Road Trip (2nd leg)

The next morning we got up and headed to Denver, by way of Martin's Cove. I've heard so much and my parents were apart of their Stake's trek there so I thought we should check it out. It was really neat! We didn't hike out to Devil's Gate, but it was so cool looking!



We walked around the visitors center and then caught a ride out to the Cove.



It was beautiful and there is so much wildlife out there. The antelope play out there!







From the cove we walked down to the statues of the three men who carried the remaining members of the Martin Handcart company across the Sweetwater river.



There was a very special spirit there and the strength and endurance of these good people. They lost so much. There were some good strong hearts who came to their rescue as well. It was a long day, but so worth the stop.





We arrived in Denver after 9pm. Tricia let the kids stay up until we got there and they were crazy! Bouncing off the walls and both so full of information to share and they wanted to pull out every toy and book and show it to me. It was a system overload, but they were just so cute!! The kids got settled as did we and we hit the sack shortly after.
That update next...

Road Trip (1st leg)

Once Brandon and I both finished our summer classes (my last summer classes!!!) we decided to take a little road trip and visit some friends.

I'm sorry Mike, let's rent a beach house next year and we'll come out for a week!

There was a bit of a cramp in our plans. We dropped off a house key at Brandon's parents house and when we went to leave the car wouldn't start. We jumped it and got home, but once we turned the car off it wouldn't start again.

We got up early and took out the battery, had it tested, they said it was good just dead. So, we decided we should get the alternator tested. Took the alternator out had it tested, it was good. Brandon's dad said he would pick up the battery that was charging at Les Shwab and bring it over, but he just bought us a new one. Once everything was put back together it started up fine. Who knows what killed it in the first place.

Brandon's dad wanted to take the car in and have it check out to make sure everything else was in working order so he let us take his car for our trip.



Wyoming has some beautiful country. I kept shouting at Brandon to take pictures. I'm sure there were some better pictures, but "Carl" ate some of them.

We saw these windmills, they almost looked like an alien ship left them. There were so many of them lined up and spinning. It was so cool! The pictures don't do them justice.



We got a little later start than planned, but headed to Lyman, Wyoming to my friend Heidi Peterson's parents house. Heidi and I were roommates at BYUH and I've been wanting to see where she grew up for years. She met us there and her family was so welcoming and fed us some delicious steak and potatoes! I love steak and potatoes! We then took a "back to your roots" tour of Lyman, it was dark so we couldn't see a lot, but it was cool all the same. We also saw this barn that the city renovated and it is now used for gatherings (weddings, parties, reunions). It was so beautiful, at least the outside, very impressed with the City of Lyman.

I didn't take any pictures once we arrived in Lyman so you're stuck with the windmills.

Enjoy

Garden

My very small garden keeps plugging along. My tomato plants look kind of sad, always have, but they keep on producing so I keep watering. My flowers have done really well. I even have a hibiscus that I absolutely love! It's my little piece of my island home I miss so.

The Hibiscus has been doing really well and I've even has some very beautiful blooms.

Swiss Picnic

It was that time again for the annual Swiss Picnic. I think the picnic has grown every year since we've been going, and I think we started going when I was in high school. This year it was particularly large. We had such an amazing turn out, even a family from my ward!
My dad said he wasn't going to make birchermuesli. Well, the picnic is just not the picnic without it and I've been two years without it now so he agreed to help pay for it and I would make it. I didn't buy the best yogurt, but all the same it turned out wonderful, and everyone was so glad they too wouldn't have to go another year without it.


I want to eat the picture, need more birchermuesli!





There were so many wonderful familiar faces and unfamiliar ones and delicious food and some of the most darling kids. Heidi brought her fancy camera and the rapid fire and I had a wonderful time together. It was hotter than the dickens, but we all had a great time! Luckily we also had lots of birchermuesli to take home as well. I love that stuff!!

You guessed it, rapid fire :)

Freedom!

You would think this is a 4th of July post, but you'd be wrong.
I am free from school for six whole weeks! Whatever will I do with myself.
Luckily I have a very long to do list just waiting for me.
It starts off with losing the excessive weight I've gained by eating crap and not working out since January (when the heavy schooling began), I'll also be refinishing some furniture, making blankets, sewing up holes in my husbands jeans, cleaning my house, cooking and baking, blogging, caring for my potted plants (if you want tomatoes, let me know), game nights with friends, catching up with those I've neglected and I'm even taking a little trip to Colorado!

So happy for the break! Give me a call if you want to come over or go out and do something!

Happy Summer!

scroll down for wedding posts that I back dated

Rachel's Wedding

My good friend Rachel got married a few days ago and it was my pleasure to be apart of the planning and festivities.

Rachel and I met back in 2002, I think. It's been a while. We met while singing in Institute Choir together and have been friends since.

She married another friend of mine, who I met through my former roommate Sheena, his name is Dustin. It took the two a while, but they finally made it and their day was absolutely beautiful!

The Happy Couple just out of the Temple

I was also on flower duty for the wedding and recruited help from Brandon, his mom, sister and even Ty. I should have take more pictures of the flower production that took over my house, but I only have one of Brandon making a face while working on garland. For his benefit it will not be posted.


The bouqet and all the centerpieces sitting in my living room

I should have taken a picture of my dad's car all loaded up with the flowers I had to take over to the reception site. Never have I packed anything so perfectly, it all just barely fit, every crack was filled.

Everything turned out so nice. The sealing was beautiful, followed by a nice wedding luncheon and an outdoor reception that, besides the mosquitoes that were feasting on my blood, was absolutely beautiful.


Her theme was lemons and limes, there were so many lemons and limes everywhere and so many extra that we decided to line the path with them. Turned out so cute!



The cake table. We had extra key limes as well so I filled the tubes that held the cake stands.


Rachel brought me tons of glass vases to fill with flowers and lemons and limes. This vase is one I received as a bridal shower gift (that I still need to send thank you's for, I'm a slacker!). We put this vase on the food table. I was so happy with how everything turned out. It is really stressful to be responsible for someones wedding flowers and even more stressful when your "creative partners" are too far away to come and help! Luckily I married very well and Brandon's sweet mom and sister came to my rescue and helped tremendously!


Another arrangement on the food table


Centerpieces

I love weddings!!
Although stressful and busy I loved being apart of it!

Petey is Catering!!!

Check her out here for all your catering needs.

Leave a comment on her blog and she'll get back to you.

Clinicals

Just a few of my summer clinical group. These pretty green scrubs have been our good friends the past six months and will be for eight more months.

Doesn't Lindsey look so excited to be at the hospital at six thirty in the morning!

Actually, we loved our rotation at West Valley, they were so good to us!

Mom's Birthday

Brandon and I hosted my mom's birthday this year. .

We had a low key dinner and invited Brandon's family over as well. It's a rare occasion these days that I host a dinner party. Between being busy with school and work and just flat out not having any money to whip up a big meal for a lot of people, we just haven't had them.



It was nice to have everyone over though, even "Betty the bunny" came.


Hope you enjoyed it mom!