thailand reunion.

last year at this time i was headed across the world on the trip of a lifetime with these people. 

gosh, i miss everything about that trip and that place. 

so much that me and lindsey have spent countless days wishing we were back there.

...and a couple weeks ago, us three girls were reunited for the first time since our super sad 45 minute departure in the bangkok airport!! it was so hard to say goodbye, because we knew it would be long. So finally being together, almost exactly one year later was exactly what we needed. We reminisced about our crazy adventures and laughed about all the things we'd somehow forgotten. If only our Natey baby were there...it would have been perfection.  

Even though I won't be spending this fourth of july in koh phi phi paradise like last year...

I am a lucky little girl and will be spending it in another brand new place and i have a feeling it will be just about as good!! :)

lake powell.

After spending a week in Utah, we headed straight to Lake Powell with my family. Can I just say that I absolutely love the drive from Provo to Wahweap? Because I seriously do. We were supposed to do an overnight cabin trip with some of Devin's friend that got cancelled last minute so we decided to head down early and bring Matt and Anne with us since they both had already taken work off! It was perfect. We had a very small group this trip. Just my sister Julie and her family, my parents, us, and Matt and Anne. That's the smallest group we've ever had... so we decided to just keep the boat in the marina. That ended up being a very good thing since our boat broke down on our very first ride. Such a bummer. Luckily we got a little bit of tubing and wake boarding in before the boat broke. Matix was super brave and got back on the tube after a couple years. He had a rough experience, but he is back to loving it for the most part! We finished the day up with swimming and game playing. Even though the boat never ended up getting fixed, and 4 mechanics couldn't figure out what was even wrong, (my dad spent his entire father's day working on it :( ) my parent's stake president and very good friend was also out there and let us borrow their extra boat. What a freaking lifesaver! Our trip would have been such a bust without them. Especially since it was Matt and Anne's first trip to Powell! We squeezed all the important Powell activities in just in time for them to leave: tubing, hiking Labyrinth Canyon, Rainbow Bridge, Dangling Rope ice cream, star gazing and sleeping under the stars, and endless board and card games. We also got to hike West Canyon after they left. My favorite. We still cut the trip a couple days short because of the boat dilemma which was a bummer...but we definitely had plenty of fun in the sun!! Until next time...

murder mystery dinner.

While in Utah we also got the itch while playing the board game, Clue, to host our own murder mystery dinner. I've never been to one before and have always wanted to. Maddie and Maren (Devin's little sisters) were super excited and so we decided then and there that we were doing one the following night. We even got their older sister, McKenna on board. Thank goodness because she took over the majority of the food prep, while I got the game ready. The younger girl's raided their family costume closet. We invited a couple of extras...and we were ready to go. 

Murder at the Deadwood Saloon 

The cast:

On the menu was:

Sloppy Joes, beans, fresh corn on the cob, chips and (root) beer!

 It ended up being the favorite event of our entire trip! 

AND I won two awards!!

most money (I was a little hussey) and best performance! (tied with Devin)

Pleasant Grove.

We recently spent a week up in Pleasant Grove Utah with Devin's family. It was super nice to be up there with no real plans...just to hang out and go with the flow. Plus his little sister Maddie broke her collar bone last week, so it was fun to keep her company and hang out with her. 

While we were there...we went to dinner a few times. Had a game night with a bunch of Devin's friends. Watched a firework show. Made S'mores. Swam at the pool (all day everyday). Watched Devin's brother's band (Desert Noises) play up in Ogden. Played lots of board games. Went to Seven Peaks. Hiked Bridal Veil Falls with our favorites, Matt and Anne. (Matix is the ultimate hiker). Celebrated Devin's nephew/Matix's new best friend, Jack's birthday at our favorite breakfast place, The Awful Waffle. And basically just had a blast doing whatever the heck we wanted. It was definitely a treat to spend some much needed time with the Lethbridge gang. I can't wait to go back.