Friday, July 26, 2013

Ralph under the stars




Just one of the many little things
 that make living in Salt Lake enjoyable and unique

Movies Under The Stars
at the Capital Building



Salt lake City is full of fun, FREE, activities to do in the summer

This summer we saw Wreck it Ralph
which is one of my favorite animated movies.
Animated films are never my first choice
but I have a very small list that I would recommend
and Wreck it Ralph is high on the list. 








July 26th

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Dad & Donna's Oregon Coast Adventure



A little random

but completely necessary...

This post tells the story of my dad's most recent trip to up the coast to
all the places we used to stop when I was a kid on these road trips with him. 

One of the greatest things about my dad is his attention to detail
and enthusiasm for all of the little glories in life.
Lucky for me,
that means I get to live vicariously through him
whenever he travels. 

I am sharing because I think it is such a fun way to see a place...
Completely through the eyes of someone else.

Plus he really made me laugh in some of these! 
(Every picture's caption is quoted from my (extremely enthusiastic) dad.


"Just Stopped at the intersection with James Dean was killed in his Porsche 1954! Sad! To me! He's your Carly! I wish I could have met him or raced Porsche's with him!"
"Krissy! This is where you n Derek should live! Super environmental and bohemian like you wouldn't believe! All about love, peace ,  and harmony! I want to live here! Arcata, California."
"At the beach! It's so comfortable and cool compared to home!"
"There's your dads style! 62 and sunny."
"Big!"
"Got Him!"
" Just saying hi! From Florence, Oregon! remember Old Town? Ate there with Grams.."
Where we ate with Grams"
"Remember this place? You and I, and Grandma."
"What do ya think? This is the view from living room!"
"View from Deck"



"Nice huh"




"The living room from the back of the house."



"In front of little eclectic store! Look at this Bench!"


"View from the living room"


"This is Trinidad, CA just above Arcata! It's 64 in foggy-sunny. Feels warm and balmy, it's awesome!! I FEEL renewed and alive!! :)"
"Entrance to house, like the black forest!"


"Sorry! Couldn't keep it a secret! :) Hope you don't have this one."
"This is a car we just saw! Morris Minor 1000! 1960. Full on cool!"

The California Coast all the way up to Oregon really is one of the most beautiful places!! 



He stopped in Oregon at our storage, to pick up some stuff for me!! 
Thanks Dad!! 












Liberty Q


One of the many "8Ball" traditions
that I was so luckily to have been a part of
was the weekly
Monday Q
that used to be held at Cole's house in Sandy. 
Unfortunately, when everyone moved and got married
the Monday Q's began to disappear. 

So last summer 
Derek decided to give the old tradition a new name and face.
Liberty Q

Every Monday we would all gather at Liberty park
all of us bringing some sort of delicious 
edible to share. 
It was one of the best parts of this summer. 

Thanks to Kris, this is basically the only/best picture we got the whole summer.
I guess we just too busy stuffing our faces to shoot photos
Best pillow ever made!

Derek and I learned how to slackline for the first time at Liberty Q
We sort of became obsessed for a little bit
But it is a lot of fun






July 23

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Mount Timpanogos Summit



Here we are 
happy as can be...
at 6am on a SATURDAY MORNING!



 We did this hike at exactly the perfect time of year
There were wild flowers EVERYWHERE!
So I took a close up of every new one I could find....
without wasting too much hiking time.
You know Derek was somewhat competing with 
previously heard hike times.


 







Yes, I do run through wild flower fields like a little girl whenever I get the chance

So hiking up this mountain wasn't actually too bad
it was beautiful and not that steep.

We had snacks every so often
and just enjoyed the journey


One of the not so fun things about this hike
was that the entire time we were walking this adorable little path covered in flowers,
we were trying to ignore that fact that we were listening to 
thousands of buzzing bees right next to us. 
Freaked me out! 
Took everything I had not to just make a run for it. 



Last rocky stretch to the summit

We made it to the ridge 
and got to check out this awesome view of the valley

We made a friend

Once you reach the flat part of the summit 
after the ridge,
you pretty much think you are there...
WRONG
You have much more, really steep, rocky paths to look forward to.


 We finally made it to the top!!


There is this abandoned little, look out station
that is covered in grafitti....

and pretty much nothing else. 

Just lots of other champions basking in the glory of their feat. 


My little champion
Modeling for Powerade
And now for the trek back down...





 Remember when I said that the hike up was quite the enjoyment....

To say the least
I had spoken too soon. 

The photo below should give you a faint idea 
of the 
never ending torture that we endured on the way down. 
And when I say WE... I really mean I. 
We all know I can be a real baby and Derek is just a MAN through and through. 

Once you get down from the summit 
you realize how tired you actually are. 
Your legs are starting to ache a little
 and you are super ready for an actual meal. 
Of course, you have already eaten every last bit of food in preparation for the 
uphill... WHICH WAS NEARLY A BREEZE!

The fun is over
and you are just ready to be home...
Luckily, downhill no big deal. 
So easy, you'll be there in a jiff
YEAH RIGHT
Downhill sucks!
My legs were just done.
They were giving out with every step
which, of course, was causing me to twist my ankles constantly
That really starts to piss you off. 

Just when we got to an overlook
thinking that we were go to see how close we really are...
we realize we can't even see the parking lot yet!

This small, rocky downhill path just never ended. 
We just kept walking and walking... and just got more and more angry. 
Ha! Poor Derek... I was so cranky by the time we finished. 

But it was worth it!!! 
Next time will be better because I will be prepared for the horrible ending to this amazing hike!






July 21st