Pioneer Day

Pioneer day is a state holiday in Utah when we celebrate Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers entering the Salt Lake City valley in 1847. We were both lucky enough to have the day off of work to celebrate together.

We started our day off with a parade!

The weather was a nice overcast that kept the heat away.

After the parade we walked around the craft fair and festivities at the carnival. We got some lunch and lemonade at the food vendors there. They had entertainment by local theater companies and we were able to watch some of our neighbors preform. A business was giving away squirt guns so of course we had a little water fight. 

We finished off our Pioneer Day at the rodeo with my sister. We had a lot of fun spending time with each other and the festivities of the day. 

Camping 2014

We went up to mud creek above Strawberry Reservoir last weekend and had a great time camping for a couple nights. These camp spots are rugged spots with no services (that's right....none.) Julie said she would rather not have a bathroom than have neighbors while camping and we all agreed. What's the point of camping if you're just paying for a designated spot with neighbors 30 feet away? We could stay home and have neighbors farther away than some camping sites!

 

Julie's dad, Julie's sister, and her daughter joined us. It was beautiful the whole weekend and we were so proud of our dog Toby! We took a leap of faith and allowed him to roam free with no leash or tether. He stayed close to the campsite the entire time and came when we called him. The only time he tried to run off is when I took our niece up the mountain for a 4WD adventure in my truck and he tried to follow. Also on this trip we learned the awesome power of s'mores made with Reese's peanut butter cups. Try it!

 

-Ray

 

Reese's s'more. Try it! 

Toby is such a good boy as he reminds us what camping is about.

 

 

Julie's dad and our niece making s'mores. 

 

Toby and I being lazy.

Julie's sister

Julie's dad's camp trailer.

Julie fishing.

Us down at the reservoir.



Our niece caught a butterfly.

#TBT

Okay so I'm not really into the hashtags or throwback Thursday stuff but I was cleaning out the closet in our office and came across our wedding album and it seamed to fit since today is in fact Thursday and this is a "throwback".

The first snowfall of the year happened to be on our wedding day, November 1st 2003. A Korean friend told me that if it snowed on your wedding day you would be financially wealthy, though that isn't exactly true we have been blessed to always have what we need. 10 years and 8 months ago we had no idea what life had in store for us. We have made it through many good times and some bad times and look forward to what lies ahead.

A birth mother's story

I have seen her speak at a United for Adoption conference and she is an amazing woman! I am so thankful there are women like her willing to share their stories of placing their child for adoption. I have so much respect for them.

 

Our Summer Bucket List

Even though we don't get a 3 month vacation like the school kids do I still get excited for the summer. I love being outside and and enjoying the warm weather. Here are a few things I want to do this summer:

• Go camping (at least twice)
• Finish painting the deck
• Plant flowers
• Go on a bike ride
• Catch a fish
• BBQ with neighbors
• Go to a rodeo
• Take a road trip
• Girls day out
• Have a water fight
• Go on a hike

~Julie

Happy Easter!

Just a few thoughts...

 

Because of Christ I can be with my family forever, I can repent and be forgiven, I can return to live with my Father in Heaven, and I can be resurrected like He was. I know Christ came to earth to be our savior and redeemer and that He died for us and was resurrected 3 days later. He is the Son of God.

~Julie