Bryce Canyon

Every time we drive to Utah, Brent and I always agree that we need to make pit stops on the way home to explore some of the places we have never been.  Three years we have been making the drive and in three years we have never made pit stops... UNTIL NOW!  Instead of making the normal drive home we decided to take a detour through Bryce Canyon. 

I am not a huge fan of the desert landscape so I just had to find joy in the journey. Our first stop was nice, but still a desert.

I think Harper was on my side.  She didn't seem super impressed.

Bryce Canyon consists of a lot of view points from the top of the canyon.

Harper and Dad!

Brent is such an amazing Dad.  I mean seriously, he absolutely adores this little girl.  He has pretty good reason to as well. 

At some point Harper and I had to hide from all the wildlife... that doesn't exist in the desert.

At the second or third viewpoint it was time to strap on the ergo.  

This raven was MASSIVE and just chilled as we took pictures and studied it. Brent edited a close up and it looks amazing.

Harper took a small small small nap.

One thing I love about exploring is you meet the coolest people.  Everyone there was willing to swap picture taking so we could have some family shots.

This was suppose to be in the background.  It is a natural arch. 

Brent always being the explorer!

As stated, I am not really one for the desert, but this view was INCREDIBLE!  That is a real ledge with a real fall.  Brent took the picture but then told me to get back since I did have his baby with me. 

That right there is Thors Hammer.  Can't you see Chris Hemsworth coming down and using that Hammer to battle interplanetary demons?!   

At our last stop there was a hike that was only 1.2 miles.  Brent and I thought that it would be a 20-30 minute jaunt, then we would be on our way home.  We were wrong.

It was a really pretty hike but almost straight downhill and then straight uphill.  Needless to say, our estimation was WRONG!

I love how Harper just barely pokes out.

Told you it was pretty. 

The flat parts were really relaxing and peaceful.

It is never to early to teach children about geological make up!

I LOVE these two people!

Daddy being silly.

Family picture!

As I mentioned, we totally underestimated the time it would take to do the hike.  Since it took over and hour to complete, Harper was super hungry, tried and not thrilled with her parents. (I realize the blue binki makes life confusing but it is just so so so cute!)

It was a great pit stop.  We spent 4 hours in the park and enjoyed spending time together and seeing something new.  The main part of the canyon was really the most impressive.  The hike was long and wearing Harper was hot but it was totally worth it!

We drove through Zions on the way home and I am totally ready to do a whole weekend exploring that terrain! 

September BYU Football!

Once a year, we try to get together to experience the glory of the BYU Football. Everyone who can make it work shows up.  This year Dad, Toren, Audrey, Austin, Brent, Harper and myself were able to attend.  There are a few common expectations when we attend.

First, I ALWAYS go and get a scalp treatment at the Paul Mitchell School.  A two hour head massage and hair treatment for $6.00!?!?!  Who can pass that up.  The boys kept the kids so Audrey and I could truly relax.

Second, we have pre-game lunch at Tucanos Brazilian Buffet. It is delicious but if you have it to frequently it is not a good.  

Third, we hit up the book store. I love getting new BYU gear!  Don't you love my cute shirt?!

Fourth, new this year is the BYU walk.  This is where the team walks from the bus to the locker room. This allows them to get pumped up.  It was pretty fun.

Finally, the game!  I wasn't suppose to go but then I really wanted to.  My Aunt Pattie and Cousin Jenny said they would take Harper.  I am SO grateful for such amazing family.  We went to the game and that is when a 3 hour long thunder storm started.  We sat under the bleachers and waited it out.  Of course we got soaked in the process.

The bleachers cleared out a little bit but true fans stayed around, and it was so worth it. 

The game was against Texas.  We were suppose to lose... bad, but they played terribly and we played probably better than we had all year.  It was such an enjoyable and memorable game!

I really love being able to make these fun family memories!  I hope it is a tradition that we can keep up for many many years to come!

Fun in Utah

When we went to Utah with Brent's family, Brent and I got to take some time to enjoy Harper all by ourselves!

Harper LOVED Culver's. Burgers cooked in lard!?!?  She screamed "yes, please!!!"

Then we went to one of the giant sporting good stores which had fun picture ops set up! 

Harper loved 4 wheeling.

And making friends with a big Grizzly.

Dad didn't think it was super safe for Harper to be that close so he had to rescue her!

She climbed a tree with a cougar near by.

Brent and I played a few rounds of Dance Dance Revolution.  It was fun but I have NO coordination.  I was never meant to be a dancer.  I honestly think I ended up with a negative score. 

We hit up Temple Square and got to enjoy some of the visitor center. Harper was in awe of the beautiful room.

And finally she got to enjoy the beauty of the Salt Lake Temple.  She loves her cousin Tyler. This is a gorgeous picture, especially since it was taken with a point and shoot camera.

I love being able to wander around and goof off with my fun little family!  I am super excited for all the adventures to come!

Trip to Utah

Who loves Utah? Well, not technically this girl.  Don't get me wrong.  It is growing on me (especially since I no longer have to deal with the people or the snow) since compared to Vegas it is green and mountainous! But I did love my college experience at BYU and it is one I would want for my family!  

Currently, this girl!  Tyler is a sophmore this year and still unsure of where she wants to go to college...

 You better believe Brent and I had an opinion or two.

So we took off to Utah for a few days meeting Brent's Mom, Christi and Tyler there.  It was an easy persuasion considering we now have Harper as a bargaining chip!

We checked out Temple Square, Temple and other fun things in Salt Lake then headed to Provo to hit Bridal Veil Falls.  Christi was amazing to take some family pictures for us!

Harper is changing so fast!  She is already so different from these pictures. Had I realized we were going to get such cute pictures I would have not been so decked out in BYU gear!

Harper just had to try the leaves.  Good thing mom and dad were ready to stop her!

After some time at the falls we hit the book store and then the BYU vs BSU football game. It was cold, and you could tell Tyler was torn.  She ended up not cheering for anyone... the entire game.  I am not sure if we succeeded or failed, I guess time will only tell!

The great thing about Friday night football games is that we had all Saturday to drive home and worked our way through Bryce Canyon... Get excited for that post!

Halloween Party 2013

When we moved to Vegas we made some really good friends, The Gunns.  We settled in and now we are pretty much family.  Sarah Gunn and I agreed that we should be more outgoing and thus the idea of an Annual Gunn and Huntley Halloween Party was born.  Last year it was a zombie apocalypse party and this year it was all about Super Heroes. 

We always hand deliver the invites and told everyone to come in their original superhero costume.The first hour is for the entire family.  We have crafts, face painting, games and pizza.  

Harper was the perfect little dragon!

Toren and Audrey let us borrow Iron Man, I mean Austin, for the parrty.

After the first hour the kids head over to the Gunns house and the real party begins.  This year I was the Super hero ref.  My super power? The ability to referee issues between super villains and super heros. We seperated the guest into two groups villians and heros.  The first game was a jousting game.  The Heros came out victorious.

The second game was a trivia game, Heros won again.  The third game was to test agility, the villians made a come back.  And the final game was progressive charades. The villians tied it up!

Well there can't be a tie.  As the ref I came up with the tie Breaker (really, we didn't have the idea of a tie planned) that every great villian and super hero has an orgin story and so each team would have to tell me one of their teams origin story. 

The Heros (above) went first. It was a tragic tale of how the super hero born on a small island west of Canada... It was epic!

Then it was the Villains turn.  I can't even explain... Essentially they won because they embarrassed me way to much!  The Villains ended up being victorious!

It was an amazing party!  We all had a great time.  It is going to be difficult to top it next year.  Sarah are you ready for the challenge?