High Uintas

After 3 years of wishing to take me to the Uintas and go backpacking, McKay got his wish a week ago. I've heard many rugged stories of getting caught in snow storms in June, peeing outside, and getting lost. Backpacking wouldn't be my first pick to do on a weekend, but McKay has been dying to take me there under one condition, this condition is that I couldn't complain. We left on a Friday right after work and drove through Kamas and into the Uintas. We hiked three miles that seemed to take forever because it was getting dark and my 50 lbs backpack was making me feel like I weighed 250 lbs. I had to stop every 10 mins. But I was determined not to complain. In the end we hiked over 20 miles and my butt and thighs sure felt the pain. It was a fun experience, but I think I'm hiked out for the next year.

The deer stalker

The view from our campsite

The funky design on all of the rocks

Yes, I caught the darn thing

Come here fishy, fishy, fishy

Twilight hours among us

More of the stalking deer

Blue Lake and I

Jordan Lake

McKay's Arctic Grayling

Brook trout and happy fisher

Doing some fly fishing

Provo, Oh, Provo

McKay has been trying to figure out whether or not he wants to dedicate two more years and get his Master's. Well we just got some good news that has kind of determined where were going to be staying for the next couple of years. McKay got a research position with a professor who will be engineering new ways to send messages to telescopes in outer space. The really good news is that his professor told McKay that if he does well in his research it will guarantee him to get into the Electrical Engineer Master's program. One other really good thing is that majority of the students who get into the program get full ride scholarships and get paid! So this means that we'll be staying here in Utah County for two more years. There goes my dream of moving to somewhere exotic like Iowa or Arkansas. But that's ok, we're close to our families and it will be significantly cheaper.

Cousin's Wedding

My dear cousin and best friend Erin got married this weekend. It was a busy week. I was able to go to the temple with her to get endowed. Friday, there was an open house down in Parowan where Tanner is from. The next morning the wedding took place at the Salt Lake Temple. McKay and I got stuck in traffic that took us 1 1/2 hours to get through. By the time we get to the sealing room the ceremony was over! :( I was so mad! Out of anyone's wedding, this was the wedding I really wanted to be. The wedding luncheon was in the Jade Room at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. It reminded me of my wedding. The reception was at Erin's parents house and it was so beautiful. I was in charge of the sign in book where people would write their message on a chalk board. They had a cute backdrop and a bench. Guests would sit on the bench and hold up the chalk board where I would take their photo. I thought it was such a cute idea for a sign in book. The wedding made was bitter sweet, knowing that were getting old and that after 4 years of dating I'm glad that Erin and Tanner decided to make it eternal.

The backdrop to the sign in book

Tanner throwing the garter

Erin throwing her bouquet. My single auntie Caroline caught it!

Cutting the cake

Family

Grandma and Grandpa Craig

The newlyweds

A cute corner of the reception

The wall of pictures

Congrats to Tanner and Erin

Lake Powell 09

Our favorite ledge to jump off of

McKay protecting himself against the sun

Mystique and my toes

The sand hill we climbed up 3 times, my thighs are so strong now after this workout

The family

My Father-In Law loves to wear the church socks wherever he goes

McKay looks like a dirty sailor

Garage Sale

On Saturday McKay's Mom had a garage sale at their house. McKay thought it would be a great way to sell some stuff we don't want anymore. After five hours McKay sold our vacuum cleaner, a hammock he purchased from Costa Rica, and a dream catcher he made when he was in Scouts. McKay made $12, enough to buy both of us a combo meal at Wendy's. McKay was sad that he didn't sell more, but I got some roller blades and a Pampered Chef tool I have no idea how to use. It was a long and hot day. It reminded me how much I love garage sales. You can find some of the most random things at them. It made me miss my good old friend Liz, the one who would ride with me on her husband's scooter and we would go garage sale hunting. I found my beloved yogurt trough from the Balkin Islands at a garage sale, it currently is housed on top of our dinner table. I want to get out on one or two more Saturday's before summer is over and find some really good stuff.