The Besties

Last weekend, I got to spend a lot of quality time with the roomies.  We had such a grand time!  Between vacations, work trips, boys, etc. we just haven't had enough quality time together lately.  This was most overdue! 
We went for a run in the morning, and then headed down to Provo to hike the Y.  Before heading to the trailhead, we stopped at the bookstore to buy a new BYU shirt.  When we walked in, the new football t-shirts were on display, so that's what we went with.  If you bought the white one, you got the navy blue one for $5.  So we of course got both.  Olivia and I also bought another BYU running t-shirt.  We were headed out of the bookstore with our purchases when we walked by some very cute clothes.  Commence fashion show!!  This consisted of us trying on skirts and shirts on type of our hiking attire in the middle of the store.  I may have even taken my t-shirt about 80% off while removing a shirt I had tried on.  Yes, that was me standing in the BYU Bookstore in my g top and sports bra.  Stellar!  After spending an absurd amount of money on new clothes (including matching skirts for the 3 of us), we headed to the trailhead.
I have decided that hiking the Y is like child birth.  You forget how painful it is in between events!  It is only a mile or so, but it is steep, and it hurts me.  I love it!  It was about a billion degrees this day too...and we went at high noon...and I had run 6 miles that morning. But it was so, so fun!  My first hike of the season!  Hiking fills my soul with so much joy!

I love Provo!

Sportin' the new football tees!

A special thanks to the skinny shirtless man who took this one!

A hiking of the Y would not be complete without a stop at the BYU Creamery.  Yes, we did leave with 3 half gallons.  And yes, we did get plastic spoons and ate from the carton on the way home.

On Sunday, we went down to American Fork for dinner at the Ellison's.  This picture of us sitting down was mostly a joke, but it sure turned out cute!

We are all sporting some of the new clothes we purchased at the bookstore the day before (me-new shirt and tank top, Olivia-new shirt and skirt, Tricia-new skirt).  Aren't we hot betty's?!

What a fun weekend!  I love these girls!  We have too much fun together for our own good!

Bucket List #92 - Go to a Rodeo - Complete!

Last Friday, John took me to the Pleasant Grove Strawberry Days Rodeo.  People watching at its finest!!  I forgot my camera, so these are all taken with my cell phone.  Sorry about that!

I think my favorite event was the saddle bronco and bareback bronco riding.  I was less than impressed with the bull riding.  The calf roping made me terrified that the the little cows were getting hurt.  Haha!

Me and some horse rear.

Hurray for another item checked of my bucket list!  Thanks John!!  God bless America!

Lately

I have been keeping busy lately spending lots of time with John and his girls and with Amy and the kiddos.  I also spent a week down in Cedar City for work.  Here are some pictures of what I've been up to.
Sydney is on a cheerleading squad, so she was in a parade a few weeks ago in Eagle Mountain.  John, Payten, and I went to watch and cheer her on.

This is John's daughter Payten.  She's the cutest 4-year-old on the planet!

Pay Pay waiting for Sydney to walk by.

Here is Syd in the parade.  She rocked it!

John and Sydney

Gotta love those blue Blow Pops!

John and Payten

My ward had a Girls Camp fundraiser dinner for the Young Women in my ward a couple of weeks ago.  Dan was out of town for work so Amy brought the kids down and John and the girls came too.  They had lots of fun with the huge marshmallows!

 

How did Sophie become a toddler so fast?  She looks so grown up here!

 

 

Here are a few pics from my trip to Cedar City.  One day we got to drive through Cedar Breaks National Monument.  It was soooo beautiful!  It was one of the best days of work ever!

These little friends were just outside of Brian Head.  So random!

Cedar Breaks - I love finding these little gems in Utah!!

I was in absolute heaven! It made me want to go hiking and camping so bad!

This was my face the whole time I was there!

This is what it looks like when I'm working.  Cindi flew in from Denver to drive with me for the week.

John grew up on the Cedar City area, so I was driving by all his old stomping grounds for the entire week.  It was pretty fun!  My last night there, I went to his most favorite restaurant ever, Milt's Steak House.  He said I HAD to get the prime rib, so I did.  It was sooo delicious!  I will need to be visiting Milt's again very soon!

Thursday was John's birthday, but because I was in Cedar City, we celebrated on Friday night.  I took him to dinner and a Ryan Shupe & the Rubberband concert.  Then we went back to my house for brownies and ice cream and presents.  I failed to take a single picture, but it was a really fun night.  And John loved the presents I got for him.  I love buying people presents!
Yesterday was Sydney's 8th birthday!  She was princess for the day!  Here she is on her throne!

John got her this hot new pink Razor.

No birthday is complete without some jumping on the trampoline.

I made Syd this rag blanket.  I took Tricia's sewing machine down to Cedar City and sewed in my hotel room every night.  Haha!  I'm sure my neighbors loved me!  Syd loved the blanket which made me so happy!

It has been a busy but fun few weeks!  I love summer time!

Btown Road Trip

John and I headed down to good ol' Bakersfield for Memorial Day weekend.  We both took the Friday before off so we left Thursday after work and stayed in St. George with John's brother, Cary (what a great name!).  Then we headed for Btown Friday morning.

So glad he was still keeping his eyes on the road!

We rolled up to the casa around 1pm on Friday.  My dad had already been working the smoker preparing our delicious dinner.  When John and I decided to head down for the weekend, I emailed my dad with my menu requests...ribs, tri-tip, and smoked meatloaf.  He pulled through on every one and even added some smoked chicken to the mix.  We completely pig-faced ourselves all weekend.  It was heaven!  If there is anything the Cosby's know how to do right, it is food!

Me and Jannie in a pair of my old shorts that I still wear cinched up tight at the waist.  And notice my new picture up above the mantle (top left)!!  No more old senior pic!

So John is in love with Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, and all things old school country.  Is there a better place on earth for the guy than Bakersfield, CA?  He was like a giddy little kid on Christmas morning for the chance to see Buck Owens' grave, the Crystal Palace, and the Kern River.  I made us a road trip CD for the trip with his favorite Merle and Buck songs on it.  I think I have them all memorized now!

So happy to be by the Kern River!  He even bought a t-shirt and bumper stickers.  Cracks me up!

On our way home from Kernville, we stopped by the Crystal Palace.  They have a Buck Owens museum that circles the restaurant, so we walked around and checked it out.

Apparently Buck won this car in a bet with Elvis Presley so they've put it up on the wall behind the bar.

Literally on the streets of Bakersfield!

 

After church on Sunday

On Sunday we just relaxed and went to church.  We looked through my baby book...always a joyous time!  Then we got up and headed home on Monday.  It went by way too fast!  I hate when vacations end!  We successfully drove 20+ hours and spent 4 straight days together and still like each other.  That's a good sign I think! :)  Thanks to my parentals for being the most awesome parentals on the earth!  So fun to spend time with them!