Seattle

I saw an email for a conference in Seattle. I like Seattle and wanted to go back. I talked to Anne. She wanted to go too. We had a great time on our trip. Here's our top 10 list for a successful trip to Seattle...

10. have picture taken by drunk couple in botanical gardens

9. search for Bill Gates' house. we're not really sure if we actually found it.

8. search for subaru driving, dog loving, chaco wearing recyclers but instead we found this

7. see salmon spawn and die (yep that's a dead fish in the water)
6. see gum wall (that really is a wall full of chewed gum) and take picture with pig

5. get restuarant suggestions from beer loving, fudge selling boy at the space needle

4. eat dinner in the dark under a giant umbrella on bainbridge island

3. starbucks. they are everywhere-10 in a 1 mile radius. we discovered the pumpkin steamer and the apple cider drinks. so yummy.

2. successfully drive around seattle with maps, lots of maps

1. tasting tour of Pike's Place market with a local

I loved Seattle. It was so much fun. We had great weather the whole time which made me like it even more.

Ballard Locks

Have you ever heard of the Ballard Locks in Seattle? Ya, me neither until I went to them this weekend. It is a definite must see on a trip to Seattle. Fresh water meets salt water at very different levels. They raise and lower the water level and boats to allow passage through the locks. Salmon also happen to pass through the locks on their return to where they were born. According to one tour guide the salmon "freak out" when they enter the fresh water again and jump like crazy. This doesn't seem like the type of thing that would normally interest me, but I was completely fascinated.

Outdoor Girl #1

Outdoor Girl is back...at least for a couple weeks. Patty, Anna, Carrie, and I headed up to Bear Lake for a quick overnighter. We left a little later than planned and arrived a little later than planned, but it was sure a fun trip. It was so pretty being up there. Anna and I went for a nice long bike ride in the morning. We hoped to go to the lake, but it was pretty overcast. We ended up relaxing in the tent for a while before heading back. It was a fun little outdoorsy get away.


Carrie and Patty in the tent

before my longest bike ride of the season. i want to bike all the way around next year.

gas station stop on way out of town. we also stopped for shakes on the way out and pizza in Logan.
Stay tuned for Outdoor Girl #2...

Boating Fun

Our new friend Julianne invited us to go boating for the evening. We headed upto Deer Creek after work and met up with more of Julianne's friends. I was too big of a chicken to get in the water or do any water sports. I was just along for the ride. I'm more of a spectator at these things. It was fun watching the surfing and wakeboarding. We had a great time. Thanks for the invite. Let's do it again soon!

Weekend of Friends, Fun, Food, Photos, and More

What: College Roommate Reunion

When: End of July/Beginning of August

Where: Vegas

Who: Rachel, Eleisha, Robyn, and Me (no kids. no husbands. just us)

Day 1...drive to Vegas (pit stops in Beaver, Cedar X 2, St. George). arrive. meet up with Rachel and Eleisha 2 hours later at Serendipity (let the eating begin). Bellagio fountains. first pics.

Day 2...gym. pool. In-n-Out. shopping. dinner. dessert.

relaxing at the pool. working up an appetite for In-n-Out.

all dolled up (check out Eleisha's hair). shopping (H&M, Old Navy-3 of us really did buy the jacket, and others)

dinner at CPK

dessert at the crepe place in The Paris (ask Rachel about her diet coke)

Day 3...Robyn's bday. buffet. pool side (no swimming for 1 hour). dinner. show. dessert.

Robyn's birthday dinner at Isla in Treasure Island...delicious

LOVE at the Mirage...highly recommend it

Robyn's birthday dessert...Adam's PB Heaven and Chocolate Cake at Cheesecake Factory

Day 4...Party's over. Time to go home. Thanks for the FUN!

Our reunion was so much fun. We ate. We laughed. We shopped. We ate and laughed some more. Did I mention we ate ?!?! Rachel and her family are outta here for the next 3-5 years so it was the perfect year for a reunion. Hopefully the next one will be in Australia. Thanks for the great weekend girls!

Picture This...

and 3 cute ladies (ages 78, 76, and 60 something) in the monsoon rains in yellow rain jackets running down millcreek canyon this morning. i realize it is crazy to run 13 miles in the pouring rain, but how can i not when i have these cute ladies to motivate me? it was the cutest thing. i wish i had my camera.

Feeding the Ducks

Chelsea and Karlee are in town for a few days. We took Karlee to the park to feed the ducks. She loves animals so she thought it was pretty cool. It took her a few minutes to get the idea of throwing the bread, but then she figured it out. It was pretty cute to watch.

Grow Something

I didn't say what I had to grow. I just said I had to grow something.

Just Another Saturday

I LOVE Summer!

run....check

hike....check

pool day....check

goodbye party with friends....check

birthday BBQ.....check

Did I mention I LOVE summer?!?!?

Family Fun

I spent the first part of last week down in St. George. My cousin's family trip happened to be the same week as my break from work. Chelsea and I couldn't pass up the chance to see Brittany and her growing family. The last time we saw her was at Chelsea's wedding, and she's had 2 kids since then. The quick trip included lunch with a friend, seeing Abby as an orphan in Annie at Tuacahn, swimming with the cousins, and a family dinner. It was lots of fun spending a few days with the fam.

after the play
Karlee likes her sunglasses this year

Karlee trying out the water wings. She wasn't sure what to think.

some of the cousins

Happy 4th

i love holidays...and BBQs...and sun...and parties...and friends...and family....and fun...and fireworks...and the 4th of July

Happy 4th of July