Friends for Life 12-11-14

After a long day of work we had to go grocery shopping tonight.. I didn't really want to do anything tonight. Shopping with my hilarious, sweet husband was nothing like the chore I thought it would be though. We laughed and joked and had the best time. When you have someone who can make mundane chores something fun they are definitely a catch!

Time To Go 6-8-14

We had thought about going canoeing today, but when we woke up after the second night of camping, we both just wanted to go home. We had plenty of fun and more than enough bug bites. It was a good thing we decided to leave because as soon as we had packed up our campsite and headed down the road it started raining!



6 years together!

I wonder what this little guy will turn into?!
 Found him on our tent while we were taking it down.

Leaving our campsite at Barkshed.

High Wire Anniversary 6-7-14

Saturday morning we woke up to no rain. It didn't even rain throughout the night. We prepared for the worst though and had a tarp covering our tent.

Sooo Handsome!

We woke up and I made a yummy breakfast then to my dismay we decided to go ahead and go to Loco Ropes in Mountain View. I was really hoping to be swept away by some catastrophic flash flood before we had the chance to go....but that didn't happen. So after a lunch at Angler's, we made our way to Loco Ropes. I was really trying to not freak out but when we think of NOT doing something, what do we do? Yup. But by the time we got there I decided I was just going to pull up my big girl panties and do it because Dustin REALLY wanted to. I am not keen on heights at all so it was scary. The staff was super nice though and I did fairly well. I didn't even totally fall off the course once, I was as slow as a tortoise, but I made it passed every element rather nicely.

Yea, I did that, 30 feet up in the trees!

All except one which required a free fall type experience and eventually I did make it through that one too....with a 10 min coaching from the facilitator, Kari, and a ummm encouraging light tap on my shoulder from my husband. I had scooted myself so close to the edge that the small encouragement tap on my shoulder had just enough push to rock me and then I instantly decided not to fight it and just go. Kari gave him the death look for that tap and rightly so, I was supposed to decide to go. But honestly, I was going to chicken out and I am actually kind of thankful for that love tap cause I would have been SOOOO mad at myself if I wouldn't have finished.

The Loco Ropes high wire facilitator , Kari.

We finished just in time before the rain came pouring down. All in all it is a lot of fun for people who don't mind being 30 feet off the ground, Dustin loved it, I on the other hand, would rather be finding my adventure on the ground.

We dropped by the soda fountain in Mountain View afterwards and shared a blueberry malt....so good but so very sweet since we aren't use to having much sugar anymore.

We decided to camp another night but before we left Mountain View we stopped by Wal-Mart and got some glow in the dark spray paint. When we got back to the campsite, we spray painted our croquet set and when it got dark we played glow in the dark croquet! I don't have a picture of that but it was just so much fun I had to mention it!

So happy this adorable nerd lets me drag him to the great outdoors!

Adventure, Rain or Shine 6-6-14

Despite the immanent rain in the forecast Dustin and I decided to go forth with our plans to go camping for our 6th anniversary. We landed at Barkshed Campground at about 5:00pm. We set up camp, and headed down to the creek to explore our surroundings. The mist was heavy and made the scenes take on an eerie, yet mysteriously romantic feel. I felt like I got into a time machine headed to the distant past to get to that moment.

There is an old road bridge over the creek that is closed to vehicle traffic. There is a trail into the woods across the bridge that we didn't explore, but I am sure there adventure lurking there.

Buffalo River Fun 5-24-14

Dustin and I headed down to the Buffalo River this morning with three guidebooks in hand. We decided to go down to Woolum Campground and look for the trail that would take us to "The Nars" or "Narrows" Well here it is.....

So we went to the car and changed into our swimming attire and waded across the Buffalo River. It wound up being just past waist deep for me but the rocks were super slippery and the current made it tricky, but we did it without slipping an falling all the way in! There is actually an easier way to get here down a little dirt road, but it would have taken us 45+ minutes out of our way. Once we made it across there was a nice mile and a half walk down to the place you can scramble up the rocks to see the Nars. We had a picnic up at the base of the Nars and then I scrambled up to the top. Dustin was so stinkin' nervous for me. Later he told me it is because I am often so clumsy.......thanks hon. Half way up though I got a little nervous myself. At some points climbing up, your footing is less than a foot away from the dead drop off into the Buffalo River. I made it to the top though and Dustin came too. It was seriously an awesome view at the top. On one side you get a gorgeous view of the Buffalo River and Skull Rock then the other side you have a beautiful outlook over Ozark farm country with rolling hills in the backdrop. So worth the wading of the river, the hike and the climb!

The "Nars" on the Buffalo River. If you look close enough you might see Dustin!

The view of the fields as seen from the top of the Nars

The view from the top of The Nars looking out over the Buffalo River.

I loved the view from the top!

We also went to a swimming hole in Erbie Campground before we headed into Jasper to have dinner at The Arkansas House in Jasper. After dinner we watched one of my favorite bands, National Park Radio, do FANTASTIC job as they rocked out the little theater in Jasper.

Picture Perfect 5-7-14

Every once in a while as your going through every day married life sweet mini fairy-tales happen.

I love our date nights that we have every month on the 7th, but this one was one of my favorite we have had in a long time. After work we drove out to the Bull Shoals city park to play sand volleyball. The park was full of trees, the sun was starting it's wind down for the day and shimmering it's golden rays through the shade of the green leaves and the sand in the ball pit was softer than the sand on any beach I've ever been to. We played for about 40 minutes. Dustin's ability to make me laugh and smile has never gone away from day one to year eight and tonight was no exception. We played until our forearms could take no more.

We played on the playground a little bit and then went and picked up our Veggie Pizza from Bush's Pizza and drove down to the lake. There we had a perfect view of the sunset as we watched it go down we shared our delish veggie pizza and laughed and talked some more.

We brought food for the fish that live at the marina. It was completely dark by the time we made it to the marina and we were not seeing the fish I was looking around in the pitch black water and then one little booger jumped out of the water, simultaneously make my skin jump off my bones. Gave Dustin a good chuckle! Well, we fed them a late night snack and of course I had to try to get pictures! I love how these turned out!

  

Then there is the ending of the date. We walked to the edge of the dock and danced to a Tim McGraw song. I wish I had a picture of that moment complete with the stars that were shining above, the glow from the moon and the ripples of the water, and him holding me in his arms but that was definitely a moment that just couldn't be ruined with trying to get a picture. Although I didn't pick up my camera, I  sure did take a memory picture and let me tell you that shot is picture perfect.

Molten Lava Love 1-7-14

Every 7th of every month my husband and I go on a date. We got married on 06-07-08 and since then we have done a date every seventh. This is us digging into our special treat of a chocolate molten lava cake at Chili's, after our yummy dinner. Fun night!