Shooting and S'Mores

Saturday was a lot of fun! That morning, we went shooting down by Utah Lake with Mike's friend Tony. I've been skeet shooting once, and then we went to a shooting range for Mike's birthday, but never really been other than that. It's such a power trip and a release! I loved it! I actually shot a bullseye for one of the targets. I'm very proud of myself! I darn near gave myself a concussion though a few times because one of the guns kicked back a lot, as you can see!!

A couple of outlaws...

I just have to make the "Zoolander" face when I hold a gun!

Just can't help it...

That night, we went up American Fork Canyon with Mike's friends, Jake and Rachael to go eat some hot dogs and s'mores. It was so much fun! I love the smell of a campfire...

S'more Faces!

Marshmallow Faces!

Mike, Me, Rachael, Jake

4th of July Festivities

This weekend, Mike and 

Las Vegas and California!

Well...we're back from a ten day vacation from Las Vegas and California...In a way, it was kind of nice to just go back to the routine of every day life and have things set up the way you want them to... On the other hand, it was amazing just to relax and not have to worry about a thing that was going on at home, especially when your home was staying with you (18 people to be exact!) My dad rented a beach house in Newport Beach for the whole family to come and stay. Thankfully, Mike and I were able to have our own room with a door, and a lock (those were my requirements... Thanks Mom and Dad!!) Before we went there though, Mike and I hit "Sin City" to mainly see "The Lion King" that was showing at Mandalay Bay. The show was so amazing! I'm so glad that we did that!

I thought this was a cool picture that Mike took...yes, that's my head.

We gambled a bit...lost a bit...gained nothing... too bad

It was lots of fun. We met Mike's friend Jake and his wife Rachael to see the show. We ate at the Excalibur Hotel, which is where we stayed. Not a great buffet...but what are you gonna do?

After the show on Saturday night, Mike and I headed out to Newport. It wasn't too bad of a drive and we listened to Dan Brown's, Digital Fortress on the way since Mike hadn't ever read it. 

One of the days Mike and I went up to the LA County Museum of Art. It was pretty fun. Mike was a sweetheart and went just because he knew it would make me happy. If you've seen Night at the Museum II, you'll recognize this...

Newport was great. We just hung out and relaxed on the beach. The ocean decided it wanted to beat me up and gave me quite a few battle wounds on my legs and my arms. No worries though... Apparently I was the entertainment for the family when a massive wave was coming towards me and the undertow was so strong that I couldn't run out to the shore...I get pulled under...tossed around A LOT... and get washed up on shore. To top the entertainment off was that when I got washed up, I couldn't get up fast enough, so the second wave would pull me back out into the ocean and do the whole thing over again!! This did not just happen once... Stupid ocean... No, it was fun. I enjoyed myself. 

I was also proud that Mike somewhat overcame his fear of the water and the ocean. He spent most of the time body surfing and trying to get the hang of it. My brother-in-law Chad did see a sand shark while they were both out there, and after that...Mike was pretty much done for the day...

If you look closely, you can see Mike's board right in the middle of the wake...Poor Mike...

Still smiling though...

We also went up to Disneyland one day, not to go to the park, but just go to Downtown Disney to go see the new Transformers movie and go shopping. The movie was good, but the best part was that Mike got me a new wallet from Fossil. It has such pretty colors and it's so much better than my old frumpy Wells Fargo wallet. I love it!!

The last day we were there, we went to the tidal pools at Crystal Cove (I think that's what it's called) I wasn't too into that, but I went anyway, and it was really pretty. Everyone was exploring looking for crabs and such. 

THE WHOLE FAMILY!! 

(we were all staring into the sun, so that's why our faces are all squished up)

Well, it was so fun to be with the family and to play games and just have a nice, relaxing vacation. I liked not having everything just be so jam-packed with activities that you feel like you need a vacation from your vacation when you get home!  I loved being with Mike and sharing this time with him. He is SO good to me and I appreciate him so much. I also appreciate my mom and dad for taking us on this fabulous trip and making it such an enjoyable time for the whole family!! 

Goodbye Utah (For Now...)

Today we will be leaving for fabulous Las Vegas-and then head on out to Newport Beach with the entire family. I am so excited! So when you think of me this week, picture me...

heredoing this

seeing this

and then driving out to here...

Bon voyage!

Our Excursions (Sort Of)

So, at the request of my friend Emily, I apparently need to update my life, and not just write book reviews, so here it is.

The past couple of weekends, we (well, I) have been trying to be a bit more adventurous. Which isn't really saying much, because any adventure at all is a big step for me. One weekend, I wanted to drive up to Idaho to see the City of Rocks. It's in my "1000 Places to See Before You Die" book, so I wanted to go. It was pretty fun to just go up there and see a new place. If I was a rockclimber, man, this place would be my Mecca. We went on a couple of walks around the place, and it was really beautiful, and cool to see these huge boulders just in the middle of nowhere. Here's some pictures of that trip we took...

                                         Mike, big man on campus... (or rock...)
                                                         Just the two of us


Also, one weekend we decided to go hiking. We just went up Little Cottonwood, and found a short one that went up to a really pretty waterfall. Well, for some reason, my before said "adventurous" side told me to play in said waterfall, even though it was freezing cold water and probably not the healthiest thing to play in any way. So, I walked around the rocks, Mike told me to stay away from the mossy ones. And then, before I knew it I had slipped and fell down into the water and got soaking wet! We went home after that... It was way fun though! Here are some pictures of that excursion of ours ...

Here I am...before I fell in...

I will be going to California on Friday, so I will be able to "update my life" when I come back next Saturday. 

Peace...

love...

Book Review- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

When I was over at my mom's this Sunday doing laundry, she recommended that I read this book that she read for her book club. She said that it could probably make the list for her top 10 favorite books she has ever read! I thought with that kind of recommendation, I couldn't go wrong! Now I wouldn't say this would be in my top 10, but it was definitely fun to read and was a wonderful story. It's all written in letter form, with letters going back and forth between characters in the story. It takes place after World War II and is about a writer, Juliet who is written by a man in Guernsey (an island near England) who was intrigued by her books and articles that she had written. He tells her about the society that he ended up being a part of during the war to help them cope with what was going around them while the Germans occupied their home. She ends up getting all kinds of stories of these people's lives and decides to write a book about it. The people of Guernsey end up changing her life for good! The characters are wonderfully written, and there is a love story between a couple of the characters that always helps me turn the pages. You do get emotionally involved with the characters which is always nice, rather than not connecting with them in any way. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who would be interested in this delightful novel.

Book Review-The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

I was at a wedding luncheon one day and one of my friends recommended that I read this book. I'm always a little skeptical about reading World War II books, because after awhile they can become tiresome and the stories are redundant. Not that I am in any way lessening the impact that World War II had on millions of lives, but you can only take so much sometimes. Well this book brought something new to the table. It was told in Death's perspective. And it wasn't about anyone in a concentration camp, it was a story of a German girl and her experiences throughout the war. This book has so much heart, feeling, and love it just inspires your soul. The author himself gives spoilers throughout the novel, so you already knows what happens at the end, but still you can't help but brush your tears away. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, and it was such a breath of fresh air from the others awful books I've been reading. Go and pick this one up!!