San Francisco

It is kind of weird.  We went on a vacation, just to go on a vacation.  Not for some certain adventure.  Kind of out of the ordinary for us, but it was really fun.

If you couldn't tell from the name of this post, we just got back from San Francisco.  It was really fun, a really neat city.  We had a lot of fun.  I shall relay our fun via pictures because that is the best way.

1st night.  I so wish we'd taken a picture of our place.  We booked 3 nights and stayed the 4th with my cousin, Josie.  We got in at about 12:30/1:00 a.m. and our hotel was on the corner of Larkin and Eddy aka "The Tenderloin" this is to be known by all the homeless crack heads and hookers outside.  Lovely.  Luckily for us, we aren't much for nightlife because there really isn't that much to do except drink...so we only had to see the hookers once.  The homeless crack heads were there in the morning to wish us good morning as we ran.  They never bothered us.  The hotel was fine and came with free breakfast and wifi.

Day 1

After our running tour of the city (aka 15ish miles), we quickly got ready because we HAD to be to our boat to Alcatraz by 10:30....we got off the bus too early and ended up running over another mile and BARELY got on the boat.  This is me saying, "Whew....we made it, and I am hungry."

 Approaching Alcatraz

 Home Sweet Home

 Me in Solitary Confinement....I am sad.

 Fresh Oysters and Clams from the Ferry Station Market

 A fountain

 The Aquarium at the Bay

 Chomp!

 This is the funniest homeless person sign I have EVER seen.  He deserved every penny.

 Finally, after waiting 90 minutes in line, we got on the Trolly

 We missed eating dinner with Josie (my cousin) and David (he bf) but we went to the burger joint anyway.  This beauty is a lentil, sweet potato, curry burger.  Delish.

 That there, that is bison.

 Day 2: The Palace of Arts

 The Exploratorium

 No Comment....Drinking Fountain at the Exploratorium

The America's Cup was going on.  Free Sailing Competition.  Go USA!

 We went full blown tourist and rented a tandem to ride across the Golden Gate Bridge

 Before crossing (ps it was SO COLD)

 After crossing

 China Town

 Day 3: We checked out of our hotel and took our stuff to Josie's flat.  Then we missed church due to bus schedules, so we hit up the California Academy of Sciences.  Basically, the coolest museum ever.  Better Aquarium than the Aquarium....I so wish I had my niece with us.  We spent 3 hours there, ate, went to church, and came back and still didn't see it all.

The BEST food ever.  We bought this Indian spread and some veggie stuffed naan at the farmer's market.  Ahhh....so good.

 Me by the bridge

 Day 4: We tried to get to the Muir Woods.  Figured out the bus schedule, got across the bridge and the shuttle to take us there only runs weekends and holidays.  We were on holiday, but that doesn't count.  What to do?  So we whipped out my mom's trusty smart phone (because we are too cheap and poor to have them) and saw some trails near by.  Hooray for nature!

 So, we hiked back to San Fran.  On this hike, we found a random rope swing.  I fell off and it is all on video but it won't upload to my computer.  So if you would like to laugh at me, I am sorry, you will have to do it in person when Derek shows you the video.  I guess that is Karma to me for relentlessly showing everyone and anyone his hospital catfish pictures...

 Their plant life is as diverse as their people life

Before walking back across the bridge.

Goodbye trusty map of the city/bus routes.  (We got really good at the bus system)

Twas fun.

Wind Rivers

It has been a long time since I have been to the Wind River Mountains in WY.  I forgot just how amazing they are.  See for yourself.

 Leaving the Trailhead.  Me, Lisa, Dad, and Jared (cousin's hubby)

 This is my dad.  He is The Man.  Look him up in the dictionary.  He is there.

 Due to the amount of fires all over the west.  The air up in the Wind Rivers was even smokey.  Well the 1st day.  The 1st night was really windy and blew all the smoke out.  So that is why this picture is a bit hazy.  But you are looking at Temple Peak from a distance.

 HOORAY FOR NATURE!

 GO TEAM!  (Get it?  He is doing a hurkie which is a cheer move)

 Deep Lake

 Funny thing about this picture.  I was taking a pretty scenery picture and Derek was offended that he, "wasn't pretty enough to be in my picture" so we had to take another one.  Hence the funny smile.

 Hiking up to Jackass Pass.  Me, Dad, and Lisa

 The Cirque of the Towers.  Well part of them.  They go in a Cirque so you can't get them all in one photo.  But I felt like this one was a fairly good representation.  You can't tell but all those peaks are separate peaks.  It is really magnificent. 

 Dad, Lisa, and I at the Cirque at Jackass Pass

 Derek and I

 Me and Dad.  He is my hero.  60 yrs old and kicked my butt.

 Forgotten lake on the other side of Jackass Pass

 Derek's photography skills

And just to prove I wasn't kidding about the name of the pass.  See for yourself.

It was an awesome trip.  I also caught a fish.  I have never fly fished before so my dad let me just try his pole and I caught the biggest fish out of everyone (well, Derek got a bigger one but it got away).  They all wanted to eat the fish, so Jared put it in shallow water among all the rocks so he could come get it later, but it got away.  Live on and long little fish.

Awesome Weekend

This was quite the weekend.

Yesterday, I spent the evening with my Aunt and sister, Lisa, canning peaches.   We made jam, peach leathers, and just plain old canned peaches and had a jolly good time.

Meanwhile, Derek was getting stuff for our costumes for our race.

Today, we ran a race called In Cahoots.  It is a team obstacle race that you can't get through (most) of the obstacles alone.  Or at least it would be very difficult.

Anyway, we were the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers.  We had to have a team flag that we hung up at the finish line for those behind us (which was everyone.  Literally), to run through.

It was a little over 6 miles.  But the course wasn't well marked and we got off course for a little bit.  But a nice man on a 4 wheeler came and found us (and everyone following us (sorry everyone)) and got us back on track.  But it was awesome.  Super fun obstacles.  The best was the zip-line over mud.  And the double swing over mud.  YAY!  The hardest aka scariest (for me) was swimming through a tube full of muddy water.  It wasn't long, but I fear swimming in enclosed spaces, so Derek had to help me through that one.  But we did it.  There were walls to climb, 3-legged tire walk, holding hands over live wires while running, mud pits, 12 foot wall (I got on Derek's shoulders and he did a squat and I got up) then he ran and jumped and I helped pull him over.  People were like "Whoa!  How did he do that?"  Look out everybody.  This white boy can jump.  But it was fun.  Many more obstacles and lots of running.

And one more thing...we finished first.   It's because we were Power Rangers.  My good friend Molly and her partner, Jess, finished 5th overall and we all went the wrong way.  Good fun.  Seriously the funnest race I have ever done.

Before the race at home.  Flag and Power Ranger moves.

 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

 After the race with Molly and Jess

Me and Molly

WAY FUN.

This Week

This week has been busy.  And I mean busy.  After taking an entire week off for the Salmon, I had a lot to catch up on at work.  Only one problem, one of my 3 employees was out sick for 4 of the 5 days...so catching up was nigh unto impossible.  We were just trying to stay afloat and stay caught up.  Needless to say it was a longer work week than I would have desired, but oh well, what'll ya do?

Every night has been busy as well.  Climbing.  Olympics.  Dance.  Scouts.  Mountain Biking.  Temple.  Practicing the Piano...

But the best was yesterday.  We are currently training for the St. George Marathon and so I did a 13.2 mile run only to come home and begin chopping fruit like no tomorrow.  What's with the fruit you ask?

Well, my 8 year old niece, Addie, got baptized yesterday.  And never in my life have I seen someone so excited to get baptized.  She was bouncing all over the room, couldn't hold still.  And when my mom was giving a talk she would ask her questions and she knew all the covenants she was about to make and the covenants Heavenly Father was going to make.  She knows it all.  It is amazing.  I leaned over to Derek and said, "Wow.  I know for a fact I didn't know what I was doing when I got baptized."  So it was her baptism.  And it was great.  So sweet.  Really loud.  There were a few people who would NOT take their screaming (not just crying, but screaming) babies out of that room.  I felt bad because I was on the 2nd row and couldn't hear half of her confirmation due to the screaming babies.

But it was good and guess who got to play the prelude and accompaniment and interlude music.  Oh yes, Yours Truly (aka me).  Guess when the last time I for real played the piano was.  Oh, when I was 15.  It's only been 9.5 years.  No biggie.  But I did it.  Now I won't have to play until the next niece gets baptized, but I have 5 years until then (she turns 3 next month).

But yeah.  Baptism was awesome.  Then Derek and I went climbing up Big Cottonwood Canyon at Storm Mountain, got Cafe Rio (and I ate pretty much my entire salad.  That never happens) and then went up to the Kimball Arts Festival in PC.  But it was practically over at 7:30 pm. Lame.

And now this morning, my nephew, James, is getting blessed.  So we get to do it all over again.

Sweet

These beauties were on the table with a Welcome Home sign when I got back from the Salmon.  Isn't my hubby awesome?  Wild Flowers (my favorite.  Such a shame they only come out once a year,) from Timp.