Inaugural Dinner & Ball for the Officers of the Elks

Over the weekend we got some spring cleaning done and regular chores around the house. Nothing too exciting, but definitely more relaxing than work and the daily grind.

However, Saturday night we were invited by our landlord to attend a ceremony for the swearing in of new officers in the Elk's Lodge. Not just invited, Bentley was asked to be the Master of Ceremonies for this event. Now, I have to admit I had NO IDEA what the Elk's Lodge was or what they did before Saturday night. 

All I knew was that there was an Elk's Lodge in the town I grew up in.... I grew up in a mountain town near Yosemite and my idea of what the 'lodge' was, consisted of a huge tavern filled with hunters, hanging around a bar swapping hunting stories and tips, with high ceilings and elk heads hanging from the walls from past hunts. Not to be rude or anything, I was just really ignorant and hadn't the slightest clue!

I am pleased to tell you that I learned a lot Saturday night. The Elk's are a nonprofit organization built to support their community through service. 

How awesome?! 

What a far cry from hunters bragging about their biggest kills over drinks!!!

 There is an annual fee to be apart of the Lodge and you have to be invited by other members. So it may seem a little stuck up from the outside looking in. But really, it is full of wonderful people looking to serve in their community and find their niche. 

Our landlord is one of them, she was actually one of the new officers being sworn in. She is such a doll. Sweet to the core, that one! We really lucked out in the landlord department.

San Luis Obispo has one of the largest, active Elk's Lodges in the state. 

SLO is full of serviceable locals, so eager to give back to their community.

Just one of the many reasons why SLO is so happy. :)

It was a great way to spice up the usual weekend routine and get all gussied up. 

Now I'm on spring break and get to celebrate Bentleys birthday tomorrow and welcome some of the Murdock family to our neck of the woods. What a wonderful Tuesday it will be.

This is our first time having them on the central coast!!!

AND it is just for fun, no weddings, births, or baptisms needed to get them here ;)

oh happy day

I love 3 day weekends :) 

My school district took today off to recognize President Lincolns' birth.  

Thank you president Lincoln for being born and all the glorious things you did with your life, like establish the 14th amendment and put an end to slavery. 

The last day of a 3 day weekend is ALWAYS the best, in my opinion. 

I appreciate monday in a whole new way when I dont have to work and 

can do whatever my desire with whoever I please. 

Today was very eventful and oh so fun. 

It started with a sunrise hike to Bishops Peak at 5:45 am. 

Even though we do this hike fairly often, this time was different. 

It was so incredibly cold I almost decided to turn around and drive home a few minutes 

after we started the hike.... yup I was being a wuss. BIG time!

After making it to the top 10 minutes before the sun rose I was tremendously 

thankful I didn't turn back at the beginning. It was so worth the brain freeze and throbbing 

knees from the chilly air. I had to keep reminding myself that some people in the country

 just made it through Neemo, where feet of snow were dumped over night! I really dont

 have room to complain in California, on the central coast of all places, about poor weather. 

I finished the girls' Valentines for my Preschoolers. They will LOVE their flower hair clips

I painted my nails red with hot pink and violet sparkles ;) 

I baked dozens of coconut-chocolate chip cookies! heaven help my hips.

Got to work on Bentleys Valentine

We went to the Monarch Butterfly Grove in Pismo and saw the tail end of the Butterflies migrating through. 

Just in case you didn't know Monarchs travel here from 

Nov. - Feb. by the THOUSANDS and clump together in the 

eucalyptus trees. They look like halloween pinecones, its truly

magical to see so many at once.

We found a new beach spot we absolutely love, beween Avila and Shell beach. Well actually I found it. While the boys were being boys hopping fences and running off I went around the 'boring' way ;) and stumbled on a path leading to a beach entrance. It seems somewhat secret since it is a rope that hangs over a cliff to repel down on to this sandy, and slightly rocky spot. It's awesome. 

Bentley cooked a wonderful chicken Alfredo pasta for dinner and he dyed the noodles bright green haha. 

I have a bucket list for things I want to do in San Luis Obispo this year and we checked two of them off this weekend!

1. Solvang

2. Monarch Butterfly Grove

I have lived here almost 4 years now and there are STILL 

things I have not done or seen. 

So I am going to enjoy them all this year :)

where does earth end and heaven begin?

 Hmmm Nate, what happened to yours?

Hope your Monday was delightful, 

have an even better week!

MLK

Martin Luther King Jr. 

Did you know his legal name at birth was Michael King? 

His father had it changed later and said it was recorded incorrectly. I just thought this was an interesting wiki fact.

I love this man and everything he stands for; nonviolence, civil rights, racial equality, leading the Montgomery Bus Boycott (plus so many others), giving passionate sermons at church...

but most of all I love his speech at the 1963 March on Washington. 

"I have a dream that my four children will one day 

live in a Nation where they will not be judged 

by the color of their skin, but by the 

content of their character

I have a dream."

I am so thankful for advocates like this wonderful man.

I am so happy to see how far our country has come, and filled with anticipation to see where it will go!

Happy Monday!

It is going to be a beautiful week full of inspiring dreams :)

 

2012

In a Nutshell. . .     

We may have started off the new year by falling asleep on the couch at my parents house in Coarsegold waiting for the countdown :) But 2012 was still came and was full of love, service, triumphs and a few heart aches.

January
- Bentley started his degree program at Full Sail University for Music Business
- I started working at Blue Sky preschool with the toddlers!
- I found WGU online program and started doing some research


February
- We went to Hawaii for a friends wedding just 6 months after we were married there!
- We hiked Bishops peak in remembrance of my dog bite in 2011 on presidents day.
- I got a job with San Luis Coastal Unified School District and started working at CL Smith Elementary  in the 2nd grade. The school is right across the street from our apartment. I started to feel so  much more grown up, even though I was riding my bike to school :)
-  Bentley opened for the California Honey Drops at SLO Brew
- We took a fun valentines photo shoot 
- I gave my first talk in Sacrament on Service


March
- Bentley and I ran in the color run in SoCal with some of my Long Beach girlfriends.
- I started Line Dancing every thursday night
- I got the WORST flu I have ever had in my entire life and lost more pounds in 2 days than anyone should in 2 weeks. It was miserable.
- Instagram entered my world
- My love for the hunger games grew and grew. I finished all three books in March.
- Bentley sanded and repainted most of our furniture! 
- We celebrated Bentleys 31st year of life :)


April
- Bentley purposed a year ago this April so we reminisced in the place where he asked. 
- I remember very little about this month.....


May
- My first Murdock girls get away in Zermatt :) I got to know my 8 sisters in law better, we did girly things and just hung out :) It was so relaxing, my first professional massage too!! OH MY GOODNESS.
- My mom scared us all by contracting a rare virus from her gallbladder surgery, I'm talking  having seizures in my arms, passing out, leading to the ER on mothers day... It was a nightmare and nothing I want to ever experience again. I did learn how vital it is to have enough potassium in my body though. 
- I got into CAL POLY


JUNE
- We moved to Vegas for Bentleys summer job
- I practically stopped blogging... too busy hanging out with family and soaking up the sun.
- I got bronchitis :( 
- sunshine, fruit, pools, tanning and reading pretty much sum it up!


JULY
- 4th of July in Vegas on the roof, we saw more fireworks than I have ever seen in my life!
- My papa passed away, bless his heart. Pancreatic Cancer took him very quickly
- I turned 22 on the 22nd my golden birthday!
- Murdock Family Reunion in Duck Creek, Utah
- My parents started packing or their move back to the beloved bay Area :)



August
- I left Vegas early to help my parents transition to their new home in Green Valley.
- Bentley and I were apart for the longest we have ever been since we met each other, it was something I dont wish to repeat ever!
- School started back up so Bentley and I were back to the daily grind, I was moved to the preschool! Perfect fit for me :)
- I declined CAL POLY and started moving forward with WGU. Something my family was a little unsure of, but I had a great feeling about it.


September
- We celebrated our 1 year anniversary
- went to 2 weddings back to back weekends in the mountains! It was lovely
- My spanish was getting really strong thanks to my morning preschoolers who ar primarily spanish speakers
- I started crossing guard in the morning for my school

October
- I started running regularly, again :)
- Bentley and I dressed up as lions for halloween and had a blast at our friends Halloween Party in their barn. Perfect place for a Halloween Party. 
- I started WGU!!!! Special Ed bachelors program
- I went on a thrifting binge and got really crafty


November
- We had a nice week long break and went to my parents for Thanksgiving and spent time with them at their new house. We rode bikes, played a ton of music, and ate yummy food.
- Bentley and I went to the oakland temple and did baptisms. It was his first time there, my first time since I was 9 and my family was sealed there.
- I continued to thrift and improve our little home
- I saw my dad lay on his tummy for the second time in 2 years at SCI FIT the spinal chord rehab center he goes to now. I am so so proud of my dads progress. He did squats, the work out bike and the elliptical too. He has come so far!


December
- Bentley brought home a beautiful 18th century piano he got for free :) it only took 6 grown men to haul it up our stairs.
- I finally got into the groove of online school
- We prepared our spare room for our nephew Nate to come down and live with us while he finishes high school- skipping babies and going straight to teenagers...
- I actually sent out our christmas cards in time this year!
- a rep. from Capitol Records got to hear some of Bentleys music through Full Sail and had some very good things to say to him!
- We got to spend our entire winter break at the cabin with the Murdock family! We cut down our tree (my first time doing that), enjoyed the snow, and played with lots of babies and nieces and nephews. 

Looking forward to another exciting year with  my love. We have many dreams and ambitions for our family, I can't wait to see what life has in store for us. 
Guess the Mayans were wrong... 
I feel like I should own a shirt that says I survived Y2K AND 2012

Adios 2012

Christmas Eve- traditions and announcements!

This is my first christmas away from my family with Bentley at his parents cabin in Duck creek Utah. It has been different without my mom, dad, and brother, but I am really enjoying getting to know and spending time with my in-laws. 

Especially in such a magical place. 

This cabin of theirs- covered in snow, full of  family, and a cozy fireplace is lovely. I really could not have asked for a better family to marry into, for me this is perfect. I feel as though I blend in like another pair of boots at the front door.

Right where I belong amongst all the other pairs with my sole mate ;)

Their family tradition for years has been to have Bethlehem dinner on christmas eve and dress up like wise men or shepherds.

 The food is always something similar to what might have been eaten during the time Christ was born. Food is served on a low table lit only by candles, with pillow cushions for 'seats', no utensils and grape juice is the 'wine'. This year we didn't dress up for dinner, but we had cornish game hens, cucumber and hummus, cranberry sauce, olives, dates, fry bread, and cheese. 

It was delicious and so much better when eaten with your hands!

 

  


Dig in and drink up!

Yum!

Christmas morning... I'm always one of the first up!

Now for the announcements, dont get too excited I am not pregnant. 

But one of my sisters in law is!!! She told the family christmas eve by having Mimi, George and her 2 boys unwrap a gift that gave it away.

My favorite was the card with the #31 written on it in big black sharpie to her dad since it will be their 31st grandchild.  There are quite a few babies in this family right now. Emily just had one in September, Chandler is 4 months along and now another one due next August

Babies, babies, babies!!!

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas with your loved ones!

there really is no better way to start the day

I am all snuggled up on the couch with some hot apple cider vinegar, honey and lemon enjoying this beautiful Labor day monday morning. My husband and I hiked Bishops peak again, this time for sunrise. We prefer the sunrise hike more than the sunset hike. It is just a little more rewarding :) 

AND I don't feel half as lazy for sitting on the couch in jamies at 10 

(which is rather late for me) 

I feel more like I earned it :)

Is this seriously where I live?!

April Dean Instagramming away :)

 tripod pose

Somebody Pinch ME!

Being above the clouds, fog, and everything else for that matter truly feels magical. 

Like being in an airplane as a kid for the first time. 

Bentley and I LOVE this hike, not too long but not a quick one either. Before we started 'officially' dating we hiked this nearly four times a week! 

Don't get me wrong its an awesome trail, but I know we were just crazy about each other and wanted any excuse to spend as much time with one another as possible.

Here we are almost a year later,

No excuses needed...

Happy Monday 

XOXO

Only A QUARTER of the year has passed since my last post....

Summer went by too fast, as it always does. We had an unusual summer, we spent the summer in one of the last places you want to be during the summer months, Las Vegas.  Needless to say I got a pretty good tan, lots of swim time, and napped a lot. The heat has a way of putting me right to sleep! 

My birthday dinner in Duckcreek, Utah during the crazy Murdock family reunion! Bentley thinks, and plans for EVERYTHING! Love my eagle scout, always prepared for whatever the occasion. 

family prayer outside church 

 did I mention I got to read a lot this summer?

I also had an exceptional amount of quality time with my in-laws. I will always hold this summer near and dear to my heart. The amount of time I got to spend with them is priceless.  

Bentley worked his butt off in the heat, literally. 

I don't know how he did it in 115 degrees somedays- I am so proud of my hubby. He provided a way for us to spend the summer   with family and still able to come back to our place in the SO much more appreciated San Luis Obispo.

Nothing like a little distance to make the heart grow fonder...

right?

I mean, I cant walk down the street without thanking the good lord above for my job, and apartment, and roots in THIS city! We couldn't be happier at the moment anywhere else.

We are so blessed to have work elsewhere over summer just to return to this :)

Oh San Luis, how we love you!

We came home with  new car too :) Well a new to us car any ways... 

A spiffy black Honda Element (pictures to come soon)

It made for the best date night at the drive-in on one of our first night home. Perfect Bentley and Michelle style. It is so roomy, and the back seats come out super easily and an entire twin bed fits in the back!!!

Anything beats the trooper, bentleys previous car with 200,000 miles on it!

Yes the troop got a lotta lovin' and can now love on another family.

We had some wonderful adventures this summer, I will be documenting on the blog (no matter how many months late they are) the family reunion, my parents moving out of Coarsegold, my sweet Papa passing away, my Nana quit smoking at 80 YEARS old! 

Way to go!!! 

and so much more to look forward to on here :)

Happy Monday  

xoxo

No rhyme or reason for this one. . . . .

If I keep eating as much fruit as I have been this last week I am going to have some serious problems. I am just being honest here, lets be real!

I LOVE fruit if it were humanly possible to eat nothing but fruit for a lifetime I think I could do it. 

Well.  . . .

 thats not entirely true, I just caught a whiff of the chicken and quinoa enchiladas in our oven and immediately felt differently. 

******************

Tonight we are elated, 

Bentley just completed week 1 of his program, only 104 weeks left to go! 

I am already so proud. 

I officially have my new positions start date  locked in! I can not believe I will get to walk to school aka 'work' pretty soon!:D

I managed to teach my little mandarin speaking two year old preschooler a new word today - SHOES. What girl doesn't need to know that word?! Plus her shirt said "I've got daddy under my spell" 
He is totally asking for it. 

It is supposed to rain tomorrow- FINALLY

Our oven is full, our hearts are warm and minds at rest. 

Only thing missing is a good run, endorphins make every day better!!!

Happy Monday, hope your week has started out pleasantly!

Mrs. Murdock