Summer Adventures: 1st-Ephraim/Manti

Way back when, Manelle, Alli, and I went to Pocatello for a random trip (sorry, no pictures from that adventure). While we were in Pocatello we came up with a random list of fun things to do this summer. Among them was a trip to Ephraim where they have really good Piccadilly fries. Alli's Grandma lives down there so we stayed with her.

April was telling us how the sister missionaries on temple square are taught to always pose in a certain way in pictures. We decided to create our own.

(Manelle, Alli, April, and myself)

Just hanging out in some comfy old chairs.

We went wondering around the streets of Ephraim and happened upon a playground with teeter-totters(sp?). You have to realize two things:

1.teeter-totters are extremely fun.

2. teeter-totters are becoming increasingly difficult to find on playgrounds.

We played on them for quite a long time. Here is a picture of me where I may remind you of Yoda. Try not to be intimidated/disgusted by my massive calf muscles that are relaxed and hangin'!

Manelle and I leaning in for a shot.

While getting ready for bed April and I decided we had to document our flashback to the eighties p.j.s.

We went to the Manti temple while we were down there. I had heard it was beautiful inside, but it still created a sense of awe and respect for the workmanship that went into it.

After we finished at the temple we finally got to enjoy the fries. We actually tried some at two different places that both claimed to have the best. I enjoyed them at both but think the second place used oil that was a little more fresh.

Birthday and Other Celebrations

Someday I will upload pictures in chronological order. However, for this one it will go from most recent to older ones. Hopefully they will be enjoyable and informative anyway.

I don't know about the rest of the world, but in Utah it's kind of a "thing" to put little family decals on the back of you minivan or other large capacity vehicle. One day, I decided it would be really funny to just get one single girl to put on the back of my car.

We had a roommate shopping day yesterday and found the perfect one! Heidi got it for me, she had shopped around for one for my birthday present but could never find the right one. I love how this one has a little sass and a haircut that nearly matches mine.

Another birthday purchase. I am finally a bike helmet owner. I have been doing a fair amount of biking, mostly on quiet neighborhood streets. However, I feel like I have been making a gamble on my skull's safety. So I decided to use my birthday money from Grammy and Grampy to buy a helmet to for noggin protection.

Thanks Grammy and Grampy!

Flashback to my childhood. I remember spending significant amount of time clearing the etch-a-sketch at Grammy Kenfields house. I still remember the first time I successfully cleared it and learned that the little thing that clears the screen looks like a hershey kiss.

I was able to relive those fond moments because Jennifer gave me an etch-a-sketch for my birthday. I spent a certain amount of time on it at her birthday party.

Now for those of you who have not experiences Jennifer in full action at an arcade! This girl has mad arcade skills!... and a possible addiction to getting large quantities of prize tickets.

Here she is playing a very intense game where you have to shoot a ball into a hole while airplane propellers spin in front of it. You may think this is a staged picture, but that was really the natural face she was making.

Birthday luck was in her favor this night. The arcade had this giant wheel that is like the wheel on The Price is Right. It is very fun to just spin it but Jennifer took it one step further and won the biggest prize on the first try! 1000 tickets! (She has better pictures and video of her enjoying her winnings)

Birthday candles with her parrots (the balloon animals) watching on.

My roommate Karina was born in Mexico and then raised in Chicago. She had mentioned that Mexican Independence was coming up, so we decided to celebrate. In Chicago people drive up and down the streets waiving large Mexican flags and shouting "Viva Mexico!" at midnight. I made sure we did the same. We loaded into my car, Heidi held the only flag Karina had (it was about the size of a 3x5 card), we rolled down the windows and drove up and down a quiet city street and yelled salutations out the windows.

We should have photo documented it better, but we did get pictures of the pinata smashing the next night after a Mexican meal of chicken, rice, mole, cactus salad, tortillas, and pineapple soda.

Heidi obliterated it on the first try so we just had it out with it from there.

In an effort to be more economically we bought Halloween candy which we are saving to pass out to the neighborhood kids when they come trick-o-treating. We are conducting an experiment with it. Half is in the freezer and the other in the cupboard. Any guesses on which will be the least stale come Halloween Day?

The Forgotten Parts

The hidden bathroom/laundry.

Front of house.

Back of house.

Change, Change, Change

In the past month or a bit more I have changed about as many things as one person can in a short time. I moved to a new house that I am completely and utterly in love with! I started my new job as the Director at the preschool. I moved into a new ward, or rather, branch (the largest branch I have ever heard of). Got a new phone...well I guess that is about it. All of these changes have made me extremely happy.

I was also able to enjoy a great collection of random events and trips this summer. It has been so busy but so great.

I'll start with the tour of the new place and blog later about other adventures.

Obviously this is the kitchen complete with a fabulous little table I picked up at the DI. I was able to negotiate and get it for $25. Have I ever mentioned how much I love shopping at DI!!!

We have fantastic Landlords who put in all new cabinets, new dishwasher, new sink, new floor in kitchen...I feel so blessed!!!

Here we peak in to the living room from the dining area.

Front room with door to kitchen and entrance to the hall.

This hall leads to the bedroom and bath area. My room is at the end.

A tour of a house wouldn't be complete without the bathroom, right?

Then there is my bedroom. It is pure happiness in my book. Please excuse the unmade bed; but truthfully if it were made that would not be an accurate depiction of my reality.

I forgot to include the little laundry room off the kitchen with a little hidden half bath behind the door. Maybe I will include that another time.