Southern Utah Vacation

About a year ago I started to see advertisements announcing that Beauty and the Beast would be one of the plays featured at Tuacahn this summer. Beauty and the Beast is my all-time favorite movie, and I was thrilled!! Then I found out that you can't bring babies to Tuacahn performances, and since St. George/Tuacahn is about four hours from where we live, well... that was kind of out of the question and sadly, I had to put this summer bucket list item on the back burner.

One day when I was up at my mom's house, we started talking about the play and how I really wanted to go. Then she said that she and my dad would go down with us and watch Adam while Matt and I went to the play. What!? I have the best parents in the whole world.

We drove down to St. George on Tuesday, went out to eat at Denny's because I never pass up a chance to have breakfast for dinner, and then Matt and I headed off to Tuacahn!

I had never been to a play at Tuacahn, but Matt had seen Les Mis there a few years ago. The whole place is spectacular! It's an outdoor theater backed into a canyon. The red rocks of St. George are a beautiful backdrop and provide a means for a lot of creative play features like fountains, fireworks, etc.

Beauty and the Beast was awesome, except I didn't really like Belle or the Beast. Belle was a little too "high school drama queen" for me and the Beast was just weird. Too sporadic and yeah... didn't like him. BUT all the other characters were hilarious, the music was spot-on, and the costumes were amazing!! I highly recommend it if you're ever in Southern Utah.

We went to Smith's afterwards to get some ice cream because everything else was closed. The only reason I'm including this is because I got a pint of Ben and Jerry's Salted Caramel Core (blonde brownie chunks with salted caramel and sweet cream ice cream)-- all I can say is I'd never known true happiness until I tried this stuff.

The next morning we went to Snow Canyon and did some hiking and a little bit of rock climbing. Surprisingly, and very lucky for us, the weather was really nice! Kind of overcast and windy! Yay! That afternoon we ate at the Bear Paw--another breakfast all day place that is SO GOOD. I recommend the Aussie Smoothie. Delish.

Ha this face

My dad and Matt had to get back to work on Thursday, so they dropped my mom, Adam, and me off in Beaver to stay the rest of the week. We had a blast canning peaches (and eating lots of them), making peach jam, and just enjoying each other's company.





On Thursday night, my mom, Adam, Grandma, Aunt JoAnn, and I headed up the canyon to camp overnight. We had a great time talking by the fire and spending time in the mountains. Unfortunately, they kept talking about bears, so I was paranoid all night long-- even had bear dreams! Those aren't quite as bad as my shark attach dreams, but they're pretty close.

We decided to go on a hike Friday afternoon along this trail that usually has a few raspberries growing. Well, this year the critters must not have gotten the memo because there were MILLIONS of berries-- totally untouched! We started to pick and eat as we hiked, and then decided to pick and keep them for jam because there were so many! We ended up picking about six cups of mini raspberries that made delicious jam. So fun!

View from our campsite

Matt came back down on Friday night to help do some handy-man stuff around my grandparent's house. He put in new faucets in the bathroom, and then he and I re-tarred the leaky roof on Saturday morning. That was fun. But we kept finding tar on each other throughout the day. Matt would randomly find a new spot on my legs and I found some behind his ear.

So, there's the rundown!

Utah Summers

I love Utah summers.  I grew up in Virginia, dreading everything about summer except that there was no school.  Summers were hot, humid, and buggy aka sweaty, frizzy-haired, and itchy.  Now don't get me wrong, Virginia is absolutely gorgeous during the summer, but I preferred to enjoy the greenery looking out my house or car windows, or from the middle of our swimming pool.

Utah on the other hand, is not as green, but is beautiful in it's own mountainy, deserty way.  I just love that there is pretty much zero humidity, and I don't get 50 mosquito bites on one leg after sitting by a body of water for more than five minutes.  There are so many outdoor activities to do!  Hiking, camping, rock climbing, etc. and all within a few minutes from where we live!  It's the best!

A few weeks ago we went rock climbing with my Dad.  Matt and I have gotten into rock climbing over the last year or so.  It's a great hobby that we both love and can do at our own speed.  We finally gave up running together because I prefer a slow and steady wins the race (or comes in last, whatever) pace/exercise to check it off the list, where Matt likes to really push himself and get better and better (probably the better of the two haha).  Needless to say, we don't really run together anymore. So, climbing is perfect for us!  It's a great workout where we can push ourselves at our own pace!  Perfect combination!

 I actually climbed too, but no one took pictures of me haha

Arizona

Every year, Matt's dad and his nine siblings, along with all of their kids and their kids, hold a reunion down in Arizona.  For the past two years that we've attended, it's been in Eagar, a tiny town in Round Valley that I am really starting to love.

When most people think of Arizona (and this was totally me before I started dating Matt), they think of the scorching sun, cacti forests, sweltering heat, swimming pools, you see the picture.  I had no intention of ever liking the state because the one thing that makes me cranky faster than anything in the world is being hot.

BUT, luckily for me, Matt is from northeastern Arizona, Snowflake (I know, right?) to be exact.  And this area of Arizona is actually quite beautiful.  There are actual trees, cool nights, even snow during the winters, and don't even get me started on the gorgeous sunsets.

Anyway, I was really looking forward to this year's reunion, and it did not disappoint!

 Most of the festivities were held out on Ellis's property, like playing corn hole, shooting, the zip line (which has now been cut down after being the culprit to two broken arms), etc.  Many people camped here, but I snagged us a room at the house my in-laws own in Eagar.  I wasn't too keen on camping with Adam haha.

  

We ate delicious food-- biscuits and gravy was my personal favorite :)

 And check out those legs...

Getting in some good Grandpa time.  Actually, Adam was quite the celebrity.  I felt like I had 20 babysitters because everyone wanted a turn with him.  He loved it.

Monsoon season + an awesome truck = intense mudding.

And it's not a vacation without a nap, right?  And naps with babies are the best.

Adam was such a champ on the 9-turned 12+ hour drive down and back.  He would eat, play, sleep, and then start all over again for the entire ride!

 And we got to stop and see my grandparents on the way down, which is always a treat. 

I am so grateful for the families that I am apart of, and that we live close enough to see them fairly often!

Thank you Bloomfields and Arizona for a great reunion!

July 4th

Aside from Christmas, the 4th of July is my favorite holiday.  I love the warm weather, the barbecues (have I ever mentioned by totally disgusting love of hot dogs?), watermelon, and shaved ice.  I mean, July 4th, to me, is the epitome of summer.

But more than the food, I love what this holiday represents!  I think having a Marine dad and always living on or near a military base really helped instill in me a love for my country as I witnessed first hand the sacrifices that are made for us to enjoy the freedoms that we do.

Also, I grew up just outside our nation's capital, which happens to be one of my favorite places on the planet.  (Side note: if you're ever making plans to visit D.C., I've got some great suggestions as far as things to do!)  There is so much history there detailing the events that took place making our country the great nation that it is today.

I love seeing all of the flags displayed for this holiday and red, white, and blue everywhere! There is an overwhelming sense of togetherness and patriotism that is special to this day--like all of the differences in political opinions, social issues, etc. seem to melt away as we stand together with our hands over our hearts.

I am so grateful and proud to be an American.

Here is how we celebrated...

We stayed Friday night at my family and woke up early Saturday morning to go on a hike at Alta ski resort.  The ski resorts are so beautiful during the summer.

 

 We love the Utah mountains!

Then, we went to a bbq, and Adam went swimming for the first time!  He loved it!  Ok, I don't actually know if he loved it, but I'm interpreting the lack of tears as love.  And he looked adorable in his little swim suit.

We finished the night off by doing fireworks with some neighbors.  Adam lasted for longer than I thought!  But as the fireworks got louder and louder, he eventually gave into the fear, and I had to miss the last few to take him inside.

  

Of course...

Hope you all had a Happy 4th!