Life Lately!

Hey guys! Long time no see! Sorry for the lack of posing for the past 3 months, I have been trying to decide what direction this blog will take since the wedding is over. I still think I will use this blog to give updates, newlywed advice/updates, maybe dating stories, and for future kids. So here is an update of life lately!

First of all, we have been married for over 4 months now and it is beyond incredible. I couldn't imagine my life any different at this point. Cody is truly my best friend and we have each other's backs. It is just fun being with your soulmate doing everything together. So in the last 3 months, we have been settling in adjusting to our new normal and events. People who say that those who don't live together before marriage have a rude awakening when they finally do, are wrong! It has actually been the easiest transition. I have been with 4 roommates in college, and this has been by far the easiest living transition. We had about a month of miscommunications about each others living expectations such as cleanliness and organization (since I am the neat freak) but once we butchered through a rough and frustrated day-long-conversation at the end of July it has been smooth sailing since.

So to end the summer, Cody and I spent a lot of time swimming in his parents pool and walking around their gorgeous farm.

Also on July 18th I started Shaun T, T25 and have been doing it ever since, planning to continue until the end of January when I have completed 3 whole rounds of the two months cycles. I have seen definition results and a little bit of weight loss. (I hold on to weight really really well :/) (I guess that will come in handy if I'm ever stranded on a desert or something) But I'm keeping on keeping on!

So early August when the teachers were in meetings before the kids started, Cody let me come to school with him and I was happily put to work! We spent all day setting up his classroom! Besides the snakes, rats, roaches, and a million ants, the room is spacious and nice! I hope in the future to be able to help Cody set up his room every year just like I have done for my mom a bunch of times!

At Brainerd High School, the teachers are supposed to dress in a suit for the school day to show professionalism! Isn't my honey so handsome in a suit!

In early August as a late birthday present (since I was so sick on my birthday) Morgan and I finally got to go rock climbing at that new cool place in downtown Chattanooga! It was really cool and we rock climbed until our arms about fell off. I forgot how much it stresses your arms/fingers when you're not used to it. We totally temporarily lost use of our hands later that night. I literary couldn't grasp or hold on to anything. 

One neat thing about marriage, is Cody and I can go at all times (mainly late late at night) or on a whim for a Sonic run to get tea or a slushie or even ice cream!  I love these times together and we can have some of the best conversations together.

The joys of wedding season and getting to bring my husband as a date to weddings ;), has given us the opportunity to attend numerous weddings we have been invited to during July and August and they were awesome!! Well first I enjoy weddings immensely and wouldn't miss one for the world. And one of the weddings we were invited to was in Nashville and we got to enjoy the gorgeous views on the way there. Tennessee is so beautiful. I am so happy to belong in such an amazing place!

The devil/cutie dog Sasha and a piece of her destruction on her nose. (I know I've already showed this but she still hasn't improved with her everything) poor dog. 

So early July until mid August, we took advantage of Cody only having football during the day before school started, and weekends were filled with amazing hikes and adventures. This is from hiking at Harrison Bay. We hiked here many times every few weeks. I just think this picture is so interesting and there is just something so beautiful about being in the middle of the forest seeing something like this. 

Of course we have squeezed in many date nights throughout the months of marriage and both think it is extremely important to still "date" once you are still married. We love our date nights together more than anything in this world! (I also love the opportunity to dress up and look nice for Cody :))

Now going back to our hiking trip from heck. It was the worst decision Cody and I have ever made. STORY TIME: Well way back when, my granddad took Morgan and I (8 and 5 at the time) on THE mud trail and we didn't make it. There was mud to our waists, reeds over our head, and no direction of the path. We were stuck, lost, without shoes due to the suction-like mud, and to be honest, scared. It was starting to get dark, (because when is it not when you're lost) and our bikes were 3 feet deep in the thick mud. It took us 4 hours to get out of there with Granddad leading the way and we had to be hosed off outside once we reached the camper along with our bikes we had to dig out. BAD experience.

So back to now. Cody and I decided it was time to conquer my fear and re-write the bad memory and give it a try because it hadn't rained in like a month and it was the middle of the day, and we didn't have bikes. So the map of the trail is above, We smartly took a picture before heading in (it still didn't matter) and kept walking, and walking, and walking AND walking. 4 hours passed and I calculated how much time it should have taken us to go 4.5 miles on flat terrain and it was defiantly not over 4 hours. The trail started to not look like the directions of the map and it of course was starting to get dark at this time. Cody and I realized a heart-stopping thing around the 4th hour. What if this was all one way and we had to turn around and go back at some point once we reached "the end". The map wasn't very clear if it was one way or one large loop. So we slightly panicked because at this point our legs were on fire and it was a struggle to put one leg in front of the other truly because we seriously SPED walked the ENTIRE 4 hours. We decided to still keep pressing on and not to turn around anyway because even though we knew we definitely would make it back if we turned around but 4 more hours and in the dark!?! No way!! It was scary enough in the trail with no one in sight and creepy looking bear sized lumps randomly in the forest. After another hour we finally saw a post in the ground that said 1.2 miles left. We about cried, we were so relieved. We picked up the pace even more and practically ran out. We made it back to the exact point we started, thank the Lord, and ran to our car and downed like 5 water bottles. (It was 95 degrees). We left and never looked back. I don't know about the map but I promise with everything I have, that that trail was not only 4.5 miles. It was at least double. I am a fast walker and in shape and it definitely wasn't 4.5 miles. So yes. That is our true story and we will NEVER do that again. EVER. 

A picture of us like 20 minutes in. We looked so happy. If we only knew what was ahead. 

Now one weekend Cody and I drove to Knoxville and explored my favorite place, Ijams Nature Center. This is my favorite spot in the entire place. It is so calming! It only takes an hour and a half to get through the entire place at Ijams going through 10 trails. Now that is my kind of place!

The next weekend was UT family weekend and sadly Cody couldn't come because of football so I went up alone and had a good time with Mom, Morgan, and Nana! Morgan and I also went to Ijams nature center for her fall break!

Here is me and Nana before the UT game trying to find Mom and Morgan in the crowd. 

And now I'm going to grace your presence with a picture of me in this pink wig and my too-long hair poking out underneath. Nana's house is great!

The Dyar girls after the win and the 97 degree game. We almost died from the heat. 

Now I have an official coaches wife shirt I get to wear every football game with Cody. I have enjoyed being a coaches wife, traveling with Cody, staying after for the meetings, setting up, talking to the players and making snacks for everyone!

Brainerd High on a late sunny afternoon before game day.

I love this time of personal reflection and time to deeply think as I am able to walk around the local park through the crisp autumn air some days.

On Cody's by-week, we stopped by our old stomping ground, East Hamilton, and saw their homecoming game! We had so much fun! It was nice both being on the bleachers side of the game rather than the sideline. 

The next day we went to UT's checkerboard game against Florida and it was the absolute best game of our life. UT is good again. I can't even explain how happy we were! For the first time in about 17-20 years we are good again! Truly good!

So the first game we lost after our winning streak I sat here in my UT clothes defeated after 4 straight hours of willing us to win in the second overtime with all my might, but we just couldn't make it. I was so sad to give up our 9th ranking too.

This is what Cody looked like the rest of the night. (We were at Crackerbarrel here).

So on Codys Fall break, he still had 4 hours of football a day but no school, so one day we went to the Mayfield Dairy Farm and toured the factory. That is my favorite thing ever! We got free ice cream below!! Also above, I hope seeing Cody overjoyed to wear his two hairnets has made your day!

A few days ago I just set up all of our wedding pictures around the apartment and I am so beyond excited! I am so proud of them! It has taken so incredibly long to handle, sort through, put in albums, and hang the photos. I have been working on it since late July.

To get you all in the fall mood, here are beautiful images of my Grandmothers house decorations for fall. I always loved her style and hope to have my future house look at least a fraction of the way her beautiful house looks!

Well I'll see you guys sooner than later as Cody and I prepare to host our first family Thanksgiving at our apartment expecting 11-16 family members! We can't wait!! And I can't wait to especially take pictures and write about it! I am honored to host everyone and spend quality time all together with good food. Oh and when Cody and I say we are hosting Thanksgiving that means we are providing the place and you bring the food;). Ha

Also I plan on going to UT's engineering alumni game and tailgating in a few weeks. Can't wait to go as alumni! #proudtobeavol

Love, 

The Raborns!

10-25-16