Moab

This past weekend, a group of us went camping in Moab, UT.  We went to Arches National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park.

In Marcie on our way (Michelle, Brett, Luke, Me, and Weston)

We firstly hiked the Delicate Arch.  As we were going into the park, the lady we paid was like it's a hot one out there--in fact, if you're heading to Delicate Arch, it is the hottest hike out there right now... and she was right.  It reached 110 degrees outside!  Crazy!

The thing on our licenses plate

Me, Weston, Michelle, Brett, and Luke

The lady taking the picture was like take a crazy one--Brett and Luke didn't actually move though

Michelle & I 

That night we camped.  There was a burn ban though (sad but probably necessary since half of Utah is burning) so we had to cook on a little camping stove.  Michelle and I kept setting our stuff in piles of ants--not pleasant.

Camp in the morning... it was too dark by night to take any pictures

The next morning, we woke earlier (sort of) and packed up.  Then we went to hike in the Devil's Garden area.  It was a really fun hike with so many different arches to see.  My favorite was probably the Landscape Arch--which looked like it will soon fall over.

Our shadows--we were up high

Michelle and I 

Hiking along the rock (red rock--my favorite!)

Our group in front of Landscape Arch

Double O Arch which was also pretty cool

The Dark Angel (I think?)

After hiking that morning, we had a few other hikes planned.  However, since it was like a million degrees outside (okay, more like a hundred), we decided to ditch hiking, get lunch (in air conditioning), and go swimming at Left Hand (a little swimming hole).  To get there, we had to do a short hike (like half a mile) so I went in my sneakers... not my best plan.  When we had to cross water, I decided to go barefooted (really not my best decision).  It was like a terrible battle between walking on scorching sand or gravely rocks.  Eventually, we just decided to give up and get our shoes wet.  Because of this, I am going to have Moab sand in my shoes FOREVER!

Michelle and I at Left Hand 

This is the hole--I jumped off the cliff (not the biggest one because I'm a wimp but the smaller one which was probably a good ten or fifteen feet up)

Afterwards, we went to Dead Horse Point.  We didn't have much time so we didn't really get to hike in that park.  But we did go to the look out point... it was pretty awesome!

Dead Horse Point--the Colorado River was HUGE

All of us at Dead Horse (the lady taking the picture was not happy about it)

Another view!

After Moab, we decided to go to Manti Mormon Miracle Pageant.  It was super cheesy, promoted Mormon rumors, and was totally worth going an hour our of the way (not sarcasm--it was worth it).  I think we all enjoyed it.  The only picture of it is on my camera, though, which is currently misplaced.  So I will post the good enough picture later.  After the pageant (at like midnight), this is what we looked like:

Me, Luke, and Brett got lucky and got the back/time to sleep (Weston took one for the team and drove home)

Overall, it was a fun trip!  I want to go back to explore Canyonlands but maybe I'll wait until it cools off a bit slash I recover my sleep from the past two weekends (I went camping the weekend before also)!

California with the Family

So my family all met up in California to meet and bless my new niece--Riley Paige.  She was 6 weeks old when we blessed her and she cried the whole time! :)  For the first few days, we helped Lisa & Matt move into their new house and set them us (aka, we spent a lot of time shopping for house stuff for my sister and babysitting Riley).  On Wednesday, my family randomly decided to go to Disneyland for a few days.  My parents and brother stayed a day and a half.  My sister and I stayed another day together.  It was really fun and we even got my mom to go on a ride (which is unusual for her)!

My family (minus Matt who had to work) after riding a water ride--I was soaked!

Lisa, my mom, and Riley (not the most flattering picture but I don't feel like downloading a new one)

Riley Paige in her mouse ears

When we went in to get Disneyland badges, the ladies thought Riley was so cute that they gave her a ton... I was kind of jealous

Mommy and Baby

Mattie boy

We also went to Medieval Times while we were there.  My brother went when he was like ten and loved it.  Now, every time we've been in the vacinity of a Medieval Times, he begs to go.  We've never gone until this time though.  We secretely bought tickets and told him we had to go to Mrs. Shirley's (Lisa's mother-in-law who lives in Long Beach) house.  Then, we pulled up in Medieval Times and his face was flabbergasted.  He had a blast...

My Mom, Matt, Lisa, Riley, and Dad

Surprisingly, Riley didn't appreciate Medieval Times...

She was pretty much like this the whole night b/c she was so upset she had to be there

My brother... can't you see the excitement

We had to support the blue knight... ironic he had fluer de lis all over him

I'm not sure who this is but Mattie wanted  a picture with him

So after Medieval times, Lisa and I stayed a Disney another day while my parents and brother took Riley home to babysit.  It was pretty fun and it was the first time we had really spent one-on-one time together in a long time (probably since she graduated high school).

Lisa and I outside of splash moutain

We went canoeing :)

Fake moose we saw while canoeing... I thought the ducks on their backs were a nice touch 

The castle as we walked past... it was really busy that day

Lisa and I on teacups... I look like I want to throw up

Lisa

So I made Lisa go on "It's a Small World" and she hated it.  It was sort of like a personal form of torture for her.  It was pretty entertaining for me though.

We also got stuck on Big Thunder Mountain right as it is about to go down the first bigish hill.  After like fifteen minutes of sitting at the top and wondering what was wrong, some guy in a yodeler suit came and announced that there was a goat/turtles on the tracks.  At first, he was like, there's nothing really wrong... ya'll can just sit tight and we'll have you on your merry way really soon (and this was hard for me to believe from a guy in a yodeler suit... no matter if he did work for Disney).  But then, after a few minutes of tinkering with the car, he was like, "Just kidding, ya'll have got to leave."  So we got out and walked down those little paths you always see on rides.

When we got stuck

I'm walking off the cart... it's really dark though b/c we were going through a tunnel thing

The tracks

Matt, Lisa, and I also went surfing b/c Mattie wanted to try it really bad.  My parents generously provided us with equipment and an instructor for two hours.  For the first hour, it was pretty fun (well, as fun as swimming in cold, rocky, and seaweedy water can be while getting smashed on the head by waves).  The last hour, I was so tired from jumping on and off of the board, trying to swim further, and falling down (which I did more frequently than not).  I did, however, get up and ride a wave for like 1.5 seconds so that was pretty cool.  But I've got to say--I was very sore the next day in my core from trying to balance for so long.  Matt had a blast and rode a ton of waves (apparently, he has naturally good balance and was very good according to our instructor... he didn't say as much about my sister and I).  Mercifully, my family only got pictures when were finished... otherwise, I'd have pictures of me flopping around in the ocean I'm sure...

I also bought a car (which I'm not sure I've ever posted about).  Her name is Marcie and she is a Nissan Versa.  I had to drive her home from California (LA area) to Provo... and it was a long drive to make in one day.  Plus side, I did it without dying.  I'll probably post pictures of Marcie eventually but for now, I'm too lazy to go get my camera from upstairs.  So now, I'm just back in Provo working and playing.  Since I've been back, I got to go Owling with Weston.  We went up and hiked around Rock Canyon--we heard a bird that we are deluding ourselves into thinking it was an owl.  I need to go again, though, and soon so I can find a sure owl!

Larry the Dinosaur

So for my birthday, Amy introduced me to Larry the Dinosaur whose skin comes off.  He is legit.  Just so you know.  He will live in my car and be bffs with Steve.  Here are some pictures!  Happy 20th birthday to me! :)  Also, Larry has a twin brother.  Keep up with his life here!

Me, Amy, Larry, and Weston

Larry's good side

Larry's not so good side

Action shot

Me, Amy, and Weston showing Larry some love

Yah:)

His skin comes off 

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