Manti Temple Pageant

We wanted to go to the Manti Temple Pageant.

So we did.

Dressed up and ready for the temple once we arrive!

 Manti opens the city park for people to camp.

Despite the safety of no bears, being around hungry, growling scouts is just as scary.

After setting up the tent, we went to the temple.

After the temple, we changed our clothes and then hung out at a local burger place.

We are so hot.  Just can't stop the selfies! -Taylor

They had some good ice cream and donuts!  Taylor got a treat for carrying everything we needed to the temple pageant.

We arrived early at the pageant to grab our seats. 

Who wouldn't jump at the chance to wrestle with Joseph Smith?

It was a stalemate...

 Kelsey with King and Queen Lamoni!

 Firearms!!!

No wonder the stripling warriors were unstoppable.

During the pageant, this is when Christ visits the Nephites.

Before we left Manti to head home, we had some fun on the temple grounds.

This Limestone temple is beautiful!

Can you find Kelsey??

Found her.

Sadly, we left Manti 6 hours too early to catch the 4.2 earthquake.

 Actually, only Taylor was sad about that....

Medical Update

On a very rainy Tuesday, I got a steroid injection in my back between the L4-L5.

The constantly took x rays to make sure they were going in the right place

Then I got bright green ear tubes put in to hopefully help stop my ear barotrauma.

I had to take a hearing test first.  It reminded me of elementary school.

Mister Lover Face was there to hold my hand when it hurt and give me moral support.

And all the doctors commented on how his purse totally went with his outfit.

We went shopping afterwards to find some pillows for our daybed.  I couldn't do much else so it was fun to walk slowly around the stores.

It was hard to work the last three days because I feel off with my new ear tubes.   Some pain is gone, but I hear everything weirdly and muted and the Dr said it'd take a week to a month to go back to normal.  Try hearing through a stethoscope with new ear tubes....not fun.

Thursday we got our 100 pound day bed in the mail and set it up when I came home from work.

So heavy!  Even for caveman!

All set up!  Ignore the mess around....I couldn't clean after my steroid injection...

Friday night date night
Home-made pizza and Temple

Then we had a sleep over on the day bed and watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!

Diamond Fork Camp

This past week at work has been crazy busy and stressful, plus I've been really sick. So, it was nice to take a 3 day weekend and go camping at Diamond Fork.

We left at noon on Friday, as cool as can be!

And we found a campsite at Dry Canyon.  A private, beautiful place right next to the river, and a mile from the Three Forks Hot Springs trail. Our perfect little spot.

We even had our own little waterfall in our backyard. :)

 After setting up camp we went exploring around the area.  This small area reminded us of Zions.

Yeah, he's the man.

Beautiful and stunning! And the scenery was okay, too. ;)

Always looking to give me flowers.

 We went back to camp to begin dinner and set up our lil home.

And...we forgot the car adapter for the air mattress.  Good thing Taylor plays French horn!

And figuring out how to start a campfire. Only went through a few dozen matches... Haha!

Our handy dandy campfire griddle! With all-you-can-eat smores! 

At 8:30pm, we decided to head for the Springs.  It's an easy 2.5 mile hike, and the trail is very well-maintained, so night hiking is safe.  We were also equipped with a lantern and a bright flashlight in Tay's big 'ol backpack.  

The start of the trail.

Volcanic rocks on the trail

Made it to the springs just after sunset. 

Also, it was a full moon.  How much more romantic can you get?

Don't let his farmer tan deceive you, he's shirtless.  

 There are many different springs with differing temperatures, but the main spring is HOT HOT HOT! The springs looked beautiful! Because we went at night, we had to use someone else's pictures to show what they look like.

The upper, hotter springs.

The lower springs.

After nature's spa, we were back home by midnight.  

In the morning we cooked eggs and sausage, and relaxed in our hammock next to the river. 

Taylor is rinsing the dishes.

 We headed home in the afternoon, feeling sad to leave such fun behind, but happy to have enjoyed a relaxing mini-vacation.

Such a beautiful drive too!

It's a good thing we wore our fake wedding rings camping, because the silver was oxidized by the springs and turned black.  Cool!

Graduation

We celebrated DeMarie's graduation from high school

The auditorium chairs at UVU were so bad we had to spend the whole ceremony under the bleachers....we were okay with that ;)

 Big, strong Girl with Face

We also celebrated Taylor's birthday again with my parents.

Meanwhile, Taylor has graduated into macho muscle man.

Look at this picture from his bday last year!

Still so muscular though!