More Utah Tourism

I think I'm getting close to the end of our summer posts. I rock! I mean, it's only October?!

The ever-exciting Bingham Copper Mine:



Craig thinks you should always teach your kids to follow the rules:


Our favorite curry spot in Downtown Salt Lake:


We attended the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house:


Ate chinese for dinner that night - AJ was diggin' the giant fortune cookie:


Went camping, aka slept in the motorhome in Grandma's driveway:


Went shooting with Grandpa Nielsen at Eagle Mountain:


AJ tried her hand at throwing pigeons (didn't work out too well):



And shooting was a "bit noisy" for her:


She truly had most fun collecting "treasure" (discarded shotgun shells):


Toward the end of our stay, I escaped to attend BYU-Idaho Education Week with friends:


And also spent a few days in Mesquite, NV with my mom and her friend. (No pics because this is all we were doing):

You've Got Supper

So check out this fantastic website! Simply give them your email address and they will plan out your dinners for the week, recipes AND grocery list. This will save me at least an hour a week. That's 52 hours a year. Just think what you can do with 52 hours...

This Lady Is Amazing!

Have you seen this blog?

Last year she made this - AND GAVE IT AWAY! Go look at the photos, seriously.


This year, it's this.


Amazing. Wish I had talent like that.

A Jolly Holiday With Mary

On Saturday we went to the Mary Poppins Broadway Musical. It was really great. This was AJ's first theatre experience, and she loved it. I think she was a little ancy at the end, but that's a long time to sit still for a four-year-old. But when it was over, she wanted to see it again. She also insited that she would fall over dead if she didn't have the Mary Poppins umbrella and since her umbrella just broke, we caved (SUCKAS!). Can't say I regret it. It hasn't left her hands since.

Happy Tunesday: Chillout

Rock and Roll by Eric Hutchinson
Sunday Best by Augustana
Falling Slowly by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
Tangled and Wild by Oh Susanna
She Is Love by Parachute
Closer To Love by Mat Kearney
Other Side Of The World by KT Tunstall
Don't Believe In love by Dido
Sleeps With Butterflies by Tori Amos
Big Jumps by Emiliana Torrini
Say by John Mayer

Holy Crap

Truly, there are no words. (Maybe because my mouth is full)

BTW - Why are the best treats always "Limited Edition"? It's bunk!

Texas State Fair 2009 (Or the day we ate Fried Butter)

We had a great time at the Texas State Fair last week. AJ's favorite was the Bubble House, which she did twice. Plus, I am a sucker for fair food. Remember? My favorite this year, Fried Peaches and Cream:


We also gave the Fried Butter a try (how can you not?):

It was actually pretty good. Nevermind that you increase your risk of heart-attack by 5000%

The Bubble House



Feeding the animals


Craig nearly got his eyes pecked out by this ostrich


Little Hands On The Farm


AJ got picked to go up on stage for the puppet show


Me and AJ with Big Tex


Check out these creepy photos! Craig and AJ went on the scary funhouse ride, but these pictures look scary, don't they?!



The view from the skyway that goes over the fair


And lucky us... we get to do it all over again this weekend after Mary Poppins.

Not That I'm Complaining...

because I'm not. The mild Texas winters are one of my favorite things about living here, but I'm wishing I had a reason to buy this. Isn't it lovely?

Happy Tunesday

My playlist today consists of:

Smile by Uncle Kracker (I LOVE THIS SONG!)
Take It Home by White Tie Affair
Dance by Lady Gaga
I Run To You by Lady Antebellum
How You Love Me Now by Hey Monday
Fireflies by Owl City
Don't Stop Believin' - "Glee" cast version (DON'T JUDGE)
Tell Me What To Do by Metro Station

Zoo Passes

We FINALLY broke down and bought season passes to the zoo. We went 3 times in the first two weeks. The weather will be getting cold soon, but I think we'll be getting a lot of use out of them this year.


AJ being a penguin.


Lunch at the pizza place. It was a cool, cloudy day and we had the whole place to ourselves. Perfect!


We love the train!

The Invention of a Crappy Movie

Craig and I went to this show on Friday. We were so excited to see it. I think Ricky Gervais is hilarious and I thought this was a great concept for a movie. It started out funny, but tanked about half-way through. What they don't tell you in the preview, is that the big "lie" he comes up with is that there is a God, a place we go after we die, etc. etc. It is very offensive to anyone who is Christian - in fact several people got up and walked out. Just a heads-up if you are thinking of seeing this film, it's not what it's promoted to be.

Fall Fun at Calloway's Nursery

We took a quick break from watching conference to decorate some pumpkins



and plant flowers.


Popcorn and treats to be had for all, plus I found a great cinderella pumpkin and some cool apple gourds.

Timpanogos Cave

While we were in Utah this summer, we hiked up to Timp Cave with A.J. She was a trooper and did most of the hike herself (she did hitch a shoulder ride or two). The hike is only 1 1/2 miles each way, but you gain over 1000ft. in elevation. She was a little nervous at first going into the cave, but she calmed down pretty quick and we had a great time.

The view on the way up



At the cave entrance (The little hole above our heads was the original entrance when the cave was first discovered)


A.J. had her hood on most of the time because she kept getting dripped on


In front of "The Heart of Timpanogos", the largest stalactite. (Note A.J.'s tribute)


They call this one "The Chef". Can you see it, with his fat tummy and chef's hat?


More pics of the cave - which really don't do it justice. It is pretty magnificent. I recommend it if you are ever in the Salt Lake area.




And as soon as we started driving home...