Photo Album...or Alblum, as Becca Would Say

While we were cleaning out our spare room, Becca and I came across pictures that we wanted to save, but weren't sure how.  Since we print our blog, it has become a photo album of sorts.  Consider this a random addition.  In no particular order, our memories:

While cleaning I found several items from my days at Utah State as Activities VP.  Such good times.  Maybe the red Week of Welcome brochure was prophesy for my future life?

Family pictures with the Swains, Early 2011

Becca with her mom and sister at The Lion King at Capital Theatre

Becca's first car, Scully.  June 2010, with her dad.

The next few pictures are from the Swain's trip to San Diego in August 2009.  This one is taken on the steps of the observatory Mt. Palomar.

From the Swain's trip to Hawaii in 2003.  This would be 14 year old Becca. Can't figure out why the pictures won't rotate.

Swain Family picture in 2001.  Becca was in 7th grade.  These folks are hard core Ute's!

Same Hawaii trip in 2003

A picture of me and my then roommates at the time of my inauguration to ASUSU as Activities VP in 2004.  Left to Right: Kristin, Tara, Me, and Chelsey.  Gotta love the good ole Taggart Student Center. 

Such a bad copy, but this picture is of me and my sisters, Krysten and Taylor, in front of a fountain at Ceasar's Palace in Las Vegas.  This picture would have been taken within days of me returning home from mission in February 2007.  We road tripped to Sin City to hear my mission companion, Moffitt, speak at her homecoming.  I just remember taking my then 10 year sister through the casinos and trying to distract her from all the nakedness and naughtiness. :)

This is the back of the "Preach My Gospel" handbook.  This is the book that LDS missionaries used as a study  guide and lesson handbook during the time that I served in the Oklahoma Oklahoma City Mission. The little pictures are all slides of pictures from my mission.

Sam and Christina's engagement photo

Krys and I mugging for the camera while doing pictures at Nate and Hollie's wedding

One of my favorite family pictures of all time.  This picture was taken at a little roadside, hole-in-the-wall burger joint on the way to Bryce Canyon.  My mom, sisters, and I drove to Bryce Canyon in September 2008 for my first 5K race.

Charlie's angels.  The sisters being fierce at Nate and Hollie's wedding reception in October 2008.  They had a great wedding and a rocking party afterward. 

My high school best friends during our trip to New York.  This was at a club where we saw Teitur in concert.  Such a great time.  And I freaking loved that shirt that I'm wearing!

The day after I returned home from my mission.  This would have been Feb 8, 2007.  Love these girls. $100 bucks says I'm wearing nylons with this outfit.  What a weirdo I was when I got home!

Disneyland with my family.  This is one of the only family vacations we've gone on with my mom and was such a fun time.  This would have been Summer 2004, right before I started as Activities VP at Utah State.Taylor would have been 7 in this photo...that's nuts.  I just remember having a great time with my family and living on PB and J sandwiches.

Pretty classic picture of Nathan and I at Linsey's NASCAR themed birthday party in 2007.

Nate and Hollie

Ty, Linsey, Lesha, Me, Hollie, Nate...our parents are so proud!

I just love this picture because it is so classically Utah State.  This was taken in the Temple House.  I loved those shoes so much.  Miss them so much. 

Ha! Such a blast from the past.  This would have been some sort of holiday at my dad's house when he lived near East High School.  Based on the glasses and braces, Krysten guestimates this as her 8th grade year, which means I was a freshman at Utah State, and Nate was a junior in high school.  All signs point to 2002/3. 

Becca's sister, Rachel, and her first tarantula in Summer 2011.  Creepy.

Ellie helping her mom make zucchini bread.  Pretty standard scene in our house.

City Creek Canyon

One of our favorite places to go in Salt Lake is City Creek Canyon.  Above Memory Grove in the Capitol Hill area, City Creek is a walking / bike riding pathway that stretches about 13 miles into the foothills.  Becca and I love waking up on a Saturday or Sunday morning, throwing some protein bars and fruit into our Camelbacks, and heading over.  It also makes for a great early evening walking location.  When the weather allows, we go to this place often.

When Astrid came to town from OKC, we took Astrid and Shay to City Creek.

Love these ladies!!!!

Not Camping

Once upon a time there was a family who wanted to go camping desperately.  They had tried, and tried, and tried to go camping, but each time they attempted to camp they were thwarted by filled campgrounds throughout the wasatch front.  The family would not be deterred, however.  One day all four of them took off work and school on Friday so that they could leave Thursday afternoon and beat the crowds. 

They packed their puppy....

And filled the car with gear....

They were so excited to finally be on the road!

After they got firewood at the store, the mom said to the youngest sister, "Oh! I forgot to bring your sleeping bag!"

The family laughed and turned around, headed back to home base, to get a sleeping bag.

After the 30 minute detour, the family drove up Little Cottonwood.  Then Big Cottonwood.  Then Emigration. There were no spots to be found.  The family had once again failed the camping quest, and they were running out of daylight.  They returned home with a filled car, and emptied it brokenhearted.

Refusing to give up a great weekend, the family decided that instead of camping, they would go not camping.  That was a much easier goal to fulfill.

They were never able to camp during the Summer of 2011, but they still dream about. 

The end.

Dos Anos. Or, Happy Anniversary

Two years.  Boo yeah.

Random

Sometimes there aren't big events to blog about, but these really are the pictures that make our lives.  The random day-to-day pictures, at your service.

Costco...yikes

Hiking in City Creek

Walking in the avenues we came across M Street...or "Mo" street.  Best tagging job ever.

This is the ashtray outside of our building on the U of U campus.  At noon.  Well, it's 5:00 o'clock somewhere...

Red velvet cupcake from Sweet Tooth Fairy...delicious

This is what teaching conflict to university students looks like...

And this...

The "UP" House in Daybreak.  Very cute.

Fourth of The Lie.

We spent July 4th with the Swains.  We had a great celebration, including a fun BBQ, fireworks, and generally enjoying each others company.