Thanksgiving 2002

We had a wonderful thanksgiving dinner in Star Valley at my parents home. Grandpa and Grandma Hoopes were there and all my brothers and Aimee, plus new sister-in-laws and even Jessica Challis, Dustin's fiancé. My mom really made a delicious feast, I was so full I could hardly move. After dinner Derek, Dusty and Ben played a game of RISK- and Ben won! Allie, Jessica, my Mom and I worked on fabric trees for a craft.

Derek and Allie are the first ones in line and ready to eat their dinner. They are still living in Laramie while Derek finishes up his degree in Health Sciences at the University of Wyoming.

Ryan and Lindsie made it up to Star Valley after dinner to join the family. We were glad to see them and spend some time together. I think Jessica is taking this picture for us (she's not "officially" allowed to be in the family pictures yet! Ha Ha Ha!)

My Dad got a bull elk that fall and had the antlers mounted. It made a good prop for the MEN to hold above their heads.

Me and Grandpa Hoopes relax on the couch after our Thanksgiving feast!

Later that night, as tradition holds, we went to the old bowling alley in Afton. We had a good time knocking down the pins, laughing and joking around with one another. It was cute to see Dusty and Jessica being so sweet to one another. They are going to get married after Christmas this year and we are excited to be there.

Cute little lovebirds Dusty and Jessica move in close for this cute picture!

My Daddy and Me-- We take a minute for a quick photo! We must both be doing really well to be that happy and smiling at the bowling alley.

Mama Hoopes gets ready to knock them all down. She was in a bowling league when I was a little girl, so she knows what she is doing there.
We had a great time visiting for Thanksgiving, even though the drive is long all the way from Phoenix, we love the chance to be together with the family during the special holidays that happen during the year.

October in Arizona

 

 

 I don't remember if this was how Ben was dressing up for Halloween at school or what. He sure looks cute standing in our empty and clean house. Bare white walls, new carpet and tile! Have a great day at school!

 

*Last night we played softball on our co-ed city league team. The team that we played had shirts and they looked like they might be tough, but after we got over our nerves, we beat them pretty soundly. Ben was a maniac pitcher and did really well. I was the catcher and would cheer my honey on. After our game we met at a park and carved pumpkins in the dark. Ben is great getting the pumpkin all cleaned out and it was fun to spend time with the other med-students/wives/and families. Ben and I carved our FIRST pumpkin together. It looks like an evil demon/elf/pig but I think it is pretty cute. We sure have a great group of people that we can count on for support and good times getting together.

 

Midwestern University White Coat Ceremony

Our First House

We put down our initial deposit to have this home built while we were on our honeymoon in July and it was finally ready for us to move into by the end of September. We had a good stay in the housing on campus, but we were so excited to move into our very own, very first home! Signing all the paper work seemed a little intense, but we got really good at writing our names. I took our first pictures as we walked up to the house with our keys in our hands and the papers fresh in our arms. 

OUR FIRST HOME SWEET HOME - I love how we look so young and innocent. Let's be real... we were!

When the day came to move our few belongings to our house we were lucky when our Dad Eugene brought Garrett's truck to help with the haul. We only had two loads in a pick-up truck. That was it. There is a funny story with our first trip to our house:

As we were loading up for the first time, a powerful wind storm (....word...) started up. We placed our mattress and other supplies in the truck, used a tarp on the top and ropes around the back to ensure nothing flew out. The mattress was stacked on the side going up and down. The boxspring was right against the rail and the mattress next to it. As we were driving down the interstate a powerful gust blew over us, the truck felt like it was shaking and we drove. We looked back and saw the tarp flapping around, but we didn't think much about it.

I'm so happy my Mom and Dad came to visit. We decorated and got to play around town. My Mom always is ready for a party, going out to eat, and watching a movie. Plus she knows how to put together a house that is completely empty :)


Barely able to afford food, somehow we were convinced by the Kirby Salesman to purchase a brand-new vacuum cleaner. We had a payment plan and paid it off over a year-- I still cannot believe we did that right then, but I have to say it is really a fantastic machine and it still works like a beast now 12 years later. I love/hate all the carpet we had in our first house. I loved to vacuum it, hated how dirty it looked after 4 years. All that dust and dirt made such a mess on the carpets.

I love this picture of our first house. My Dad has his arms around us--- he and my mom did co-sign on this mortgage with us. I still can't believe we bought a house right after getting married! You can also see our first vehicles. The trusty purple Taurus 1996 and Ben's Nissan Truck '88 he bought in the Spring when his Subaru died. That was a sad day... The truck would last until Ben decided to take it out in a ditch with his buddies as they climbed up rocky creek bed. One hard rock impacted the "thing" as he was climbing and smashed down hard- it died the next day. We called the number from the commercial to donate to "Cars for the Blind". We felt like we were doing a good thing to be able to donate to them.

Snake River Floating Trip

 

Derek and Allie have been married for a year and Ben and I have been married for month. The summer is really flying by and we are trying to get ready for school and moving down to Arizona. For a "celebration" we took a floating trip down the Snake River and paddled our way down some rapids. We all had a great time! Even though Allie and I were sitting in the front and got splashed all over big time.

During one of the more calm parts of the journey a volunteer (myself) was able to take command of the raft and steer our company down the river. I tried to be cool in front of the "cute" guide. I'm just glad I didn't crash!

LOOK OUT! Here come the rapids!

"AHHH! Why are we riding in the front?!"

 

The scenery really is quite beautiful!

What a great adventure! Being married and surviving the Snake River Rapids!

We're in the Army NOW!

Today Ben signed on the dotted line and became a 2LT in the Army. They agree to pay for medical school and give us an allowance monthly for living. We pay them back by working as a doctor in the Army for the years that they pay for school. What an adventure!

Our Wedding Day

BOUNTIFUL LDS TEMPLE

 

 EUGENE and VICKIE PLATT family

 BRIDESMAIDS- Allie, Megan, BRIDE, Nicole, Aimee, & Rickey
GROOMSMEN- Derek, Ryan, GROOM, Brooks, Garrett, & Brandon

 Showing off their dirty work- Ben was so mad they decorated our car TWO times! There was rice in our air conditioning vent for years! We would blast the A/C and out would fly a piece of rice, after it would rattle around for a while.

*From Becky's Journal*
7/14/02 Well, I'm a married woman now- Rebecca Platt is my new name. The wedding was so awesome and we had so many good friends and family there. It was neat to look around the sealing room and see all of the people that love and care about Ben and I. Then we got to march around the temple grounds for about an hour in the hot sun to take pictures... no really! It was so hot!
Both receptions were so wonderful. Ben's mom really did a great job at the Evanston one, lots of good friends came to say hello as well as college kids- even my roommates Taffy and Tami Teichert.
The Star Valley reception was also great! So glad it didn't rain. My mom really worked hard as well to make everything look so lovely. After everyone had left to go home, I had Ben take us to the Red Baron Drive-In for some quick food. It was funny sitting on the picnic tables eating fries and a milkshake in my wedding dress. My friends who worked there were so excited to bring our dinner out. I was just so hungry-- and luckily I didn't get any ketchup or fry sauce on my dress!