arches

We've done a more thorough Arches trip, but this time revisited some of our favorites.

Here is our last trip to Arches. Looking back at this post, I am surprised by how many pictures I had posted, so I added more to this post from the last time we were there.

If I had time and if Matt had the patience, I could spend all day hiking and taking pictures out in nature. I would love to be one of those people who are able to travel and take pictures for a living.

looking good Mr. Hansen

climbing Indian Ladder

at the top of Indian Ladder

Pictures from this time around.

Balancing Rock

Double Arch

Possible future arches everywhere.

 

Delicate Arch

canyonlands

Canyonlands is huge. We only saw about a third of the good stuff and another trip is necessary. We just tell each other we will save it for our future RV trip across America.

Matt made the fashionable, redneck-like shirt himself. Cutting the sleeves off with a knife.

We did get sunburned and it did hurt. I'm not sure if a sunburn is worth a quick tan, but it worked in time for Rachie's wedding.

utah trip

Lots of emotions this past week with Rachel's wedding, spending time with family and then saying goodbye.

With hundreds of pictures to sort through, I'd rather start the first of many posts with a list of my favorite events.

-Matt was upgraded to first class on our flight to Utah and deserves brownie points for giving it to me.
      -We saw a moose in the middle of downtown Salt Lake. We were shocked. We've seen deer, but to see a moose is very rare. I'm assuming. Moose are so weird looking.
-Rach looked amazing in her wedding gown.
      -Dancing like a fool with Matt. He was disappointed in my lack of coordination and said I was holding him back.
-Niece, baby Hannah, was unbelievably precious.
      -We left rainy Salt Lake for Moab to experience 80+ degree weather for the first time since last summer. We think summer is the greatest season in Utah.
-Nathan's impressions of Matt (brother) and dad's dancing.
     -Family and friends!
-Red Iguana, Cafe Rio, In-n-out, Moochie's, the Pie

meet the most perfect couple

and their getting married next weekend. I can't help but get giddy when thinking about it. Seriously, they are both individually and together perfect.

And just think of the beautiful, big-eyed babies in their future! Perfection.

a southern belle and her officer

Last week, I made Matt go with me to paint pottery, something I have wanted to do with him for years. It would have been a lot harder for me to get him to do this if I hadn't won a bet. I'm glad I could get it out of my system. Lucky for him, they had something there he enjoyed painting. I think we did a pretty good job and I'll eventually turn them into ornaments.

Aw.

what we eat is our main, daily concern.

Pinterest gives me visual "goals". The beautiful pictures of things to see, do, make and bake give me the motivation to try new things.

Here are my latest successes:

 

Brown sugar and balsamic glazed pork tenderloin. Found here.

Chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting. Found here.

Bacon-wrapped jalapeno chicken bites. Found here.

I also need to highlight the amazing beer bread and chili Matt made last night. Chili found here and bread found here.

 I want it all over again after looking at these pictures.