Feliz Navidad

Just before Christmas we got to go on a Pinnacle vacation to Cancun for 4 days. Which, needless to say, was pretty fun.

I want to live here

Brady and I really loved riding on the catamaran with our friendly guide, Pepe

We got to see some fishies in the World's second biggest reef (allegedly) the Great Mesoamerican Reef.

As I accidently gulped down about a cup of salt water I saw one of these freaky fish

After the snorkeling we got free chips and drinks at this beach bar, along with free mariachi musica y sombreros.

Brady said he wish he played more beach volleyball. He really liked showing off his farmer's tan.

Nothing New

Well we really don't have anything new to share but I finally loaded some pictures from my camera so I thought we'd share some of the highlights from our 2 month stint in Utah. 

We actually had a lot of fun out there and got to hang out with some people that we've missed.

I got to see my 'lil bro, Chase in his cute little freshman dorm. He's really loving his newfound freedom.  But he was nice enough to take me out to breakfast at the Cannon Center on his Dining Plus card.

and took me to some football games.

I also got to see awesome parades including some of my favorite BYU clubs (to make fun of) such as, the Quill & Sword Renaissance Reenactment Club! They're a fun bunch.

I got to go on cool bike rides & cave adventures with my friend/past roomie Christie.

Brady & I got to take many hikes in the beautiful Wasatch wilderness

and camping with the Naegles at some smelly hot springs

Several Sunday drives with an accompanying nature walk.

One thing I love about Utah in the fall is their love of Halloween and elaborate haunted houses. 

We tried a couple but the Haunted Forest in American Fork was the best. Despite running into walls/random wood posts/people in the dark, it was way fun scary excitement.

We also made a very good neighbor cat friend, named (by us) Baloo; who Brady (a self-proclaimed "cat hater") played with for many hours and grew to love.

In case you thought I was cool...

So the movie Twilight is coming out next week and I can't hardly contain my excitement... Should I be ashamed that I already bought my tickets on Fandango? Or that I already bought the soundtrack? Or that I'm re-reading the series to get ready for it? Or that I dream about it? 

Yes, definitely, I should be ashamed. But if you knew me you wouldn't be surprised to find that I'm a closeted Sci-fi/Fantasy nerd. Here are a few of my least embarrassing reasons why, in list form:

-Earliest favorite show was Out of this World (about a girl who's half alien and could stop time)

-My childhood hero was a Alex Mack (a girl who got powers after some secret chemical was spilled on her) And I wanted to be her so bad that I asked my teacher to call me Alex (he actually did)

-I used to watch The X Files twice a day

-I went through a major Smallville phase 

-I was a Potterhead but now I'm a Twilighter

-I have loved Heroes since I first heard that it might become a show. Basically if its about people with super abilities I'll watch it.

-And lastly, sometimes when you're talking to me and I get a glazed look that's just because I'm thinking of a good super power for you.

Well I guess I'm out of the closet now. I hope you can still accept me.

Who do I want to be?

Halloween is coming up and I've been trying to figure out costumes. Yeah, I know what you're probably thinking. 

"You're 23 and still dressing up?? Why? Are you even doing anything on halloween or just sitting at home in your elaborately planned costume with no where to go like so many halloweens past?" 

Well you bring up a good point but I will in fact be doing something this halloween, other than waiting by the door with a bowl of half eaten candy... so don't worry, its totally cool to be planning a costume. 

Besides, I love halloween. For as long as I can remember I've looked forward to the one day each year that I can dress up and be someone else for a change.

As you can see this affinity for costumes began at an early age, as with most American children.

I was the pumpkin...

The cowgirl...

The sheep...

The...Alex Mack? That was not my best costume idea ever.

But I guess I never really grew out of it. It's just fun, whether I'm doing my thumb dance or casting a spell as fictional Hogwarts student Cho Chang 

   

Or skating around as a bunch of grapes...

Or dressed up as a dalmatian pretending to be ten years younger so I could trick or treat with my brother...

Or...whatever I'm doing there..

Or my personal favorite...

Do you get who I am? Here, maybe this will help....

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Obviously I have a long legacy of halloweens to live up to. Which brings me to my current question. What should I be this year?

So far I've considered, a spartan cheerleader (w/ Brady), ketchup, the crazy cat lady, sarah palin, a teenage mutant ninja turtle, and a penguin. Just to name a few.

In an effort to create a 'couples costume' I tried to convince Brady to be a penguin wrangler but he insists that no such occupation exists. So his costume is still very open to suggestions.

Maybe an adorable non-threatening ninja?

I know They can dance

So my favorite summer show is definitely So You Think You Can Dance and at the end of the season all the top dancers go on tour around the country for our viewing pleasure. So last year my mom and I went to the show at the Arco Arena and liked it so much that we decided to go again. 

Last year was awesome but this time was even better. It was like two or three hours of solid entertainment. I was sad when it came to an end.

Chelsie from Orem, Ut was my favorite girl this season.

Here are just a couple of the amazing dances we saw. Sorry they end kind of abruptly and don't look great since they were shot on my camera.

Apple Hill 2008

Last week I participated in my second year of a grand new tradition since relocating to Rocklin.  What is known simply as "Apple Hill", is a cluster of farms near Placerville, CA that specialize in apples (obviously) as well as various other fruits and produce. 

"Here at the Hill there are happy apple people to welcome you at every turn."

We usually start out at the biggest venue, High Hill Ranch. Here they not only sell apples but also a variety of scrumptious homemade apple products. Their fresh apple juice will make you wonder what that yellow Motts stuff you bought at the grocery store was made from. There's also apple doughnuts, apple fritters, apple butter, apple jelly, apple pencils, apple sauce, apple pie, apple beer, apple fish. No, I'm just kidding, there's no apple fish. But there is a fish pond (as depicted below).

Brett was interested in their variety of honey sticks at the apple market.

Another must, if you ever partake in these fall festivities is the Fudge Factory. Here's the crew and me with my steaming fresh bag of  fudge.

Here at the quaint farm, Larsen Apples, my mom displays yet another variety of delicious apple hill products, fresh grapes.

Some farms even let you experience the joys of apple farming by picking the fruit fresh from the trees.

Mom knew just which apple to pick.

I think this kind of sampling is generally discouraged.

And finally if you go to Apple Hill you must visit the Plubells Petting Farm, where overzealous goats will rip the feeding cup right out of your hand and eat it.

They even have chickens.

And cute pigs that may charge at you if you take your picture near their pen. 

I was pretty sure that if I didn't move quickly they would put their little snouts through the wire to bite my arm.

Aren't they cute?

See you next year Apple Hill!