Busy, busy, busy.

Hey everyone, Dean and I have been super busy these past few weeks with work, trying to ride, and taking care of nerf. We are sorry that we haven't kept up with our blog but we will soon. I"ll post some pictures of our Thanksgiving meal and our Christmas tree. We look forward to seeing everyone in a week for our visit back home to WV!!

Pumpkins & Powder

Its Halloween today, and we this last week we carved pumpkins, got a new roomie, and took some turns in powder, and went to two professional games. Our friend Mike moved in with us last saturday and were all happy we are paying cheaper rent. Then during the week we decided we should put up some decorations for halloween so we carved some pumpkins I carved the reaper and then Joelle carved elle in her pumpkin. When Mike got home from work he wanted to carve one so joelle went and got herself another and him one. Since I was helping with soccer at the rec center I got a voucher for the SLC ReAL MLS game. ReAL (pronounced Re-AL) won and made it to the playoffs. Then it started snowing Monday Night!!! We had to work everyday, so Thursday evening I got off work and we went up to Alta to make a run in some pow pow. We hiked up and made the first turn of the season in October, in POWDER! "The World's Greatest Snow" at that. Then friday night a guy at work said he had free tickets to the Jazz game but had to work. So Joelle and I got to go to the SLC Jazz season opener. It was a good game with lots of fun!! Today we took Nerf to Park City for a walk down main street during the Halloween trick or treat, with dogs and kids. Lots of dogs with costumes so we put a Halloweend bandana around Nerfs neck.

Meet Nerf.

So, Dean and I have been thinking about getting a puppy lately. I was kinda of bugging him about it for a little while then I just stopped because I didn't want to preasure him into it. Then, one day last week he took me for a suprise and said he was ready so we started our search. We went to the humane society and a couple of other places. We saw a few dogs but we still wanted to look around. Last Sunday, we went to church and then planned on going climbing but we were on the lazy side and just took a scenic Sunday drive up and over Big Cottonwood Canyon to Park City. There we ran into the pet shelter and found nerf. I fell in love with him as soon as I played with him, then Dean came over and also fell in love too. So, we wanted to get her then but it was too late that day to adopted him because the shelter was closing and her foster home was there to pick her up. So, today I went up there and offically adopted him. Nerf is five months old, Retriever/Labrador Mix. Today for our first day with him, we went up to a dog park not far from our home and let him play. He was very shy to the other dogs at first but as time went by he became more playful. He was very well behavied. After that Dean wanted to skate so we went to the skatepark with him, and watched Dean skate. Nerf did very good there also. We brought him home and then went for a little walk around outside. Nerf is sound asleep now, Dean and I are so pleased with our first day with him. He is playful but calm, his behavior is wonderful so far. We're hoping as he grows he'll still be well behavied.

Day Four and Five!

So, on Wednesday morning I woke up and it was raining. Dean had to work until five. When I went over to the hotel, they just wanted to go shopping or something since it was cold and nasty outside. We went to the Southe Town Mall, it's a two story mall kinda like the town center in Charleston but with some different stores. There we shopped for about three hours or so. My grandparents bought me so boots for the winter, they wouldn't let me leave there without getting them. We just had lunch at the food court there. Then we went back to the hotel for a little bit, then headed up to Park City. Up in Park City it was snowing and super cold. They went and drove up Main Street and then shopped around the tanger outlets there, while I went to work to teach a few quick classes. Dean picked me up and went to dinner. Some people told me that Ohh Shucks and Ahh Sushi was a really good resturant to go to if someone wanted sushi and others wanted other stuff. So, I was super excited to eat there but turns out it wasn't that good, the sushi was good but dean didn't like his fish tacos and I guess there Chili was not that great so I was upset with my pick but oh well. After that we drove back to Midvale and took them to there hotel. Dean and I used there hot tub again then went back to our house. We got ready really fast then went to the airport to pick up Josh and Betsy. Then we came back to our place and just hung out and talked for a while then headed to bed.

On Thursday, Our original plan was to go to storm mountain and climb a little and build a fire and take it easy but since it snowed it was super cold there. So, Josh Dean and I went to the climbing gym for a little bit while Clyde and My grandpa watched us. Betsy, Becky, and my grandma went to the mall for a little bit. After that we ate at a cafe thats kinda like panera bread, I miss panera bread! Then Dean really wanted to go to this antique car museum, so we went there. It was interesting, it wasn't what we thought it was going to be but they did have lots of cars. After that, we were taken to walmart by Dean's parents and my grandparents. They forced us to pick out some things we needed. There way too kind. We got a swifer, a space heater, and some other suff. It really helps us alot. I am so thankful for all of them, and for my family and Deans family. We feel so lucky to have great families that are so caring and giving. Anyways back on subject, then we went and unloaded everything then went to the cheesecake factory for dinner. It was so good, they give you way to much food. But we did get some cheesecake, just to go. After dinner I went back to the hotel with my grandparents for a little bit while Dean went to pick up his friend Nate from the airport. And after that we went to our place ate cheesecake and just hung out for a little bit.
So, at about 1:30 this morning Dean's mom called and said that there flight had been cancelled so there flight was a little bit later, I had to call my grandparents and tell them about it and I truly don't remember talking to them at all. But, anyways be got up at 6:30 and took them to the airport. I was sad to them all leave but I had a good time with them and I know they'll be back out sometime. I can't express how excited I am for Christmas. I just want to be home seeing everyone now! Thanksgiving is only two months away so thats when I will see Adriann next, thats too long though! Christmas is three, trust me I am counting down the days!

Day Two and Three!

Yesterday, Dean had to work until five then I had to work in the morning just til noon. So, while we were at work, my grandparents and dean's parents went back to the airport to exchange there car for a van so we all could ride together, on there way back they decided to stop by a pawn shop to buy us some binoculars. After that, they got lost around our little section of the city haha. After getting off work we went to the gateway, which is downtown to get some lunch and do a little shopping. From there we walked over to the temple to look around and ended up taking the tour of the tabernacle. We learned a lot about the crazy Mormon religion and they wanted us to fill out some info cards at the end but we slipped out right before the end. When Dean got off work we drove up little cottonwood canyon to look around and see the fall colors. We ate at the steak pit in the lodge at snowbird. While eating, our waiter opened the door behind us and gave a piece of bread to the porcipine setting outside. It set outside the whole time we were eating and ate that piece of bread. Dean and I used the hot tub at the hotel after we got back, and now we know how to use it anytime we want.

Today we woke up and went to Sam's and got us a bed for our apartment. Joelle had a interview with snowbird for a little job, then after that we drove down to American Fork Canyon and cooked a lunch over a fire and had a little picnic. After eating we went on and drove the whole alpine loop around to Provo Canyon. There was beautiful fall colors and big peaks with some snow still on them. We stopped at the end of the loop to look at a beautiful waterfall. When we drove back up to salt lake we drove across the valley to the biggest open mine in the U.S. It used to be an 8,000 ft mountain, now its a hole that is like 5,000 ft deep. We left the west side of valley and took them back to the hotel to rest. After resting up we went back up to the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon to look for some moose again. We walked halfway around the lake and heard a moose in the distance. Then my mom spotted a moose up at the top of a cliff above us. We had a couple for sightings after that but they moved out of view and we could still hear them. We walked on the trail that was going in the same direction and we continued to hear them calling but we never got another sighting. To finish up tonight we took them to Asain Star, our favorite resturant. We ordered a little sushi for everyone to try and my grandpa and Deans dad actually liked it.

Day Two and Three!

Visitors, day one!

So, my grandparents and Dean's parents came into Utah last night, we meet them at the airport and lead them to their hotel and then grabbed dinner at red robin. I was so so so so happy to see all of them and they were definely excited to see us! My grandfather called me this morning around 7:15 and we were still in bed, they had woke up around 2:30 am because my grandmother is use to getting up around 4:30 back home. They forced there selfs back to sleep but keep waking up. So, I am hoping they get better sleep tonight. Anyways so we got up and went over to their hotel to eat breakfast with them, from there we went to our church, The Rock Church. They seemed to enjoy the service. After there we started the drive into the unita mountains, it's about an hour and half away from us, but is well worth the drive. Right before you get into the Unita Mountains there is a small town, so we stopped and at lunch at a little cafe. Then passed all the horse ranches, which my grandfather loved and made it up into the mountains. First we stopped at the Provo River Falls, took some pictures and walked around.

Our next stop was Lilly Lake where we saw a bald eagle and sat on some logs and looked at the beautiful mountain lake. The Unitas are known for there natural mountain lakes. After that we drove up some more of the mountain, and stopped at a overview area of a small mountain lake, there we meet some hunters who were very kind and took a group picture of all of us. Then we drove on down and stopped at Mirror Lake, this lake is at a campsite and is pretty big, we walked around then found a pinic table and sat and looked up at the mountains and watched some fishers for a while. Then we started to drive out of the Unitas and stopped at another outlook to view the mountains. We also saw a bunch of cattle but no mooses! Not yet at least. Then we started our trip back to Salt Lake, we did stop once to view a huge lake right above Park City. Walmart was our next stop, they wanted some drinks and snacks for there hotel room, and my grandparents bought us some pots, pans, and a few other kitchen goodies. They are too kind to us. Dinner was after that, Jeanette and Jamie are going to be so jealous when they find out we went to the Noodles and Company. They loved it in Colorado Springs, my grandparents also loved it! After dinner we drove up Big Cottonwood Canyon and hiked around Silver Lake, where we saw moose with Chad and Rachel. But, today was super the lake was filled with tons of people so we weren't expecting to see any. The lake was filled with golden aspen trees unlike last tuesday with Chad and Rachel here. Then we took them back to there hotel rooms and made popcorn and just relaxed with them for a little bit. Now, there probably passed out asleep and Dean and I are doing this and watching a show on Salt Lake City's History. Also, I can only put three pictures up so we will get all of them on facebook soon. =)