Photos from Our Journey

wow, what a loooong weekend.

As most of you may know, The Creator and I went to St. George for the weekend to visit with his oldest sister and her family. The nephew named Alex got baptized on Saturday.

Friday we left work early in the hope of getting on the road early, but that was delayed due to forgetting some very important items that needed to be completed before we vanished for the weekend. But once that was over we were out of SLC by noon and on our way.

Seeing as how I have never been anywhere within the state of Utah (except Zions) John and I decided to make a little vacation out of our family trip. We stopped at Kolob Canyon on the way down and it was beautiful. Now, granted, it's just a big canyon and where it's located it's not all red rocks and beauty, but it was still beautiful. I loved going out and seeing the natural wonders of our beautiful state.

We got to Kristin's house around 5:30 pm and enjoyed the time with the family it is always so fun to see them the kids are all getting so grown up and good looking. John's niece has turned into such a beautiful young woman. I was really surprised when I saw her she has changed so much since we were down last July.

Saturday I got up early... 8 am on a Saturday is early for me and after 12 people showered we got on with our day. Half the family went on an excursion to Costco for groceries and the other half went on a hike to the Temple Quarry that's up on the plateau there in St. George. We walked probably about 1.5 miles round trip and we didn't even go to the end of the train, but it was really neat. The Quarry train is just opposite of the airport so we would stop and watch the airplanes take off and land for Lucy and Alex.

John and I did have to make a voyage out to In-N-Out Burger in Washington City on the corner of Green Springs Dr. and Telegraph St. (It's kind of by Costco). Our Garmin got us there just fine. The eldest of my brother's needed a new T-Shirt, and since we were down there we figured we'd oblige. John and I got shakes since Kristin had already fed us dinner (Vegetable & Chicken Curry) John got a Chocolate one and I got a Vanilla one. They were both very good. As we were driving down St. George Blvd some lady with Nevada license plates honked at us and asked "Are those In-N-Out Burger cups?? Where did you get those?!" she was so excited so we told her where it was and probably made her day.

The Baptism was at 5:00 and it was great. I love going to baptisms and seeing the cute little kids making a choice that will effect the rest of their eternity. There is always such a sweet spirit there and it's always so strong. I have felt so spiritually numb for the past few years that the past month that we have been back to church it's been really nice to be reminded of things I have missed and I know that I need in my life. It's rough, but we're working to be where we need to be. Alex is such a special little boy (as all my nephews and nieces are) and it was a pleasure to have been invited to be a part of his special day.

That night I even went to Les Miserables with Lari and Scott down at Tuacon. That was awesome. I had never seen the musical version of it. I've seen the movies and I think I saw a shortened version when the theater group put it on when I was a Junior in High School (12 years ago!) and I have seen the 25th Anniversary special on PBS a lot but they just stand up and sing the songs. It's much more powerful and depressing when you get the full effect. Les Miserables was great. I would recommend it to everyone.

Sunday morning came and again there was the 12 people to 2 bathrooms wait for the shower and the sit around time before church started at 1:00 and to top it all off it was fast Sunday in a house full of Hypoglycemic people, one pregnant lady, one toddler, and one with PMS. What a joy! It's a miracle no one went home early. Alex got confirmed during sacrament meeting and then we all went home for lunch and to get ready to trek back north to our own homes...

John and I were planning on stopping at Cedar Breaks on the way home because I have never been there either and since we had paid $25 to drive up Kolob Canyon just a few days before we figured we should use our receipt again and drive through Zions on the way out. Well, John's dad decided that they wanted to go that way to and that we shouldn't go to Cedar Breaks, we should go to Bryce Canyon... so we did. We followed John's parents and had a really great time. My Parents-In-Law are great I loved the time we got to spend with them on the way home. Bryce Canyon was beautiful. I loved it. We made it there barely at end of sunset so it wasn't as lit up and beautiful as it could have been. John has promised me another trip down in the day light.

We finally made it home at ... 1:30 am! There was no way I was getting up for work Monday morning so we took the day off. John had 2 Vault drinks on the way home and he finally came to bed around 5:30 am but didn't really sleep at all Monday.

So needless to say, be are both completely tired from this trip. I hope we make it through the rest of the week.

Next year there will be two more trips to St. George for a homecoming (I can't believe Nick's been gone so long) and for a farewell.

Places I'd like to Visit in Seattle

Bill Speidel's Underground Tour
608 First Ave.
206.682.4646
www.undergroundtour.com

 

Science Fiction Museum (on the Seattle Center campus)
325 5th Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109

http://www.empsfm.org/index.asp

 

The Space Needle
Seattle Center, 400 Broad St.; 206.905.2100;
www.spaceneedle.com

 

Pike Place Market
Between First Ave. and Western, from Pike to Virginia streets

www.pikeplacemarket.org

 

Seattle Aquarium
Pier 59
206.386.4300
www.seattleaquarium.org

A Weekend with Kids

John and I just spent the last 3 days with a 6 year-old, an 8 year-old and a 16 year-old .... It was ... Fun.
Really, it wasn't so bad, our good friends went to Disneyland for their 18th anniversary and so we got to hang out with the children. We had a blast (minus the annoying parts).
We took the kids out to the Dinosaur park in Ogden on Saturday. It was awesome. I had never been there before, and personally, I think Dinosaurs are awesome! I'll have to go back one day without them and spend some extra time in the museum.
And we introduced them to the joy of the Wii ... :)
So we're back in our own home now, and our own bed (thank goodness) but the weekend was really fun.

Purplesandel this is for your benefit

I'm going to Orting, WA. It's somewhere in the east side of the state. Where? I'm not sure all I know is that I take I-84 until I get to I-82 then I-90 then take a bunch of state routes until I get there. Hopefully this map helps. I'm hoping that Mapquest will help me :)

Road Tripin'

Today being my "Friday" I am finding it very hard to concentrate on work which makes me thankful that I can post my blogs by email because then I "look" like I'm working even though I'm writing to all my rabid fans… :)

Very early tomorrow morning the husband and I are setting out on our Thanksgiving adventure. I am VERY excited! This is my first trip to Washington State and my first visit to the oldest sister since she moved there a little over 3 years ago. So it's all new.

The husband and I have both come to the epiphany that We Are Adults we do not have to check in with anyone if we are out after 11 pm, we don't need permission to take a vacation, and we don't really need our parents approval for anything. We are free. True, we have been married for almost 6 years, and yes, it has taken us this long to figure it out.

So in honor of this momentous occasion I have selected the "Road Trip Theme Song" for our journey. So with out any further ado I give you…. The Song:

"Movin' Right Along"

Movin' right along in search of good times and good news,
With good friends, you can't lose,
This could become a habit.
Opportunity knocked once, let's reach out and grab it,
Together we'll nab it.
We'll hitch-hike, bus, or yellow cab it.

Movin' right along, foot-loose and fancy free.
Gettin' there is half the fun; come share it with me.
Movin' right along (doog-a-doon, doog-a-doon)
We'll learn to share the load.
We don't need a map to keep this show on the road.

Movin' right along we found a life on the highway,
And your way is my way, so trust my navigation.
California here we come, that pie-in-the-sky land.
Palm trees and warm sand, though sadly we just left Rhode Island.

Movin' right along, hey, L.A., where've you gone?
Send someone to fetch us, we're in Saskatchewan.
Movin' right along (doog-a-doon, doog-a-doon)
You take it, you know best.
Hey, I've never seen the sun come up in the West.

Movin' right along, we're truly birds of a feather,
We're in this together, and you know where you're goin'.
Movie stars with flashy cars and life with the top down.
We're stormin' the big town.
Yeah! Storm is right, should it be snowin'?

Movin' right along, do I see signs of men?
Yeah, "welcome" on the same post that says "come back again."
Movin' right along, foot-loose and fancy free.
You're ready for the big time, is it ready for me?

Movin' right along
Movin' right along
(repeat to fade)

Places I've Been

Logan, UT
Preston, ID
Clifton, ID

Spring Breaks with the Schriver/Christensen Family 1996/1997/1998
Cove Fort, UT
Zion’s National Park:
Top of Angel’s Landing
Weeping Rock
The Tunnel
Hurricane, UT
St. George, UT
Grafton, UT – Ghost Town
Colorado City, UT/AZ

Boise, ID – 1998
Nampa, ID – 1998
Idaho State Prison – Boise, ID – 1998

Hawaii with Norman & the White Family 8/1998
Los Angeles, CA – Airport
Honolulu, HI
Pearl Harbor
Waikiki Beach
Polynesian Cultural Center
Dole Plantation
Sunset Beach

Jackson Hole Wyoming - 1998/1999
The Grand Tetons - 1999

Denver, CO – 1999
Hays, KS – 1999

Washington DC South Mission 2/23/2000-8/01/2001
Denver, CO – Airport
Washington Dulles International Airport – Dulles, VA
Washington DC
Cumberland, Maryland
Pennsylvania
West Virginia
Virginia:
Fredericksburg
Alexandria – Mount Vernon Area
Annandale
Alexandria – Old Town Area
Falls Church
St. Louis, MO – Airport

Wendover, NV – 2001
St. George, UT - 2002
Chicago, IL – Airport – 2003
Peoria, IL – 2003
Carthage Jail – Carthage, IL – 2003
Nauvoo, IL – 2003
Promontory Point, UT – 2003
Elko, NV – 2/2007

Trip to Disneyland 2/23/2007 – 3/04/2007
Oceanside, CA
Sea World – San Diego, CA
Universal Studios – Los Angeles, CA
Disneyland – Anaheim, CA
California Adventure – Anaheim, CA
San Diego Zoo – San Diego, CA

Bosie, ID - 4/2007

To Fly or Not To Fly

The lowest price I could find for Round Trip to Seattle 11/22 - 11/24 was $609.50 for 2 people
The Highest I found was $1,468.01 for 2.

I still think it's cheaper to drive.

Happy Liz

This was me on my first day in Disneyland... it's the tram ride from the parkinglot. Don't I just look so excited!?

YAY!!

My husband said I can go to Washington for Thanksgiving!