Dan and Megan Brown

 The day was finally here!!!! I haven't been so excited for a day in a long time. My entire family was here along with some extended family. It was a beautiful, wonderful day. Everything seemed to go so well. There were some small glitches but nothing major. All my siblings were in the temple together. Such a beautiful experience. I am so happy for Dan. We love Megan so much. It is so fun to add another wonderful woman to the family. Here is the picture overload. We will start with a cute individual picture of all my nieces and nephews. These people make up almost my entire world. They all looked so good for the wedding.

Here are a few shots outside the temple while we waited for Dan and Megan.

Emerson looked so handsome and grown up. I never see him in church clothes or with his hair done. I didn't recognize him. So hndsome.

Andrew asked if he could photobomb Anthony and Brooke:)

This poor baby was so sick. She is still a beauty even when she doesn't feel great.

Audrey was so excited. Her little shrill when she saw Megan in her wedding dress was so precious. She was made for this wedding:)

Megan's dress was so gorgeous.

My grandma came! So did jan, Lou and Virginia. They met us at the temple for pictures. It was so nice of them to come.

All my brothers. How did they all grow up so fast?

The morning was so perfect. I was functioning on very little sleep but I wouldn't change the way this morning went. I am so excited to see the pictures the photographer took. They hired one of Dan's friends and she does such an amazing job. Can't wait!

To Long Beach and Back in a day

 Olivia had a camp out at Catalina Island that she planned to go to last year. She fundraised, applied and did everything she needed to in order to attend. Dan and Megan just happened to plan their wedding date the Saturday after her week long adventure. She was not going to be able to attend because she wouldn't get back to Lodi in time to come with her parents. I was so bummed. I really wanted everyone at the wedding. A few hundred dollars later and a day off of work we were able to make it happen.

I flew to LAX early Friday morning. Took an Uber to Long Beach, hung out until her ferry from Catalina island arrived, took an Uber back to LAX, hung out in the airport forever, and flew back to Utah. I dropped her off at her parents hotel room at 12:45am Saturday morning. It was a crazy day but also a great one. I am so grateful there were no plane delays or cancellations, traffic cooperated. In the end everything was perfect. We were both very tired but honestly I couldn't have asked for a better trip.

I got to the long beach port four hours before her ferry would arrive. Luckily there were some beach cruisers for rent. I was able to rent a bike and spend a couple wonderful hours biking along the beach. I love love love this kind of thing. It made the day so perfect for me.

Seeing this bike parked at the ferry port got me so excited.

I definitely wasn't prepared for the beach. I totally got sunburned but I couldn't have put together a more perfect few hours for me while I waited for Olivia.

Being in the airport was not exciting but spending some alone time with this beautiful girl always does my soul good. I hope she knows how loved she is. Like so LOVED! 

It was a long day but we made it back for the wedding. My biggest fear was making this plan, spending all the money and then having something happen that would cause us to miss the wedding. We didn't miss it so it was totally worth it!!!!!

Random Happennings

 School started! It has been a great start to the school year. I love our new principal. He is so positive and so present. It has made a huge difference in the feel of the school. I am only teaching six classes because I have a prep for being on a leadership team. That has made a HUGE difference in my energy. It has been crazy and wonderful to have a prep every single day. It is my first time ever as a teacher and probably my only time I ever will. 

Cross country is going great. It is almost over. The girls have been so great and it is so fun to watch them progress. I have some amazing runners.

Erica sent me this picture. I had never seen it. She took it of me while I was street contacting in Taiwan. Her and Thank came to visit and took me and my companion to lunch. This was right before. I can't believe it has been almost 20 years that I have been home from my mission. That is so hard to believe. It seems like it was just yesterday and forever ago at the same time. Time is such a weird thing. My mission was definitely one of the hardest and most rewarding things I have ever done.

In my Oroville group chat Erica shared a picture of her parents and next thing you know we all shared a cute photo of our parents when they were young. It was so fun to see everyone's parents at that stage of life. Almost all of our little group has lost a parent. It has been so hard. It was fun to find a couple pictures of my parents to share. Man I miss my dad so bad it hurts sometimes, but I really do know I will see him again. That nday will be so great. I can't wait to get a hug from him!

The weather is finally starting to feel like fall. I am so ready for cooler temperatures. I love this time of year. The leaves in the mountains are all starting to change. It is such a good reminder to me that I can change too. That change is good. 

The past month a lot of time was spent preparing for Dan and Megan's wedding. It was the most perfect day. That will have a post of its own. Amanda, Brooke, Megan and I had a girls night to celebrate Megan. It was so nice and so fun. I love these women and the goodness they bring to my life and the lives of all the Browns. I also attended a bridal shower Megan's sister threw. That was fun. It has been so fun and exciting to prepare for the wedding.

Amethyst Lake Day 2

 I woke up so early and took my sleeping bag out of the tent and got into the hammock. Finally I got some relief for my back and neck. I think I should have just slept in the hammock, although it was pretty dang cold. Moki laid by the tree and Archie and I spent the morning snuggling in the hammock.

Anytime we were in camp I was in the hammock with Archie and Moki was close by tethered to a tree.

Archie is so snuggly. I love it. Moki was never really like that as a puppy. My back and neck finally got some relief while I was in the hammock.

Once it warmed up a little we hiked up and around Lake Amethyst. It was so beautiful. The high Uintas are a Utah gem.

The lake was so beautiful. It was definitely worth the hike to see this beautiful place.

The water was so clear. There were lots of people fishing. The reflection was so pretty at this time of day.

It was a 4 mile hike up and around the lake. We took our time and just enjoyed the scenery. the dogs got in and out of the water and chased little rodents. It was a nice morning.

There is also another lake on the trail. Lake Ostler. Also really pretty. Not as big or as a beautiful as Lake Amethyst but we went and checked it out.

Amber and I had all the stuff we needed to spend another night, but when you don't sleep it really isn't very tempting. We got back to camp, had lunch, rested and then hiked out. It was really hot but we made good time on the 5.75 miles back to the car. 

We made it home before 8pm. I had a nice long warm shower, started laundry and slept amazing in my own bed. It was a great short adventure. It was the perfect little trip for a short weekend.

Amethyst Lake

 Labor day weekend Amber and I headed into the high Uintas to hike Amethyst Lake. We brought Moki as well as Than and Erica's dog, Archie. We left Saturday morning and came home Sunday evening. It was a short but beautiful hike. It's 6.5-7 miles to the lake. Saturday we hiked in 5.75 miles and set up camp close to a beautiful meadow. The hike in was pretty moderate except one section that climbed 1000ft in under a mile. It was steep, but we took our time and survived. The terrain was so pretty and the smell of the pine trees was amazing.

Following these two cute dogs was so fun. They had the time of their lives.

Finally made it to the meadow. I was ready to be done. Carrying a heavy pack is no joke and no fun:)

I am smiling so big because I know this meadow means I can find a campsite.

I loved the site Amber and I were able to find. It was tucked away from traffic and surrounded by trees. It was also very close to water. The best decision I made was to have the dogs carry in my two hammocks. I loved having them to relax in at camp. It was perfect.

The dogs and I trying out my tent. Definitely not a lot of space with two dogs but we made it work.

It was so fun to have Archie but I forgot what it is like backpacking with a young dog. He did all the things Moki used to do. Bark if he wasn't in touching distance to me. Still had crazy energy after hiking. Wanted to be pet the entire time. If I was in the hammock he needed to be in it with me. It was so funny. 

Moki is so old that we got to camp and she laid down and didn't move unless I told her to. The contrast is so crazy. Both dogs did really amazing.

Archis spent a lot of time in the hammock with me. Luckily he is very cute and not heavy:)

We hung our in camp until evening. Then we went to the meadow; filled up our water and I took a bath in the freezing cold water. It was a very nice evening.

Then we hit the sack for the night. Archie had to be kicked off my mat multiple times before he realized he does not get to sleep on my pad with me. Both dogs fell asleep quickly and slept great. I didn't sleep at all. My neck and back pain were really bad. Carrying a heavy pack was hard on my body and sleeping on the hard ground is so much harder now that I am older. That was really discouraging. I love to backpack but I also love sleep.

It was a long sleepless night. Morning couldn't come soon enough!

Box Elder Peak

Erica and I went on a quick hike one Saturday evening. We did not have a lot of time but I had been wanting to check out the Box Elder Peak Trail. We went up the trail a little over 3 miles. It was a beautiful and cool evening, it has still been so hot in the valley. It was just what I needed to end my Saturday.

 We almost made it to the ridge. The actual peak is such an interesting shape. I am hoping to hike the peak someday!