Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Utah (days 1 and 2)

We arrived in Utah Sat. night just in time to watch the fireworks! We had great seats right in front of the BYU stadium where we listened to Carrie Underwood putting on a concert.

The girls sitting on top of the cougar while waiting for the fireworks to start.

Fireworks!

We were right beneath them! 

On Sunday we went to Temple Square. 

Salt Lake Temple

Kayla and Samantha sitting by the pond at Temple Square

Jana and her fiance Steve, what a cute couple!

Jake and the girls, so many pretty flowers everywhere at Temple Square!

Jake and I next to one of the Joseph Smith statues

More statues of Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith

A pretty fountain!

After Temple Square we went to Bountiful to visit with grandma Anderson and eat dinner.

Jake and my dad playing with dad's little helicopter. He was flying that thing every chance he got! I think he's obsessed!

Ben, Mark and Emilee just hanging out

Jillian and Cody taking it easy

Little Jack found some big shoes to walk around in!

Cody and Jillian with their cute baby Joseph posing for a picture on grandma's balcony, the sunset was so pretty, that everyone decided to take a picture!

Samantha didn't want to have her picture taken, oh well it still turned out nice.

Ben and uncle Tyler

Grandma, Randee and dad

Emilee and Mark with their kids Jack and Lucy

My crazy brother Ben!

Monday, July 19, 2010

Our VACAY

Our vacation was originally going to be 2 days in northern Utah for a family reunion with Jake's family and then 3 more days in Orem Utah with my family. But the reunion got canceled so we decided still go to Utah but take our time getting there stopping at some sights along the way.
 
It started on Friday July 2nd with lots of non stop fun! Our first stop was Flagstaff. We stopped there to look around and find out directions to the Lava Tube Cave just north of Flag. After we got a bite to eat we headed to the Lava Tube.  Jake and I were there years ago but didn't remember exactly how it was, but we were told to bring our jackets and flashlights because its pitch black down there, cold and very slippery! Well when we got there, and realized that we forgot to pack good flashlights, we just had 1 ok one and 1 that was about to go out. Well we thought maybe we would be okay and just see how it goes. As we started climbing down which was very rocky and slippery, we decided to not go very far through the tube because it would just be too dangerous for the kids.  So just as we were about to leave, a very nice group of people started climbing out and asked us if we needed some flashlights cuz they didn't need theres anymore. So we said sure and took their flashlights and hiked some more through the tube! Thank goodness for those kind people because the girls loved it!  Well somehow as I was climbing, I banged my left ankle really hard on a rock and it bruised up from above my ankle to the bottom of my foot! I couldn't believe it! Here I was worried about the girls getting hurt, geez! Anyways, when we finished hiking through the tube, my ankle started hurting more whenever I walked and even when I sat down. I knew it wasn't sprained or anything serious, I knew it was just bruised really bad.  Thankfully it started feeling better the next day and wasn't too bad on the rest of our trip to Utah!



We took a picture of us on Jake's camera phone cuz I didn't have our camera with us at the time but he accidently deleted it. So these are pictures off the internet. Yep its just a big hole in the ground!

 Here's the opening of the tube, its bigger than it looks.

 
 Inside the tube! 
Next stop...
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THE GRAND CANYON! 

My first time to the Grand Canyon and I've lived in AZ my whole life! So beautiful!
So Grand!

Jake went when he was a kid and of course it was the girls first time too and they loved it!

Looks like we're standing too close to the edge! Ahhh!


We hiked down to a lower point where we could get a closer look. See those brave people behind Kayla...they hiked down even lower! Not me! I'm not that daring!

 After our oohs and ahhs at the Grand Canyon, we left and got something to eat, looked in a couple of gift shops and then headed to our campsite there at the GC. The girls helping Jake put up our tent, they did a great job!

 Kayla being such a big help to daddy!

 Samantha having fun putting up our tent!

 Inside our tent, Samantha just before bed!

 Kayla just before going to sleep.

 
 On Saturday morning we stopped at another GC viewing point. We are at the top of a old tower and your able to see just how HUGE the GC really is! It looks like it goes on forever and ever!


Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Jake's Birthday and Eclipse

Jake had his 37th birthday June 20, same day as Father's Day! He was showered with birthday gifts and Father's Day gifts! Since his birthday was on Sunday, him and I got a babysitter and went out to dinner and a movie. We saw Prince of Persia, it was pretty good! 
Jake blowing out the candles! He doesn't like cake very much so he got a birthday pie instead!
 My friend Jackie and I standing in line to see the midnight showing of Eclipse! It was hot but the theater had tents for us to stand under which helped a little. We really didn't stand outside too long, only 2 hours then they let us in to sit in our seats. 
Some of the people who stood in line with us, it was fun but I don't think I'll do a midnight showing again! I had to get up early the next morning with the kids and I only had 3 hours of sleep! I was so tired the whole day so I'll just stick to normal morning or evening showings! Oh and the movie was AWESOME! Can't wait to see it again!