LP2

This past week we went to Lake Powell again, this time with our Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins from the Rasmussen side of the family. These trips are so fun because we are all total BFF and can let loose and be ourselves around each other. My cousins are all a riot. Here are some highlights.

Tannie rocked it on the surfboard

Big belly contest after one of the many amazing gourmet meals - sadly, some of us are bigger than Lindsay, who's almost 7 months pregnant.Of course we played Settlers of CatanOne night Tanya decided to straighten my hair to see how long it really is. It was not a good look for me, I have curly hair for a reason!And check out some video highlights HERE

Thanks for a great trip everyone - and until we meet again Lake Powell!

3rd of July

Our 4th (well, 3rd) of July was a full day of summery bliss! We started it all off with the Murray Parade. If any of you have ever been to this, you know that it's pretty much a 2 hour commercial (mostly political) with a few gems of outrageousness in between. Here are some gems.

When all was said and done we were glad we dragged ourselves out of bed for it.

Then we went to my parents' house for a barbecue with my Grandparents and Aunt Candy. After that, we (along with my parents) went with Tanya's family to see Toy Story 3. We loved it. Pixar for the win. Then Tanya's parents had my parents over for a barbecue and it was full of ideal summer food - gourmet burgers, corn on the cob, watermelon, chips and salsa, and margaritas.

Then I somehow talked everyone into being a part of one of my crackpot schemes. There is a river that flows past Tanya's parents' backyard in Lehi, and all summer long I have wanted to tube down it. I somehow talked everyone into it and half an hour later there we were. Tanya's brother Court, her brother Brock, and Brock's girlfriend Chantelle joined me.

The worried moms followed alongside in a car to make sure we didn't drown.

As well as Tan's dad Bart.

Tanya was the photog

So it was a pretty lazy flow up until the end, where it narrowed and started going really fast. The moms had secured a ski rope to a pole so that if we couldn't get out on our own, we could grab the rope and pull ourselves to the side. This was a last resort, because at the end of the river it goes into this machine that churns the water and then there's a conveyor belt that brings out big objects (like sticks, deflated tubes, or possibly dead bodies). I missed the rope completely and kept going. Meanwhile Brock grabbed the rope, but it knocked Chantelle and Court off the tube. Somehow Brock helped them get out. I grabbed a ladder on the side further down the river, but the water was so fast it just rushed over me and I couldn't breath, so I let go. There was one last ladder before the churning machine, and luckily that one I grabbed and pulled myself out with. The tubes both kept going, were churned, and came up off the conveyor belt.

We rushed home, took warm showers, ate hot chocolate, and turned on the fire. In the middle of the summer.

Then we went to the fireworks in Lehi

Overall, a perfect summer day.

Wicked

I told Rod I wanted to do a separate blog post about Wicked for two reasons:

1. So I could agree with the rest of the universe that Wicked is AMAZING and
2. So I could brag about what an amazing husband he is.

Rod tried to surprise me with tickets a few months ago, but a couple hours after he bought them I started asking him if we could go while we were in San Fran. He didn't want to seem like a mean husband so he went ahead a spoiled the surprise. He knew I've been wanting to go forever!

The show was incredible! I had no idea the story was going to be so clever, and the singing was fantastic. Rod even enjoyed it. I am so glad we went.

He is the best and I love him. The end.

Road Trip to SF

Tanya and I just got home from a week in San Francisco. We drove there to ship our car to Hawaii and spend time with my sister Danielle, her husband Matt, and our little nephew Brenden.

You know how on road trips it's always fun on the way, but on the way home you just want to be done and the drive is always terrible? This was the best of both worlds because we got to fly home!

Here are some highlights

We live for road trips. There's nothing like being together with our tunes and just talking, laughing, and eating junk food.

We were stuck behind this trailer and asked ourselves - How could that NOT be a dead body? Isn't it so creepy?

We waved to Sister Kelson as we passed by San Jose

Our first morning in the city my sister took us to this hidden park where you can slide down cement slides on slick cardboard boxes. It was really fun except we both fell on our bums and got soaked in the process.

Then we took the little nugget to a baby park to play.

We also took him on the merry-go-round.

And then we had a picnic, fed the ducks, and watched the paddle boaters pass by.

Tan and I spent the afternoon shopping in the Marina District and stumbled upon a shop with the BEST cupcakes in the world. The frosting on mine was Reeses flavored to a T.
The next day we met up with our good friend Dan who now lives in SF. We walked around Chinatown, did some shopping, and ate burritos in The Mission. He introduced us to a bakery in Chinatown that sold these treats - which are pretty much like pure angels rolled in coconut and baked into a warm, homemade roll.

What a cool city. The architecture is amazing and where else do you see a pink house, a yellow house, and a baby blue house all next to each other?

That night Danielle and Matt surprised us by taking us on a sunset bay cruise as a graduation present. It was probably my favorite part of the trip and we saw seals, lots of sailboats, and an amazing sunset.

Our cruise passed by Alcatraz

And we were fed appeteasers and dranks.
It went around Angel Island and some other areas where everyone has a mansion overlooking the bay as well as a sailboat

Then our boat went under the Golden Gate Bridge. It was cold and windy but worth it!

On Monday we got Suzi the Suzuki detailed and ready to be shipped to Oahu before dropping her off in Oakland.

Suzi is currently on a barge, in a box, somewhere on the Pacific Ocean. In the meantime we will drive my parents' GIANT van.

Then we went out for the BEST Thai food we have ever had.

And we couldn't resist playing Settlers of Catan with some fellow gamers.

The next morning we went to Mama's Cafe (tradish). It never disappoints. Waiting in line outside for half an hour is completely worth it.

Then we headed to the beach because it's Brenden's favorite (and we don't mind beaches either!)

It was cold but still a lot of fun. Nugget loved playing in the waves (as you can see)

The next morning we went across the Golden Gate bridge to Muir Woods to walk among the Redwood trees. Tanya had never seen a Redwood. They really are mind-blowingly big and the forest smelled so good!

Thanks to the Peronas for a perfect week!