Happy Anniversary

Yesterday was our ONE year anniversary! Quite exciting, I can't believe how fast time goes. I have the best husband and look forward to forever with him!

The beginning of a new semester...and other happenings

We are finally back in Utah and loving the weather up here. California and Arizona were getting a little too hot for us. School has started and we are very busy! We both have five classes plus institute and Logan works every morning. I had a job interview yesterday so hopefully that means I will start working mornings as well. It's great though, we like being in school and having something to do rather than sit around and stare at eachother!

A few things we've done since leaving California and coming to Utah...

We went four-wheeling with Logan's family up in the mountains of Koosharem and had so much fun! We were covered in dirt from head to toe-including in my ears but still enjoyed every minute of it. I think it took 2-3 showers before we were completed clean! We celebrated my birthday-the big 22 by going to PFChang's with some family and friends. We saw Julie and Julia this past Saturday and let me tell you...I loved it! It was hilarious, even Logan enjoyed it. I highly recommend it. I got strep throat over the weekend and thank goodness for my mother-in-law who had medicine for me. I've been on antibiotics for a few days now and feel so much better, my throat is almost better.

We've been staying with Zac and Kara for a week now til our apartment is ready this weekend. We are so excited to move in, unpack our stuff and just have a place of our own. Not that we haven't love spending so much time with our families this past little while...but it's time for our own space :) Our apartment is in Pleasant Grove and it's right off the freeway, so it may sound far but it takes about 7 minutes to get to school. Not bad at all. Plus they are new apartments, that was the selling point for me!

Other than that we've been busy buying books, doing a little homework and getting used to being back in school. So if you're ever in the neighborhood stop by and see us!

Zac, Kara, and Lola's visit to California

Last week Zac and Kara came to visit the whole family for his birthday. It was so much fun! Especially because it was a chance for the whole family to be together before we all leave for school. We spent a lot of time here on the mountain for the first few days and enjoyed the company. On Friday we went down to Irvine and stayed in a hotel. We had dinner at one of Zac's favorite restaurants, Javier's, swam in the pool for awhile and got some rest. Saturday we woke up and get everything ready to spend the day at the beach. We spent about half of the day at Crystal Cove, swimming, eating, sun bathing/burning, and relaxing. Later that evening we finished up the trip with a stop at In-N-Out and headed home. Zac and Kara left on Tuesday, thanks so much for coming! We had the best time with you :)

Swimmin' at the pool

The whole family at Javier's

Ryan buried in the sand by Zac, Blake and Logan

Me and my wonderful sisters-in-law Kara and Lani

One last pic of the whole family after quite a long day at the beach

Logan and I are moving back to Utah in about a week. We have had such a great summer here in California-thanks to all our family for supporting us all summer long.

Busy Busy Busy

We've been quite busy lately. Driving A LOT-working, visiting family and just having fun! Two weeks ago Logan's parents came to visit us for a few days. We had SO much fun! The first day they were here we stayed on the mountain and gave them a tour. We went to the Village and fed the ducks, got some candy and went in a few shops. There's a video at the bottom of a duck that wouldn't leave me alone! I would turn away from it and think it got back in the water but nope he just stayed right there and waiting for me to hand feed him!

On Friday we went snorkeling/kayaking in La Jolla. We had a waterproof camera and I have yet to get it developed so there aren't any pictures of that. Logan and I enjoyed it more than we ever thought we would. We learned what California's state fish is, who knew! It's a Garibaldi, a gorgeous bright orange fish. We saw plenty of them while we were snorkeling, I have never seen this bright of fish in the ocean, I thought they were only in tropical places. Logan saw some mackerel and some other fish too. We kayaked around for awhile and saw some caves and sea lions. We just snorkeled right off the kayak-so fun! We saw a lots and lots of sea kelp and sea grass. We got to this one part where you could snorkel and see leopard sharks-that kindof scared me so I stayed in the kayak and let Logan go without me. Luckily he got some pics of them cause there was no way I was getting close to them! On our way back to change out of our wetsuits I started to notice how red my legs were. Yep we were all fried! You'd think I would know by my age that I have very fair skin and burn easily! Well it turns out I put sunscreen in all the places my wetsuit covered-genius! I'll post pics of the fish and all of us in our kayaks when I get them developed.

After snorkeling and kayaking we were starving! We drove a little farther down the coast to San Diego to go to another restaurant from Diner's, Drive-In's and Dives. It was called Pizzeria Luigi-oh my goodness. It took me straight back to Italy. The pizza was sooooo good! After eating we went to Seaport Village-I walk of shops and restaurants right on the ocean.

Excuse how terrible I look, we didn't get to shower after snorkeling!

There was a little pond in the middle of the village and there were some baby ducks! They were so cute!

Thanks so much to our parents, we had a great time with all of you. Thanks Lynn and Lorri for coming and visiting us. We had a blast and are so glad you put up with all the driving we did :)

A few days later we drove to Littlefield, AZ where Logan worked all week with my dad to build the clubhouse in our mobile home park. They've been working so hard and have gotten so much done. It looks great!

Only one day later my mom and I got up and drove to Phoenix. Clarice had concert tickets for Keith Urban and she invited me, there was no way I could pass up this invitation. This was the third time I had seen him and the second time with Clarice. We had SOOOO much fun. We danced and sang and laughed all night long. Thanks Clarice, I had such a great time with you.

Now just three days later we are back in Littlefield doing more work. But later today we are headed to Salina and then to Provo tomorrow. We are looking for an apartment so we can move up in a week or two. We have had a great summer and thanks to everyone who has spent time with us. We want our parents to know how much we appreciate all they have done for us. We won't know what we would do without you.

Happy 4th of July!

This year we spent the 4th of July in Lake Arrowhead. Our day started off with the pancake breakfast and fundraising auction at the church. Somehow Logan and I were volunteered to keep track of everything that was bought, how much they needed to pay and who bought it. This year the auction had about twice as many items and it took FOUR hours to get it all done. Not to mention the long line of people giving us money and asking us where their prizes were. LONG morning I must say, at least the pancakes were good! For lunch we went to Rocky's-a super super good sandwich place up here, and hung out there for awhile. After that we just hung out and played a few games til it was time to go see the fireworks. Normally we take the boat out and park it right under the fireworks in the sky. This year it was incredibly crowded so we decided to pass on the boat and watch the fireworks from one of my dad's jobs. It overlooks the entire lake so it was an interesting viewpoint rather than being right under them. But we all decided as cool as they were from above...you can't beat being on the boat for them.

This was just as boats were getting out to watch the fireworks

Logan and I waiting for the show to start

Not the clearest picture, but this was right before the show started and all the tiny red and green lights are boats on the lake. Looks pretty cool.

Happy 4th of July!

On the road again...

This past weekend my cousin Jeremy got married and they asked my dad to marry them. So we got to ride over with my parents to Arizona for the weekend. We had a great time and did so much. Benson, AZ is a tiny town where my family lives over there and there isn't much to do...but we found a lot to do this time. We left Thursday morning and got to Benson in the evening. On Friday morning we got up and went to Kartchner Caverns. It was so cool! I had been there when I was little but remembered very little about it. The first picture is of course real but since you can't take pics inside the second one is downloaded from the internet. The researcher at the bottom gives you an idea of how big the largest column in the cavern is. It was incredible.

Logan, Me, Mom, Dad and Blake

Friday afternoon we hung out for a bit and then when down to my great Uncle Donnie's house (my dad's uncle) to visit. My dad's father and all his brothers are true Arizona cowboys so it's funny to be around a bunch of old guys in cowboy hats, button up shirts and Wrangler's on while we're in our flip flops and shorts. 

Saturday we spent a lot of time playing Guitar Hero, Logan played some basketball with my cousins and hung out most of the day. The wedding was Saturday evening and it was a "Cowboy" wedding. It turned out to such a gorgeous evening...minus the wind. And once again we were some of the few people not wearing a cowboy hat or cowboy boots!

Lani, Ryan, Blake, Mom, Logan and me

Kayleen (she looked so beautiful, I wish I had gotten a better pic), Dad, and Jeremy

We had some super good pit bbq that my great Uncle Donnie made (350 lbs of beef!) and these...Chocolate dipped strawberries. Kayleen's aunt is from Sweden or Belgium I can't remember and they had the chocolate flown in from there...incredible, the best chocolate I've ever had! Nice pic of me huh?!

Arizona always has the most beautiful sunsets, the sky was like this throughout the entire wedding, what luck! Gorgeous.

Sunday we went to church with all the family I have in Benson and had some super good dinner after. That night we played Up Up Down, a card game we play all the time with family and eating lots of junk food-as usual! We also spent a lot of time playing with my cousin's little babies. Audrey and Jackie both have a baby and they are so funny! I don't think anyone gets tired of just watching a baby play.

Monday morning we got up and got ready to leave. My brother Ryan had heard that Alice Cooper has a restaurant in Phoenix and so we decided to go on our way home. It was so much fun! The food wasn't incredible, it was good though, but the restaurant was just fun. The servers even wore black make-up under their eyes like Alice Cooper used to in concert. 

Ryan got the 22 inch hot dog...it was HUGE!

Guitars signed by Eric Clapton, The Police, Jeff Beck, Paul McCartney and Deep Purple

My "rock on" face isn't too rockin'! I thought my dad had already taken the pic and I started to smile, so it's a little wussy!

We had a great weekend seeing all our family and going to Jeremy's wedding. Logan had the chance to meet my grandparents finally (they're too old to travel now), more of my cousins and some other distant relatives. 

Happy Birthday!

Logan's birthday was May 21 and Blake's was May 23...so they celebrated together ALL week long. Saturday the 23rd was the main event. My family went to Balboa Island and ate at Ruby's on the pier and just hung out at the beach for a bit. On Sunday we had cake to celebrate both birthdays.