Our Trip to Utah

We're back from our trip to Utah and I didn't do any posts while we were there because we were CRAZY BUSY! So, sorry for the picture overload! We flew to Utah on the 29th of March, Branden's parents, Cyndi and Dieter picked us up at the airport and we went to breakfast at Dennys. When we arrived at Branden's parents house this is what we saw....

The whole front yard was lined with these flags and Banners! Branden is always a little embarrassed when his mom does this ( its not the first time ), but he deserves it because we are all so proud of him!

Monday night we ate dinner with the Binghams and had a birthday party for our nephew Matthew.

Tuesday we took our nieces and nephews bowling. It was so fun!
Here is Branden with Cohen and Alicey.

Me, Branden, and Alicey

Cyndi, Chantel, and Avenley

Ashton and Matthew

Wednesday we went rode the front runner down to the Jazz game.

Here is Melissa, Blake, Brian, and Cyndi.

Elden and Sheri

My Grandma Jackie and Grandpa Jones... my dad came too

We all went to Applebees before the game, here is my step dad Dave, Necana, Beau, Jeremy, and my mom. Keaton and Austen were there too I just didn't get a pic.

Me and Branden at the Jazz game, they played the Golden State Warriors and beat them by a ton, I cant remeber the final score, but it's always fun when they win!

Thursday my dad took Branden and I snowmobiling up at Mantua. It was basically both me and Branden's first time going, it was a perfect day because it had snowed the day before so there was a lot of fresh snow.

It was way fun! I'm just afraid Branden wants a snowmobile now!

Thursday night we went to dinner at my mom's, I didnt get any pictures but it was a really good dinner, and we had fun playing games with the fam!

Friday afternoon we went with Branden's sister Chantel and her two girls Alicey and Avenley to the tree house in Ogden, it seems like such a fun and educational place to take your kids. Alicey had fun but we forgot that it was spring break so there were a ton of people there so we didnt stay long. Here is a picture of Branden and Alicey with Obama...Branden wanted a picture next to him even though he is NOT a fan.

Saturday morning was the Hooper city Easter Egg Hunt and Branden's mom is in charge of it every year, so we helped put out the candy and prizes in the morning and then at the Easter Egg Hunt....

To answer your question.....Yes, this is me and Branden

After the Easter Egg Hunt we went back to Branden's parent for their Easter party where we ate lunch and got a lot of candy! The kids got these scooter things for their birthday presents, they absolutely loved them!

Later on that night Branden went to the priesthood session with his Dad, and I went with my mom, grandma, aunt Stacey, and sister in law Ashlee to Olive Garden for dinner and then to the movie Love Story. I love having our girls nights! It was so fun! Thanks grandma I love you!

The monday after Easter Branden and I left to Drive down to St. George

Branden wanted to take the "scenic route" so we took 89 down instead of 15.

We saw the Manti temple... Amazing!

and some veterens memorial in Circleville that Branden wanted a picture next to!

We also wanted to see Bryce canyon so we drove through it too

It was pretty cool

in more than one way....it started snowing while we were there!

And then our drive from Bryce canyon to St. George looked like this! I thought we were going to Southern Utah to get AWAY from the cold! It was a pretty scary drive!

But, we made it! And it was well worth it too see this the next day at Zion!

We drove through Zion and went clear down to Lake Powell because I had never been there!

It was a long drive, Lake powell was pretty, but not what I expected, I like lakes that are surrounded by trees!

It was still cool, nonetheless

We were going to go to Antelpoe canyon to see some cool rock formations but the place only took cash and we didnt have any on us, so we just drove back to Zion.

It was getting pretty late, but we still wanted to go on a hike so we headed up Angel's Landing, which is the most dangerous hike in Zion....they say that at least one person a year dies on this hike....sounds promising I know.

We made it almost to the top and then decided to turn around so that we could make it back down the mountain before it gat dark.

The views were amazing!

Oh, I forgot to mention that for half of the hike you have to hold onto a chain so you don't fall to your death. It was pretty scary! I'm glad we didnt go the very top because that when it gets really dicey!

The next moring we did a little shopping at the outlet mall in St. George and then we headed to Vegas.

Vegas was well.... Vegas.

A few of my favorite things were...

this cool looking building.

The Bellagio fountains

and the rainbow M&M wall.

I just thought this was funny!

Oh, and the Las Vegas Temple.

Other than that, Vegas is a dirty disgusting city.

One of the nights there we went to a baseball game.

It was the Vegas Area 51 verses the Salt Lake Bees, we had fun, we just couldn't cheer for Salt Lake because everybody else was cheering for Vegas!

The best part about our Vegas trip was our hotel room, we Stayed in a suite in the Palms Hotel that had the most amazingly comfortable bed ever, two flat screen TV's, a full size kitchen, and a Jacuzzi tub! Here is the view from our balcony there were three towers to the hotel, we were in the third.

Friday we drove back to St. George and stayed one more night and drove back to Northern Utah on Staurday morning. And I must say I just love the St. George temple, it is just beautiful!

Saturday night we had dinner and my mom and Daves again and celebrated Necana and Austen's Birthdays. And Sunday we had lunch at my Dad's and Dinner at Branden's parents and tried to take a quick family picture at both places. We got them taken but they're definately not professional quality, oh well!

Monday morining we went to the Salt Lake temple with Branden's parents, it was their 36th Anniversary.

Afterwards we ate lunch at the Lion House Pantry, it was really yummy!

That night we had one last dinner with Branden's family before his parents took us to the airport, it was a fun trip, it just went by WAY too fast!

Whew! Sorry that was such a long post! We just crammed a lot of stuff into the two weeks we were down there! We will miss everybody so much, thanks for hanging out with us while we were there, and hopefully we will see you all soon! You are all welcome to come to Alaska and stay with us, anytime!

Snowboarding & Shooting

We have been having SO much FUN since Branden got home hanging out and just being together! Here are some pictures from our snowboarding trip to Alyeska. It is always a beautiful drive down to Girdwood! And an amazing view from the top of the mountain!

We went down a few times together and then I let Branden go down a couple of times by himself because I felt like I was holding him back, the runs were really difficult for me as I am still a beginner. We brought our own luch and ate it in the car, it was a perfect day!

But I was so tired by my last run I thought I was just going to die on the

mountain before I made it down... see!!

And just like all other military men that return from a deployment, Branden bought a new gun, one big enough to kill a moose or a bear, so we went to the shooting range by our house to try it out.

I just shot his AR 15 and he shot his new 30.06 because it kicks back too much for me, it was pretty fun and I guess I shot good because Branden said I was good enough that I could qualify in the military.

Anyways, we've been having a lot of fun together, we also got a new bike because one of ours was broken, so we have been riding our bikes on the bike trail near our house. Also Branden finally got a 4 wheeler, he's been wanting one since he sold his before we got married in 2006. I'll post pictures when we get back to Alaska because we are in Utah now for two weeks! But as you can imagine Branden is stoked to have some new toys!

Branden is Home!!!!!!!!!!!

Branden is FINALLY HOME!!!! Yesterday he arrived in Alaska at about 5:30 AM after a 24+ hour flight. They left Afghanistan on Saturday night, refueled in Germany, layed over in New Hampshire, and the flew to Alaska. There was a welcome home ceremony yesterday morning at 7:30 AM. Here are some of the soldiers standing in formation during the ceremony, if you look close Branden is in the back row...boy they look like a tired bunch don't they? I would be too after that much traveling!

Here I am with one of my signs standing on the bleachers!

I couldn't find Branden in all of the soldiers while they were standing in formation for the longest time, they all look the same in their uniforms!

Together at last! For longer than a year we hope!

I can't even describe how excited we are to be together again!
It almost seems surreal...too good to be true! But it is!!!!

WELCOME HOME BRANDEN!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!

Fur Rhondy

This weekend Ryan, Dawn, Britton and I ventured out to the fur rhondy parade. We had plans to look at the ice sculptures and snow sculptures, watch the sled dog races, and other fun stuff, but after the parade we were so cold we gave up and walked back to the car. It was about 18 degrees which is the coldest it has been since I got back up here...I hope it warms back up for when Branden gets home!

Here is a pic from the parade and below is some sled dogs we saw walking back to the car. I wish we could have stayed for the race but it was just too dang cold! I think there is more stuff going on next weekend, maybe we will try to do more then.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY BRANDEN SHOULD BE HOME IN A WEEK OR SO!!!

I can't believe that we are finally to the end of the longest year of our lives!

We are so excited to move on and live together again!

Yesterday...

Yesterday Dawn, Britton, and I went on a short picture taking adventure. We drove up towards arctic valley and took some pictures of the view. On our way back down Dawn spotted this guy on the side of the road....I hurried and pulled out my camera and snapped some pictures! Crazy! I was kinda scared, he/she was only 10-20 feet from our car....and we had the window rolled down! I thought it was going to jump in and get me! It was starring right at us!

On a totally different note, since the last post two weeks were added onto the month that Branden had left til he comes home, so now he still has a month left. He is on the LAST flight out of there.... At least he will be home soon, not soon enough for me though! Hopefully on the next post I can say he is on his way home!

So close yet so far away!

I know I haven't posted anything in a while, but not a whole lot is going on. I'm just playing the waiting game that is my life. Branden should be home in less than a month now, and I am going crazy waiting! I know he has been gone SO LONG and there is not that much left, but this last little bit seems to be DRAGGING! And, another hard thing is that Branden is done working over there because his replacement is there and so he is just sitting there waiting to come home, but he has to wait to come home with the rest of his unit....SO STUPID. Anyways, I am back working at Allure doing nails which is helping the time pass by a little faster.

My friend Dawn and her 16 month old Britton are staying with me right now until they get their own place. It is so fun having them around! They keep me happy and laughing all the time, I don't know what I would be doing here alone without them! Well thats about it, but I just wanted to update you all! I'll let ya know when Branden is on his way home!