Feliz Cumpleanos... to me!

26 feels weird. Closer to 30 than to 20. Definitely feels weird. We celebrated my birthday over 2 weekends. We went down to SLC to to do some shopping. After getting back from Africa, Yellowstone and Colorado, we decided we needed to upgrade our camera situation. So, what better excuse to us on a Bday and Fathers day than to buy a new sweet Camera. I'd done a bunch of research online to find the best prices/packages and found that Costco had the best deal for what we were looking for, but we're so glad we actually went down to Costco, because they had an incredible packaged deal that even beat their own website's.

We got the Canon Rebel T1i with 2 lenses, cords and a great camera bag! Yes, please! thank you! After getting that killer deal, we got C some new running shoes that now let him feel like he runs on clouds! Gracias to the girls at Salt Lake Running in Draper who were closing in 5 minutes and stayed open to service us! (Collin pulled the "We-drove-all-the-way-down-from-Logan-to-come-to-your-store" Card... they bought it!) Once he was tested on the treadmill , being videotaped to see how he runs and then outfitted in some new asics, we went to dinner with the Denneys and Sanders at PeiWei! It was a great time. Always fun to go hang out with them. The next day, Sunday, we took a walk through Logan golf course and took our new sweet camera!!! Great shots, but only a few!! Love that thing.

Then, this last wknd (actual Bday wknd), we went down to SLC again for dinner with Carly & Spencer Williams at Rodizio Grill. I'd never been (only to Tucanos.. pretty much the same if you ask me), so it was nice to have a fancy dinner. Afterwards we went to see their new place that their renovating. It's looking pretty awesome. I'm excited to see the finished product. (I'm dumb and didn't take any pics with friends, but we got tons of pics in/of Logan!! I'm so blessed to have such great friends and family! Thanks for all the bday love, everyone! :)

Colorado Love

A little overdue... (the post, not Jen)!

A few weeks ago, we took a quick jaunt over to Colorado for Jen's Baby Shower! It was a quick, but awesome weekend. It was packed chuck full with fun! We went to Max, Peyton and Aydan's T-Ball game. Afterwards, I headed to the baby shower while Collin got to play and hang out with all the little boys, my dad and Steffan. Jen is so adorable pregnant! The last time I saw her, her belly hadn't even popped out yet, but she's SO cute preggers!!! PS I'm obsessed with Emily's twins! I have her text me pictures of them as often as she can.

Jen got a TON of cute little boy stuff. My mom made the little guys bedding and tons of blankets, rags. They decided on John Deere fabrics and I never realized how incredibly adorable that could be. So cute!!! And lets talk for a second about little boy outfits. I'm sure its common knowledge that it is so fun and easy to dress baby girls, because c'mon, there's a ton of options for cutesie things. Whereas, baby boy department... hasn't had the best track record. Trust me, I used to work in the childrens department at Nordstrom for quite sometime and options were lacking. The pickins were slim and and ... not cute. But NOW... holy canol's ... SO stinkin adorable. Major props to the baby clothes makers so that the baby makers can dress the babies cute! :)

Anyway, after the shower we headed to the lake. Hallelujah! I LOVE that place. Probably on my top 5 list. The weather was gorgeous and we had a fabulous time. Nothing is better than hanging out with the family all together at the lake! Ya! Nothing! There was wakeboarding, rope swinging, beaver dam breaking, frog catching, eating (Steffan is pretty fab BBQer), laughing, and chatting. It was glorious.

Sunday was wonderful too! I love going to my parents ward and seeing old faces and feeling that Denver North Stake Love. WE had a little BBQ after church and then we got back on the airplane (which we almost missed... I think my mom does this intentionally so that eventually we will be forced to stay another day... or forever. She's a clever lady.)

Love Colorado!!

Memorial Day at Island Park

With both of us off work for Memorial Day, we decided to drive up to Island Park and Yellowstone for the weekend. I got off work Saturday at 3 and Collin had everything packed up and ready to go when I got home so we could take off right away. The drive was great. I have always loved travelling with Collin, even since when we were dating. I think that was the kicker for me; being able to drive in the car for hours on end, or sit within close proximity for hours on a plane and STILL want to spend the vacation together says a lot! What can I say? I love this dude!!

So, we got up to The Red Roof Cabin later Saturday night and dropped off our stuff and got our food in the fridge and got back on the road to drive to West Yellowstone for dinner. We ended up eating at a cute burger joint that neither of us had been to before. I forget the name of it, but it was quaint and cute.

Sunday, we went to church in I.P. and then went to feed the fish at Big Springs. Turns out there was a hungry otter too! He was really cute. And then a bunch of kids came up and one of them was so funny talking/yelling at it! Made us laugh.

Then we went driving. We went a round about way through Lake Hebgen and Earthquake Lake. Such a crazy story as to how this lake and canyon was created by an Earthquake. You can even see the trees poking out of the new lake. The earthquake happened in the '50s and dramatically changed the area. There were huge boulders that went from one side of the canyon to the other. There were signs and landmark type things all over illustrating what happened including a rescue mission that I thought was noteworthy.

We continued our jaunt to/through Yellowstone. Right when we drove up to West, there was a HUGE buffalo right in the middle of the town by a sign. Just shows how massive the beast is. We drove all day throughout the park and even landed our own , very first Annual Park Pass so that we can have unlimited access for the year! Don't mind if we do!

We went to the lookouts where you can see the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. It's an incredible view. The pic of us in front is a little weird, cuz the guy taking it wanted the waterfall between us. Can you say awkward? I promise, we do still like each other.

(This last one was on the way out of the park, a quick snapshot of the buff by the road.)

Back at the cabin, we had a weenie roast and roasted s'mores too! It was quite the feat building the fire. It took a few tries, but we finally got it. Temawork!! :) Staying at the cabin was so much fun and although we have a blast with family when we go together, it was kinda nice to be there alone! We are so excited to go again for 4th of July again (our annual tradition... well, that started last year)! The best part may be the new addition to the family (our new CAMERA)...more on that later though! :)

What a relief!

I can't believe it took me SO long to finish all the posts from Africa. I'm just glad I got it all up before the one month mark. That would be... Monday! So, I really just snuck it in. What an experience it was, though! We are so grateful we were able to take advantage of the opportunity!

Now on to the next big adventure!!

Carlys Wedding

Carly and Spencer got married the day before we left for Africa and it was such a beautiful day! She and Spencere were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple, and it was so gorgeous when they came out. They were so happy and I was elated for them. And she was a BEAUTIFUL bride!!!

They had their reception at Le Jardin in Sandy, and it was an incredible atmosphere because its an basically an indoor garden. Trees and Flowers all over. Nick and David Grant came out for the Wedding and so did Brett and Kristy and Brooke! Such a great time to get together and support Carly!! It was a great day!!!

My old roommate, Natalie, did the flowers and they were beautiful. I loved the colors she had. It went so well with Carly's skin tone and Spencer's hair! Funny thing to say, but it's true. I'm bummed though, because Natalie took off before I could get a picture with her! She's a doll though and it was great to catch up with her.