Summer Update

Hello! We have been out of touch for the past few months but never fear! We’ll get you up to speed with this quick review of the last several months in speedy, highlighted form.

Since we last wrote, it was our third year wedding anniversary in May. It is now August… wow, 3 months. Well let’s stop puttering around and tell you all what’s been going on!

MAY:

• We spent our first full month moved into my brother’s house to begin our 6 months of house sitting. My brother is currently in the Air National Guard and he and his little family went down to Texas for him to complete some extra training. We graciously stepped in and offered to take care of his house.
• We celebrated 3 years! Good times.
• Scott went to Williamsburg on his first official Business Trip. He had a grand time riding bikes and going to awesome training sessions.
• We spent Memorial Day Weekend in New York City with Scott’s brother Darren and his wife Carey. We hopped on a big bus on Saturday morning, got there about 1 pm and hit the town. Saw an off Broadway show, did Central Park, ate at a delicious Hungarian café (Andres’ Café) and experienced a Manhattan Sacrament Meeting. On Monday we went hiking in upstate NY then jumped on the bus in the afternoon to come home. Fantastically fun trip!

JUNE:

• Saturday June 21 was the first day of summer and we made the most of the outdoors. We joined up with Rachel and Aaron Taylor, some fabulous BYU Marching Band friends, to go kayaking on the Potomac in DC. Then we enjoyed a lovely concert from the Mormon Choir of Washington DC. Kiersten’s mom is a Soprano in the Choir and it was held in an outdoor pavilion in Manassas. Beautiful weather for the first day of summer. We watched the USA play their first World Cup game in the 2014 World Cup against Ghana. Lastly, a former mission companion of Kiersten’s came into town and we celebrated by taking her to her first professional baseball game. It was the perfect night for some baseball. And the home team won which is always special.
• Kiersten attended Girls Camp! As a leader which was surprisingly more fun than she expected it to be. It was a little weird at first since she was a little older than the girls but younger than most of the other leaders she wasn’t sure of her place. But as the camp vibe set in, she found her groove and had a wonderful time and the girls liked her too. Be careful what you wish for….
• Kiersten is called and set apart as the new 2nd Counselor in the Young Women’s Presidency in their ward. She gets to spend even more time with the girls she previously taught last year in Primary and build on the relationships she built with them at camp. Her goal, help them to be confident and spiritually independent Young Women.

JULY:

• We celebrate the birth of Scott’s dad, Mark, on the day everyone else celebrates the birth of our great nation. What a perfect day for a birthday! You never have work or school and everyone celebrates and you ALWAYS get fireworks! It’s awesome!
• The Jacksons view Spamalot. Spamalot is the musical version of the Monty Python and the Holy Grail movie which is a spoof of King Arthur and Camelot. It was a bit ridiculous but hilarious. At the conclusion of the play we decided BYU would never put this on any semester line-up. A delicious pizza fest followed.
• July 19th marked the date for our Annual O.A.R. Concert. Since we met in summer 2006 we’ve developed a strong love for the Rockville, Maryland band Of A Revolution, better known as O.A.R. We attended our first concert in May 2007 in Charlottesville, VA before Scott left for full missionary service later that same month. When Kiersten returned home from her missionary service in July 2010, they celebrated by going to another O.A.R. concert in August 2010. And since then, it has been their annual tradition (sometimes twice a year) to see O.A.R. in a live concert. The shows keep getting better and better and their love for the band and each other grows with each show.

AUGUST: (present)

• On Saturday, August 2, we celebrated Kiersten’s dad’s birthday by driving down to rural Virginia and venturing into the Luray Caverns. They are some of the biggest on the East Coast and some of the most amazing things we’ve ever seen. After the cavern exploration we were a bit peckish and found a tiny local diner which was also a dive but they served delicious food at very reasonable prices. Let’s just say for all four of us to eat a full meal was the same price as one ticket to see the caverns. After lunch, we went to one of our most favorite ice cream places in the world. The Moo Thru! Real ice cream made from local dairy cows milk. It’s incredible and they always have new impressive flavors. Cake and more ice cream followed for the birthday boy.

This was the coolest part of the caverns.

Phew! Those are all the major things we have done in the last few months. I have however left out a few things because I wasn’t sure when they happened exactly so I’ll just mention here.

• We bought tickets for our trip to Europe, specifically Portugal and Hungary. It’s official! We are finally going! This month. So stoked!
• We decided to go back to Provo for BYU’s Homecoming in October. We’ve really missed the old place and just can’t manage without visiting at least twice a year. We bought plane tickets. Next step, get football tickets.
• And lastly, Kiersten, after literally 3 years of thinking and sitting on her hands about her life and career has finally taken the plunge and! Applied to the local community college to complete some needed pre-requisite courses for her to go to grad school! Physical Therapy here we come! It’s another few years down the road but it feels good to be finally moving forward instead of fanaticizing. Her classes begin August 20th.

And there you have it! The ins and outs of the Jacksons from May until the present.