5 Year Anniversary

We made it to 5 YEARS!!! We started planning our vaction a few months before and came up with the best ever plan.  We even bought a motorcycle for the trip to help cut the cost of gas.  We were going to the state of Wyoming!  In the past we have been to Arizona, California, and Nevada.  We planned to go to Yellowstone National Park for a few days, then over to the other side of Wyoming to Keyhole State Park.  From there we were going to go to Mount Rushmore and Sturgis.  Sturgis was actually having their rally too.  So we packed up the camp trailer, the dogs, and ourselves and headed off for our adventure.  We stopped at the cheese factory and Kyle smelled antifreeze.  Our trip had just ended.  We hurried over to a mechanic shop and they diagnosed our truck as having a blown head gasket.  We were totally bummed that our trip wasn't going to happen.  We even thought about getting our other truck and going but once we were told the cost to fix our new truck we couldn't afford to go on the trip anymore.  We had taken 10 days off and really looking forward to it. 

We couldn't think of what to do.  We finally came up with an idea to go to Zions National Park since we haven't been there together before.  So we packed our backpack with water, the motorcycle with extra gas, and headed up over the mountain to the back side of Zions.



Us.  I know we look like dorks but I wanted to prove we wore our helmets

Me at the gas station telling Mom our plans

 We stopped at the gas station in Todd's Junction

We stopped at the elk farm and I wish I could remember the name of the town.  We figured since we would have seen some cool animals in Wyoming we thought we would stop to see them here in Utah.

 Buffalo.  These guys were right before you go into Zions.

 We were waiting to be able to go into the tunnel. Patiently =)

 Zions

 We went to the lodge and got some lunch and planned out our destinations.  Kyle wanted to go to the Emerald pools trail but you had to either go to the lower or the upper.  The trail that goes all the way thru was closed and since it was super hot and I was wearing jeans we chose to do just the lower emerald pools.

 Lower Emerald Pools

 Proof Kyle was there =)

We went to the weeping rock and road the shuttle all the way to the top by the Narrows and there was a storm coming in and since we were going to be lucky enough to be riding through it.  I was finally glad I wore pants and I brought a long sleeve shirt and not the best jacket.

 The exit to the park through the tunnel. 

I snapped a picture of us while driving.

We started for home and it started to sprinkle and then it stopped so we thought we were fine.  We stopped at Todd's Junction and put more layers on.  We drove to Duck Creek and it rained on us alittle bit.  We tried to call our friend to see if we could crash at his office until the weather got better but he didn't answer. So we took off.  We got to the top of the mountain and it looked like there was snow on the ground!  It was so cold! I really wish Kyle had pulled over so we could get a picture of it.  I guess it was cold enough that when the rain came through it turned into hail.  It was pretty funny that our "trip" was ending this way.  We caught up with the storm and it rained on us and we could not wait to get home and get in the hot tub!  We were so sore from riding the bike all day and so cold from the ride home.  This will for sure be an anniversary to remember.  Hopefully we will get to go to Wyoming some day.

Happy Anniversary Sweetie!!!



Family Reunion 2012

With all the fires this summer the place where we usually go was involved.  So Carrie being incharge of the reunion was looking for ideas.(Lucky her) Well my brothers found this camp ground up the Spanish Fork canyon and it was so much fun.  It was a really nice place with lots of trees and the only thing wrong with the place was it was SO HOT!!!!  One of the days we were there we packed up and drove into Provo and had some icecream and then went shopping to try and cool off.  It definately was kinda odd going to town and being so close to town but it was so nice to have some icecream.  Everyone was in a better mood.

One of the nights the kids put on a "talent show".

 The group ready for the talent show

 Cameron showing off his skills

Rylee and Holly always write up a song and perform it.  It was really cute and good.

 Rylee, Holly, Avery, Savanah singing another song

Me and the dogs enjoying the show

You can tell that Kyle was taking all the pictures since he isn't in any of them but he had a good time.  Brian had a nice camera there and took tons of pictures and I'm still waiting to get a copy of those.  I imagine I will be waiting a long time=)  We had a great time seeing everyone and hanging out.  The guys mostly played cards the entire time and I watched all the moms chase their kids around. My "kids" stayed by me so I didn't have to keep an eye on them much  I can't wait for next year except it will be my turn to be in charge.  Hopefully our usual camp site is ok and we can go back there.

Aladdin

For our "girl's" weekend we meaning Mom, Carrie, Holly, Savanah, Tracy, Rylee, Avery, Becca, and me went to Aladdin at Tuacahn.  We went down a day earlier and it was so nice because time didn't go by as fast.  We played in the pool, went shopping, took naps, and had a great time together.  We met up with our Aunt Faye and had pizza and then off to see the show.  I LOVED it.  I love the movie and loved the 3-D part too.  The genie was awesome.  I wish the genie was in the show more instead of at the end.  It was fun watching my mom and aunt Faye react to the 3-D part.  I always wish I took pictures but as always I didn't.  Before we went to the show we went to the visitor center at the St. George temple.  It was neat seeing the looks on my nieces faces when they saw the temple.  Over all we had a great time.  I can't wait for next year!