Big Cottonwood Canyon hike

My dad and I went out last Saturday for a hike.

It was an incredibly hot day so we wanted to get up in the mountains away from the suffocating heat.

We were also aware of the Tour of Utah bike race going on, so avoided (or attempted to avoid) the traffic and crowds around for that (more on this to come...).

I had heard a few people talk about Donut Falls, so as we drove past and saw the sign we decided to stop there and see what it was all about. We read that it was only about a mile and a half round trip and knew that would only be a warm-up for my dad and I, but we went ahead anyway.

I'm not going to lie, it was definitely beautiful, but hard to be impressed after living in the pacific northwest.

I mean, nothing can really compare to Multnomah Falls!

But, it was definitely pretty!

After seeing Donut Falls we decided to veer off the beaten path and take some spurs off the main trail.

We ended up finding a mining road that we hiked along for a while.

It was a steady elevation gain, so we got in a good workout, but we also found some incredible gems along the way.

^ I mean, look at that!

I love hiking with my dad because he always finds these unknown places.

We didn't see one other person while we were hiking, and it was so refreshing.

We had a couple scary moments with some thunder and lightning off in the distance over Little Cottonwood Canyon, but we luckily didn't run into a storm!

After turning around and starting to head back we stopped to attempt to eat our lunch on this huge unique looking boulder that we passed.

Unfortunately, when we got up on top of it we realized there were fire ants everywhere.

So I immediately tried to abort that plan, but my dad, being the adventurer he is, found a rock he was fascinated with.

My dad is a rock lover, so only he would be so fascinated by a hidden rock behind a huge boulder!

It's the white rock right there in the middle of the photo.

As soon as my dad picked it up he gasped and said that there was a treasure under there!

I was starting to climb down the big boulder, but found myself venturing back up to him to see what in the world he was talking about.

Turns out, he randomly found a geocache! 

It was so cool to see all of the little treasures people had left in there, from yearly updates and pictures, to a little porcelain tea cup!  

It was so fun to stumble across that!

We've never actually searched for geocaches, and it was pretty lucky we found this one!

It was definitely very strategically hidden.

After getting down to the parking lot and eating our lunch, we headed out to get home.

Once we got to the main road we were told that we had to wait for about half an hour because the Tour of Utah was about to come through.

We thought it was supposed to be in Little Cottonwood Canyon!

We ended up watching all the bikers and their teams ride by, and it was so fun!

Last year we watched as the Tour of Utah rode right in front of our house on South Temple, so my dad and I decided that since we keep stumbling upon this annual event that it has to be a tradition now :)

It was such a fun hike and a great day spent with my dad :)

I'm loving these Utah summers and all of the beauty that this place has to offer!

I think I'm starting to love it here.

Blessing Day

The Sunday of the week I graduated my sister and brother-in-law blessed my niece, Caroline.

It worked out perfect because my parents, my oldest sister and her kids, and my grandparents were all able to be there.

I was able to steal just a few pictures during the day :)

Miss Audrey 

Sophie and Audrey.

Cousins coincidentally wearing matching dresses :)

Sam :) 

My sister Jen, brother in law Eric, Sophie, Sam, and Caroline!

Grandpa playing with Sophie, Jaden, and Sam

Jaden, Sophie, Audrey, and Sam

Worn out and watching Lego Movie :)

It was a really great day and a fantastic way to kick off a week of family time!

God Bless the USA

Happy (belated) Independence Day!

I had a fantastic day that definitely reminded me why the Fourth of July is my absolute favorite holiday!

It started a week ago with the Huntsman Springs Celebrate America Celebration.

This is the third year in a row that I've been to it, and it's definitely the best fireworks show I have ever seen, and that includes some tough contenders like the Portland Waterfront BluesFest! 

It was definitely a great start to my holiday celebrations!

Yesterday morning I joined my sister and her family at the Rexburg parade down Main Street!

It was so fun to see Sophie waving away at all of the floats to try and get them to throw her candy :)

By the end her and Sam had acquired enough candy to last them quite a while!

Little Caroline had a hard time sleeping through all of the sirens and loud music, but she was still as happy as could be despite it all.

Just look at her pretty little face!

Isn't she the cutest?!

Later that afternoon my roommates and I headed down to Idaho Falls to stake out our spot for the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration.

We had six hours to wait for the fireworks to start, so we passed the time with games and really good food!

The Idaho Falls fireworks didn't disappoint, but they were definitely nowhere near as spectacular as Huntsman Springs. 

Huntsman Springs 2014

I am so thankful to live in a country where I have freedom.

It's easy to be negative about the direction our Nation is headed in, as well as the lack of freedom we sometimes feel we might have, but one thing is true - we really are blessed to live in the USA.

This Nation was founded on freedom!

Freedom of religion

Freedom of speech

Freedom of the press

Freedom of assembly

Freedom of petition

If there's one thing I've learned and one thing I really do believe, it's that as long as we stand for and protect those freedoms we were granted in the Bill of Rights, our Nation will be okay.

Happy Birthday, America!

Hello there...

I'm back!

Yay!

I stopped posting and made my blog private after going back to school and feeling like I hardly had an exciting thing to write about, BUT, I am back.

First things first,

I have some pictures to share from earlier this summer.

My parents and I went on a hike in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

It was a gorgeous day.

Next...
While I was still living and working in Utah before heading back up to school I was able to go to a few of the different temples in the area.

I was most anxious to get to Mount Timpanogos because it's been my favorite for years, even though I had never seen it in person.
Let me tell you, it lived up to all of my expectations, and more.

Guys... this picture ^ is straight out of the camera.
You can't tell me that isn't stunning.
I'll be getting married there :)

Lastly in this little mini-photo update, Rexburg had some freezing rain on top of snow on top of freezing rain.
That was complicated, wasn't it?
I'll just let the pictures do the talking.

Needless to say, that storm really did make me feel like I was living in a winter wonderland.

Now, with that catch up post that transitioned us from summer, through early autumn, and to winter, I can appropriately post about Christmas later this week :)

It's good to be back.

Three Concert Weekend

One weekend, three concerts.

Tim McGraw, Rhonda Vincent, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals

First up on Friday night was Tim McGraw!

I really, really, really loved this concert! Love and Theft and Brantley Gilbert opened up for him, which was pretty great too :) 

I went with a good friend, Jeff Packer and some of his friends.

The whole night was so much fun!

It would have been better if we were a little closer on the lawn though. The party was a little dead where we were at!

Next up, Saturday night, was Rhonda Vincent and The Rage at the Sandy Amphitheater. I went with my parents and my Aunt Linda. 

I'll admit, I had zero clue of who she was prior to the concert.

Her band is bluegrass, but don't let that deter you.

She's won Female Vocalist of the Year six times I think?

Let me tell you, her and her band really are amazing. This concert was so enjoyable. Each artist was the best of the best and they were all so locked in with each other.

I could go on and on about how technically perfect and amazing they were.

This first video is from a different concert a few years back, but when she performed it with her new guitarist (Josh Williams) at the concert we were at, it was honestly perfection.

Sunday night was Grace Potter & The Nocturnals at the Red Butte Garden Amphitheater.

Now, I can understand if you don't know who Rhonda Vincent is, but if you don't know who Grace Potter is...

Well, let's just say she's incredibly understated, and I love her.

I went with my parents for a Father's day outing!

Let me tell you, that girl can rock.

Just to prove that you really should know who Grace Potter is, watch this video of her performing with Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, and Jake Owen.

So.

It was a crazy busy, insanely fun, incredibly exhausting, and perfectly memorable weekend.

Who's up for Brad Paisley in August? 

:)

Moab Getaway

My family and I all got together for a long weekend in Moab a couple weekends ago.

The reason for the get together was because of my niece Audrey's first ever dance recital!

Audrey with her friend and her cousins after her performance

After the recital we all packed up and headed to Moab for a little three-day getaway!

It was so much fun for all of the kids to get to play together.

They got along pretty well!

We had a weekend full of fun in Arches, swimming, playing games and a whole lot of laughing :)

I definitely love that family of mine!

It was a much needed get away :)

P.S. This is my 200th post! Yay!