Sun, Sand & the Beach...

Since everyone has asked us what we are doing for a honeymoon, I thought I would write about our mini-honeymoon in Florida. We are planning on going on an extended one in December when it is cold and yucky here and our schedule slows down. Mexico is kind of the plan but as to where, we are not to sure. Anyway that is besides the point. We did however sneak away to Florida for a couple of days after the reception in Utah. Of course it was combined with working a roping but that didn't matter to us. We were ready for the sun, sand and water. We flew to Pensacola and then drove up the beach to Destin where we spent the night. We splurged on a really nice hotel that was right by the water and then we hit the beach. Below are a bunch of photos from our trip that I thought you might enjoy.

On our way!!

Ben, I swear he is a fish!

Enjoying the sun!

We found our dream beach house! Hmmm Maybe someday!

After we got done with the beach we drove inland to the roping at Marianna. We had a great time at the roping. We got done pretty early each day and so we heard there was a swimming hole at the Florida State Caverns. Well we were all about that and so off we went. The state park was beautiful and the forest was so green and pretty but the swimming hole wasn't so great! Check out the pics below!

I thought this pic was hilarious. It is the supposedly swimming hole - but you have to read the sign!

I didn't think it looked to inviting...

After the roping ended on Sunday we took off back to the beach. We made it to Destin in time to rent some jet ski's. We had a blast except when we tipped ove the jet ski but we did get a laugh over that. The water was so warm we didn't even mind. After we returned the jet ski's we headed back to Pensacola and had dinner along the beach. That next morning we flew back to Texas and back to work. It was a great mini-honeymoon! We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves as you can tell!

Headed to Jet Ski!

What a beautiful sunset!

HOT! HOT! HOT!

Well it is now Tuesday and I still haven't wrote about the weekend so here goes.

Ben and I decided to go to Odessa for the weekend. He wanted to work cows and visit his dad for Father's day so on Friday afternoon we took off and headed westward bound for a weekend of fun in the sun :)

Well Sat. morning we got up and headed out to work cows. Now just remember that Odessa is in the desert and it is hot, hot, hot! Well we gathered cows, penned some and did other stuff all while this was going on the temperature rose to 103 degrees. Now for those use to the desert it wasn't bad but for this Rocky Mountain girl - it about did me in. I was longing for those days in the fall where it is snowing and you are still rounding up cows. I never thought I would say that but it was that HOT! Below is my husband - the cowboy!

That evening Bob (Ben's dad) wanted to go to Midland and watch the baseball game (Midland has a minor league team). So off we went to the baseball game with Ben's Grandmother, Great Aunt, Ben's Mom - Melinda and Bob. I have to say we had a great time. The game was good. We sat in the shade and there was a slight breeze so it wasn't near so hot. And to add to the fun there was a great fireworks show at the end of the game. Even Ben (who isn't a baseball fan) had a great time.

Ben and I at the ballgame!

The Clements Family at the game.

The Game!

Now on to Sunday! Well again we got up and went to gather some cows! It was hot actually 104 degrees and so I repeat - it was HOT! We were supposed to gather cows and move them from one pasture to another so with Ben and I on horses, Bob on a 4-wheeler and Brandi in the truck we start to proceed. For those of you unfamiliar with the desert and pastures in the desert they are huge and I mean like miles big so it takes awhile and they are full of brush and mesquite trees. Well now on to the story. As we gathered there were two calves that we just couldn't get so we got the rest of the herd put away and Bob and Ben and I went on 4-wheelers to find them. Well we found them, after driving madly through the brush I might add, holed up under a mesquite tree. Ben and I stayed on our 4-wheeler to keep an eye on them and Bob rushed to meet Brandi with horses. So here comes the best part. As Bob and Brandi race to catch one calf on horses, Ben and I take off for the other one on the 4-wheeler. Ben is driving at this point and my real concern is to just hang on. Well we get closer to the calf and I tell Ben to just rope it - so we stop and switch places. I am now in the drivers seat and Ben is trying to hang on and swing his rope! With my expert driving skills, dodging mesquite trees and brush, I get Ben close enough for a shot so I lean down, pin my ears and throttle in there just like a good ole calf horse should and Ben throws his loop - well all I have to say is Stran and Topper couldn't have done a better job then Ben, Jodi and the Yamaha! I just wish I had pics!

After finally getting all the cows put away - we decided to go cool off. They have this huge swimming hole that is so deep you can swim your horses in it. Yes I chickened out and didn't swim my horse but here is a couple of pics of Ben and Raven cooling off!

And so that was the end of our Father's Day weekend. We had a great time in the desert and I have finally cooled off some although it might take some Rocky Mountain air to really chill me out! LOL!

Gotta see it...

Wow how the week fly's! So I have to tell everyone. Ben took me to Sex and the City last night and I loved it. It was a great movie so if you get a chance I highly suggest it. I laughed and yes I cried so any movie that gets me to do both I love! Sarah Jessica Parker was the best and it fit right along with the show so now if they could just do a Grey's Anatomy movie I would be in heaven! Well as long as Derrick and Meridith got together...LOL

Well as far as wedding pics go - I do have some posted on our wedding website so you will have to check them out. The url is http://www.jodiandben.com/. They are under the photo album tab. I will try and post some more here on my blog when I get a chance!

Well to end this blog I will end with a quote from Sex in the City. Hope you enjoy!
"Party and play in your 20's, regret your mistakes in your 30's and buy the drinks in your 40's"
And that about sums it up...Have a great weekend!

It's Sunday night and Ben is almost home!

Well it is Sunday night and I have already done a better job with my blog than with myspace so I am giving myself a pat on the back. Ben is almost home from San Angelo - he has been gone all weekend to a roping. I am so excited to have him back. I have missed him so much. It is pretty lonely around here without my husband.

My friend Chandra dragged me to church today and every time I leave church I always wonder why I don't go more often. I have such a peaceful feeling after church and so again I will make the resolution to start going more often. It will help with a friend like Chandra giving me a little push. It is different going to church down here in Stephenville. All my life I grew up knowing which bench my family sat in, who had the noisy kids and if we would get out on time depending on who the speakers were. It is alot different down here, not bad just different. I don't know very many people, the ward is very small and if you can believe this there are translators to translate the talks to Spanish. Never seen that in good ole Randolph 1st ward.

Well I know I enjoy photos pictures in blogs so I am including a pictures of Ben and I at the Alamo. We went down to San Antonio for my birthday this year and had a blast. The riverwalk is amazing and the Alamo has such a feeling to it. If you ever get a chance to visit either of these two places I highly recommend them!


Ben and I at the Alamo!



The River Walk!!

What a horse...

Well it is Saturday evening and I thought I would post a blog. Like other horse enthusiasts I watched the Belmont race this afternoon. It was quite the deal. Like the rest of America I was hoping to see a Triple Crown winner. Affirmed was the last winner and I was barely 4 months old. After watching the race, I feel so bad for Big Brown. He is quite the horse and what an achievement it could have been. Although sometimes I think we always think about what was lost and not on what was won. This is an extra ordinary horse. He just had a bad day, like all of us we can make excuses about his hoof, steroids, weather and everything else but all in all he just didn't have the bottom to finish that race. After the pace he as been at over the last five weeks I feel it is completely understandable. He was incredible to watch in the Preakness and the Derby and by no means should his trainers and owners hang their heads. They have accomplished so many things with this great horse and although he didn't win the Triple Crown he is still a winner in my book. He just looks like he needs a much needed rest... So hopefully in my lifetime there will be another Triple Crown winner and I can't wait til next year's Derby and another crop of colts - maybe the history maker will be in them.

Well on to other things. My friend Chandra and I went shopping today in Weatherford and we went to an awesome Western Furniture store. It was a great time! I just wish I had a bigger house and more money to buy everything I saw. So for those of you that come visit it is a place we definetly need to go - I plan to go back and maybe drag Ben there.

I know everyone that has read this blog is waiting for wedding pictures and believe me as soon as I get them loaded onto my computer they will be up for your viewing. So stay tuned and have a great Sat. evening!

Finally I am a blogger...

Hello there... I have so much to write. I have gone through so many friends blogs and I have finally decided to start me a blog. I have a myspace page but it just isn't for me...so here I am! I hope everyone enjoys.

There has been so much happening in my life. I have now been a married woman for four weeks on Saturday. Wow I can't belive it. I love married life! I am so lucky to have such a great husband. I could go on and on about how much I love Ben but it would probably bore you. Although it took me thirty years to find and marry the man of my dreams I did it!! Yeah! and I couldn't be happier.

My wedding was wonderful. We got married May 10th in Hamilton, Tx at the Circle T Arena and it was beautiful. It was everything a girl could dream of and more. We also had a reception in Utah on May 26th and I couldn't believe how many people came. It was wonderful. We had a great time. Ben couldn't believe I knew all of the people that came through the line. It was so nice to see so many friends that I havn't seen in so long - Kim, Mindy, Tonya ect ect.

The picture is of Ben and I's first dance. Well I hope everyone enjoys my blog and I will try and keep it updated - hopefully I will do better with it than with myspace.