surprise!

brandon wanted to surprise me last weekend so he planned a getaway to salt lake's mini-vegas to the west, wendover. we love going out there and used to go a lot but then we stopped getting free room coupons so we haven't been for like 3 years. anyways, brandon doesn't usually plan anything let alone surprises so when he does it's really kind of special (awww, how tender!). not only did he arrange the night away but he got tix to the pat benatar concert there. i totally heart her and her music. it was great to hear all my favorite songs of hers live. too fun! plus, it was really entertaining to see some "older" women drunk and dancing with the "younger" ones. so anywho, these pics are backwards since that is how they uploaded and i'm not about to change their order. here is mrs. pat benatar. btw, she loves to play air guitar:)

we went to the west end of town and watched the sunset. very nice shades of pinks and yellows.

us, watching the sun go down. before we gambled away our stash of cash. oops;)

this sign used to be right at the stateline but they moved him to the other end of town. for those of you who don't know, the summer before we moved to utah (in 1996) we stayed in wendover. it's kinda how we were introduced to salt lake. we went back to nd for a week or so to pack all of our things and come back. as a 12 year old about to enter junior high i wasn't too thrilled about this, as you can imagine, but that's a different story...:)

some artist created this...ummmm....well....rather strange sculpture about 20 or so miles from wendover. i'm not really sure what it's about and it's always made me curious so, i wanted to share it with those of you reading who haven't seen it.

the salt flats.

the weekend of the fourth

this is what mamma did all weekend (not that it differs from her normal routine though!):

us at rocky mountain raceway.
not sure why this pic is soooo blue but one of the mini cars flipped over and skidded across the track. they had to send him to the hospital in a helicoptor. watching accidents happen freaks me out! rmr put on a fireworks show after the races. it reminded me of watching the races in wishek, nd on the 4th and staying for the fireworks after. ahhhh, happy childhood memories!

the next day, brandon and i went riding by strawberry reservoir. it was so incredibly beautiful and pretty empty. we hardly saw another person all day, although we did see a bunch of gophers.

strawberry reservoir.

a weird tree we found. quakies are so weird, they will grow in any and all positions. it's interesting to see the shapes they take. this one just looks like it broke, but it still caught my eye.

us, on our ride.

at the lookout points you could see FOREVER. here's brandon admiring the scenery.

some pretty wildflowers. there were so many up there. it was still pretty wet and the temperature was almost perfect (it was a little cold without long sleeves). but, that's weird for july in utah normally it's HOT HOT HOT.

i want a cabin next to this lil' pond, it's picturesque.

can you see the oompa loompa face in the tree?!?!

brandon's new pet.

this pic did not take very well but it's of an eagle's nest off the highway. i had to zoom a lot so it's really pixelized and i don't know if you can tell but there is an eagle in it! i'm not sure i've ever seen one in the wild before. brandon drives by it everyday when he is out making his deliveries. he's a lot better at noticing wildlife than i am.

the saddest movie i've ever seen

i went with my very own sister to see this movie and WOW!, i bawled the entire time. i even cried for some of the previews (like the time travelers wife!). it was just so emotional i couldn't help but cry. i haven't read the book yet but think i may because i heard the ending is very different and i always love a good book. this may be sick and sad but i love reading books/watching movies that are really sad. even moreso, i love crying at them. i never used to cry that often about things like that but ever since i got married (hmmm, i'm sure there is an interesting analysis there:) i have started crying at the stupidest things. like when i watch a baby story on tlc, i always cry when the baby is born and the parents are holding him/her for the very first time. or, if i'm waiting at the airport to pick someone up and i see all the happy people greeting their own loved ones. it's like the joy overcomes me and i feel so happy for them that i cry. I LOVE TO CRY! there i said it. my friends and family make fun of me but i don't care cuz i love it. absolutely, without a doubt, love it.

~HAPPY 4th OF JULY~

The 4th is one of my favorite holidays and I want to wish all of you reading this Happy 4th of July. To be able to celebrate this holiday means a lot to me and I'm proud to be an American. Freedom is something that I hold dear to my heart and I feel it's one of the most important values in our society, even though it is threatened frequently (both from foreign as well as domestic policies/affairs). Even so, I am really grateful for the many people who fight for us, in all kinds of different ways, to be free.

Thank you all!