Two More Nephews Married

These last two weekends have been filled with family, weddings, receptions, food, and traveling. They've been wonderful! First was Nick and Sierrah's dinner and s'mores bar open house in Teri's backyard in Logan. It was so fun. Spencer and I came up early to go mountain biking up Green Canyon. He was a riot: he was full on squeaking like a deacon because he was having so much fun. We had a blast. Robyn, Jill and Mike and their kids, Mom, and I went to the Willow Park zoo to pass the time until the dinner and to keep out of Teri's hair until she was ready. But we had too much fun because we ended up being a bit late for the dinner! Mom didn't have the primp time she needed and she swears it shows in the pictures - of how bad her hair looks. But honestly, I can't tell the difference when she's having a "bad hair day".

The next morning was the Brigham City Temple dedication that Mom, Jill and Mike and their kids, and I attended. It was wonderful. And while there, I got another strong impression that I need to get Great-Grandma Brooks and her husband, Johnny Butler, sealed and soon!  I was balling terribly as I told Jill about it.

Then came Adam and Whitney's marriage in the Salt Lake Temple and a reception afterwards in Lindon. Robyn, Mom, and I went to dinner at Em's in Salt Lake City behind the conference center and it was quite yummy! And a fun atmosphere. We did that while Jill and Mike were still driving down from Idaho and while Joni and Adam were at dinner with the bride's family. But after that was a grand reunion and a late night of talking and laughing. But the morning came quickly and we had to be at the temple early for Adam and Whitney's sealing ceremony. After the ceremony, we waited outside on the temple grounds for Adam and Whitney to come out. We were laughing how we were Team Coral (since that was one of the colors) and that Team Purple, from another wedding party, had crowded in front of us - but rightfully so. Their married couple came up first.

Then we all drove down to Lindon for the reception that followed. They had a nice lunch, but I think the bacon-wrapped steak pieces were my undoing because I started feeling gross pretty quick after the reception and ended up getting really sick that night and the next day. Joni even took a picture of me feeling gross in my bed the next morning! Mom had to drive my car and the both of us back to Springville after everyone had left. That's how sick I was. Yuck. But the reception was lovely. We were all pleasantly surprised by the appearance of Uncle Earl and Aunt Sterla! It was such a pleasure to see them and visit with them for the few minutes they were there.

Afterwards, all of us partied after the reception by going to Snowbird's Oktoberfest. Most of us rode up the tram to the top of Hidden Peak, took pictures, and watched the Hansen boys run all over the mountain. It was a shame we didn't get a sisters picture when all of us were together!

Quintessential Wasatch Crest

Kendra and I took today off of work and rode the quintessential Wasatch Crest trail in Salt Lake City. We took the shuttle to the top of Guardsman Pass so we could do the 24ish mile ride one-way and mostly downhill. Max elevation was 9,880 feet and we descended all the way down to Wasatch Blvd in Salt Lake City - which is lower than 5,000 feet. The views were so beautiful. We took our time and took lots of photos. Afterward, we went into downtown to eat at the Chow Truck. Apparently it was Food Truck Festival today because there were several other food trucks lining the same street as the Chow Truck. I love my life. :)

12 Hours of Sundance

Yesterday, I participated in the 12 Hours of Sundance race. Kendra was on my team and she recruited two men that she used to ride with - Kerry, who actually works at BYU with me, and Eric, who works at Ancestry with Kendra. The day and venue could not have been more beautiful. The weather was perfect. The trees were on fire with fall colors and leaves were beautifully strewn across the trail. The lap was 7.7 miles and 1,214 feet of climbing. The two men on our team and I each rode three laps, and Kendra only rode two since she was last in the race order - but we designed that on purpose since Kendra had been sick for a couple weeks. Last year it took me 1 hour 15 minutes to do the lap, this year I was less! My first lap was timed at 1:08, my second at 1:09, and my third at 1:11. So awesome! I'm impressed with myself just because I was able to do a third lap this year, whereas I only did two last year and was kind of glad to only do two since I was quite tired. So my third lap was my challenge for this year and I rocked it. During my third lap, I told myself just to have fun, not push it, and don't get hurt. I did have fun, and I didn't get hurt! Overall, it was a fabulous day of racing. And we so happened to be the only team racing in our category, Co-Ed 4-Person Masters, so we automatically got first place! Ha ha!

My bike and race plate.

My team: Eric, Kerry, Kendra, and me - see the pretty fall colors?!

The 1st place medal. 

Tarantula Sighting

Yesterday morning I went for a road ride with Kendra and a friend of hers up Hobble Creek canyon. A little ways into the canyon, some other bikers, going the opposite direction, warned us of a photographer ahead, which I thought was strange since there wasn't an organized ride happening. When we pulled up to the "photographer" she said she was taking pictures of a tarantula! Holy Moly! I've never seen a tarantula in person! So we pulled over to take pictures too.

It was sick and fascinating at the same time to watch it walk: lifting it's huge legs off the ground - like fingers on your hand!

Not the best picture of Kendra, but she finished taking her photo and looked up just as my phone decided to snap the shot. But at least this shot gives you some perspective on the size of the tarantula.  

Laid Back Labor Day

I ended up not having any big plans for Labor Day weekend. Originally, I had plans with some friends to go hike the Narrows in Zion National Park, but too many of them bailed to still try to go. Then I tried to make plans to go camping Friday night up American Fork canyon, but then I just drug my feet for some reason. Saturday morning at 5:30 the reason for dragging my feet struck - a monstrous thunderstorm with serious lightning, hail, and thunder. That would have been miserable in a tent - for sure.

So instead, I went mountain biking at Sundance with Dorothy on Friday night - in a little rain storm, but it was heaven-sent, not obnoxious. Saturday, Janie and I went to the Swiss Days festival in Midway where we ate some serious food (I had knockwurst - bratwurst with sauerkraut) and some even more serious booth shopping for hours where I found some cute little cloth-covered button earrings. We also listened to some performers, one of which was a professional yodeler! Check out the short video below - he's wearing lederhosen!

On Monday, I took Jen and Spencer up American Fork canyon to hike to Silver Lake. I was pretty excited about this because we'd have to drive up a dirt road to get to the trail head so that meant I got to take Ruby on her first real dirt road experience - one with a purpose anyways. So we drove all the way up to the trail head - having a blast the whole way - and then we discovered the trail was closed. Bummer-rillo! The hike is so beautiful too. I was really looking forward to taking Jen and Spencer up there. But they are doing maintenance on the little dam that holds the lake in so they closed it to the public and they don't know when it will be open again. So we found some other trail and hiked it for a while until we found a nice shady spot, sat down, ate our lunch, and then hiked back down. Not quite the same adventure, but it was nice to be out in the woods. We stopped at Tibble Fork Reservoir to dip our toes and Spencer, his whole body, in the quite cold waters. We ended the adventure by driving the rest of the way over the Alpine Loop (since Jen and Spencer have never been over it) and down to Sundance where we stopped to get some frozen yogurt and refreshments.

Spencer chilling out in Tibble Fork Reservoir

Me and Jen on the Alpine Loop with a pretty view

Then I ended my day by doing some homework. Not a fabulous ending, but it's gotta be done!