we woke up to rain today

I woke up cold this morning. We didn't make our bed with our summer quilt last night because we fell into bed so exhausted that we didn't want to wait for the dryer cycle to complete. So we slept with a couple throw quilts, which was mostly okay except that even my feet hung out the end from time to time and Paisley thinks that's great for clawing and biting toes. Needless to say cold and still tired from the fun weekend, I really wanted to just stay in bed. The dogs, barking and howling announced that Gene, our builder (did we mention we're building a house on the lower acreage of Jon's parents' property?) had arrived to start work for the day. That woke Emory up and he's been sleep deprived for the past 4 days or so; I can tell he's a peach this morning. I confess I've heard him for about 15 minutes now and haven't even gone to his rescue. I also confess that on a day like today, I think I'll give in and let him watch Cars. He's had a several-day break, after all, and it is raining. But I made him take a break due to the image in these photos: obsession.

Happy Monday.

love in victoria

For our third anniversary, Jon surprised me with a perfect trip to Victoria, British Columbia. He kept things so secretive and only revealed what I needed to pack, that we would be gone for 2 nights and 3 days, and that Emory would be cared for by both of our families. I didn't find out our destination until the morning of the 25th when we left; we stopped at the dealership to pick up our getaway car, a restored 1968 MGB GT, just 30 minutes prior to our ferry sailing from Anacortes. Though it rained for the duration of the boat ride and our first couple hours in Victoria, by the time we woke up from our post-nap lunch, the skies cleared and we caught a glimpse of the gorgeous view from our hotel room balcony. (As a side note, Easter Monday is a holiday in Canada, and the streets and businesses were nearly deserted, but lunch was fabulous. We ate at a pub, and shared a bison shepherd's pie and the best fish and chips either of us has ever tasted).

With the promise of better weather, we headed off on a romantic waterfront walk and to find dinner. We chose perfect timing for photo lighting and spent our evening marveling at the beauty of the city, including soaking up the views of the Empress Hotel and the parliament building.

We stumbled on a quaint little French restaurant for dinner, and the food and our waiter made our anniversary even more special. Jon had Poulet de Provence, and I had French onion soup and grilled romaine salad. Then our kind waiter surprised us with dessert on him, the perfect, chocolate, caramel, and raspberry combination to end our meal. Before returning to our hotel room for the night, we took a drive around the city to capture the parliament buildings lit up with thousands of tiny lights and the MG in front of the Empress. Quite fitting, don't you think?

I can't think of a better way to have spent our anniversary.

patience

I haven't shared much on this blog lately, obviously. I don't know what I've been waiting for exactly, but I'm realizing that I've been experiencing impatience lately, and indulging in my own selfishness leads to negative thoughts and unmotivated behavior. However, I'm trying to break free from this little slump and today I read Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk from last April's priesthood session of General Conference. In it he says:

"There is an important concept here: patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!"

Reading this quote and the rest of the talk has been encouraging for me. So, I'm committing right now to be more proactive in my life, no matter the circumstances of the moment. Besides, I'm sure I'll regret not taking pictures and keeping record of Emory's adorable self if I don't start that again soon.

this is where i live

Sometimes it still feels like we're on vacation. Maybe that's because we are currently staying with Jon's parents for a slightly longer time than we originally planned. Maybe it's because this time after Christmas always seems to mesh all together and I tend to lose track until April or so. Or maybe it's because we still have Utah plates on our car. (Hey, they expire in March, and we may as well make them last, right?) Regardless, when I remember that living here is what I wanted for so long, I feel pretty fortunate that I do live here. For good.

i must have dreamt about southern utah last night

In fact, I'm almost certain I did because today, I miss it like crazy. Jon and I loved in Utah for about 3 years (well, I lived there for most of the past 8 years, minus a break from school after my sophomore year at BYU and my mission), but it wasn't until we first traveled to the southern half of the state that we learned to love Utah. The funny thing is that all we talked about for most of the 3 years we lived there is how much we couldn't wait to move to Washington, so I guess I feel a little hypocritical, lamenting my sadness and longing for the red desert now that I'm back home. There's something eerie and sublime about the vast, unpopulated portions of Utah that were once covered by sea. And I like that I love it. The areas we left unexplored give us reason to return, and return we will.

photo taken almost a year ago on our trip to Bryce Canyon with Jon and Joy

so grateful, so happy...

...that we got to attend this wedding last weekend.

Caryn is one of my longest friends, and our friendship has withstood years, despite distance and not seeing each other often. The bummer is that now that Jon, Emory, and I are moving back to the Seattle area soon, she'll be leaving to follow her new husband's job placement, but that just gives us even more reason to travel to San Fransisco to visit. Aren't they a beautiful, happy couple?

The ceremony and reception were both lovely, and the details classic and elegant.

Because of the late night affair, Jon and I (thanks to my eager-to-watch-Emory family) made a real date of it and spent the night at the Marriott Waterfront Seattle. We woke up to this view:

And enjoyed a fabulous breakfast while watching ferries and fishing boats come and go. Ahhh, the life. We lived it up a bit, but counted it as finally celebrating our second anniversary, since we moved right after the actual date and never had the chance in April.

We're definitely grateful for the help with Emory and the occasion to spoil ourselves a little, even if we came home to a little man who despite being surrounded by some of his biggest fans, wouldn't look me in the eye for at least 30 minutes. Silly stinker.

bedtime last night

password: kisses

bedtime love from Meghan Beutler on Vimeo.

just for the record, the loves were so much sweeter (and voluntary) before the distraction of the camera

just because it's still october

I had a birthday this month. It was a little while ago now, but I'm still worth celebrating, right?

I woke up to decorations and presents galore.


and a really cranky kid (a much different scene from last year)

who spent my birthday getting down to business, Emory style

Jon scored big time once again, with this gorgeous bouquet from our favorite florist
(this photo was taken a week later and even now, the arrangement is still beautiful)

I got to get a glorious 90-minute massage and spend time in the steam room at the Kura Door, thanks to Jessica

and my birthday night, we celebrated by eating a decadent full course dinner at La Caille, though it was much more an experience than a meal

Then we spent the next several days still in party-mode, with Rachel and Lee taking us out to dinner and then hosting a party for me the night after that. I'm seriously so spoiled.