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. =)

An Evening with Chad and Rachel

On Tuesday, Chad and Rachel came in for a short visit. They were on there way to California to pick up some of there things to take back to Lexington with them. They got here around five in the afternoon. So, since they were just here to spend the evening with us we decided to take them up into Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons, the two cayons that are close to our house. At the top of Big Cottonwood is the ski resort Brighton. At Brighton there are some mountain lakes so we hiked to the closest lake called Silver Lake, Dean and I had been there before usually on Sundays after church we pack lunch and eat up there. And on Sundays the lake is filled with many people. But when we were there with Chad and Rachel there were only a few people the lake was still and quiet. As we were walking around the lake Chad pointed out a moose, then I saw a second one. We got a little closer to one eating some leaves of a tree and the other moose went down in the lake. That was the second moose sighting that Dean and I have experienced here in Utah, now we want to see a bull moose hopefully when Deans parents and my grandparents are here next week! But anyway back to Chad and Rachel's visit, after Silver Lake we just drove up Little Cottonwood to show them Snowbird and some spots we've been climbing at. Then we went to a little sushi restaurant that Dean and I have been wanting to visit, we all ate lots of sushi and it was amazing! Then we just came back home, Dean and Chad when skating in the freezing cold and Rachel and I sat on our computers and talked. It was just a short visit but was a good one, it was just nice to be with people we know and just talk about their plans, our plans and everyone back home.

Joelle Blogging

Today it's Joelle's turn to blog, when we first got a blogspot I told dean he was in charge of updating it every week. But, I am sitting at work and I have no kids in my class so I thought hmm I'll just update the blog. In our last blog we were telling everyone how the leaves are starting to change but we couldn't feel fall coming in because it was still in the mid nineties here. Well this past week the temperature has dropped and we've seen some rain showers in the evenings. Which is very rare to us, rain in Utah? It was the first rain showers that I have seen since I have been here. But the rain is suppose to clear up this weekend so we can get back to our usual activities, climbing and hiking. Yesterday, we went up into Big Cottonwood Canyon and started doing a three pitch climb but by the time dean to the second pitch and I was half way up the first one, it started pouring the rain. So I lower down then dean did picking up all the gear, by the time we got to the car we were soaked. I think were going to go try again on sunday.
So, since I have got out here I have learned that I love to cook. I have always liked to bake cakes, cupcakes, and such but I never really got into cooking food unlike my grandmother and my mother. I cook dinner almost everynight, we usually set our small coffee table as our dinner table and sit on the floor, and it works for us. But, yesterday I ordered a real dinner table thanks to my grandparents and mother. I am so excited to get it set up for the arrival of my grandparents and dean's parents. And I am also excited to cook dinner for them! They will be here in about two weeks and I am soooo happy. My grandfather has never been on a plane before so I think he's a little scared of that but I am so happy for all of them to come out and visit. We plan on taking them up into the unita mountains to try to see some mooses and also to see the beautiful orange colors of the aspen trees. We also going to take them around the two canyons close to where we live. And on there last full day here Josh and Betsy will be here too! So, since there coming out mainly to climb we're going to go up with everyone to Big Cottonwood Canyon and head over to Storm Mountain. There at Storm Mountain is a bunch of pinic tables and fire pits, We are hoping that my grandparents and dean's parents will cookout for us as we climb. We miss there cooking!! Also the week before everyone comes out my friend Tyler Clendenin and his family are coming out to visit Kim's brother, I do believe. I am so excited to see all of them also! And after my grandparents and dean's parents leave Josh and Betsy are staying with us along with Nate for a few days of climbing.
After everyone visiting at the end of September and beginning of October, I will only have to wait two months til Thanksgiving which my sister is going to come out and spend time with us. Dean and I miss her very much, I think she is going to help me cook Thanksgiving dinner for Dean and Mike (new friend who's going to move in with us in October.) And only three months til Christmas and I wil be back in WV for a few days and all I am going to do is surround myself with my family, friends, and dean's family. I miss everyone very much and I think of almost everyone every single day! =)

Last Weekend of Summer!!

It sure doesnt feel like it here so much as it was in the upper 80s this weekend. But I did see that the leaves are changing up in the Uintas, so that means fall is on its way and winter will be right on its tail!!! Anyway this weekend we planned a climbing/camping trip to Rock Canyon in Provo. After we did a couple trad climbs, and a couple sports to satisfy Joelle, we got a text saying there was going to be a party, so we decided that meeting more people would be better then camping out. So we drive 45 min back to Salt Lake and turns out the party was a no go. Bummer. But we decided to wake up and go climbing on Sunday, where we went up into Little Cottonwood with our friend Devin and his roommate, Adam. We got on what was probably the slabbyest 5.8 on granite we have ever done. Literally no holds just basically "extreme walking" as Devin put it. I took my first real lead fall with Joelle belaying me and got a little rope burn on my leg, fun stuff. After that we went on up to check out what octoberfest at Snowbird was all about, lots of crowds, beer, and polka music. Not that cool, but our friend Mike was working so we stopped by and said hey. We drove on over to Big Cottonwood to do a more typical 5.7 since it was Adams first time climbing. Joelle wanted to lead it but freaked herself out at the third bolt, oh well maybe another day. Labor Day went down with no actual labor at all. We chilled by the pool and then we went to get Joelle a snowboard. She finally found one that she liked, a Burton Feather for a cheap price of $140 now all she needs is a set of bindings and she will be ready to ride.

This is our blog so everyone can stay updated on life here in Utah. We have been having lots of fun out here. We try to go climbing a couple times a week if we can, which is also what has been taking us all across the state. We have traveled up into the Uinta Mountains, which reach up to 13,000 ft. This is where we got our sighting of a mamma moose and its baby feeding out of one of the mountain lakes. We also took a trip down to Moab to do a little climbing and some sightseeing. We had a much better experience then my brother and his wife. We got to see some old indian writings, and dinosaur tracks. We did most of our sigtseeing in the Arches National Park with huge sandstone walls and lots of natural arches. However, most of our climbing is done within 30 minutes of our apartment either in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Little Cottonwood Canyon, or American Fork Canyon.

So I have been making my money from working valet at one of the hospitals, and Joelle got a job teaching kids gymnastics at Black Diamond Gymnastics in Park City. She is really loving her job, and is starting her online classes at the Community College. I am lucky enough to have her cook me dinner almost every night when I get home from work. She is actually a really good cook, I mean how could she not be after growing up around her family. Our apartment is starting to feel a little more homey with the elephant ears plant on the porch, that were trying not to kill, and the homemade art on the walls. Our refrigerator is filled with pictures, notes, and cards from all the cousins, nieces, and nephews.

We are getting really excited about all the vistors we will be having at the end of September and beginning of October. We are really missing everyone and can't wait to make the trip back for Christmas to get to see everyone. We will be trying to keep the blog updated so everyone can know a little more about our lives out here.