TWENTY SEVEN

Yesterday, was Clynn's 27th birthday! Birthdays have always been so special to me. When one in my new immediate family rolls around (ie, me or Clynn...no, we don't celebrate the pups birthdays, but we do acknowledge the year turn over around the months we tried to figure out they were born. haha) I just get SO EXCITED! I have so much fun planning birthday parties and I love attempting to spoil the people I love most.

Clynn's Birthday Interview!

Biggest Accomplishments of Age 26:

• Bought over $1000 in Magic the Gathering cards and was able to piece them out, sell some back (for around a $200 profit), and still has plenty to play with. 
• Has placed 3rd, 2nd, and even 1st in MANY MTG card tournaments! (I put allot of pressure on him to win. haha)
• Three (almost four!) quarters closer to his BA in General Mathematics with an emphasis in teaching. 
• Started running again (and is kicking butt!)
• LEFT RENTON (this, he views as his biggest accomplishment...I agree. We're NEVER GOOOING BACK, THE PAST IS IN THE PAAAAST!!!! #wehaterenton)
• Decided to join the U.S. Army Reserves (this fall) to help pay back student loans, save up money to buy a duplex, pay off the car, get trained as a laboratory technician, and have the means to begin Options Trading for Maverick Trading Co. full time in a couple years. (We will be happy if we can meet just a couple of those goals, but we'll be reaching hard for all of them!)

Goals for Age 27:

• Leave the University of Washington
• Start paying back student loans
• Survive Basic Training
• MOVE TO TEXAS!
• Lose 20lbs (I think he'll lose that in training! Though, that Southern food is pretty freaking delicious!)
• Practice monetary stock exchange
• Relax more, stress less
• & be an THE BEST husband, of course! ;D

I am so proud of all the things Clynn has accomplished sense we started dating. He has learned and grown in ways I never would have predicted. I love him a million times a gazillion and can't wait to see what age 27 has in store for him!

BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!!!

Clynn's birthday party was so much fun! We had a gathering at Clynn's parents house. He had so many great friends show up. We had a nacho bar, watermelon, and lime-aid for dinner, watched nerdy (though quiet amusing) educational T.V. shows, welcomed a new foreign exchange student, ice cream cake, backyard fire, played a fun game called Mafia, lots of funny visiting, opened presents, and called it a night! Thank you to Kelsie & Mike for helping set up, Clynn's parents for opening their home and supplying most of the food, and to all of Clynn's friends who took the time to wish a great man a happy birthday. :)

NACHO BAR!! 

The Birthday Pineapple

Quickly becoming a Wilkinson family tradition.

Lisa tried to find the least girly bags possible in her stash. haha

He got new basketball shorts, two new shirts, & a pineapple!

Make a wish!

My aunt Sandy & Uncle Mark's ice cream cake 

recipe was a real hit!!!

I just LOVED this moment. 

You love on my puppies and I love you! 

Max loves Andy <3

Clynn explaining the game. 

We had so much fun!

Goodnight! <3

(This is where Clynn said no more pictures! 

I was happy to have made it that far. Sneaky sneaky!)

Thanks again for all the support of family and friends in another year down and another year ahead for this amazing son, grandson, brother, husband, and friend. 

WE LOVE YOU CLYNN III

Wyoming July 2014

This is a long time coming! Sorry for the wait. Our temporary lifestyle hasn't been very easy on my regular routines. I am quickly learning that a Jackie out of her element...isn't really a Jackie at all...More on that to come. haha

Soo, We spent a week in Wyoming at the beginning of the month with Clynn's mom's side of the family! It was a blast. Clynn's family has a very active outlook on vacation. Jam packed schedules and ongoing new experiences! When it comes to vacation, Clynn & I prefer a week laying on the beach or alone and quiet in the woods with our pups. We like to keep the crazy adventures sprinkled randomly throughout our every day life, but we were grateful for all of the back to back adventure!

WYOMING ACTIVITY LIST

(remember...we were only there 1 week...)

• Yellow Stone Park
• Pioneer Rock
• Star Plunge Hot Springs Water Park in Thermopolis
• White Water Rafting
• Waterfall Hike
• Visit our family owned Doughnut shop...too many times...so many free doughnuts.
• Pioneer museums & sites 
• Visit, Brother in Law, Neal's, work site and where he's been living.
• 4th of July BBQ & Fireworks 
• aaaand I'm sure I'm missing some things...

This is the only photo I have from the Yellow Stone area.

I figure everything else you could see better googling Yellow Stone images. 

It's really something you just have to experience in person. Oh, and it's all really stinky.

But this sunset made my top three EVER. 

Wyoming is VERY rich in LDS (and others) Pioneer culture! Monument after site after story and handfuls of missionaries dedicated solely to sharing stories of the pioneers. I'd be lying if I didn't say I cried...allot. So much sacrifice and love. So many miracles and blessings. So many lives lost fighting for a cause. That always hits home for this soldier. I am very sensitive to these moments and feel very connected in certain places of history. As a result, I don't have many pictures of most of these places due to my own personal outlook on sacred grounds.

The following are photos from Pioneer Rock! This rock was a goal point for many Pioneers. A place where "WE MADE IT THIS FAR!!!" emotions awaited. It became a tradition to climb to the top of the rock and carve your name into the rock when you made it! There were professional carvers who waited there and would etch your name on the top of the rock, for a price, if desired. Today, anyone can approach this rock, climb to the top (=0 SCARY!!), and see names of the pioneers who came through along with dates or small sayings. People still are adding their own names themselves today. :) I like to think these additions are mostly sentimental. So AMAZING to stand where Pioneers were so happy to pass through, and then, to put INDIVIDUAL NAMES to them. Amazing.

See the little people at the top? 

It's much higher than it first appears!

This is my sister in law, Emelia. 

She rocked this no problem!

I, however, stopped for many breaks. Barefoot for better traction. 

Turns out I gained a fear of heights somewhere between age 15 and 23...

Take note of the tiny people walking up to 

get an idea of how high I actually was.

We ALL MADE IT!!!! Very windy up there.

RANDOM STORY: WE LOST MAX!!!!! Clynn and I were SICK looking for him all over the neighborhood on the fourth of July. We had the help of Clynn's immediate family and I'm pretty sure the whole town new we couldn't find him. Turns out, he had somehow locked himself inside the green house in his grandparents back yard!!! SO happy we found him and that he hadn't been in there for long. We were checking up on them SO FREQUENTLY after that and didn't leave anything up to chance. We love our little family so much. <3

Family Photo on the 4th after we had found Max! <3

These guys are pretty awesome. 

HIKE PHOTOS

This hike was really cool and really fun. 

We met tons of super nice fellow hikers, 

got a great work out, and saw some seriously beautiful sights.

I LOVE this one. :) 

Stopped here for a little while just to watch.

SHOUT OUT TO THE COUSINS: It was a blast to get to meet so many of Clynn's cousins and get to know them better than the times we've briefly seen each other in the past! I'll be the first to admit...I'm not that great at meeting new people and definitely verging on socially handicapped at times...but I still enjoyed having them around and listening to them talk while trying not to say anything too weird... :)

This is the only photo I have from the Thermopolis water park. 

Star Plunge is a small park, fed by water from a naturally heated water spring. (STINKY!)

I just couldn't stand this cute little girl and her squishy baby legs. <3 

That's baby Leah, her momma Lindsey (Clynn's cousin), 

and another one of Clynn's other cousin's daughter.

On our last full day, we went out to see where Clynn's brother, Neal, had/has been working and living the past 6 months or so. We had a BBQ with his boss's family, (Wyoming is just like that...) got to see some of his fun equipment, and visit his home IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. Seriously, this kid might as well live in the middle of the ocean...

except he can grow food in the dirt.

These are some geese I chased around his bosses house. :) 

They're so cute. WADDLE WADDLE. Three Amigos.

My favorite picture of Clynn from the trip. 

He was so cute manly playing around in that thing. haha

AAAAND LASTLY.

WE SPENT SOO MUCH TIME DRIVING (OR RIDING) EVERY DAY!!!!!

We didn't want to get back in the car for at least a week after we got back to Wa.

Thank you to Clynn's parents for loaning us the guest bedroom for a bit!

I'll do a separate post later on the white river rafting trip. 

That was definitely THE COOLEST thing ever. haha

Overall, it was a very exhausting and great memory making trip. :) Thanks to everyone who helped make it memorable and were so welcoming to
Me, Clynn, & our sweet puppies. <3

Love,

The Wilkinson's

Operation Gypsy Summer & The Big Move

This blog post is kind of a big deal. I will be announcing our summer lifestyle change & THE BIG MOVE!!!

If I am posting this blog, it means our bed set is gone...our kitchen table is gone...our couch is gone...all but 2 small blue buckets of clothes have been donated to family or thrown away...We have tossed everything in the kitchen (except the Vitamix of course!!). We have thrown away, sold, or long term tucked away literally EVERYTHING that we don't use on a daily basis.

THIS SUMMER

Clynn is Romani

&

Jaclynn is Gypsy

After much reflection and experience abroad, we have decided to adopt a minimalist lifestyle for the summer. We are packing up everything we NEED into our Dodge Nitro, ordered a nice hitch basket, and are taking to life on the road!

For the next couple months, 

The beach is our living room. 

The park is our playroom. 

The gym is our shower room. 

The city drop off is our dining room.

&

The world is ours for the taking.

August 23, 2014 
we will be relocating to San Antonio, Texas.

Anticipated Questions:

Just WHY??? 

I have been a wanderer at heart for quiet some time and Clynn goes for anything that involves the great outdoors, moving to a warmer climate, and saving money. We were about to spend our hard earned money on yet another rent check, in a city that we don't love, headed a direction we were expected to head...but also didn't love. When I got home from Honduras, I felt so suffocated by all of the STUFF we had collected. When I got home from Guatemala I realized all the space we had built up to. Call it culture shock, call it claustrophobia, call it whatever you like. But we don't want it, and we don't need it. We want less commitment/attachment to worldly collections and comforts. We want to learn to put more value in experience, and less value in things. We want to live the life of twenty somethings, who have every right to collect on the freedoms we've been presented with! <3

Why San Antonio?
My military school was located in San Antonio, TX. As many of you may recall, Clynn came down to see my graduation and we were both smitten with the city. This is the city where we both said "I love you" for the first time. The city I decided to truly dedicate myself to an LDS lifestyle. The city I walked outside, every day, and smiled because I never had to cringe in preparation for annoying Washington rain or cold winds. The city I stayed up perched in my dorm window talking to Clynn and watching the most AMAZING lightning storms until all hours of the night. The city where I found me. The city where people smile, hold doors, and are genuinely friendly towards strangers. A city where Christianity is the main focus and the constitution is still recognized. The city where we found each other after 6 months of separation and both new we had grasped onto something unique & special.

Clynn & I at the River Walk in 2010

Proof that I was ever husky and Clynn was thin. haha

Something I've fixed and Clynn is actively remedying!

My Mom came too!! :D She took these photos.

At my graduation ceremony.

Geesh we were tan!!

We went to Sea World!

You may notice a ring on my left finger here. 

It was one I had made and wore through AIT 

just to send a clear message that I was taken. ;) 

It was a silver wire that twisted to say

"JaClynn"

I must have been feeling pretty ballsy to 

wear it that day on that finger. hahaha

It was that evening that we said, "I love you".
Though, I'm sure we both already knew.

What will you do for money?
I have a big mission in August that will supply the money for us to make it down there with some to spare.
In September, Clynn will be enlisting in the Army Reserves. He will be off to Basic ASAP and be going to a 6 month to year long school that will get us going and up on our feet. When he graduates, we will have saved up enough money for him to be Options trading full time and voila! We should be set for good.

What if it doesn't work out?
No harm, no foul. We had a kick butt fun road trip and we come back to Wa. :)
Not likely...but there it is.

Where will you sleep this summer?

The back of our car folds down COMPLETELY flat, we put down a couple sleeping pads, a sheet, plenty of blankets and pillows. We've slept on it a couple nights already to see how it would go and found it to be more comfortable than our actual mattress that was definitely coming up on need for replacement!
Places to park? 

Car truck stops, Walmart parking lots, Camping sites, Church parking lots, Mountain passes...Really, it won't be difficult.

What is your plan for food?

We bought a two burner propane camping stove, some camping pots and pans, one each of a spoon, knife, fork, bowl/plate, a nice cool produce bag, dutch oven, and each have a water bottle and will keep a few gallons of water on hand. We will stop somewhere and prepare our food as usual. We can make cereal, oatmeal, pancakes, pasta, couscous, quinoa, lasagna, beans, rice, veggie burgers, salads, cobblers, and I'm sure we will be in search of an outlet for the Vitamix. So...pretty much anything you make at home.

We plan on buying fresh produce once every few days to keep on hand and in the cooler bag. 

I am Vegan and Clynn eats Vegetarian when he's not out with friends, so holding meat or dairy long term is never an issue for us!

Is living out of your car safe?

Not entirely. But neither is letting your child walk to school, riding your bike on the road, camping in the forest, having an outdoor storage shed, skateboarding, owning horses, or a professional grade open fire gas stove. BUT WE TAKE THE RISK FOR QUALITY OF LIFE. 

We will lock up our hitch basket storage container, the alarm on our vehicle is fully functioning, and we are armed...literally, and with the priesthood.

The biggest rumor that is sure to spread in our culture:

Jackie & Clynn are homeless. We must help them.

This is about detoxing our life, saving money, and then relocating to an economy and political system that matches our beliefs more closely. No, we don't think anyone else is wrong for the way they live. This is the lifestyle we choose, for now, because it's what we want for us. If we need help, we'll ask. :)

Thank you for hearing us out! We love you all and look forward to visits with family, detoxing our life, and deciphering our own values and traditions. This summer will surly be a memorable one!

Our blog is about to get real interesting...

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

An Unforgettable Weekend!

Clynn and I had such an active weekend! 

The weekend kicked off with us putting our foot down on this Renton Apartment. 

We are going A-Wall!! 

(Not really....we worked things out with our lease and the office lady was really nice. haha) 

We have some big things planned as far as moving, but nothing is set in stone yet, so stay posted!

Saturday, we had two big events!

First, we went to our "couple best friend's" gender reveal party! Clynn and Mike were best friends sense pretty much forever and he married my big sisters high school best friend, Kelsie. Now, Kelsie and Kristin and I are best friends! We've gotten a ton closer in the past three years of our marriage's (married a month apart) and now,

I am SO SO happy to be a part of their first pregnancy (& many to come ;) )

How FUN are these Gender Reveal Pics??!!

BOOYYY!!!!!!!

We can't wait to meet little Mike Junior!!!

After the party, we picked up my sister in law and hightailed it to a 

graduation party in Anacortes, Wa!

I have THREE cousins in the same family who all graduated this last week!!

It was quiet the event. They had a GREAT turn out with amazing food, good music, friends, family, love, and tons of fun.

CONGRATULATIONS Richard, Michael, & Collin!!!

Collin's not big on photos...haha

LOVE these guys! :) Cousins are the best.

Sunday, was Father's Day! I called my Dad around 3:00pm and it was SO nice to catch up with him! I got news my Mom & Dad are working on buying a new house! I'm so excited for them! Let's all say a prayer it goes smoothly and they're moving into the new place next month. :)

My Dad is seriously the kindest, wisest, calmest, strongest, most hard working man I have and will ever meet. He has been supportive of my dreams with a Yoda like outlook ever sense I can remember. 

I AM SOOO blessed to have had him as my Father my whole life.

THANK YOU, Dad!

I love you. :)

After I chatted with my Dad, we went to a family BBQ to honor all of the Father's on the Wilkinson side! I love to see how close they've managed to stay as brothers, sisters, aunt's, uncle's, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and cousins. They are truly a special and Godly family. They have taught me so much and Clynn and I are, once again, so blessed to have so many awesome Father figures in our life!

All the Grandkids with Grandpa Wilkinson.
Missing four I believe.
One on a mission, one still at school,
one off teaching Relief Society, and one still at work!

Here is the family Clynn's Father grew up with. :)
Mom, Dad, & two brothers.
I don't know how Grandma Wilkinson did it!

Okay, well happy Monday everyone!
This week is sure to hold some fun and surprises for us all!

We'll keep you updated!

Love,
Jaclynn & Clynn
Wilkinson III