the details of our outing. 

People

A perk of visiting Idyllwild is getting to spend time with these fine folk. 

Sarah & Josh along with their Tatertots -- Bowden, Lucy, Jack and Miles

Tradition

It is an October tradition that me and the Mr. enjoy some time in Idyllwild. 

This year in our walk about town with the Tates we came across an adorable raccoon! The little raccoon's were abandoned by their mommy so an Idyllwild local nursed them and tried to release them but they just kept coming back. We were allowed to feed 1 of them peanuts and Cheetos! 

Seriously cool to feed a raccoon. Their paws are SO soft.

Look at those teeth!

AICTO

T-minus 5 hours till the Mr. & I trek up to Idyllwild!

Today is our 12 year dating anniv. & our 13th annual trip up the mountain

(although we have gone at other times during the year...).

For those of you who are new here -- 

Catch up on "The Story of Us" here and why we go to Idyllwild every year.

In just a few hours we will get to be here!

And see our wonderful friends the Tates! And the Tates!

Excitement! Much!

Service

Paul and I spent this past weekend in Idyllwild. I love this place.

Paul and I spent Saturday sanding and staining some of the building on the right.
The new building, look how tiny Paul is!
Chief Thunderbird couldn't make it for the devotion, so his cousin Chief WindedBuffalo came.
Spending time with friends is lovely.

Time for S'mores

Paul and I enjoyed meeting Miles for the first time.

Celebrating 10 Years of US

The third week in October means Idyllwild time. Every year we visit Idyllwild to camp, stay with friends or take a day-cation to celebrate the beginning of US since 1999.

Here is the NEW updated version

(specifically the engagement and photos):

The Story of US

In the beginning... July 1999

Paul and I were introduced through Moe. Moe and I went to Disneyland which is where Paul was working at the time. Paul was a tram operator, so Moe and I ended up riding around on the back of the tram a few times while they talked. I said some sarcastic comment about sitting well back into your seat and he shot one back at me. (ahh love)

October 1999
It was early October and the show Roswell was on for the first time, Angela and I were hanging out in the dorm. I was on bubbs and noticed that Paul was online, I mentioned this to Ang. She said invite him to chat and I replied why would I do that, I don't really know him. After a few minutes I did end up beginning a chat with Paul. I told Ang I felt like playing basketball and for anyone who knows Ang knows she couldn't play a sport to save her life so she suggested I ask Paul if he wanted to come down and play. He for some unknown reason said yes. So I got my basketball and Ang and I headed over to the court, Paul met us there. About 5 minutes after Paul got there Ang got a call from an old BF and decided to talk to him so we were left alone, we shot hoops for a couple hours. Paul then drove Ang and I over to Denny's where we met up with a group from Biola and Moe tried to introduce me to Paul again, I mentioned that he was the one that dropped Ang and I off and a look of surprise and then approval spread across Moe's face. Paul had to leave pretty quick because he had Spanish early the next morning (like he ever went to Spanish class).

Well that was Oct. 7th. The next Monday Paul and I decided to go to a church service where we were packed in like sardines and after about 15min. Paul fell asleep. I kept nudging him the whole time. I found out afterwards that if he was in an uncomfortable position or it was to hot that he falls asleep.

Paul and I in our many conversations talked about movies that were coming out soon and for some reason we both wanted to see The Story of Us. So that Friday Paul picked me up from work (Chuck E. Cheese) and we went to AMC in Fullerton. Paul's roommate Daryl and some of their other friends met us there. By the end of the movie we were holding hands. We will forever "discuss" who held whose hand. All I know is that some how when the couple on screen was reconciling our hands found each other. When we stood up we stopped holding hands, Daryl looked at us funny like Paul had forgot to tell him we were dating or something, even though we weren't.

The following week was Torrey which means about half of Biola uses the time off from regular classes to take a mini vacation. Moe, Nick, Paul and I decided to go camping next door to the camp where Paul worked at for a couple summers. Paul and I took a walk, he wanted to show me Camp Maranatha and town. We went back into some small shops where there was a wooden porch swing and sat down. We just talked about nothing and everything for quite sometime. Then Paul tried his best to ask me out, but it came out something like this... we should stop doing what we are doing (holding hands) if we aren't gunna be together... you know. I agreed, so we officially started dating October 21, 1999.

October 2000
A year later Moe, Nick, Paul and I decided to head back up to Idyllwild. In order to have some "girl time" and because Nick had to work a night volleyball game Moe and I drove up a day early. The evening the boys were coming up Moe decided we should go surprise them, watch the game and then we could all drive back up together.

Boy did we surprise them alright. I saw Paul walking around, I snuck up behind him and hugged tightly. I could feel his entire body stiffen. He swung around and the chin dropped. Immediately Paul said he need to go use the restroom. I turned to Moe and said that was weird. We dismissed it as he was just surprised to see us. The three of us watched the games and waited for Nick to complete the press release, it was finally time to head back up the mountain. It was really late by the time we got back to Idyllwild. Quickly the 4 of us started a fire and sat around talking.

Paul and I decided to go for a walk again as we had the year before. Slowly Paul and I made our way through town and back to the very spot where we started our relationship, the bench. Once again we sat down and talked about the past year. Paul began to tell me how much he loved me, and suddenly stood from the bench, knelt down while pulling a box out of his pocket and asked me to marry him. Before the boy could even open the box I said YES, while trying to move to hug him and nearly fell off the bench. Paul slid the ring on my finger and we kissed.

On our way back to camp we decided to play it cool, pretend nothing happened. Moe and Nick kept looking at us like uh, you two going to spill it or what. You see Moe and Nick knew of Paul's little proposal. After a few minutes we did confirm that yes indeed the twos of us were engaged.

October 21, 2000We go back and visit "OUR" bench every year.

October 2001October 2002

October 2003 October 2005
October 2006October 2007

In Town

Job Tate and Jamin Peck came to town to help out at Camp Maranatha... so Hutch and I decided to stop on by to hang with the whole crew. Working hard... Hardly workin'

Always a good time to gather round the ol' table for some conversation and Otter Pops

Saying g'bye to the kiddos

Although it only lasted 2 days we had a good time at the mini reunion.

We brought Job and Jamin back to our apartment. Job treated us to a delicious meal at Lucille's BBQ. Then Paul and I introduced them to the Wii. So much fun! Come on back any time, we'd love to have you.

Can You Dig It

I am loving this work 4 days 3 days off! We have been keeping busy but it has really rejuvenated me spending time with the people I have had the pleasure to hang out with. We started our weekend early with the trip to D-land with the Heatons. Then as soon as work was out Friday Paul and I loaded up the car and headed to Idyllwild till late Saturday. Sunday I headed down to SD, enjoyed time with Erin, TK, mom, KJ, D! Photos and details to come... off to enjoy the rest of my day!