Awesome Weekend!

We have had such a great weekend!  It was crazy to prepare for--and try to make it to everything on time!--but so worth it now, looking back.  Hooray for good friends and fun!

We started on Thursday morning.  We had reservations at East Fork Yurt in the Unitah yurt system and thankfully my parents were willing to watch our kiddos. We dropped Katelyn off at school, finished packing, dropped the boys off at my Moms and then headed out on our date!

Our dear friends from Texas, Andrew and Elena, picked us up.  We ran a few errands, ate a yummy lunch, and were off for the Unitahs!

The yurt we reserved was 1 1/2 miles away from the parking lot, on beautiful groomed trails. It was so pretty!  Mike and I (or rather, Mike) pulled a sled with our gear, Andrew and Elena backpacked.  The snow was deep, bright, and lovely.  I enjoyed conversation and nature with some of my favorite people. What a treat!

The Boys--see, Y and U CAN be friends! 

The Ladies.

We got to our Yurt in good time. The bathroom makes me giggle!  It took a couple hours to get the fire REALLY going, but once it was, we were toasty, roasty. Although the beds were hard, I wasn't cold at all sleeping at night!  We ate yummy food and played games long into the night. We enjoyed exploring and snowshoeing the next morning, and headed back to the car much too soon.  We all agreed that next time we need to go for two days, and we could go to one of the further yurts too.  It was SO pretty!

8 years ago, today...

This day, 8 years ago, Mike and I went on our first date--one that I had to ask him out on! We went on a Halloween cruise down the Provo river, he taught me how to boil chicken. He stole my heart with his cozy blue sweater and his humble, 'I work with the Elders Quorum.'  He broke the touch barrier in a 'non-sleezy way' and was tall and funny. 

I was the best blind date he had ever been on, 'and the most beautiful' and never dated anybody else after that momentous day!  I waited the appropriate 36 hours before a 'hello' text message and he asked me out for a repeat performance just in time. We talked on the phone and went on dates--it was a no-nonsense, no games relationship and I was smitten! So glad I convinced him to marry me! ;)

(Not our first date, but could have been...we may even be wearing the same thing as we did on that night!)

Weekend Date Getaway!

My cute hubby--what a stud!  He planned a weekend getaway for us--on the cheap!  We went backpacking in the Uintahs, to Long Lake to be precise. It was beautiful and fun and awesome and great without the kiddos!  We ate our 72 hour kit food (not great, but would certainly keep you alive), practiced our fishing--fly fishing included--, slept toasty in our WARM sleeping bags (got to be in the low 40's), took lots of pictures, hiked, and enjoyed not having to keep the kids from jumping in the lake.

Thanks babe!

On our way in!

Still smiling, on our way out! (We stopped by the Provo River Falls for a photo op. It was pretty. I look like I have a hunchback.)

This place is BEAUTIFUL!  A bit chilly, but SO pretty!

My cute Fisherman!

We actually didn't catch a single fish--but we caught a bat! (Don't worry, it just played dead. It was fine after a few minutes)

 Fly-Fishing (I promise, I fished too...just didn't get any pictures.) Fly fishing is super fun!

There is not a prettier place to camp, I'm sure!  Added bonus--no kids, so no drowning, regardless of how close we camped to the water!

On our way out--looking a bit worn!

 

A sign we passed on our way in and out.  HILARIOUS!  Notice the sign...closed due to mosquitos. Yes, I can see how that would be an issue at a nudist ranch.

  

Lastly, a big shout out to Austin and Jilli, who watched the kiddos overnight (which included being up all night with a not happy Ben.) You rock!