Summer Time Fun
Anders and I have been busy the last month. I finished up school about a week and a half ago and am now off for the summer. It felt like an eternity coming and I know that the summer will fly by-as it always does. I am enjoying having an open schedule with no grading or test writing hanging over my head. I can finally get some things done that I have been wanting to do for a while (my biggest project being photo books for the last two and half years). I'm looking forward to my summer.
Over the last two weeks we have spent a few evenings going to houses that are part of the Parade of Homes. I have never been (neither has Anders for that matter), but I have always wanted to go. I think some people think it is ridiculous to go look at homes that are way out of your budget or that are over the top, but I think it is fun. I think I got that from my mom. I like to see how people decorate and organize things, how they design certain rooms, and what they choose to be in their homes. I also like to compare how I would do things to the way it was actually done. We have seen some unbelievable houses - the largest being 17,000 sq ft- and also some that are much more practical-3500 sq ft. It has been fun and provided us with several date nights.
Anders and I also went up to Kennecott Copper Mine a few weeks ago. I only learned a few years ago that the mine existed and have wanted to go see it since. Anders went when he was little and claims that the hole is the same size. I was just impressed by how big it was.
Anders being run over by one of the massively huge tires. 
On Memorial Day we went up to Salt Lake to join Anders family for a trip to the cemetery and a BBQ. Sad to say, but I have never been to a cemetery on Memorial Day. I grew up in a place where the closest buried family members were 600 miles away. It was s fun to see how many flowers and people were there honoring their loved ones.
We also spent part of Memorial day weekend camping. We went to Utah Lake because everywhere else was still under several feet of snow. Our friends Jacob and Julie joined us for the evening and we had a great time. We got lucky and didn't get too much rain-just a little sprinkling and had great weather. Several parts of our camp ground were flooded, including our fire pit. Anders and I had to scoop water out of it with plastic cups so we could have a fire. We soon discovered that the pit was full of water not due to rain but due to a high water table. Little by little, our fire pit filled back in. Luckily we had some large logs that we put in the bottom and then built the fire on top of those.
Our fire. It really was a miracle that we got one going....
Eating the watermelon strait out of the container. :)
Flooded areas of Utah Lake State Park. We have had so much rain this spring.
I also had the chance to go to the wedding dinner and reception for one of my good friends from high school, Heather. My other good friend, Manda, and her family were there as well, so it was fun to spend some time with them.
We spent my first day of summer vacation and one of the first nice Saturdays we've had in a long time with Anders' sister Nisha. We hiked the Y, saw a Parade of Homes house, and went to see Kung Fu Panda Two (which I loved). It was a great day and we got our first sun burns of the summer. Next time we'll wear sunscreen.
This last weekend was very busy as well. My parents and my brother and his family were in town for the blessing of their baby. We spent three nights in a row at my sisters house just enjoying company. We hiked to Timpanogos Cave with my family and with my sister-in-law's family as well. We discovered the day we were planning on hiking that we needed to get tickets early. Since Anders and I live the closest, we got assigned to buy tickets for everyone. We went up a few hours early, reserved 30 spots, had a picnic lunch, and read our books while we waited for everyone else to come join us. The hike was a lot of fun and is absolutely beautiful. We didn't have to drag too many kids up the mountain and everyone made it in reasonable shape. The cave was pretty cool and fun to see as well. I liked all the different curly formations found in different areas.
Beautiful view of the valley from about half way up.
Mom and Sarah helping Katie along.
Anders and I waiting for our group to show up.
Anders giving me a heart attack as he climbed the rocks.
The cool curly formations in the cave.
A whole room of the curly formations.
Our whole group at the end. Heather's brother brought popsicles for us all to enjoy!
And one final picture for the day: a sample of what happens when your camera gets left with your brother.
Over the last two weeks we have spent a few evenings going to houses that are part of the Parade of Homes. I have never been (neither has Anders for that matter), but I have always wanted to go. I think some people think it is ridiculous to go look at homes that are way out of your budget or that are over the top, but I think it is fun. I think I got that from my mom. I like to see how people decorate and organize things, how they design certain rooms, and what they choose to be in their homes. I also like to compare how I would do things to the way it was actually done. We have seen some unbelievable houses - the largest being 17,000 sq ft- and also some that are much more practical-3500 sq ft. It has been fun and provided us with several date nights.
Anders and I also went up to Kennecott Copper Mine a few weeks ago. I only learned a few years ago that the mine existed and have wanted to go see it since. Anders went when he was little and claims that the hole is the same size. I was just impressed by how big it was.
Anders being run over by one of the massively huge tires. 
On Memorial Day we went up to Salt Lake to join Anders family for a trip to the cemetery and a BBQ. Sad to say, but I have never been to a cemetery on Memorial Day. I grew up in a place where the closest buried family members were 600 miles away. It was s fun to see how many flowers and people were there honoring their loved ones.
We also spent part of Memorial day weekend camping. We went to Utah Lake because everywhere else was still under several feet of snow. Our friends Jacob and Julie joined us for the evening and we had a great time. We got lucky and didn't get too much rain-just a little sprinkling and had great weather. Several parts of our camp ground were flooded, including our fire pit. Anders and I had to scoop water out of it with plastic cups so we could have a fire. We soon discovered that the pit was full of water not due to rain but due to a high water table. Little by little, our fire pit filled back in. Luckily we had some large logs that we put in the bottom and then built the fire on top of those.
Our fire. It really was a miracle that we got one going....
Eating the watermelon strait out of the container. :)
Flooded areas of Utah Lake State Park. We have had so much rain this spring.
I also had the chance to go to the wedding dinner and reception for one of my good friends from high school, Heather. My other good friend, Manda, and her family were there as well, so it was fun to spend some time with them.
We spent my first day of summer vacation and one of the first nice Saturdays we've had in a long time with Anders' sister Nisha. We hiked the Y, saw a Parade of Homes house, and went to see Kung Fu Panda Two (which I loved). It was a great day and we got our first sun burns of the summer. Next time we'll wear sunscreen.This last weekend was very busy as well. My parents and my brother and his family were in town for the blessing of their baby. We spent three nights in a row at my sisters house just enjoying company. We hiked to Timpanogos Cave with my family and with my sister-in-law's family as well. We discovered the day we were planning on hiking that we needed to get tickets early. Since Anders and I live the closest, we got assigned to buy tickets for everyone. We went up a few hours early, reserved 30 spots, had a picnic lunch, and read our books while we waited for everyone else to come join us. The hike was a lot of fun and is absolutely beautiful. We didn't have to drag too many kids up the mountain and everyone made it in reasonable shape. The cave was pretty cool and fun to see as well. I liked all the different curly formations found in different areas.
Beautiful view of the valley from about half way up.
Mom and Sarah helping Katie along.
Anders and I waiting for our group to show up.
Anders giving me a heart attack as he climbed the rocks.
The cool curly formations in the cave.
A whole room of the curly formations.
Our whole group at the end. Heather's brother brought popsicles for us all to enjoy!
And one final picture for the day: a sample of what happens when your camera gets left with your brother.
It's only the middle of June and you guys have already done so much! I love Timpanogos Cave, we hiked it last year and loved it!
ReplyDeleteHow fun! Looks like you guys had a blast.
ReplyDeleteBtw, how much are Timpanogos tickets anyway? Just curious... If I told them I worked for a hospital with the same name do ya think they'd give me a discount? ;)