Memorial Weekend

This past weekend we were fortunate enough to spend the long weekend with Mike's cousins Jake and Nathanael and their spouses Brooke and Shelbey in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. The party started Friday afternoon, and did not stop until monday night. We got very little sleep and spent most the weekend outside- golfing, swimming, hot springs, walks, park, and a home run derby. We did a group golf with all 6 of us, which took over 3 hours.  The boys went back for a second round on Monday so they could "focus" and play "seriously" while the girls went shopping. Each couple was in charge of making dinner one of the days. We ended up with some really delicious food! Shelbey and Nathanael made chicken alfredo with a home-made alfredo sauce. Mike and I made lasagna and garlic bread, and Brooke and Jake made fancy oven nachos with home-made guacamole. In our down time we played card games and watched movies. There were some fantastic movies on this weekend! We watched Mrs. Doubtfire, Batman Begins, and bits and pieces of other movies and playoff games.

Our Memorial Day outfits

 Brooke and I decided to make a S'mores pie. It was very interesting but quite delicious.

I believe this was Shelbey's first time golfing at a course. Everyone did great!

 9 holes of golf with 6 people takes a very long time and is quite exhausting when we walk the course. Just ask Shelbey!

 We took Brooke and Jake to the cemetery where Mike's family is buried. (Mike still had on his church socks) If you look super close, you can see Mike's name on the stone. 

Tibble Fork & Spelunking

We have two weeks left in Utah, and two months until Mr. Mike starts his job in Dallas. So we have to make the most of all the time we have! (I am absolutely loving the thought of having Mike to myself all day long for the next 2 months! So many adventures to be had) Today we decided to go on a day trip up American Fork Canyon. We had never been there and had no idea where we were going. We were just going. First we went to Tibble Fork Reservoir and hiked around the beautiful lake for about an hour. It was a super sunny day, so the lake was refreshing to wade in. Mike will probably have a sunburn tomorrow. We saw a snake... yuck.. I nearly jumped on top of Mike to get away from it while he hopped toward it to catch it. He also tried to catch a few lizards.

After Tibble Fork we decided to drive until we found something cool. We ran into the Timpanogos Cave National Monument. We found out that there was a 1.5 mi hike to the cave entrance, and then about a 45 minute cave tour through 3 caves. The caves were about 45 degrees and all we brought were our lake clothes. The caves ended up not being as cold as we thought (we were sweating by the time we made it up the mountain in the sun), and we had fun exploring the caves and hearing stories from the tour guide. The cheeseburgers from the snack shack were a perfect snack after our 6 miles of hiking from the day. You can learn more about the Timp Caves here and here. I found the history interesting, and I can't believe the people who discovered the caves did so by candle light as they repelled into the darkness! (Aren't ropes supposed to catch on fire!?)

 Mike and our tour guide who is from Pittsburgh. He has worked in parks all over the nation.

 There were a few hidden pools in the caves. 

The rock below glows orange when a flash light is held up to it. There were also a few that would glow a sea foam green which was pretty cool.

A glimpse of May

May has been super busy. Dallin's Wedding in St. George, and then 2 days later we traveled down to Vegas for Mike's cousin Sydney's wedding. Sydney and Josh were married in the Las Vegas temple.
We had a fun mother's day weekend in Evanston at Denae's house, where Alyssa opened her mission call. She will be serving in the Belgium/ Netherlands mission speaking Dutch. We are super thrilled and excited for her.  We had a nice surprise when we woke up to find that it had snowed all night, and then continued to snow all day on Mother's day. I have never seen snow in May before. That was a huge shock (and I find it completely ridiculous). The day after mothers day I went to Pocatello, Idaho for a week of grad school classes. Since the majority of my program is online, I always love meeting up with the girls and getting to discuss school in person instead of on the computer. Poor Mike had to show our apartment 7 times while I was away. We are trying to get rid of our contract before we move next month and he was the lucky person home (all week) who got to show random guests around the house. When I got home we had a weekend full of dates and fun activities. I love that Mike is done with school and we can go out all the time because he doesn't have to study anymore. I can definitely get used to this new life :)

Our awesome hotel pool in Vegas at The Aliante

 Oh little naked Bry!

 Alyssa opening her call.

Practicing our driving and putting skills

Dallin & Dawn Wedding

After Mike's Graduation, we had a few days to relax, work, and finish my grad school semester. Then on Wednesday the 30th Denae & Bryant, Michael, I and a bunch of Dallin's friends headed down to Cedar City for the big wedding. Wednesday night was a packed house with the boys (Dal, Mike, Justen, JC, Bryson, Nick, & Brady) and us girls. Thursday morning we woke up, got ready, and went to the St. George temple for their lovely sealing. The reception was held outdoor at The Ledges Golf Course. The view was just beautiful, the food delicious, and the weather was perfect and warm. Mike gave an excellent toast during the reception which even made me (and many others) tear up a bit. I will post more photos when the family gets them back from the photographer.

At the end of the reception they had a sparkler grand exit, and we set off the fire alarm of the golf club. A worker said this was the first time a wedding party has set off the fire alarm.

BYU Graduation Day 1: Commencement

Thursday April 24th was BYU Commencement. My parents came over and we went on walk and then got dressed up to take pictures and head over to the commencement at the Marriott Center. Former President Cecil O. Samuelson, Elder Cardon (who is related to Mike on his Grandpa Hilton's side), and President Uctdorf all addressed the students and families. One of my favorite quotes from Uctdorf's address was "He will never disappoint when you stay close to him." Elder Cardon reminded everyone of their unlimited potential and then encouraged everyone to always seek truth. He used the phrase "and thus we see" often. After the address, we took more family pictures and then went to Tucano's Brazilian Grill for dinner. 

BYU Graduation Day 2: Convocation

Friday April 25th was the day Mike has been waiting for! Graduation DAY! The Marriott Business school was the last graduating time of 5:00 pm. We started off the day at his cousin Justine's house for a large family potluck/ BBQ. Mike's cousin Jacob also graduated this year along with Dallin. After the BBQ we went back to the Marriott center to watch the boys walk the stage. This was the 25th anniversary of the Marriott Business School. Following Convocation we all went out to Rubios for Mexican food. Mike just looked adorable in his little cap and gown! It was such a fun day for everyone. 

Michael, Justen, Dallin