5th Anniversary

Jared planned a surprise weekend for our anniversary (I knew we were going somewhere but no idea where). We took the motorcycle and rode up Hwy 89 clear to Nephi. We got rained on quite a bit. We finally got ponchos in Richfield and it stopped raining shortly after. It was a really pretty drive. In Nephi we got on the Mt. Nebo loop and rode that to Payson. That was a really pretty drive (I won't tell you about the scary incident involving passing a car). From there we got on I-15 (no more back roads available) and rode to our hotel in Cottonwood Heights. We stayed at a Residence Inn at the mouth of Cottonwood Canyon. We went to dinner at Chuck a Rama (LOVE the dutch oven cinnamon sugar rolls). The next morning we rode through Big Cottonwood Canyon and the mountains to Park City (another gorgeous drive). From there we got on the highway and went to Heber City where Jared surprised me with a ride on the Heber Creeper. It went partway into Provo Canyon. It was so pretty. After riding for a short while we had a guy on a horse and another guy come "rob" the train. They took some hostages (they were the ones that signed up to ride the horses). It was quite the show. I took quite a few pictures of it and the entire train ride but I'll just post some of them.

These were some glider planes we saw while on the train. You can't see it, but the first one is pulling the second one up so he can release and glide down.

This is the conductor. Everyone that was a part of the ride was dressed to the part. Even the engineer (who we could only see through the back of the engine).

This was the first robber we saw. He came riding along the hill and then down to the train, shooting his cap gun.

This was the other one. You could tell he was totally loving it. It was an old guy and he was pretty funny (notice the beware/reward sign behind him). You can also see the "hostages" that were "tied up" to a pole. Everyone was confused when we really left them and then found out later they were part of the show so they could go ride horses.

For part of the show the conductor gave the old guy the box of loot. He tried using dynamite to blow it up (you can kind of see it in his left shirt pocket). The fuse died when it got to the dynamite. Then he took his gun and shot at it (he'd been shooting his gun - more like a rifle or shotgun size - and also came on the train and had us put our hands up). Inside was only a stuffed duck. That was when he took hostages. After that we were on our way.

The amazing one that planned it all.

Some horses we saw along the way.

On the train before we left.

It was a really fun train ride. The train goes pretty slow (we weren't expecting that) but it was fun. After that we stopped in Heber for lunch and gas and then went back to get our stuff at the hotel. We weren't able to check into our next place until 5 pm but the guy at the desk that had helped us with some stuff earlier said we could hang out since we didn't want to go anywhere and leave all our stuff on the bike. So we hung out for an hour and then headed to our place. It was Anniversary Inn. The entire trip had been planned around staying here. Jared had earned some money through passing tests at work and wanted to use his money for this. We stayed at the one on Fifth South in the Bridal Veil Falls room. It was awesome. There's a waterfall for the shower. They had two pieces of cheesecake in the little fridge. There was a bottle of sparkling cider. Both complimentary. That night we walked/rode Trax downtown and ate at Olive Garden. They deliver breakfast to your room (they leave it outside your door at a time you specifiy when you check in) and it was SO good. We walked/rode Trax (there's definitely some interesting people that ride that - don't think I'd go alone) to the Gateway just long enough to quickly look in one store and then grab lunch for me to eat on the ride home. We went back and toured as many of the rooms as were open and then headed home. This time we took the quick way home. Our butts were getting tired of the bike and we were anxious to see the boys. My mom had taken them for us and I'm sure she was ready for a break. :) Although they were good for her so I was glad.

It was a really fun trip and Jared was amazing (as usual). Our anniversaries have usually been just going to dinner but he started planning this months before. Other than the rain (which wasn't too bad even though it poured) it was a really fun trip. Getting there took twice as long as it would have just driving in the freeway but it was so pretty and it didn't seem to take that long since I had no idea where we were going. Thank you so much Jared for everything. You are the best. I love you!!!

kids

After we say prayers with Crue he gives me and Jared a hug and kiss goodnight. Last night when he was giving me a hug he said the funniest thing. Here's the conversation:
Crue: What's that? (pointing at my shirt)
Me: That's my shirt.
Jared: Do you like it Crue?
Crue: No, it's too bid for me. I lite ittel shirts. (it's too big for me. I like little shirts).
Me: (laughing so hard)
Jared: (also laughing hard) No Crue, do you like it for mommy?
Crue: Yeah.

(The best part is that it's a pink shirt - definitely not for any male, big or small.)


Today we went to Pine Valley to have tin foil dinners with Jeremy, Molly, Paisley and Dylan, and Molly's sister Jen and her husband Will and daughter Mia. Crue and I went to the bathroom and Paisley had joined us while we were waiting to use it. I let her go first and then Crue and I went after. While we were in there she came back and said "Kendra" and tried opening the door. I told her not to come in and then she left. A minute later she came back and said my name again. I said "what?" and then she told me that I needed to wash my hands when I was done. Thank you for the reminder Paisley. :)

Busy Busy Busy

Things have been pretty busy around here lately. Here's some of the things we've been up to.
In June we went up north for a wedding. While we were there my mom took us (my mom and Loni went with us and Lex and Shanna met up with us there) to the aquarium in Sandy. It was pretty cool. The building used to be a grocery store.

Crue in front of one of the fish tanks - we found Nemo. :)

You could touch the sting rays. It was pretty cool. Crue didn't want to touch them.

He didn't mind touching the big snake though! (I wasn't about to touch that.)

Cooper didn't mind touching it either.

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Desiree is due August 24 with a girl (the first granddaughter). We had a shower for her at our house. She got a lot of good stuff. I was excited to make her some things (I've been into sewing lately).

This first one is a dress that I found a pattern for on Made by Rae. I think it turned out so cute - I was really excited. And I was so excited to find such cute material.

I also made her a rag quilt out of flannel with some batting in the middle so it'll be warm this winter for her.

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My garden has gone crazy. I have learned some lessons for next year.
1. Follow the directions on the seed packet. When they say to plant several feet apart, one and a half feet is not enough.
2. Do not plant plants that vine next to each other. They will combine to be one big mass.
3. Do not plant plants that vine next to anything. They tend to be control freaks.
4. Plant corn in several short rows rather than 4 long rows.

This is from our deck looking left into the garden. Far left but closest to me are the Jack Be Little pumpkins. On the bottom right of the picture are the tomatoes and you can see the bean plant poking out behind the tomato. Then going further back in the garden are corn (obviously) and then the Jack O Lantern pumpkins that are taking over. They are seriously like ten feet across. To the right of those are potatoes. To the right of the pumpkins and in the back of the garden are cantaloupe and watermelon (two other vine plants that are mixing together with some of the pumpkin).

In this one you can see the tomatoes and beans and then the one plant by itself is a cucumber. I've already gotten one off of it (we haven't tried it yet) and there's a couple more growing. Then to the right are crookneck and straightneck squash. We're getting tons of crookneck. Then you can see the corn and behind that are potatoes on the left and zucchini on the right.

Some of the Jack Be Littles. Crue loves to go find them. We seriously have at least 30, if not more in there at all different stages of growth.

This is the biggest of my Jack O Lantern pumpkins. It's fun to go out every couple days and see how big it keeps getting. There are at least two more that aren't too far behind it in size.

This is one of my watermelon. It's a Black Diamond variety. I'm excited to try home grown watermelon.

This is another watermelon that I noticed growing today. It's obviously still little but I think they're so cute when they're little.

It's been fun getting squash and zucchini out of the garden (and a cucumber). The biggest pain is all the squash bugs. I have to go out every night and look for them and it usually takes at least an hour. Stupid bugs. At least everything is still growing. There are some leaves they've killed but leaves don't produce a vegetable so that's good. I also have grasshoppers eating my leaves. And they're big. Jared makes fun of me because I don't like to get close to them. You never know where they're going to jump and I don't want them jumping in my face (when I'm looking for squash bugs). As much work as it is, I think my garden will be bigger next year. Mostly so the pumpkins, cantaloupe, and watermelon don't crowd everything out.

First Ride

Cooper got his first ride on daddy's big motorcycle (July 12). He sure liked it!