Nature! Goulet!

Kurt and I have recently really gotten into hiking. Well, Kurt's always been into it, having had the benefit of growing up near mountains, and I've always enjoyed it (except that one year at girls' camp, when we hiked all day in jeans), but now we've decided to do a hike a week. There's several reasons for this:
1) It's a good work-out alternative to running on a treadmill (we hike up and jog down usually);
2) There's way too many hikes I haven't done here in Utah and my time in Provo is coming swiftly to an end;
3) Hiking's just pretty! You see so many cool things!

We missed last week, what with moving and going to Denver, but the week before we got 1.5 hikes in, so that kinda makes up for it.

The first 1/2 hike was on Friday (6/6/08) up in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Kurt's mom was having a 5 hour surgery, so while she got cut open, we tried to go rock climbing and hiking. However, the weather wasn't working for us and neither were the directions Kurt found on the internet, so by the time the rain came we hadn't found our climbing spot. But we did do a few short, pretty hikes.

Here's a pretty creek/waterfall.


Kurt contemplating life and all of its complexities.


I cannot believe how green Utah has been! If I didn't know any better, I'd say this picture was taken in North Carolina!

The next day we decided to hike up the hills on the front side of Timp. I've always looked at the saddle in front of Timp, between the mountain and the hills, and wanted to go up there. It's always looked like it was a meadow to me and I've always wanted to see a real-live meadow! Kurt had gone on a 5 hour bike ride up there earlier that week with Alex Wilcox and told me how pretty it was. So then, naturally, I insisted he take me up there.

We took the Battle Creek Canyon trail, then when it hit the Timpanooke trail, took a left along the meadows. This is a cool waterfall we found towards the beginning of the hike.


This is where the Battle Creek Canyon trail meets the Timpanooke trail. Look how close Timp is!


Here it is: a meadow! Man, I'm such a nerd, but it was so beautiful! Green grass, green bushes, green tree leaves... I really, really love the color green.


Mount Nebo in the distance. This picture gives some perspective to how high up we were.


We found some scat and Kurt tried to figure out what it came from. He finally decided cougar.


This is where we turned around and began our jog down. It took 1 hour 50 minutes to hike up (with frequent stops thanks to asthma) and 45 minutes to run down. It was quite chilly up top, hence why I'm suddenly wearing black sleeves (when earlier I was wearing an orange tank top). It was literally the perfect day for hiking.


Timpanooke trail sign. Check out that blue sky!

I think this week we're going to do 2 hikes (which I haven't told Kurt yet, lol). 1) Hike to the Hot Springs with our friends, the Winder's, to commemorate the first day of summer/longest day of the year (Friday, 6/20) and 2) Stewart Falls before the quaking aspens' leaves lose their vibrance (Saturday, probably). I'm so excited!

That's 'ella good!

Warm weather means it's take to visit our favorite lady, Ella Good!

Kurt and I were very excited to see that Ella Good was open again (there were rumors it wasn't going to be open this summer). On Saturday, the 7th, we headed over to south campus to get us some yummy treats! It is officially spring/summer time!

Our favorite flavor: tiger's blood with a double shot of half 'n half. So flippin good!

Too Important to Ignore

If you're conservative, liberal, or somewhere in the middle, you can't ignore the rising gas prices.
I'm normally not very political, but the impending election, sky-rocketing gas prices, and this ridiculous global warming hoax have made me realize what's at stake.
Sign this petition! Then send it to your friends and family and have them sign it!

Goodbye Wilcox's!

Our wonderful friends, the Wilcox's, left us a couple of weeks ago. The bright side is we sold our contract and are living in their house while they're gone for the summer (and therefore have much more space and saving hundreds of dollars!) but the dark side is that our friends are gone. Here's a few pictures from our last Ticket to Ride party for the next couple of months.

Ticket to Ride is the best game!


Allison is such a great friend. I miss her!


Kurt likes Bentley, can't you tell?


Bentley snooping around.


It was the most amazing night so we had the door open. However, Bentley wanted to go outside to we had to create a barrier out of suitcases and stools. He's in the stools in this picture, trying to figure out how to get out.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to an amazingly awesome/wonderful/best in the world dad, Chris!! It was sad not to be there with him. I love you Dad!

(As a testament to how awesome my dad is, every picture of our dance together from the wedding is basically my favorite. They're all so good.)

No one worries about you in Vegas if you're already married

Our trip to Vegas (courtesy of our wonderful friends, the Wilcox's) was an absolute blast!! Here is a list of our trip to the City of Sin:

1. First things first, I insisted on going to In 'n' Out burger for lunch on Saturday! I have been hearing nothing but praises of this West Coast fast food joint and with my love of burgers, you know there was no way I was missing out on that! It did, I dare say, meet my expectations. Very, very good!




2. Drove down the strip and took a trip to the Stratosphere. The men were brave enough to ride the Big Shot (free fall ride on top of the Stratosphere) and the Xscream, while we women chatted and took pictures.





3. Sushi Friday night and again on Saturday night (after 11 for the half-off special) at Osaka. Great sushi or the greatest sushi of all time? I'd say the latter.

4. Walking the strip until 4 am with Alex and Allison. We walked through the Bellagio (amazing) and a few other casinos as well. It made us feel young and single again to be up that late. And to be honest, it was pretty fun!





5. Kurt found some eye candy. I'm not jealous, I swear.


6. Kurt forgot his church clothes (on our bed) and so had to borrow Alex's... they were a bit small. With his rolled-up shirt sleeves, he looked like a priest or a teacher! And he played the part pretty well (which isn't surprising).


This picture illustrates one of the many, many reasons that I love him. ("Would you say that I have a plethora of reasons?")

7. Trip out to Red Rock for some hiking and picture taking.




8. General goofing off with Allison.



9. Breakfast up at Mt. Charleston lodge ... they have the world's largest traffic cone (or what might as well be).


10. A quick trip to Red Mango and finding a very sweet store.



The Traditional 1st Anniversary Frozen Yogurt

11. On our way out of Vegas, we stopped on the strip one more time ... to see the Bellagio fountains ("Your Song" by Elton John, and "Time to Say Goodbye" by Andrea Boccelli) and to ride the Manhattan Express roller coaster at the NY, NY casino. Both were closed on our late night expedition on Saturday night.




12. Free Red Bull sodas on the strip.


13. Completely losing our minds on the car trip home, playing Monopoly on Kurt's phone, and having impromptu dance parties in gas station parking lots in St. George.


14. And of course, Bentley.