Arches National Park

I think it took me 3 different times to upload these pictures. 

Waiting. Almost done. Check back in and the blog posting is gone. Start over. 

But over Fall Break (one of the best things ever!) Andrew and I went with my parents

down to Arches. Andrew has never been there before which in my mind is crazy. Skiing and Arches are on the Utah 

state licence plates and he had never done one of them. 

Plus he has lived in Utah his entire life! 

Arches was a must and I've been wanting to do it forever! 

We had so much fun! I knew we would have because if not, why go?

I just did not realize how much fun we would have! It was the best! 

We went to my cabin before to help my parents chop wood. 

This is my Paul Bunyan.  

 So here we are at Arches and no joke, we've been in the park for only a few minutes 

and we decide to go to this arch because night it almost coming and this arch is easy to get to.

My parents run into people that they work with in the temple.

Out of all the places and all the people? Small world. 

 Delicate Arch. 

It's amazingly huge. 

 This picture is my mom to a T! 

 We were walking back from Double O Arch (it's a long hike but worth it) 

and that is the trail behind my mom and dad. That's it (don't fall). 

We almost didn't make it to this one but we thought we should try and it was the best!

This is Delicate Arch- the one on the Utah licence plate and it was amazing. It's huge! We turned a corner and then there it was just waiting to for us to see it! Beautiful! And if you can see those two things under the arch- that's Andrew and me! 

Arches was beautiful and we loved our time there! I wish we were there at least one more day.

Go in the fall. It's not hot and you're not dying. It's perfect weather. 

Casper's Christmas

You know how people mix up Halloween and Christmas.

Examples like;

+Nightmare before Christmas

+Casper's Haunted Christmas 

and that's what happened yesterday. 

Last week Andrew signed us up to go to the BYU Vocal Point Christmas Concert 

and I was so excited for a fun Christmas activity but what I did not realize was 

that the concert was in October!

Yesterday was so busy and we were scrambling to get out the door on time! After work I had to run 

to Walmart, and on my way I realized my gas needle in my car was on empty and I had 

no idea for how long. When I mean empty, I'm not kidding. It was as low as it could go. I am 

so glad I caught it before I ran out of gas in the middle of the road. That would have been bad. 

Andrew got off work later than planned. When I got home I had to change and I could NOT 

find my black pants.  I just had them on Sunday. I looked through all my drawers.  All my 

pile of clothes that we have no room to put.  I could not find them! (and I still can't- even 

when I cleaned the apartment tonight.) So I had to settle for a pair of jeans. 

We did make it out the door on time.

We went to Subway with gift cards I had received on my mission. Thank you Anaheim Mission

 Members who gave me those gifts cards. I saved them and they made for a wonderful 

dinner for date night. Thank you so much! 

The concert was for Vocal Point to film so the concert could be broadcasted.  The concert was 

WAY cool!  It was a 3 hour deal but we were able to see how it all runs. 

Those guys are so talented.

It was a perfect night and it got me in the mood for Christmas. I'm ready to start playing 

Christmas music, get a tree, decorate, make cookies, and do all the Christmas things.  But it's 

still fall, and there is no snow (thank goodness for that) and I'm really excited for Halloween! 

The concert airs on BYUTV on November 26. We may or may not be on TV.  

If we are, I might not be smiling because when the cameras were on us I was listening

 to the song which was a very calming spiritual song.  I was enjoying it. But not smiling.

Does anyone know what I mean? 

And FALL BREAK is now!

School was over, we put the kids on the bus, and then we were done.
Hello Fall Break! 

I'm FALLing for You

Excuse the pun, but I kinda like it. 

We went up the canyon after church 

because we kinda wanted some fall pictures. 

 ^We did this quite a few times and I loved every minute. 

If you don't throw leaves, it's simply not fall. ^

^Our cute friends came with us too. Seriously, so photogenic.

And I really want her hair, it's so long!^

We had a lot of fun.

It's so nice to get pictures that are not selfies

(which we love, but switching it up is nice too). 

I'm so in love with fall and all that comes with it.

Especially fall break.... which is in 3 days!!! 

Yahoo! 

Powell of the Lake

Pictures sometimes say all the talking.

All in all- Lake Powell is gorgeous!

~ ~ ~

On our way home we decided that we should visit Cove Fort. 

It's kinda a neat place and it was a good Sunday activity. 

My Top 7 from DC + a Video

Maybe you thought my DC posts were done

and I promise, this is the last one! 

But I have a video to share.

It's my first one, but I'm overall happy with it,



And here are my top favorites from DC:

1. Seeing the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution

2. The tour of the capital building 

3. Seeing the actual Star Spangled Banner (probably the top of the list)

4. Arlington Cemetery (this was amazing too)

5. The DC Temple

6. All the monuments 

7. All the real life artifacts from everywhere (love that kind stuff)

Officially done with the DC posts.
haha
Took awhile, I know.
Go there.
It's worth it.

Sick Day

^Completely unrelated photo because it's much better than a photo of me being sick.
And what's a blog post without a picture?^

+ I got sick yesterday which is just bleh.
It started with a head cold and just got worse.
So I figured today I would be able to update some of the happenings
from life while I am just lying in bed. 

+ Andrew stayed home for a whole entire week!
For the 2nd and 3rd weeks of September he went to the
East Coast for work from Thursday-Sunday.
Last week was his first full week home! I love having him back!

+ With Andrew being back we went for some nightly walks.
It felt so good to be outside!

+ We have been loving the fall weather that kind of just came out of no where!
Literally, the first official day of fall, it rains and makes me want to get
all cozy and bring out all blankets and fall decor!
And there is now a boat load of snow on the mountains.

+ I have been begging Andrew to watch "Fiddler on the Roof."
And we did. We made it to intermission.
We will finish! 

+ Andrew and I went to Ikea on Saturday and he had never been there before. Ever.
And he loved it. He could not believe how big it was.
When I asked him if he wanted to take a shortcut to the bedroom showrooms
to look at dressers he said that he wanted to look at the whole store.
Ikea is one of the best places. 

+ Went to the General Women's Broadcast and it made me so excited
for General Conference this week! To watch General Conference this
Saturday and Sunday go HERE! It's from 10-12 and from 12-2 MST each day.
It's a faith growing experience! I cannot wait for this weekend!!!

~ ~ ~
Update:

+ Andrew came home from work and surprised me with everything!

Dinner that I could not help with
(don't blame him there, who wants a sick person making their meal?)
He even surprised me with mint ice cream that I wanted last night.
I completely forgot I said that!

He boiled up an apple, orange, cinnamon mixture.
It was the smell of fall! Oh I love it.
Our apartment is our little home.  

Halloween decorations!
Which makes me so stinkin' excited for this season!

A little Family Home Evening, which I loved.

I love him.

And I am feeling much, much better.
Today was not fun, but relaxing was a day needed.
Along with a husband who makes things easy for me. 

The DC Wrap Up!

Sunday was our last day in DC

and we loved it so much! 

We left so much undone but at the same time

we did so much. 

We went to church, well we tried. 

We went to one building and NO ONE was there at the time it started.

We went to another one and it was also empty. 

We went inside and they were setting up for stake conference.

Well that explains the empty parking lots. 

We went to Mount Vernon and I personally loved it!

That place has so much history and I learned so much about George Washington.

It was around $17 a person, but totally worth the price. 

Mount Vernon (I think it's the back) 

The view behind us is the view that George Washington had when he lived there,

Absolutely beautiful! 

I think this part was so neat! Be ready for a fun fact of history.

Those two marble caskets were personally made and donated to bury 

George Washington and his wife (Martha)

but they were too big to fit through the door of the family crypt.

So, George and Martha Washington are literally buried in those caskets right there!

I was beyond amazed!

We went to the monuments at night 

(I wish we had done them in the day but at least we got to see them).

I remember learning about the Lincoln Memorial in kindergarten and learning

that it was on the back of the penny. I finally got to be there! 

Washington Monument 

We saw the War Memorials and the Martian Luther King Jr. Memorial.

I loved them! In absolute amazement. This country is amazing! 

DC. 

Love. 

Thanks for a great trip.