A Year of Dates: July

July was such a busy month and we had to keep rescheduling our "Year of Dates" date for July.

I was beginning to wonder if we would have to postpone it until August (Is that allowed?).

Luckily by splitting the date into two smaller outings we were able to make it happen just before July ended. Neither of us minded having to go on an extra date. ;)

For outing #1, we hiked Ensign Peak.

Patrick and I hiked Ensign Peak once during our dating days but missed the sunset.

(This was just after we had held hands for the first time so I don't think we cared too much because we were too distracted by each other! Ha!)

A return trip went into the "Year of Dates" book.

Our timing this time was perfect and we loved finding landmarks across the valley while

watching the lights in the city appear as the sky grew dark.

Patrick and I stopped about halfway up to the peak. Something had caught our eye and we were standing by the edge of the trail talking.

A family stopped before passing us and asked if Patrick was proposing and offered to take a photo.

A couple years too late! Ha ha!

(Just so you know, a hike was part of Patrick's proposal...)

Part #2 was spent at the Clark Planetarium.

We met up there one day after work.

I love meeting up because I still get butterflies when I see Patrick from across the room.

My original idea for this date was to visit the planetarium to brush up on our knowledge of the universe before stargazing atop of Ensign Peak.

However, we had to reverse the order of things and the sky was hazy the night we hiked Ensign Peak and I think we only counted a total of eleven visible stars.

So things didn't go quite as planned but we didn't enjoy our time together any less.

I mean really, how can I not have a good time when I'm with this guy?!

Christmas in July 2014

Last year we celebrated 'Christmas in July.'

I was quite pleased when Patrick mentioned we should do it again this year.

I love the little traditions that have made their way into our married life!

Since we don't have a mantel to decorate, our bookshelf had to do...

As part of our celebration, we each find a simple and inexpensive gift for the other person.

I gave Patrick a "prairie diamond." The story goes that pioneers would bend a horseshoe nail into the shape of a ring to give to their sweetheart since real jewelry would have obviously been quite scarce on the trek across the plains.  Not sure if this is true or not, but I think it is terribly romantic!

Patrick gave me a plaque that states "I love you more." Very suiting as who loves who the most is a common argument in our home. ;)

And he gave me this silly rubber CTR ring. So funny that we both gifted each other rings!

Can I just say this little celebration made me want the real Christmas to be here already?

With the way time seems to fly around here, I'm sure December will be here before we know it...

VIP Visitors

Here in Utah we have a special holiday that takes place on July 24th- Pioneer Day.

It celebrates the day the first group of Mormon pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake valley.

Obviously this holiday is a big deal at This Is The Place Heritage Park, as we are in the business of pioneers!

I spent the 24th on the train and had the special opportunity of giving some VIP passengers a tour.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf along with his wife and immediate family boarded the Jupiter!

I had met President and Sister Uchtdorf before while serving as a YPM in Nauvoo and they were both as warm and gracious as I remembered.

It made my day to help their family celebrate their holiday at TITP.

Well, I was a little nervous that the Uchtdorf family would being visiting the park. I was in a rush that morning to make sure I would be to work on time for their private tour (the Salt Lake Marathon was taking place near TITP) and in the process forgot my lunch. Patrick is such an observant husband and after seeing my lunch still sitting in the fridge and knowing how easily I get "hangry," 

he drove up to the park to deliver my lunch bag to me.

I returned his kindness by taking him on a train tour and sneaking him some kisses from underneath my wide-brimmed hat.

Having my VIP up for a quick visit made my Pioneer day all the more perfect!

Our Summer Must Dos

Do you have a list of summer must dos?  Patrick and I have never formally made a list, but there are a few things we like to do each and every year to make our summer complete.  Last week we checked several activities off...

SALT LAKE BEES 
Growing up, my family loved going to watch the Missoula Osprey play and catching at least a baseball game or two is something I still look forward to each summer.  Last week we met up with some of my fellow Nauvoo YPMs and their spouses (and babies) to enjoy a game.

My comp, Katie, and her sweet little girl.

Jason, his wife Kristi, and their son. He had on the cutest baseball pj's. 

OUTDOOR MOVIES
It has been quite hot here in Utah and despite all the fun summer things to do, it is easy to find myself wishing that is was already fall.  Luckily, the nights cool down to the perfect temperature and there are lots of parks offering outdoor movies.  This Friday, we watched "Monsters University" at the Holt Farmstead in South Jordan.  The temple was to our left and a full moon to our right and we had front rows seats on the lawn.  It couldn't have gotten any better!

Patrick making crazy eyes... 

SWIMMING
We have been trying to take advantage of the pool at the rec center where I teach Zumba classes. They have an awesome set-up that includes a water-slide, lazy river, and whirl pool.

Here are the rest of our "must dos" for the summer:

• Real Salt Lake
• Waterpark
• Drive-In Movie
• Camp-out and bonfire
• Twilight Concert
• Farmer's Market
• State Fair

4th of July 2014

 Didn't have any 4th of July decorations so we decided to draw some patriotic artwork on the apartment stairs....

Hope you had a wonderful 4th of July!

This Is The Place: Red, White, and Blue

This Fourth of July I spent my day aboard the Jupiter giving tours of This Is The Place Heritage Park.  Can you think of a more perfect way to spend your holiday than remembering the past and talking all about the amazing people who helped make our country the great place it is today?  

Truthfully, being on the train for 8 hours can be a hot and tiring way to spend your day so I always try to come up with different ways to stay entertained.  I decided to have a little photo scavenger hunt and search for red, white, and blue around the park.  The park was recently given a patriotic over-haul in preparation for the Fourth, as well as Pioneer Day, so the colors were found in abundance!

I am pretty much obsessed with the buntings they hung from the buildings and homes. Kind of wish they could stay up all year...

Did you know the red, white, and blue stripes on the barber pole are meant to represent blood, bandages, and veins? Back in the day, barbers didn't just cut hair and shave beards. They also pulled teeth and performed bloodletting.  

Just one of the many, many things you'll learn up at This Is The Place!

I love wearing red, white, and blue on the Fourth of July so it worked out perfectly that my train conducting outfit just happened to be those exact colors.

Fellow train conductors Rachel and Geordan!

The train conductors weren't the only ones looking patriotic...

Kris and Diamond Jim.

There are always so many wonderful people who come up to the park.

The cute little boy above, Kaden, made sure to get on my train every time!

He was so awesome at shouting "Full steam ahead!" to get the train moving.

Getting to know Kaden and his family absolutely made my day!

The people I meet and work with definitely make this job!

FantasyCon

This past week FantasyCon took Salt Lake City by storm.

And I got to experience it all firsthand. 

In October, This Is The Place will be holding an extravagant Witches Ball. 

Members of the Vignette teamed worked a vendor booth at the convention to promote this upcoming event at TITP.

I was excited to wear a ballgown and pretend I had long hair again. (The wig was almost a perfect match to my real hair color.)

I also was looking forward to the people watching and as predicted,

there was never a dull moment.

I saw some of the most amazing costumes and met some of the most interesting people ever.

I ran into lots of friends...

and made some new ones.

Although, I can't saw I am the type of person who would buy a ticket to something like this (despite what you may think due to my theatrical background and the fact I dress up like a princess every weekend),

I really enjoyed my day at FantasyCon.

It was fun to see people go all out with their costumes and then find the confidence to actually wear them in public.

I was inspired by all the different artisans and vendors.  They are so passionate about what they do and many of them make a living selling their super unique products/services/art. That is a dream of mine- to make something artsy to sell at markets and events. 

I just need to find the right first...

Salt Lake is a fun city, alright. Always something unique and exciting going on!

The Julie Andrews Hat

This summer I am taking a bit of a break from teaching. Instead, I can be found traipsing around This Is The Place Heritage Park in a sunny yellow dress and a large straw hat. 

Whenever I wear this hat, I get the urge to twirl down a hill singing, "The hills are alive with the sound of music!" 

Guests visiting the park have referred to me as the Julie Andrews lookalike and I am completely flattered because she is one of my idols. 

Now I just need to get that husband of mine to watch "The Sound of Music" so he can appreciate the resemblance, too. How has he not seen this movie before?! 

You can guess what we'll be doing for date night in the near future. :)

I will keep posting photos and sharing my summer adventures from the park

but I know you'll love experiencing it in person, too.

So come and visit me sometime at This Is The Place!