1 year in Big Sky Country

Scott and I are fast approaching our one year mark here in Montana-- I can't believe how fast this past year flew by! I realize I have not updated the blog since January... it's been quite the busy few months. With 10 credits (including the second semester of statistics, which meant like 20+ hours of homework a week for me), a conference in March in San Diego that I had to prepare a presentation for- which including analyzing my first season worth of data, plus an hour long seminar presentation to my whole department, annnd I had to give a presentation to my granting agency (which was slightly terrifying) in order to get my second year of funding, I was a bit stressed out... to say the least. Just ask Scott... don't know how he did it (putting up for my grumpy stressed out self)

We did have many visitors over the winter/spring~ basically every month someone came to visit! Either people really love us, or people really want to go to Montana (maybe both??). Scott's good friends from high school came out in February and did a lot of skiing/snowboarding. It sounds like Big Sky is quite the epic mountain! Scott's Dad and Jana came to visit us at the end of February, Daniel and Amber came in March, Scott's mom Jacque and Aunt Patti came in April, and finally to top it all off, my good friends Katie and John came (for their second) visit over Memorial Day weekend. It was soo nice to have them out for their second time here in Bozeman... and really its quite nice to know there are so many people who want to/have already come to visit us here!!
 It's been a whirlwind! Most of these visits included snowboarding/back country skiing/ cross-country skiing, hot springs, good drinks/food, and Yellowstone National Park.

I don't think I've ever been more excited to see a semester of school end, and I really think that this one was my most difficult semester. The past month I've been trying to get back in the groove of focusing solely on my project... and its proved to be a bit difficult to find that focus! As soon as the summer gets going I'll be in full field work/sampling mode and will be collecting my second season's worth of data all of July.... and starting to write my thesis. *gulp*

Its hard to believe that this time next year I could be finishing up my Master's degree and defending my thesis (crossing my fingers!) This coming year is going to fly by even quicker... with Scott and I's wedding and finishing up my second year of grad school. When will life slow down??

I went home for about ten days this month to figure out lots of wedding stuff (dress fitting, caterer tasting, cake tasting, and my wedding shower). It felt like a really quick trip, but it was good to see friends and family, even if only for a short time!

Even though the summer will be busy, Scott and I are looking forward to several backpacking trips, hiking, mountain biking, Shakespeare in the Park, Forest Service cabin weekends, Music on Main, hot springs, and long summer days.... I hope we'll be able to fit in all that we want to do.. either way it'll be busy during the weeks and our weekends will be jam packed with all the things we want to do.
We'll also be home for a few days in August to finish last minute wedding details and to do our bachelor/ bachelorette  parties :-)



~Here are some pictures from the past few months~

Eddy and I at our FS cabin weekend in February 

View from the cabin we rented 

We had to cross country ski in like 3 miles... and Scott got to pull the really heavy sled... thanks Scott :-)

Cross country skiing in Yellowstone's Lamar Valley in March.. brrrr it was so cold that day

Daniel and Amber in Yellowstone 

 My wedding shower... I got to be dressed in this lovely tissue paper wedding gown.. thanks ladies!

My great friends from college, Debbie (my Freshmen roommate) and Katie Rae

My family

Mustache party

Awe Katie and John :-) love you guys!!

Ouzel falls 'nature walk'

The newlyweds- Katie and John!!

Scott and I- Ouzel Falls 

Katie and I by Ouzel falls 

You know me and my outdoor yoga!

Side crow

Big horn sheep while leaving Big Sky

Black bear sow and cub- Yellowstone Memorial weekend

Start of 2013

Once again, it has been a long while since I've updated the blog. Things have been busy over the past few months!

Both Scott and I (and Eddy!) got to go home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I was lucky enough to be home for about 3 weeks for my Christmas break. It was so nice to be home with family and friends for the holidays, so nice that its been extremely tough (at least for me) to get back into the swing of things! While we were home Scott and I accomplished a few things for our wedding this coming October (and I found my wedding dress which was pretty exciting!) Either way we're starting to get closer.. almost only 8 months away, and its hard to believe but we've been together for over 5 years now!

This semester is going to be a crazy one for me. I'm taking 10 credits (Belowground Plant Ecology, Soil Remediation, Statistics 512- one of my least favorite classes ever!, and a seminar class where I have to present my project and research to the entire Department). As if that wasn't enough.. I really have to get my butt in gear for my research/analyzing data/prepping for a big conference over my spring break/ getting ready for my 2nd field season in the summer... Step 1 is trying to get a bunch of data analyzed and a presentation ready to go for the second week in March.. if feels forever away.. but its just around the corner. Myself, my advisor, and two other girls in my lab are going to be going to the Western Society of Weed Science conference in San Diego! One big plus is the location, and the hotel is right on the beach! I have to present a part of my project at the conference which is already making me nervous, but it will be great experience.

Scott and I also have many visitors coming in the next two months. A few of his friends are coming out to go snowboarding here in Big Sky country at the beginning of February, Scott's dad and step-mom, Jana are coming to visit us at the end of February... and then Daniel and Amber (Scott's brother and sister-in law) are coming the week after I get back from my conference in March. Its going to be a whirl wind but we are looking forward to having visitors and sharing some Montana adventures with friends and family. For anyone else looking for a spring/summer vacation... Montana is only a 9 hour drive away from Colorado!

This winter I think we will keep ourselves plenty busy with snowboarding and cross-country skiing. Scott is enjoying the snow here in Montana (yes, Coloradoan's it still snows in Montana, unlike Colorado... although I hear its definitely as cold nor does MT get as much as it used to...). Its definitely a big plus with Bridger ski resort only 20 minutes from town and Big Sky is one whole hour away! No ski traffic, no lift lines, hardly any annoying tourists, real snow.... have I convinced anyone else to visit yet??

Scott's also hoping to get into some backcountry snowboarding this year. He just purchased a used split board and an avi beacon (he's even taking an avalanche training course this week!) And we hope to get some good x-country skiing in at Yellowstone. Sounds pretty perfect... skiing in the Lamar Valley perhaps hearing/seeing some wolves.. then relaxing in the most natural beautiful hot spring that I've ever experienced... any one else wanna book a weekend with us yet??

Happy 2013 to everyone. Lets hope this year brings just as much good (and more)  as 2012.


Cross-country up at Hyalite Canyon









We have had some great sunrises lately



My sister and I- Christmas Day



This is our view every day.... pinch me! Am I awake??

November.. its here already?

I realize its been two months since I last updated the blog. I hope that everyone had a nice September and October. Life is pretty hectic right now with school and research and homework and homework and teaching yoga, going to yoga etc. etc. and you know, the typical Graduate student life.

Scott's in Kansas this weekend for opening weekend of pheasant hunting. I really wish that I was along with him, its such a great weekend to be out there, but I'll be sending Scott, Daniel and Amber some good hunting vibes and hopefully they'll bring home enough pheasant to cook up for dinner on Sunday :)

Some updates:
Scott and I have a wedding venue and date! We'll be getting married next October 5th (a Saturday)... only 11 months to go! :-) http://HallyAndScott.ourwedding.com check out our wedding website for details about when/where/who/what/how/why etc. etc.

Scott just got offered and accepted a new job as a manager at JC Billion (a car dealership here in MT). I am hoping that it will be a good move for him! JC Billion is (from what I can tell) 'the' car dealership in Montana, and seems like a good company to work for. It should give him some great experience and the chance to advance his career.

I'm still busy with school and I don't think that's something that is really going to change here any time soon. Also I am teaching yoga once a week on Friday mornings (about all I can handle for now, but I am SO glad that I got the opportunity to do it!)

Scott and I will be coming home for Thanksgiving and Christmas (however, I'll be home for quite a bit longer around Christmas time). It will be so nice to see all of our family and friends ... I can't believe how quick the time goes by. Scott and I moved here in June and its already November.. what!?? Either way I am so excited for the holidays. What a great time of the year. I am already feeling in the Christmas spirit tonight with almost 2 feet of snow on the ground here in Bozeman. Forecast of 0 degrees tonight, and I'm not complaining!

 With November upon us, I have challenged myself to have an "attitude of gratitude" this month. There is (and always has been) so much to be grateful for this year. I am so excited to come home soon and see everyone.

Live in the Sunshine
Swim the Sea
Drink in the wild air....

Hally


I'll leave you all with some photos..

A picture my dad took up at our cabin last fall...

My lab-mates and I on a chilly winters night in Bozeman

Eddy swimming through the snow this morning 

I may be a tad evil, but this halloween costume was totally worth his facial expression. He wasn't very happy, but it sure was funny.

Back to the Grind

Once again, things have been crazy. Since my last update Scott and I have been extremely busy! My parents, sister and Grandma came out mid-August and we spend a few days with them in Yellowstone National Park. It was really nice to have them all out here, and to go to Yellowstone with my family. I finally got to see wolves, so that was a pretty exciting moment for me. As I told Scott "my life is now complete" haha. I would share some pictures of them, but my memory card filled up at the worst time. Luckily, my dad was able to get some photos.  We did other awesome things like: the boiling river( probably the most amazing natural hot spring experience you will EVER have); went to the seedy Chico Hot Springs; hiking; got up at "dark thirty" to see wolves... It was a really fun few days. Here are a few pictures.

Great sunset in Yellowstone

Dad fishing 

Norris Hot Springs

Beautiful fog in the valley

Eddy

Amazing view 

Wolf watching

Grandma Donna and Eddy were best friends

More wolf watching

At the boiling river

Since their visit, Scott and I got to go on a one day backpacking trip the weekend before school.. and where did we go?
Yellowstone of course. We had a campsite right on the Lamar River. It would have been nice to spend a few nights in the backcountry, but we'll take what we can get.

Now school has begun...and its back to the grind! Although things aren't too crazy yet.. I know its about to get insane! I'm taking 9 credits, and I am a teaching assistant, and I have to spend at least 20 hours a week on my research project. Needless to say, soon I'm not going to have much of a social life ;)

Our good friends Katie and John came and visited us last weekend for Labor Day. It was so great to have them under our roof for a few days. We took them to the Norris Hot Springs, hiking, we drank some Montana beer with them, and we brought them  where?? To Yellowstone for their first time!! I think we've definitely done a good job taking advantage of Yellowstone this summer. It was also a great, relaxing weekend, and we can't wait until the next time they venture out to Big Sky country.

I'm going home this week for a few days to try to find a venue for Scott and I's wedding next fall! Hopefully I'm able to make a decision. It'll be nice to be home for a few days, and to meet the newest member of our family, Tule. He's a red lab, and I can't wait to meet him!


I'll leave you all with a few more photos

at our campsite 

Our tasty red beans and rice dinner

View from the tent

Katie and I

Katie and John