Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Here are some videos of us at Slide Rock on our way down to AZ. The water was SO cold it took my breath away every time. The first video is right after Skyler coaxed me into jumping off the rock into the water for the first time. Did I mention it was cold?!
This one is of me going down.

Memorial Day Activities

We woke up Monday morning to go help prepare the Memorial Day breakfast at the Graves'. No, it's not what it sounds like exactly - the Graves are our neighbors - but how fitting none the less :) Skyler's job was to cook the sausage. Mine?...I supervised

And took self portraits

There was a really good turn out. The Grave's always make sure to invite all of the neighbors as well as the entire ward. We love the Graves!



Here's one of Skyler's scouts, Adam. We sat next to him on top of the hill to eat.

Here's Skyler enjoying a breakfast made in Heaven (his heaven) - eggs loaded with cheese, hashbrowns cooked in bacon grease, pork sausage, and bacon which was sitting in a pool of...lets call it flavor :)

Once breakfast was done Skyler and I got changes and went up Big Cottonwood Canyon to go on a hike. We ended up hiking on the Dog Lake trail, although there was too much snow to hike down to the lake. We got close though. Only about a mile or so away.











Then, once we were done with the hike I had Skyler take us to The Silver Fork Lodge. It's a little diner up Big Cottonwood Canyon that my dad always used to take my brother and I to when we were younger. We ate out on the deck overlooking the gorgeous mountains.



The prices were higher then I remembered so Skyler and I had a healthy lunch of cheese fries and the BEST chocolate fudge cake I have ever had - Mmmmmmmm....that sounds really good. I think I'll go eat some chocolate cake now :)

Monday, May 18, 2009

Fun in the Sun (no doubt about it)

We were able to take a vacation down to Arizona the week of 5/11. After work that Monday I rushed home to help finalize our packing. We loaded the Corolla and hit the road! We found that splitting up the trip makes the drive seem a lot shorter so our goal for the night was to reach Kanab, UT. We made it around 9:30p, ate dinner and then proceeded to find a camping spot...When I say camping spot, I really mean in a two man tent in a wash off the side of the road. It seemed safe enough since the skies were clear, and we survived. Plus it was FREE! and much more comfortable then the car (our usual method). We woke up early the next morning so we could make a stop at Slide Rock National Park near (or in?) Sedona. We were the first ones through the gates and some of the ONLY ones in the water LOL It was a mild 41 degrees. Brrrrr.





When we finally reached AZ we really just enjoyed the ~105 degree weather with blue skies, and visiting with family and friends (Thanks mom and dad Nelson for putting up with us!) We couldn't believe a year passed since we last were there and had seen some of them. We made a list of our favorite places/things to eat and tried to get to them all:
1) Grimaldi's (Best pizza EVER - thanks for taking us Mom and Dad!)
2) QT's Horchata Slurpee

Mmmmmmmmmm :P

3) Serrano's Bean Dip and Salsa
*And a couple places we didn't get to that we'll have to hit up next time*
4) Higley Hot Dog
5) Nielsen's Frozen Custard - the one in UT just isn't the same :(

We also got to visit our favorite mall (very exciting I know...) Actually we were just needing to waste some time and it was pretty hot for outdoor activities :)

We were especially fond of these glasses. What do you think??


We got to visit Matt and McKenna and their little girl Eila, Strider and Jana and their little boy Grayson and we were SO excited to be able to congradulate Skyler's little sis' Aubrie and her husband Jake on their soon-to-be little one (Can't wait until Nov/Dec).
Here's cute Aubs with Skyler. I should have got a pic of her tummy - she's already showing!!

I got to visit with my buddy Lauren who is ROCKING at being a teacher (hope geocaching went well LOL), and with my aunt Barb, cousin Cameron, Tawni and her little boys. We also got to meet my aunt Cyndi's boys Josh, Adam, and Austin (Jeremy cound't make it) for some ice cream. It had been several years since we'd seen some of them and Josh was leaving for his mission that coming Sunday so we were lucky. They have grown so much!

Gotta throw in the "Goofy Face" pic


We got to kayak the Salt River thanks to Skyler's buddy Jake and his dad who is always so nice to let us borrow the kayaks.

We were able to attend Jacobs graduation from ASU - Congradulations!! - and we were invited to Strider's and Cherish's ASU graduation party that same night. Good job guys. Sister Pittam makes the BEST food (just ask Skyler) and we still need to call her for a couple of recipies from the BBQ ;)

Here's Skyler and I at the BBQ. I really should just ask people to takes pics of us, but I'm getting so good at this self portrait, one arm thing.

Kai, Clarissa, and Brinley hung out with us all after the graduation. I don't think little Brinley likes getting her hair done...



We even lucked out that Jace (Skyler's bro) and Melinda and the kids (including the newest member little Hinckley) came in town that Friday and were there for Saturday and Sunday. It was fun to be able to spend time with them and hear about their fun lives and activities. They should actually be coming to UT soon so we'll even get to see them again in not-too-long.
What a great uncle my sweetie is :D

Here we are at the park with Trae, Kali, and Kamea. So much fun!

We missed out on seeing Destry, Heather, Brody and Brooklyn who wont be getting to AZ until June, but we hope they have as much fun as we did!

All in all it was a wonderful trip. Mom and Dad Nelson took great care of us and were so willing (as always) to open their doors - home, car, cupboard, fridge :) - to us. And although we were glad to be home again, we look forward to another trip out to see our quickly and forever changing family.

Saturday, May 2, 2009


Skyler and I were able to participate again this year in Utah's Walk Now For Autism. Last year (our first time) we walked with Miles 4 Maia. This year we signed up as volunteers and we got to be in charges of the kids games. It POURED rain the entire time, but there was still a good turn out which we were all grateful for. I was so glad that Skyler grabbed the poncho for me otherwise I would have been miserable. He braved the rain in his hunting jacket :) Here's what their official website (http://www.walknowforautism.org/) said about the turn out this year:

"We did it Utah!
On Saturday, May 2nd, over 2,000 people
braved the rain to attend the 2nd annual Utah Walk Now for Autism at Utah Valley
University in Orem, Utah and raised over $145,000 for Autism Speaks so far,
funding work in research, family services, advocacy and awareness. Without each
of you, this would not have been possible, and for that, we thank you. A special
thank you to our newly inducted Grand Club Members, donors, sponsors, Team
Captains, walkers, in-kind sponsors, committee, walk day volunteers, Resource
Fair Vendors, entertainers, supporters and friends. Together, we made a
difference in the lives of so many. THANK YOU to all of you for joining
together to raise our voices for autism awareness in the Utah!"

Here are some pics from that day. Skyler and I even got to challenge a couple of kids to the fighting ring LOL

Friday, May 1, 2009

All the way back in...May I think...we went to Duchesne to help my dad work on the cabin. I couldn't believe how much it has changed since I saw it last year. I worked on painting while they worked on putting up what I'd painted - good team work!