Fallahi Family

Banff... Almost

2011-06-12T23:43:00.000-07:00

For months now we have been planning to use our timeshare condo in beautiful Banff, BC Canada. Unfortunately we made it only as far as the Canadian border and no further.

We drove to Helena, MT and stayed there overnight as it was about half-way to Banff. The next morning we drove through Glacier National Park and stopped for a little hike.

Little did we know, our plans to enter Canada and vacation for a week were about to be denied.

We came to the Port of Piegan and were told to talk with the immigration officers since it was Brandon's first time going to Canada. Apparently since 9-11 travel into Canada has become a lot more difficult: if you want to read more about why: go here. Brandon's little misdemeanor from 20 years ago proved to be a reason he was deemed "inadmissible to Canada."

So... in 3 days we:

Drove 1,600 miles
Stayed in 2 low-end motels in the middle of nowhere
Ate at McDonalds (twice), Pizza Hut and DQ
Lost $800 on our timeshare vacation
Cried a few tears and said some angry words toward the Canadians
Spent over 24 hours in the car

Shove off hosers, eh?

Telephone Canyon

2011-05-30T16:29:00.000-07:00

In May we took our annual trip to Zion and took on some canyoneering in Telephone Canyon.

This canyon was supposed to be "dry," but the record snowfall and precipitation this year has rivers running high everywhere in the state right now!

We start out on the West Rim Trail...

It was a long day for the 7 of us. 10 hours of hiking and rappelling through a beautiful canyon.

Nick, Brandon, Brittany, Emily, Chilly, Pete and Anthony.

Just one of 13 rappels in the canyon. With 7 people it took us quite a while to get through.

By the time we exited the canyon and still had to hike back down it was getting dark. Luckily the full moon led us down the path!

26.2

2011-05-24T00:31:00.001-07:00

At the starting line 8 miles above the beautiful little mountain town called Eden: 5/21/11

Never thought I'd actually be at the starting line of ANY marathon.

The miles flew by as I chatted with these girls (Shyloh, Kellie and Kristin) and I really couldn't have done it without them! The course weaved around Pineview reservoir, across the dam and down the beautiful Ogden canyon.

26.2 miles after a lot of walk/ running, stretching my IT band and sore knee at every one of the many water stations, 5 hours after starting- the finish line finally came into view on 25th street in Ogden.

My aunt and uncle happened to be there to watch my cousin's girlfriend come in. They wondered why my bib said "Cheree" on it. Well, that's because the marathon sold out in December and someone wanted to sell the spot they'd paid for- so I took it!

Thanks for all your support Brandon!

Shyloh and I had our matching KT tape for our pesky IT band problems. By the time Shyloh and I were still in Ogden canyon, Jared blazed into the finish line. It was so fun to have the Belnaps in it with me!

Brandon's co-worker Bryan and I tested our minimal training strategy for this marathon thing- guess it worked!

My friend Kim from work made this experience so much fun and encouraged me all along the way. Hopefully we have many more of these to look forward to together!

Spring Ski Touring

2011-05-09T23:14:00.000-07:00

We have endless amounts of footage from these past few weeks of ski touring in the back country. (But I won't bore you with all of it) Brandon has been exploring and then bringing me along to share in the fun. We get tons and tons of fresh turns all to ourselves. But it's not easy getting there- a good 2-3 hours "hike" up on our skis with "skins" on the bottom that help grip the snow as we travel up the mountain gets us to those wide open spaces.

While others are cursing Mother Nature as she delivers storm after storm when they want it to be warm and springy, we have been loving it! Utah has almost 200% of normal snowpack levels thus far and if May warms up too fast we're looking at major flooding problems this year. As for now- let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Recipe FAIL

2011-04-14T14:28:00.001-07:00

Even though he was satisfied with his Baskin Robbins ice cream cake, I was determined to make Brandon a birthday cake. Having a week off work I decided to go all out and make from scratch his request: white cake with raspberry filling and chocolate frosting.

Not including time spent at the grocery store gathering needed ingredients for this special cake, I spent a good 3 hours preparing this homemade cake. Then another good hour doing all the clean up. Guess where the cake is now? The garbage. Yep. It was disgusting. I don't know what happened, I followed the recipe exactly. I got "Chopped."

The next day I consulted my other recipe: add 1 1/2 cups water and 2 egg whites to box mix. Use previously prepared raspberry filling from scratch, frost with Pillsbury chocolate frosting. The moral of this story? Betty Crocker knows her stuff; I don't.

Birthday Boy

2011-04-11T00:07:00.000-07:00

Hint: This boy doesn't like to celebrate birthdays... but his wife does. He's been getting spoiled all weekend long!

After an incredible snowstorm and one of the best powder days of the ski season together, a low-key weekend at his mom's was just what he wanted.

On the menu: Khoreshe Geimeh (delicious homemade Persian food; courtesy of Brandon's mom). Dessert: mint chocolate chip ice cream cake roll; courtesy of Baskin Robbins. I tried to make him a cake but this is what he wanted!

Anthony and Annie say Happy birthday too!

Moab 1/2

2011-03-24T23:29:00.000-07:00

It was so fun to run the "Canyonlands Other Half" in October, I couldn't wait to get back to Moab and run down the lower half of the canyon next to the river again!

This time I ran solo, but often I looked around me and imagined my Uncle Al running with me, hair blowing in the wind. I always feel his presence in the desert. Brandon was there to cheer me on and get me through that last mile through town.

My knee was really sore and gave me a lot of trouble this time, but I managed to make it in decent time. 2'06

After the race we got some food and went for a little hike to stretch out the legs. I cut it short since my knee was super painful, but the dogs were in hog heaven running around the red rocks and dirt.

Unfortunately, this is the last pic of our trip since the wind blew my camera into the sand as it was on timer waiting to snap a photo. That shouldn't surprise anyone considering my luck with cameras!

We had such a fun weekend trip down there and I got to meet up with friends who came down for the race as well. We took the bikes out the next day after a beautiful drive through Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point. The poor pups ripped their paws on the rocky trail and I was limping a bit, but all in all it was a blast!

It's all about LOVE

2011-03-08T00:23:00.001-08:00

This past weekend was a very special time for the Bench family. Although I don't have pictures of Baby Qhloi's parents, they were "officially" made a family. The court declared the adoption was final, and on Saturday she was sealed to them in the Bountiful temple. Sunday was her blessing in church and what a wonderful occasion that was!

Courtney is part of our family, and being pregnant with her first baby makes Grandma Glad very happy since she has given up on her twin grand-daughters from having babies ;-)

There was quite a spread at the Bench's after the blessing and no shortage of jokes from these guys!

Age of Aquarius

2011-02-19T22:05:00.000-08:00

As if we need an excuse to all get together... most of us have February birthdays.

Qhloi brought her party hat to the family birthday celebration.

Grandparenting looks good on them.

Who else but Pat Bench makes 3 different desserts for all 3 b-day girls?

All together we are 96 years old

One of the best b-day/ Valentines gifts ever- Sarah Mc Lachlan at Kingsbury Hall. Thanks babe!

Weekends are for...

2011-02-04T23:43:00.000-08:00

Weekends are for breathing fresh mountain air...

For hiking up these beautiful Utah canyons in the snow...

For exploring an icy cave...

And for finding a really steep mountain-side and sliding down on our butts. Even if it did make us sore for days!

What we've been UP to

2011-01-10T14:34:00.000-08:00

Bringing in the New Year with a climb up the "Great White Icicle."

Brandon got some new ice screws for Christmas he was dying to try out!

Sometimes taking a picture at the top of a frozen waterfall means you drop your camera case.

Don't worry mom and dad, this is totally safe!

Fond farewell to Grandpa Bench

2010-12-19T20:38:00.000-08:00

4 months ago we celebrated Grandpa's 90th birthday, 1 month ago he suffered a stroke but was well on the road to recovery. 1 week ago we suddenly learned he wouldn't be with us much longer.

Our family gathered to spend as much time with him as we could. Many tears were shed, but also true to Gordon Bench humor, we had many laughs- right up until the end. As a nurse I have seen my share of death and dying. But holding my grandpa's hand and laying next to him powerless to do anything about it just about broke my heart.

We were so blessed to have wonderful hospice nurses and caretakers there around the clock to take care of his every need, including those of his sweet wife Jean. During the last 2 days that he was with us, his body was slowly shutting down and he was no longer responding verbally. But every once in a while he would raise his eyebrows just to let us know he was still there. I gave him morphine every hour to make him more comfortable and told him how much I love him.

It was a very powerful and poignant moment when he finally slipped away on Dec. 11, 2010 at 6:27 pm. Of course it was very sad, but with family surrounding him in love it was a fitting farewell to send him on to his joyous reunion with loved ones on the other side.

I will never forget all the wonderful times with my grandfather and for the enduring legacy he left for those that knew him. He was a staple at every family event and milestone in our lives and I have no regrets about anything at all. I feel that I took advantage of every opportunity to spend time with him and was lucky to live so close and be his "chauffeur" for the past 3 years.

As much as we miss our grandfather, father, and friend here on earth, it is comforting to know that he is no longer suffering and is with those who passed before him that were no doubt waiting with open arms.

LOVE YOU GRANDPA.

Giving Thanks Mexican style

2010-12-05T12:34:00.001-08:00

Our Thanksgiving week this year was a family affair in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Getting the whole Fallahi/ Fox family to the beach was just what we needed!

We really love this place...

Some of the high lights were: kayaking out to Land's End and having a picnic on Lover's Beach,

Nights out at some yummy Mexican restaurants,

Driving up to Todos Santos where we visited the Hotel California,

Of course spending every day at the beach,

Celebrating Jan's 60th b-day and Thanksgiving dinner at the Pithayas (world-class 5 star restaurant on the property of our resort)

Taking a catamaran out at sunset around the bay,

Deep sea-fishing for the guys,

good old family time,

and some of this too!

Going South

2010-11-17T22:29:00.000-08:00

My friend Brooke from work invited some girls down to St. George a couple of weekends ago to enjoy some fun in the sun... I immediately said yes. And then I signed up to run another half marathon in Snow Canyon and recruited my other friend from work, Ashley.

Ashley is quite the little runner and she had no problem with that race. We kept up a pretty fast pace and chatted easily the first 10 miles. Then my stomach started really bothering me, so the last 3 miles were pretty miserable- but she kept me going and I came across the finish line at my best time yet 1 hr 54 min. We soaked our sore muscles in the hot tub after- so nice!

After taking a long nap while the other girls watched the U of U vs. TCU football game we took a little hike in Snow Canyon.

The days are a lot shorter now that Day Light savings time is over!

The next day we came back to Snow Canyon for some climbing. Here is Ashley, my trusty belayer!

Stemming out over Pioneer Name cave.

Not only did we have great warm sunny weather, we had an active weekend with some really great girls! I had a blast and can't wait to do it again :-)

Trick or Treat

2010-11-15T01:45:00.000-08:00

What says Halloween more than a Jack O' Lantern? Well, a 7 layer dip of course!

This costume lasted right around 90 seconds. Clearly Cole feels left out.

Jan showing off the graveyard brownies I made. Time-consuming little buggers.

All for the birthday boy Chris. He turned 30+11 on Halloween!

Canyonlands "Other Half"

2010-10-27T21:25:00.001-07:00

If you ever want to experience the beauty of southern Utah, you should go in the fall. Moab this fall in particular was the best it's ever been!

We went mid October for the 1/2 marathon I signed up for back in May... taking it easy at Ken's Lake the day before the race.

75 degree weather, fall leaves set against the redrock and bright blue sky, a million stars in the night sky viewed through the tent, fun with friends- it all made for a wonderful time!

My sister and I ran the whole way together. We got an amazing boost at mile 10 where our guys were waiting for us next to the road to cheer us on and give us a kiss as we passed by.

Em really is having a good time no matter how fake that smile is :-)

Running down this canyon next to the Colorado river with all the excitement of the runners with us made the 13.1 miles sail by! It was a little overcast in the beginning making for the perfect temps. The race was extremely well organized (much better than the Provo Canyon 1/2). Water/ gatorade and enthusiastic volunteers at every other mile and drummers at the last hill before we headed down to the Sorrel Ranch were a great touch. Emily and I went for the twin power when it was getting tough at the end- running arm in arm through the finish line. What an unforgettable experience!

Spoiled much?

2010-10-02T02:47:00.000-07:00

We've waited a long time for a baby to spoil in this family...

So these two "aunties" threw a baby shower.

These lovely ladies have lots of good advice for the new mom.

True Wendi style.

Jen, Hillary, Emily, Courtney, Natalie.

Each knot tied with love.

Oh this girl is going to be so spoiled...

Earthdance Zion 2010

2010-09-30T14:17:00.000-07:00

When given the chance to go down to Zion... we will always say yes.

A couple of weeks ago we went to support our cousin's Earthdance Festival. As a bonus, we got to enjoy a small-scale family reunion. Kendra and Emma were selling their goods at the "Zen tent."

Being down there now is bittersweet without our uncle Al, but we still feel his presence there.

Stage set up at the ampi-theater in Springdale. One of the coolest venues I've ever been to.

Dave and Adrienne- they were so busy coordinating everything and pulled it off so well!

Cousins

The best part of the whole weekend was getting to spend so much time with Dave and Adrienne's kids Davenne and Avery. They are an absolute dream. So smart, cute and fun. Wish they didn't live so far away!

Nonagenarian

2010-09-25T03:28:00.000-07:00

Grandpa Bench is 90! He's the healthiest, handsomest 90 year old I know.

Both grandmas... love these ladies!

I feel so very fortunate to live so close to my grandparents in Alpine. I drive the "Alpine Shuttle," taking them to dinner at my parents with us and other family get-togethers. Often I'll just go down there and take them to lunch and maybe an ice cream or a walk. Never-ending jokes and wisdom from those visits.

Stay tuned for the 100th b-day party in 2020!

Wedding- Maine style

2010-09-20T01:03:00.001-07:00

Aug. 21, 2010. Here we are in Saco, Maine for the wedding of our great friends Ben and Katy Johnson. It was so much fun to be a part of! The wedding rehearsal dinner was at this cute little restaurant on the beach with the BEST food- fresh seafood of course!

After dinner we all took a walk on the beach. Here are Stacy and Paul, some of the beautiful people, we called the glitz crowd from Park City.

First time to Maine- dangled my toes in the ocean. Later that night around 2:00am Brandon may or may not have jumped in for a swim! Crazy guy.

These 3 guys go way back- grew up together in SLC. Brandon, Ben and Eric. They have followed each other all around the world- Alaska, Costa Rica, Maine, where next?

Groomsmen- wedding day. Sunday Aug. 22, 2010

We reminisced about our own wedding day 2 years ago- I love weddings for that reason. Still in love with you babe.

These 2 are meant to be together, and we couldn't be more happy for them. After Ben's tragic ski accident in Alaska, he was very lucky to be alive let alone walking! Katy was his physical therapist and his match in every way. They are the most adventurous, fun-loving beautiful couple I know and we can't wait to share more adventures in life with them!

There's a new girl in town....

2010-09-13T23:38:00.000-07:00

Aug. 16, 2010 this gorgeous girl came into the world and into the arms of so many who love her. We have waited so long for this day!

Just one of many aunts who will hold her and love her.

This proud grandma couldn't be more happy!

How you've changed our lives, little Qhloi.

A bittersweet day for this brave sweet girl. She knows that Chris and Wendi are the right ones to raise this baby, and unselfishly she places her baby in their arms with all the love in her heart.

Canyon cook-out

2010-09-02T08:15:00.000-07:00

Is there anything better than a S'mores cooked over a campfire in the canyon?

Or sharing that oversized s'more with someone you love?

Or getting together with family as we have done every summer of our lives?

Or a new baby in the family?

Or teaching the younger generation new things?

Or being reunited with those that live so far away?

Or bonds that go across the ocean to Germany, or to Idaho, or wherever else they happen to be?

I think not.

Provo Canyon Half Marathon

2010-08-14T03:50:00.001-07:00

My training paid off! A few months ago I made a goal to run a 1/2 marathon and Aug. 7, 2010 I completed my first real race! My official time according to the chip was 2.01 (2 hrs. 1 min)

I would have to say, the hardest part was actually waking up at 3:30 am so I could get there in time to pick up my bib and board the bus with all the other runners. We arrived at the top of the North Fork of Provo Canyon where we waited for the sun to come up and the 7:00 am start time. Everyone paid several visits to the Honey Buckets!

The best part of the race was at mile 7 or so running past Bridal Veil Falls. Here we were looped back up the canyon and down again, so we passed by it 3 times. So pretty! I started to hurt around mile 10, but from there 3 more miles seemed do-able. I kept pushing through and before I knew it, I was crossing the finish line. My mom and Brandon were there to cheer me on, and it seriously made me so happy to have their support! My stomach didn't feel great at the end, but I did manage to eat some watermelon.

Apparently no one remembered to bring a camera, so I don't have anything other than a cell phone picture to prove I was there and did it! Oh well, pictures of me after running 13.1 miles are probably not ones I want around.

The best part of the day was when my mom took me to get a pedicure at Prestige Salon in Spanish Fork. My mom's good friend Nancy hooked us up with this heavenly treat and we got to chat with her while we sat in massage chairs and I had my sore feet worked on. Then it was time for lunch, a shower and a LONG nap back at home. I'm so glad I did it, and can't wait for the Moab Canyonlands Half Marathon in October!

River Rats

2010-08-08T12:52:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we took a trip to Moab to float the Colorado river with our good friends Ashley and Steve...

We weren't on some commercial raft trip- we were on river rat inner tubes!

We had more fun than anyone on the river! We were cooled off by the water and jumped in whenever we wanted.

Passing by Castle Valley

Before Steve flipped over in some mellow rapids and lost his glasses and bandana.

The next day we took a hike finding some indian pictographs. Near this wall we happened to find tons of ant lion holes in the ground. We tried to provoke the ant lions by "tickling" the holes with a stick. Steve had never seen one before and he didn't believe they existed. Every time we called him over to see the little ant lion "spitting" sand back out of his hole it would stop. He thought we were all pulling his leg!

Cooling of at Faux Falls. A fun little side trip in Moab- perfect for a hot day!

4th of July- small town style.

2010-08-05T12:22:00.001-07:00

There's something nostalgic about summer holidays celebrated in a small town. Pancake breakfast at the park along with a parade and carnival, and of course a big fireworks show to celebrate the 4th of July.

A boy and his dog.

We are lucky to have family to spend the holidays with in Mt. Pleasant.

BBQ on the patio, where we had an excellent view of the fireworks later that night.

Brandon spruced up the old bikes that had been hanging in the garage for years. We even got his mom to ride with us down to the grocery store to pick up some supplies to make s'mores. Yes, I was roasting marshmallows and making s'mores for everyone over the fire pit while fireworks went off above us.

Earlier in the day we took our mountain bikes and rode the "Skyline Drive" up Fairview Canyon. We had the most spectacular views and a nice cool 70 degrees!

I love my anniversary present- a new mountain bike!

The following day we took a drive over to Fish Lake and did a grueling 20 mile ride around the perimeter of the lake and up a steep mountain pass. By the end as it was getting dark and we were getting eaten alive by mosquitoes, we started to enjoy it a little less. The trail down the mountain descent was very rocky, so we had to walk or carry our bikes for quite a while. The dogs were troopers, but I've never seen them so tired in their entire lives!

It was a fantastic holiday weekend!

Happy 2 Year Anniversary!

2010-06-28T09:15:00.001-07:00

It's hard to believe 2 years have gone by since we've been married!

We have our ups and downs, but we always have each other's back, and we love each other more each day!

Our favorite things to do usually take place in the mountains... climbing, hiking, biking, camping, etc. So to celebrate our anniversary our gifts to each other had this theme (new mountain bike and all the things that go along with it was part of my surprise gift from my wonderful husband) and we stayed at Snowbird just like we did on our wedding night.

A little less snow there this year, and it felt quite a bit cooler! 2008 was the best year for a wedding at Alta. As we continue down this path of life together, I'm sure glad we have each other and I look forward to all the new adventures ahead!

"Day of Decadence"

2010-06-20T22:10:00.000-07:00

We picked the perfect night for a party at our house... the rain let up and the ER crew set out to indulge in all sorts of goodies and yummy food.

Homemade manicotti and other decadent chocolate desserts... aebelskivers, cookies, chocolate covered strawberries, brownie cheesecake, etc. There were more calories in this room than we cared to count.

It's fun to get together outside of work and get to know everyone's "significant others."

Lacey is away from work on maternity leave, but that doesn't mean she couldn't come and hang with the work crew. Her darling baby Isla never made a peep all night!

Industrial strength expensive blender makes killer ice cream shakes. Steve is clearly a fan.

It turns out that the "Day of Decadence" turned into a week of it! With a friend's b-day and then Father's Day I haven't been eating very healthy this week. Now it's time to burn off some of those calories... I am doing well with my training for the 1/2 marathon!

Daddy-daughter days

2010-06-11T01:27:00.000-07:00

Last weekend my dad took me along on his "Westerners" field trip through southern Utah and northeast Arizona. Our destination was Hopi Land, with several other stops along the way. It was an incredible trip and I felt very lucky to go with this group.

It was fascinating to learn about the Hopi people and their culture and beliefs. Many of the things I will have to remember in my heart since they do not allow photography in most places. These are 4th generation native American potters- so talented!

The absolute high-light of the trip was seeing a plaza dance where the kachinas were in their traditional ceremonial dress as they chanted and danced and made offerings while praying for rain for their crops. As we toured the mesas, we asked every artisan that we came in contact with if they remembered my Uncle Al who would bring cottonwood root to them so they could carve their symbolic kachina dolls. We actually did find one who did and dad bought a kachina from him. I feel like we came full circle! Al is the reason I became interested in the Hopi culture in the first place and I was excited to be able to go with my dad here!

Lee's fort in the Grand Canyon at Lee's Ferry. Thousands of years worth of human history are here in these canyons, and I was soaking in every bit that I could from the knowledgeable historians in the group.

It is hot in the Grand Canyon in June, and all I could think about was getting in that Colorado river. Two other guys on the trip jumped right in and after hesitating for about 30 seconds, I went for a dip- clothes and all!

The Lonely Dell ranch. John D. Lee lived here for some time, but it was his wives that really made this place thrive. Vegetable gardens and an orchard of fruit trees still grow today thanks to the preservation from park services. We sampled the apricots growing there.

Although I used to think that these trips my dad would go on sounded SO boring, I had a great time and learned that I actually do like to learn about history quite a bit. But most of all I will always treasure the memories and time I got to spend with my dad.

Weekend Warriors

2010-05-23T23:35:00.000-07:00

If we have a weekend to get away, we all vote on going to Zion! We got a permit to do a slot canyon and things couldn't have turned out more perfectly! Here we are at the petroglyph spot. This place is special to me because the last time I was here last summer my Uncle Al showed us the way here. I felt his presence with us the entire time we were there.

We were the only 5 people in the entire canyon, which starts on the east side of the park and comes out above the Zion Lodge. (Lodge Canyon) Emily, Nick, Brandon, me and Anthony. We were a great team.

Loving the 75 degree weather. This weekend marked the 2 year anniversary of Em's "non-wedding" in Zion.

This was a first for me! Southern Utah has received very heavy snowfall this winter and there is still snow in this canyon! We skied down this chute- Brandon got first tracks.

Emily didn't want to risk injuring her knee, less than 3 months post-op ACL repair, so she slid down on her butt!

Lunch break.

We found a really cool cave in a side canyon and went up to explore for a bit.

It was nice to get out of the sun for a while.

Double-rope rappels.

Our fearless leader.

Nick on the spectacular last rappel over the hanging garden. A beautiful oasis in the desert. 8 hours after we started we hiked out and made it as quickly as we could to the Zion Pizza & Noodle. We were staaaaarving! Such a fun trip with fun people! We can't wait to go back again!

Are you kidding me?

2010-05-20T15:47:00.000-07:00

Remember this little muffin?

Well, she just turned one!

She is the sweetest thing in the world, but don't be fooled! She is the most mischievous and sneaky little dog! Doesn't she just look guilty there?

While we were out at the Martin Sexton concert last night...

this is what she was doing! She jumped the gate into the front room where we don't allow the dogs and had her way with the couch! She also pulled scarves and coats and boots out of the front closet just for good measure. Naughty dog!

One Spring day...

2010-05-16T03:04:00.000-07:00

Spring in Utah is hit and miss- luckily before the late spring snow we enjoyed some lovely days!

College roommates. Sammie now has 2 kids and 1 on the way.

Piper and Ryker- the cutest kids I know!

Piper, this beauty looks just like her mom.

Isn't he a heart breaker already? I wish they lived closer!

Goal Setting

2010-04-21T00:28:00.000-07:00

I figure since I am doing a lot of running outside with my dogs lately, I should set a goal and train for something. Besides the junior high track days, I have only done ONE race in my life. The first year they did the SL Marathon I ran the 5K. I have been at the finish line of several marathons cheering on friends and loved ones, very tearful and inspired by the energy and sense of accomplishment as they come across the finish line.

Personally I don't think I will ever have the stamina or endurance to run a full marathon, but I have been encouraged by plenty of people that I could surely do a 1/2 marathon. I just bought this little device to help me with my training, and I am excited to see if I can really do it!

So tonight I signed myself up for the Provo Half Marathon and then if all goes well, I will also be participating in the Moab Other Half Marathon in October. Anyone who would like to join me, please do!

India: part 2

2010-03-20T18:36:00.001-07:00

After all the hard work, we did get some time to enjoy ourselves in India. Holy man at Red Fort in Delhi. He asked for some rupees after I took his photo.

Flying over the beautiful, sparkling, majestic Himalayas. One day I'd like to be climbing these mountains.

Holy men in Guwahati.

There are thousands of stores that sell beautiful sarees, scarves and shawls.

Getting a henna tatoo.

Our last night in Guwahati before the farewell dinner. Dr. Sellers and his wife Marion took care of us there. We called them our adoptive parents.

Our night shift crew- Julie, Jamee, Marisa and I.

Since we hadn't slept after our last night shift we took a cab back to the hotel early.

A big group of us were able to take a bus to Agra where we saw this elephant on the way to see the...

TAJ MAHAL!

Allie and I checked this off our "bucket list."

It was the most beautiful, clear day to be here. We had an English-speaking guide to show us around and tell us the amazing story of the construction of this Wonder of the World.

National Geographic shot.

Yamuna River flowing behind the Taj. Muslim mosque seen on the left.

No paint was used in the facade on this beautiful building...

Colored jewels were embedded into the highest quality marble that was carried in from all across the land.

Allie and I at the Taj.

An evil maharaja :-)

India Gate in Delhi.

Ancient tree.

Qutub Minar, built around 1200 A.D. We didn't go in to the park to see this monument out of principle. Indian citizens could buy a ticket for 10 rupees where any foreigners had to pay 250! (Which was about $6.00)

Outside a beautiful Hindu temple in Delhi. The lei of "lotus flowers" were put around our neck as a symbol of good luck.

The red dot on the forehead also means good luck and was placed by a holy man in the Hindu temple.

Red Fort in Delhi with Penny and Xia.

The tomb of Mahatma Gandhi, "father of India."

We ended the trip on high note and I was glad to have seen some of these beautiful places. It was an opportunity of a lifetime and I'm so glad I got to go!

Operation Smile- India

2010-03-09T12:45:00.001-08:00

The day of my birthday I flew halfway across the world to join with the Operation Smile Team as a volunteer for the biggest mission they have ever attempted. The destination: Guwahati, India. The goal: fix the cleft lips and palates and give new smiles to almost 1,000 kids in the state of Assam. I worked the night shift and got paired up with some great girls! Jamee, from UT, Marisa from CA, and Julie from CO. We had a blast together!

Since we worked the night shift, we had some time during the day to do some shopping in the crowded and dirty city of Guwahati. Always on the look-out for a bargain!

Post-surgery- this kid doesn't feel too great. The only pain medicine they receive is Tylenol! Moms and Dads are there 24/7 to take care of them, making our job a little easier.

Unfortunately after one night of working I came down with a horrible stomach bug. I was fortunate to be with a great medical team who helped me feel a little better after a while. I was down for 3 days, and my awesome friend/ room-mate Allie was my personal nurse.

Back to work- spraying on some DEET to keep those pesky mosquitoes (and malaria) away.

Our night shift team. The two Indians are brother and sister Azun and Razia, our awesome interpreters that were there night after night, then went to their normal jobs in the day.

My favorite little buddy. He was buzzing around the ward in the morning singing a little Indian tune and playing with some of the toys we brought.

We had some long nights together!

Beautiful mama and baby.

Playing ball with the kiddos.

I was so happy to have my good friend Allie there with me. Although she worked the day shift and I was on nights, we managed to hang out whenever possible. When I was feeling ill and homesick, she made it that much better for me.

Morning Chai. An Indian tradition.

Even though being in such a foreign and far-away place was sometimes very difficult, especially when I didn't feel well most of the time, these kids and families made it all worthwhile. These children are born into very poor circumstances to begin with, and a facial deformity can make their lives that much more difficult. I feel blessed to have been a part of this organization that brings new smiles to kids all over the world and makes a big difference a little bit at a time.

Birthday Get-away

2010-02-28T16:50:00.000-08:00

February is the month for celebrating birthdays! Me, Emily, Courtney (and Dave), Wendi and Natalie (and Aubree) are all Aquarius babies. We rented a cabin in Tollgate Canyon, near Park City and all cozied up that weekend for fun in the snow, playing games and eating yummy food!

Good friends Ben and Katy

Would you guess this gift came from Wendi? She could wrap a roll of toilet paper and make it cute!

Love all these lovely ladies! Jayleen, Natalie, Wendi, me and Hillary. Courtney and Jen didn't get there til the next day.

Making mom's famous bran muffins in the morning. I don't know how Hillary stayed on her diet all weekend long! We had home-made Cafe Rio and pizza and of course b-day cupcakes and treats.

It was Colonel Mustard in the library with the candlestick! Playing "Clue." Upstairs we had our choice of pool and foos-ball as well.

Birthday girls

A beautiful afternoon snow-shoeing in the mountains.

Getting ready for the Patagonia photo shoot.

Natalie, Jayleen, Jen, Courtney, Hillary

Steve, Ashley, Clint, me, Brandon and John.

I couldn't have asked for a better way to say goodbye to my twenties and hello to 30 with all my favorite friends! Thanks for the good times everyone.

Birthday Time

2010-02-05T13:30:00.000-08:00

We are coming up on the big one. That's right folks, we're turning 30! Just saying it sounds old.
With Em and I both going out of town for our actual birthday we got together with the family last weekend for the best dinner and of course were spoiled with fun presents. Emily is going to Mexico with some girlfriends and I am off to India for 2 weeks with the Operation Smile team!
In the Indian spirit, grandma got me this cute shirt. And as only a grandma can tell me, she said my hair was too straight and wondered if I was pregnant because my bum was bigger. And no, I'm not pregnant.
I have loved sharing my birthday with my twin. We often have this yummy raspberry cream cake. I never believed my parents when we were younger though and they told us that someday we'd be best friends. Ya right! We fought all the time over clothes and other silly things. But today I can honestly say she is my best friend!

The Holidaze

2010-01-08T08:51:00.001-08:00

Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the whole year! It was spent at the comfy, cozy Bench home with soup, salad, rolls and lots of yummy treats. Snuggies kept us warm :-) Favorite traditions: Reading the Nativity story and watching "Luke II."

What would Christmas be without family?

I sure love my dad!

These are the Christmas turtles I made for neighborhood gifts. It was so easy!

Landon reading us a Christmas story, as only he can!

Em giving us a lesson on some yoga poses.

All of this made possible by dad and mom.

Christmas morning- Wendi's traditional monkey bread that we all love.

Breakfast before presents. We obviously don't have any little kids in this home yet!

Who would have thought I could be so excited about industrial shelving for our basement!

Thanks to the gifts from Chris & Wendi, it was a very Snuggie Christmas!

And of course, the Secret Elf brought us all warm gloves on Christmas Eve.

The benefit of being married- two families to share the holidays with! Down at the Fox ranch- we're all relaxing and maybe dozing off a bit.

Our second Christmas together being married- maybe next year we'll have more than just our dogs to spoil?

New Year's Eve- we went for a snowy hike in Corner Canyon. It was so beautiful, but SO cold! The night for me was spent taking care of drunks and sick people. The worst night of the year to work in the ER!

Winter Wonderland

2009-12-20T08:24:00.001-08:00

We are enjoying all this snow to hike around and play in. The mountain trails are literally in our own backyard and it's been nice to get above the inversion lately!

They couldn't be happier.

Friends from work made this snowy hike lots of fun!

Instantly popular with a few doggie treats.

What's better than burning off some calories while hiking with friends? A chocolate waffle treat back at home :-)

Cole turns 1... or 7?

2009-12-18T14:49:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe he was ever this little! Although he doesn't know or care, today is Cole's one year birthday.

We sure miss our little Zoey. We still wish she was here with us. It would be fun to see how she would be grown up.

They sure are cute as puppies, but I don't miss all that hard work!

It's hard to say no to that face.

He was born in the snow and loves it so much! This is Annie's first winter and she's loving it too.

Thankful

2009-11-29T10:17:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for this beautiful world and...

all of His creations.

for family who comes together...

and helping hands to make a hard job a little bit easier.

for family bonds...

and feeling Al's spirit in Zion even though his house won't stand much longer.

I am thankful for this family that feeds us and loves us and welcomes all in this home.

for my wonderful, handsome husband who makes this journey in life an adventure.

for my sister and best friend. (She was a little too excited about snowboarding this year and blew her ACL on the first day out)

and for people that remind us how blessed we are to have such a wonderful and loving family.

Good News/ Bad News

2009-11-13T02:11:00.001-08:00

The good news is I bought this pretty new Subaru to replace my Honda that was stolen...

The bad news is I was in a hurry leaving for work and backed into the side of my garage and crunched the side mirror. That was the not the first thing to go wrong today. Oh well, as I've come to realize a lot lately, it could always be worse.

Oh fall, I love you.

2009-10-26T11:07:00.001-07:00

For a while there we thought winter had come right after summer and we would never get to see fall. A week in Park City at our cozy condo made the cold a little more bearable. When the sunshine came out one day we took a little hike.

It's always so nice to be around family and good food!

Some girl time at the condo.

And of course, we couldn't be in Park City without eating at The Flying Sumo where Em works!

Another weekend hike in Park City with our friends Ben and Katie and their pups.

The 4 Black Dog Posse

Brandon and his best friend Ben.

Our little Annie- 6 months old. She likes to play in the mountains with us.

Fall is practically the best time to climb. Great cooler temps and BEAUTIFUL SCENERY!

Cabo

2009-10-12T23:55:00.001-07:00

Just the thing to look at to forget all our worries. The water was bath-tub warm and waves were really fun to play in. The Sea of Cortez in Cabo is absolutely beautiful!
Brandon and I spent a lot of time just relaxing on the beach or by the pool. We had great warm weather and loved having a week with no set plans, alarm clocks or responsibility!
We always saw a couple of these guys lurking around in the rocks near the pool
Awesome snorkel trip at Cabo Pulmo. It was worth the 1 1/2 hr drive to get there!
At the sushi bar at our resort- Hacienda del Mar. I never grow tired of sushi, but I think I may have had my fill of seafood for a while. It was great to have fresh, yummy fish though.
Can you tell where the pool ends and the ocean begins?
We met some people at our resort that invited us along for dinner with them. We had an incredible view of the sunset from the Mona Lisa. Land's End in the distance.
Another day of snorkeling at Playa de Santa Maria. The clarity on this day was not so great, and our Spanish was not so great so we kind of got ripped off when renting snorkel gear. Oh well, beats a day at work, right?
Aboard the Tropicat catamaran sunset cruise around the bay. It was one of the high-lights of the trip. Very small group on a small boat, great relaxing music playing, and all you can eat and drink. Montezuma's Revenge was soon to follow however...
The resort we stayed at had some terrific restaurants, and some of our meals were paid for by going to the timeshare sales presentation. It was absolutely fantastic!
It was hard to leave this place and know we were coming back to Utah where it was summer weather no more.
Brandon got to try SCUBA for the first time and is now hooked. I haven't been on a dive for a few years because my partner wasn't certified, but now that he's got a taste for it, we'll be back!
Our trip to Cabo was a nice, relaxing way to recharge our batteries a little bit. We had a great time and hope that next time we'll get some friends and family to join us!

Missing

2009-09-26T02:10:00.001-07:00

MISSING!!!

My car was stolen from my garage a few days ago. It is a 2001 Honda Accord, just 2 months away from being paid off. It had a snowboard rack on it, a wallet with $400 cash, an I-pod and all the CDs I have ever owned, and some other sentimental items.

NO REWARD

I don't even want this car back I just made this flyer to tell you that I hate you, car thief. I hope you drive my car and get hit by a monster truck. I hope my car takes you straight to hell.

(Disclaimer: This is taken from a funny flier that someone made about their missing bike. I just changed a few things and don't worry, I don't really wish that on anyone!)

Celebrating Peace, Love and Uncle Al

2009-09-18T15:59:00.000-07:00

On August 28, 2009 we lost our Uncle Al at 63 years young to a dissecting aortic aneurysm, the same condition that almost took my dad's life 9 years ago. We have all felt such a profound loss in our lives now, but Al would want us to celebrate his life, not mourn for him. So that is what we have tried to do. This is my favorite picture of my favorite uncle- shining in the sun in Zion.
He was our mentor and was so fortunate to live in the most beautiful place in the world. We often took trips to Zion, staying with Al, and had the opportunity to explore this land that he loved in a way that most people never do.
Atop the peak next to Johnson, one of my favorite times hiking with Al. This is the area just behind his house, and from this view we pointed out many of the other peaks we would plan to bag together. We never thought our time would run out so soon.
His funeral was held at the Springdale cemetery, a beautiful place to be laid to rest. His wishes were to return to the earth in the most natural possible way- not embalmed, buried in a pine box, with no nails.
My father's tribute to his brother was very touching. He spoke about the reunion he hoped Al was having with his mother and other brother who preceded him in death. Half of my dad's family has now passed away.
An impromptu indian flute piece "Amazing Grace" by one of Al's comrades from the paramedic/ firefighter group he was a part of. Adrienne's husband Dave and daughter Davenne in the background.

Bench cousins.

Al's daughter Adrienne felt that it would be more personal if the members of the family helped bury him, rather than some random workers. It was very emotional but felt like the right thing to do.
Later that evening we had an informal gathering at the park where people from the town of Springdale and those that had traveled from very far away to pay tribute to Al by sharing memories and stories. This is Dick Dotey sharing a piece of amazingly detailed leather work done by Al, the artisan.

The Bench family reunion.

Avery, Adrienne's darling little boy was delighted to see his great-grandpa. Family connections.
Al's collection of cochina dolls from Hopi land. He traded cottonwood root and other goods with the indians. Al gave us one of these special pieces as a wedding gift.

Feeling the love in Zion.

We have been so lucky to stay here with Al at his house so many times. Coming to Zion just won't be the same again.
But we will always cherish our times with Al and know that his memory will be here forever.

Summer Climbing

2009-09-10T12:30:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we took a trip to the City of Rocks in Idaho. It was a fun little get-away for us, and the dogs absolutely loved it! They ran around, got into some cactus again, and kept look-out in the tent at night for us. We got some great climbing in too!
Brandon loves his little Annie. He gave her a ride on his pack when she started getting tired.

We've been coming here together for 5 years. We love this place!
It gets a little chilly at night in the City of Rocks, even in the summer. Glad to have our coats!
After part of the Labor Day weekend spent in Zion (more on that later), we headed to Maple Canyon for some climbing. We love going there because it's only about 20 min away from Brandon's mom's house.
We've been climbing pretty hard lately, so we feel a lot stronger now.
Anthony had a good time climbing with us too. It was his first time out for the season, so he was done after the first day.
Brandon leading "Pipeline" 11.D
We met up with several friends and had a lot of fun with them. Michelle brought her dog Jude who could almost be mistaken for Cole. They all got along great. They played so hard that the next day all they could do was sleep.

Summer is my favorite time of year, and practically all our free time goes to climbing. It's always a little sad when the days get shorter and cooler because I know our time outside is coming to an end. But we have done a lot this summer and I hope to squeeze a few more trips in before the snow flies!

Zion

2009-08-03T17:05:00.001-07:00

After our day of canyoneering we were ready for some food and music at the Bit and Spur.
The sky and majestic mountains in the evening in Zion are magical!
The locals say it's tarantula mating season now- here's a little one at the restaurant.
Modeling Al's Peaceday.com shirts. This is his next big endeavor- check out the website!
The moon coming out next to Johnson peak.
On our last day there we sought refuge from the heat in the Virgin River up the Narrows.
This is the only place to be on a hot day in Zion. We ran into Brandon's friends here and hiked with them for a while.
Last photo ever taken with our camera. On the way back down the canyon I decided to take a swim to cool off and forgot about the camera still in my pack. Although we were able to salvage the pics, our camera is toast. The next one will be waterproof!

Canyoneering in Zion

2009-08-03T16:31:00.000-07:00

Brandon about to rappel into the dark slot of Spry Canyon
In the slot- this was a little tricky maneuvering into the next pool since we had prematurely pulled the rope.
So Brandon used what we called a "butt hold" to press himself up against the walls and slowly lower himself down into the murky water.
One of the longer free-hanging rappels out of the slot.
After hiking and down climbing for about 5 hours, this clear (although green) pool was so refreshing on this hot day! We dove right in and played around for a little while before we made it back to the car.
The pics got out of order, but this is the beginning of the hike. Uncle Al shuttled us up there and hiked with us until the point of no return. He doesn't really like to do any canyoneering or climbs that require gear or ropes.
Right before the descent into the slot canyon. Brandon decided we didn't need to rope up here, so we VERY carefully climbed our way down into this bowl, avoiding some really gunky, funky pools of water at the bottom.
We hi-jacked someone else's rope so we could go ahead of a large group.
Now we can see out to the other side of the canyon. Coming out of the notch next to Mt. Spry.
Our friend Nick joined in our adventure too. I was glad he was there to carry the rope!

We had such a fun adventure in Spry Canyon. It was SO hot in the beginning and felt really good to go down into the cooler temps and into the water. There is so much more to do in Zion, and I can't wait to go back!

Camping in the mighty Uintahs

2009-07-22T22:49:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we went camping in the Uintahs and had so much fun! Here we are at Ruth Lake after some climbing, Cole is in the background swimming after sticks in the lake.
This was a nice shady wall, and we weren't the only ones trying to get out of the heat here. I love climbing at Ruth Lake!
Brandon collected fire wood, piled it up, and almost immediately it was picked up and moved by the dogs. They love to chew on sticks.
Look how cute our little Annie is. Almost 3 months now. She definitely took to camping well.
We found a sweet spot to camp near Whitney reservoir, the only bad thing was the mosquitoes and flies are so bad up there this year! We doused ourselves with bug spray, and still came home with lots of bug bites. But it was nice to get out of the 100 degree weather in SLC to the beautiful mountains just a couple of hours away.

What summer is all about

2009-07-08T11:28:00.000-07:00

For the 4th of July we went down to Mt. Pleasant and had a great time. We got up for the 7 am breakfast at the park, I know- shocking. I usually only see that side of morning as I'm getting off work and going to bed. They had a carnival and "mountain man rondezvous" with fun games and yummy treats. I love small town holiday celebrations!
That night we had a BBQ and the best seats in the house for the fireworks show- right on the deck of the Fox's house. This worked out well because as soon as it got dark the rain storm rolled in. So we just watched the show wrapped in blankets and coats and then ran right back inside when it was over.
I decided to go explore American Fork Canyon on Monday and came upon this fabulous place. The whole way up to this lake was absolutely gorgeous- wildflowers, aspen trees and the river crossing our path in several places. What a reward for the end of the hike! It's the most beautiful place I've been to around here!
Our dogs love hiking, even little Annie battled her way most of the 4 miles (I had to carry her a few times on the way up). She also took a nice long nap while Cole was swimming and fetching sticks in the lake up top.
Every summer I remember how much I love going to outdoor concerts and wish I could have more of them. Last night we saw Indigo Girls at Red Butte Gardens. It was so much fun- sitting out there on the grass with friends, yummy food, and great music playing all night. Brandon and I quite enjoyed the people-watching aspect of the night. I smiled and laughed so hard my cheeks hurt by the end of the night. It also reminded me how important it is to still go out on dates regularly. I love my husband and am so glad I am with my best friend!

One year of wedded bliss

2009-06-29T11:07:00.000-07:00

Celebrating one year of marriage together: sushi at the Sumo in Park City.
Posh condo in Deer Valley for the weekend, thanks to Brandon's boss! And thanks to Brandon's mom and brother for watching the pups so we could have a weekend away. It was so nice to have uninterrupted sleep!
We hiked around Deer Valley resort and found this picture perfect spot.
Ya, we could really get used to this extravagant living! We had a great time getting away from it all and just focusing on each other and having fun. We watched movies, played pool, soaked in the hot tub in the crisp mountain air, ate yummy food in Park City, hiked, and just relaxed! It was such a great weekend and I think we fell in love all over again!

Another New Edition

2009-06-25T23:49:00.001-07:00

We did it again! We couldn't resist, and now we have another puppy at home. She looks a lot like Zoey, I know, and that was how she caught our eye on KSL.com. Little Annie is an 8 week old German short-hair pointer mix and so darn cute!
At first Cole wasn't too sure about this new addition, but it only took a few days and now they are fast friends. He has been through a lot these past few weeks; losing his sister Zoey, getting neutered and now living with another new dog. He's happy though because now he is the Alpha Dog, and has a play mate again!
She is a sweetheart, but man- am I tired all over again! We are still thinking of Zoey every day and missing her, but we felt like it was time to turn our sadness into happy times and give Cole a play mate again. She's so little and adorable and despite all the work, it is really fun to have a puppy again.

Rest In Peace Zoey girl

2009-06-14T20:08:00.001-07:00

After an unexpected turn for the worst on Friday and sudden deterioration following Zoey's surgery our precious little Zoey girl died. We are so devastated by the loss of our sweet little puppy. The doctor thinks that she might have had an ulcer in her stomach from all the medications and stress of this whole situation, then it perforated causing massive infection which caused her to go into shock and die.

All day Friday she wouldn't eat or drink and was obviously much more uncomfortable and unable to be calmed. Brandon stayed up all night with her Thurs while I was at work, laying on his sleeping bag next to her on the floor. There he stayed all day while I tried to get some sleep and had to go back to work that night. Soon after I left she got much worse and without going into too many details, she died while Brandon was trying to get her back down to the hospital.

We decided to write down some memories and some loving messages to her in the box she was buried in. I never knew I could love something so much. Before we got Cole and Zoey I didn't even really much care for dogs. But they became our constant companions always giving us so much joy and unconditional love.
We felt the best place to have her buried was in our backyard. It is a very peaceful place with the mountains all around and wildflowers blooming on the hillside next to her. Brandon spent most of the day Saturday digging in the hard ground of clay and rocks. His brother Chris helped as well. It was pouring rain for part of the day so they had to stop until it cleared up. I cried about as much as it rained.
Just after we finished our little "funeral service" a rainbow appeared in the sky. We decided that is was a sign from Zoey that she is happy in doggy heaven- running and jumping around now, not suffering any longer.
Zoey- you will never be forgotten and can never be replaced. We love you so much and are so sad that we couldn't have you in our lives for very long. Next week she would be 6 months old, much too young to leave this life. But we think she had a much better life in her short time than many dogs have in a whole lifetime. She was the most affectionate and loving dog I have ever known. We are trying to remember all the fun and great times we had with her and we're so glad we still have Cole. Her spirit lives on and we're grateful to have had our time with her. Rest in peace Zoey girl.

If love could heal

2009-06-14T19:43:00.000-07:00

Sunday- Zoey's first day post-op. She seemed so much more comfortable, despite the metal fixators protruding from her back. There's nothing we wouldn't do to make her better.
Daddy loves his little girl. He has such a calming presence, she would immediately relax when Brandon was there to give her some love.
Tuesday- With the help of a towel sling to support some of her weight, the hospital staff started doing standing exercises with her. She did show signs of bearing some weight on her own, and still had good reflexes and some movement in hind legs.
Sometimes though, her poor little legs just dangled there like they forgot how to move. This must have been so frustrating for our girl who was so used to running and jumping all around.

We took Zoey home on Wednesday evening where we would continue to care for her and help try to rehabilitate her. The doctor ordered her to be on strict "cage-rest" for 6 weeks, so we knew it was the start of a long road. But at least she would be home with us where she would feel our constant love and attention and be in her familiar surroundings so that her healing would be optimal. It was hard work, but we knew it was worth it.

A broken back and broken hearts

2009-06-07T10:32:00.000-07:00

Our sweet little Zoey girl came from a dog that was quite a jumper. The German short-hair pointer jumped the 6 ft fence into the kennel of the labrador that was in "heat." And that is how our puppies came to be.

Well I guess she is quite a jumper herself, and on Thurs night when we went to Park City to visit my sister Emily, Zoey jumped over her balcony, after I assume she was trying to get a better look at the dogs barking below us, and fell about 25 ft. It was the most horrible and tragic thing I could ever imagine happening. I was utterly useless- in a panic, screaming and crying and not knowing what to do for my poor yelping, bleeding dog that could not move.
We took her to a vet who came in on this emergency call and he did an exam and some x-rays. She had a compression fracture in her lumbar spine and could not move or stand on her hind legs, but still had reflexes. She had some bleeding in the lungs and dental trauma. Next we took her to the animal ER in Salt Lake where they admitted her, gave her pain medicine and tried to make her as comfortable as possible. We had to wait for a lot of things this weekend- an MRI the next day, results the day after, and finally for the surgeon to come back from vacation last night.

In the meantime we have shed so many tears and discussed the fate of our young pup and what would be best for her. If you've never owned a dog and become bonded to these loving creatures you wouldn't understand our dilemma, as I wouldn't have before I became a dog owner not too long ago myself. We couldn't bear to see her in pain, and we couldn't bear to think of our lives without her. But we also don't want her to have a poor quality of life. After speaking with family, friends, many vets and hospital workers and finally the surgeon last night, we felt that going ahead with the surgery was the best thing to do for all of us. We realize that it is VERY expensive and will be a long road to recovery (if she even fully recovers), but we have hopes that since she is young and healthy and her spinal cord is still intact that she still has a good chance of getting better.

Sorry for this long post, and I know that if you read my facebook you already kind of know what is going on- but there's the full story. We love our little Zoey so much, and hope and pray for a speedy recovery. Please send your positive thoughts and hopes her way.

Let the Climbing Season commence

2009-05-26T16:29:00.000-07:00

Maple Canyon is such a neat place to climb, and conveniently it is only 20 min or so away from Brandon's mom's house in Mt. Pleasant. We dodged the rain this weekend and got some nice climbing in.
Big Cottonwood Canyon- this is a local favorite spot, and we love to climb here too. The crowds were out this Memorial Day, but we still had a good long day of climbing at the S-curve.

It was a wet Memorial Day weekend, but we still managed to get out and have some fun in between rain showers. We had a BBQ in Mt. Pleasant with the Fox clan and friends, climbed in Maple Canyon and then came home for a Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday night. Gramps' sweetheart Nancy put on this dinner in memory of Gramps (he bought the turkey in Dec. and died in Feb. They had both talked of having a turkey dinner for the family, and now we finally got to have it. Sadly we found out his sister Gayle passed away that day too.)

Monday felt too good to be true- sleeping in and climbing together all day, then a girl's night out with Courtney and Wendi for Chinese food (we were sick of BBQ food). We should have 3 day-weekends more often!

This Desert Life

2009-05-13T18:53:00.001-07:00

After a long month of working on remodeling the duplex to get it ready for renters (Brandon did most of the work), we were SOOO ready to get away for a weekend. The weather is finally warm and it was the perfect time to go camping in the desert. We drove a couple hours south to the San Rafael Swell and had the best time! The dogs had so much fun and did really well for their first camping trip!

On Friday night when we got there it was dark so they didn't quite see what they were getting in to. We pulled way too many cactus quills out of their poor little paws. Cole and Zoey were also quite excited to sleep in the tent with us. That was fun until the sun came up early in the morning- then they wanted to be on the go. We hiked in the canyon around the San Rafael river, and got in and swam around a bit too. Cole LOVES to swim, but Zoey- not so much. And she's the one with the webbed feet!

On one of the huge red rock canyon walls is a large pictograph panel dating back at least 2000 years. It was drawn by native indians and very interesting to see. Several years ago it was vandalized, but fortunately has since been restored. If I had lived back then, I'd want to live in those beautiful canyons too. I love Utah and all the different areas to enjoy the outdoors. Especially when I have my best friend to enjoy it with!

Washington D.C.- just a girls getaway

2009-04-28T00:16:00.000-07:00

Traveling in the spring time is so great (except when spring storms cause flight delays and cancellations)! The crowds are thinner, the rates are lower, and if you're lucky like us, you get to see the earth blossoming and blooming- and what better place to see that than Washington D.C.? It was cherry blossom time and we saw some beautiful parts of the country driving through Virgina and into D.C.

We stayed in Charlottesville a few nights on both ends of the trip and saw our special family friends The Rasmussens. Rylie was baptized and it was neat to be there with her. While there we went to visit Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's estate on a beautiful hilltop overlooking the valley. I learned a lot about him and some history that I had forgotten from my school days.

In D.C. we tried to see all the things on my list, and accomplished it except that we didn't have time to see Mt. Vernon. My mom was so easy-going and great to travel with. She's been there before, but since it was my first time she let me decide all the things I wanted to do. At the end of the days we were worn out from all the walking, but ate some great food and had a lot of fun!

On the first day we toured the Library of Congress, Supreme Court, went to the White House (looked at it from outside the gates), Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War Memorials, and that was a lot of walking!
The next day we toured the Capitol, went to the American History Museum, and the gorgeous Arlington Cemetery. I loved watching the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. We were there as the sun was setting and it was a humbling beautiful place to reflect on all the people that have given their lives in the service of our country. That night we ate at a wonderful Indian restaurant- I love international cuisine in big cities!
On Sunday we got in line first thing to get tickets for the Holocaust museum, and while we were waiting for our time there we went to the Natural History Museum. That was fantastic! I could have spent days there. We spent 4 hours taking in all the horrors of the Nazi genocide on the Jews, and I still can not comprehend how such an atrocity could have occurred.
We wanted to have some authentic Chinese food, so we set off for Chinatown, then finished it off with a treat from the Red Velvet cupcakery. So delicious! Earth day celebrations were going on all up and down the mall, including a concert which was pretty cool.

As luck would have it, a storm blew in on Monday morning and it was pouring when we started driving back to the airport. Half way there we found out our flight was cancelled. We ended up staying in Charlottesville another night then buying a ticket on Delta to get home the next day. I had a fantastic time, but was ready to come home. I missed my husband and of course my puppies!

Birthday and Easter celebration

2009-04-23T09:57:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we celebrated Brandon's b-day at his mom's in Mt. Pleasant with his family and some yummy food. It was a cold, rainy Saturday, but luckily that led to a beautiful sunny Easter Sunday! We had a wonderful dinner at my parent's house, and Easter games. We love getting together with our families!

Spring Riding

2009-03-29T13:16:00.000-07:00

This is what I love... riding powder and music. Well, yesterday I got both. This season I haven't exactly gotten as many days in as I would like, but the spring has treated me very well. I rode the Canyons last weekend with my sis, and yesterday AS my sis. Being an identical twin has it's advantages. We just had a big storm this last week and there was still some powder to be had on this beautiful sunny spring day, the "pond-skimming" contest was going on, and the Wailers were playing at the end of the day. I had so much fun, and my husband was nice enough to take the responsibility for the day so I could play!

Saying Goodbye to "Gramps"

2009-03-05T11:26:00.001-08:00

This has been one of the hardest weeks ever. On Saturday evening we got the sad news that Brandon's grandpa had passed away- this was a shock to all of us, because he was so healthy and active and vibrant- we thought we had many more years with Gramps. Apparently he died peacefully in his sleep with his arms folded, sitting in his chair with the morning paper. This has brought comfort to many of us.

Yesterday was the funeral service and it was such a wonderful tribute to a kind, compassionate and loving man. Brandon's family has been an incredible strength and support through this ordeal, and we will continue to lean on each other as we will still go through tough times ahead. But we have also had moments of laughter and smiles as we reminisce about fond memories and watch home videos of Gramps. It was wonderful to hear his familiar voice on video again and hear how lovingly he spoke to his kids and grandkids.

Gramps was an accomplished professional trumpet player, he was a member of the Phoenix jazz and swing band, and gave many thousands of performances over the years and recorded 8 albums. He was an avid tennis player, won many tournaments and was still playing several times a week at age 82! He gave over 5,000 hours of service at the VA in his retirement, after working many years in this organization. He made time for his family and friends, calling his daughters who live far away every single day. We were lucky to have a birthday celebration together just 3 weeks ago and had a nice family gathering. Jesse spent most of his time with his sweetheart Nancy, who had become the family's adopted grandma. She is such a sweet lady and we are all lucky to know her too.

Brandon and I have become a lot closer through this experience and it is wonderful to be part of such a great family. If we could all be like Gramps, this world would be a better place. Brandon has said many times that he will try to follow the example of this wonderful man, and we resolve to make more time and not take one minute for granted that we have with our loved ones here on earth. So go see your grandparents, or call them on the phone and tell them you love them. Take time to listen to their stories and learn from this incredible generation that won't be around for too much longer. We will miss you Jesse Carter, but know that we will be together again someday!

Funny Stuff

2009-02-23T02:47:00.000-08:00

If you haven't ever checked out this website "Stuff White People Like" I suggest you go to it immediately. I laugh out loud reading this stuff, and usually it's at work when it's slow, and really quiet, and I feel a little silly. My favorite one so far, obviously because I have dogs now, is this one.

Speaking of, Coal and Zoe are so dang cute, and getting bigger by the minute.

They are 8 weeks old now, are potty-trained for the most part, and are learning to follow commands and getting into a better routine. I think it's Brandon and I that have been trained better for that. I never would have thought I'd ever become a dog lover, but these two have grown on me, and now I can't imagine life without them!

Celebrate for as long as possible

2009-02-18T15:02:00.000-08:00

Wendi's mom said it best, "You aren't through celebrating until the last party." And February is full of several birthday parties. Of course I share my b-day with my twin sister, but also several close friends and family members have birthdays in February as well. So we have several occasions to go out to dinner, have family dinners, friend dinners, and even go out of town to celebrate in Brianhead ski resort. This is the longest standing tradition among friends. We have been going to Aubree's cabin in Brianhead ski resort for 9 years in a row now, and we plan to continue this forever hopefully!

This year, the President's Day weekend also shared Valentines Day, so I felt extra guilty leaving Brandon home to take care of our new puppies while I went to play with my friends. But he was so sweet about it, and it was nice to get some sleep and a break from my little ones. We had many yummy meals, late night talks, sledding championships on the huge sledding hill, and wonderful memories made! Oh, and we aren't through celebrating yet, we have our combined family dinner planned for next week since mom was sick for our actual birthday!

Daddy-daughter date

2009-02-06T09:15:00.000-08:00

For the past several years, whenever the Irish dance troupe comes to town, my dad has taken me to see Riverdance and this last weekend we saw Lord of the Dance. We both absolutely love celtic music and the unique and wonderful Irish dancing!

But mostly I love the time I get just with my dad. We share dinner together before and talk about all the things going on in our busy lives. We have such an amazing relationship, and I feel like we can talk about ANYTHING at all. He is such a great listener, gives me perspective and advice or whatever I need without sounding preachy or telling me what to do. I look up to my dad and hope I can be like him with my kids. I love my dad and he is my hero!

Are we crazy or what?

2009-02-04T11:54:00.001-08:00

So, instead of bringing home one puppy, we brought two! We loved Coal, but then this sweet little girl, Zoe, melted our hearts too, and we couldn't decide- so we now have two puppies at home! We thought they could keep each other company- and they certainly do. But they are sure keeping us busy, and sleep-deprived! It's a lot of work, but also lots of fun. They have very different personalities and Zoe often picks on Coal (I think she's trying to make up for her small size in attitude).

Our little buddies make us happy and we look forward to the days when a.) they are potty-trained b.) they don't need to be let out every 2 hours and c.) they are trained and can come on all of our adventures with us.
If you want your puppy fix, come on up and play with us!

A new addition to the family coming soon...

2009-01-21T01:23:00.001-08:00

No it's not a baby, it's a puppy! Knowing me, a dog is the last thing anyone would ever expect me to have, but I couldn't help falling in love with this sweet little thing when we were visiting my in-laws at Christmas time. Brandon's mom has a black lab and she had a litter of 6 puppies on Dec. 18. When I was down there I couldn't put this puppy down- I was always holding him and it was no different when we were there last weekend. So we decided that we were really going to do it. The puppies are already being weaned by their mom and so by this time next week, we'll have a new member of the family! The other exciting news is that Emily has decided she wants one too, and so she'll come down with us to pick one out for her!

I am very excited, but mostly nervous. I am a freak about cleanliness, so this will be really hard for me. I have no experience in owning or training a dog, and I am pretty much allergic to dogs! So why are we doing this? Well, Brandon has always wanted another dog and I have started to warm up to the idea over the past little while. We think it will be fun whenever we are hiking, climbing, camping or even just out running around. So here we go!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-05T07:04:00.000-08:00

I had a very long, exhausting week at work, my last night being New Year's Eve. Let me tell you, that is hopefully the last time I ever work that holiday in the ER! I took care of more drunks and crazy people in one solid night than I have in several months all together. It was not fun. So the rest of the weekend we just kind of took it easy. New Year's Day was fun- (for me anyway, Brandon was sick and confined to the bedroom) we had some friends over for dinner and games that lasted until 2:30 am! We did go to the climbing gym on Saturday, and realized how out of shape we are! This membership was our major Christmas present, which also ties into our New Year's resolutions.

1. More exercise! Whenever my schedule allows, we will go to the climbing gym together. When I am working at night, Brandon says he will go there on his way home. In addition to climbing walls and bouldering areas, Momentum also has a weights/ cardio area and offers Yoga classes! We want to be in good climbing shape (for ice climbing this winter and rock climbing when it's warm outside again).

2. Less TV time. This can sometimes take over a lot of our time. Because I work nights, I stay up very late when I am off work too. And since Brandon is naturally sort of a night-owl, he stays up late too, and a LOT of that time is spent watching TV. I would probably be sick if I calculated the hours spent watching TV this past long weekend. We need to pledge to more time reading, organizing, getting projects done around the house, etc.

3. Getting out of debt. This is not really a new goal, we have been working on it for a long time, but this is the year that we will eliminate pretty much ALL of our debt(except for house pmt)! We will get both our cars paid off, the last of our credit card debt and some other miscellaneous payments out of the way. Brandon is the one who is VERY conscious of this goal, and has to remind me a lot of the time why we have to sacrifice a lot of things that I WANT to do, in order to be in a better financial situation. This is definitely hard for me because before I got married, my money was mine to do what I wanted with, and I had very little to pay for in order to live, the rest was used for PLAY stuff! But when all is said and done, we don't lack anything we need, we are very blessed, and we both say to each other all the time- all we need is each other!

4. Church. I haven't exactly been very regular in my church attendance, especially with the 9:00 am start time, and me working nights. Well this year our ward meets at 11:oo. That's much better! I am getting to know some people in the ward, and everyone there is very welcoming and nice. It just feels good to be there.

Well this is just a start. This morning I woke up to a gorgeous sunrise over Mt. Timpanoogas and I felt it was symbolic of the new beginning I hope to have this day and this new year. Happy New Year everyone!

Home for the Holidays

2009-01-02T12:56:00.000-08:00

Even if it meant not getting any sleep for work that night, I had so much fun getting together with my friends who are in town for the holidays. Both of these girls are my good friends from college and we have shared so many good times together! And now they both have adorable kids and I was happy to get to see those little ones too.

Andrew is Aubrei and Blake's 2 year old and his big beautiful eyes and long eyelashes are to die for. And speaking of beautiful eyes, Sammie's new little guy Ryker has those too! He is a perfect hybrid of Sammie and Joe, and he is the happiest little chunk ever! Even if we only see each other a few times a year, I always feel like we pick up where we left off. I'm lucky to have such good friends.

A Christmas Poem

2008-12-30T07:23:00.001-08:00

One night a couple of weeks ago I couldn't sleep (which is just about every night/day). So by the light of my cell phone in the bed, I came up with this silly little poem, which is an ode to my family.

A Christmas Poem

As we come to the end of 2008,

We look back on a year that we thought was great.

In June Britt and Brandon tied the knot,

In May Em decided bravely to "not."

Em loves her yoga, she's become quite a pro,

In Park City she lives and plays in the snow.

The Emergency Room is where she works nights,

Being a nurse is what Brittany likes.

Brandon sells software at Go Engineer,

He's learning and loving his new job this year.

Chris and Wendi made plans to adopt,

While working with books and all things posh.

Landon sold books to pay his tuition

Some day his hard work will come to fruition.

Research and writing was quite a production,

Last month dad finished another introduction.

Although she thought that she had retired,

Mom went back to work when someone got fired.

The economy stunk after the stock market crash,

Our 401(k)s went right in the trash!

For Christmas this year instead of many gifts,

We're donating our clothes and shopping at thrifts.

But what better way to feel the Christmas spirit,

Than to give to those that really do need it!

No we don't need presents under the tree,

We have all we need- the Bench family!

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus...

2008-12-30T01:30:00.000-08:00

The one day I look forward to the most during the holidays is Christmas Eve. There is something so magical about the lights, the cozy family time, opening the "Secret Elf" gift, reading the Christmas story from Luke II and all that yummy food of course! Also I think I like the anticipation of Christmas and being together with my family who I love so very much! This year was especially great because Brandon could finally spend the night with me on Christmas Eve- now that we are married of course. (Thanks Landon for cleaning your room so we could sleep there, sorry that you got "taco'd" on the blow-up mattress.)

We had planned to spend the evening serving dinner at the homeless shelter, but apparently they "double-booked" us and called to say they actually had TOO MANY volunteers that night. We wished we could have been part of it, but it's nice to know there is actually a surplus of volunteers, especially this time of year. So my dad will reschedule our family for another time, and we will take our collection of clothing and blankets to donate in a few more weeks.

Although we decided that we weren't going to have a lot of presents this year, we still woke up Christmas morning and felt very spoiled with all the things we got. My mom is so thoughtful and creative, she and my dad gave us all gifts of "time." A month ago she asked us to write a wish-list of "time." For instance I wished for people to help us with putting in our yard in the spring, so she gave us a pail with shovel and rake and gloves, and we scheduled a day that the whole family would come and help us do our yard! Everyone's gifts were all a little different and symbolic. Chris and Wendi got some painting supplies, and a date that we'd all come help them paint their nursery! What a great idea, right? We also got some "bare essentials" and some other great gifts. It was our first Christmas together being married, and I think it was my best Christmas ever!

Festival of Trees

2008-12-18T14:42:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago we went on a double-date with my grandparents. They live in Alpine, which is right down the hill from us. They don't have a car, so we love to go pick them up and take them places now and again. We went to see all the millions of trees and other holiday decorations and such at the Festival of Trees, and afterwards they treated us to dinner. We had a great time!

Here are some things about my grandpa that are interesting:

He was a personal assistant to Howard Hughes, he worked with the Osmond Family in California for many years, 2 years ago he had a 7-bypass graft heart surgery and is doing very well, he is very smart and knows all about current events and he's the most patient man I know!

Thanksgiving in Mt. Pleasant

2008-12-18T14:33:00.000-08:00

I am a little slow on getting these pictures onto my computer, but here in Mt. Pleasant is where we actually spent Thanksgiving. I didn't get any pictures of the actual meal with the whole family, but here are the boys on clean-up duty. Anthony was getting into the turkey carving a little too much I think!

The little brand new baby I'm holding is Cliff's grand-niece or something like that. Her name is Emma, and she is so sweet. Made me baby hungry :-)

Family and feast

2008-12-01T04:55:00.000-08:00

When some people get married they divide up holiday time between the two families and only get one holiday meal or day together. Well, although Brandon and I went down to his mom's for Thanksgiving and had a wonderful meal, we got spoiled and had a repeat on Sunday with my family! That was such a bonus, because I really missed my family on my first Thanksgiving away. We also celebrated Landon's birthday on Sunday. I think my caloric intake this weekend was about as much as most people consume in a whole month! But it was worth it! I have great cooks in my family and Brandon's, so I guess I better start becoming one too.

My contribution, which I got many compliments on was the rolls. At both family gatherings I made these Buttermilk Rolls. I must give credit where credit is due. If you want to impress, follow the link and make them for your next family gathering!

I am Thankful for...

2008-11-29T20:17:00.000-08:00

Things I am Thankful for:

My amazing wonderful, giving, fun, smart, fantastic family.
My sweet, sensitive, funny, incredible, good-looking, generous, loving husband.
My job as a nurse. It's wonderful to have such a good job in these hard times! I am grateful to have had a great education, and still learn more every day. I enjoy helping others, and it has taught me so much about people and brought me to places I never even imagined.
The mountains. We live in the best place on earth, where the mountains are our backyard. We love to play in the mountains whether it's rock-climbing, skiing, snowboarding, hiking, etc.
My health. I see so many people every day in my line of work that have very debilitating illnesses or injury that change their lives very drastically. I'm grateful that I am very healthy!
My home. I have been living here for 5 months, but strangely it felt more like home today than ever before! It is nice to have a big, new kitchen to cook in, and I love the view of Lone Peak right out our windows. It's fun to think of starting our family here and making lots of great memories.
My knowledge that Christ is our Savior, and he loves us. This might be the most important of all. At this time of the year as we reflect on all the things we are grateful for, we surely can see how truly blessed we are. We have so much to be thankful for and instead of thinking of all the presents we could buy, or how commercialized this season has become, let's reach out to those that are less fortunate and give as much as we can. In giving to others, we can truly feel the spirit of the season.

Missing this

2008-11-08T03:02:00.000-08:00

Now that it's getting colder, I am missing the warm days when we were out climbing a lot. This in-between season is always hard for me- it's too cold and wet to really enjoy being outside doing things, but there isn't enough snow or ice yet to be out enjoying that either. We did have some nice fall days out with friends before it got too cold at least. Although I'm not really looking forward to shoveling more snow from our driveway, I hope to be on my snowboard (and Brandon on his skis) soon enough, and climbing the ice as soon as it forms! Until then, I'll just remember the nice warm summer days climbing in the sun!

5 Years!

2008-11-03T16:12:00.000-08:00

This past month I received my 5 year certificate working for IHC as a Registered Nurse. It's hard to believe that much time has gone by! I honestly can not imagine doing anything else. I absolutely love being a nurse, and working in the ER is where I belong. I live for the life and death moments, I don't get grossed out by blood and guts, and it's never the same day twice! One good thing I can be grateful for lately is that no matter what the economy is doing, I will always have a job! I love the people I work with, and the patients I get to work for.

Halloween continued

2008-10-31T03:23:00.000-07:00

Chris's fro made him even taller than he already is and Wendi was a beautiful butterfly! Landon made a good hunter and I'll let you decide what Brandon was ;-) Grandpa and Grandma showed up as "Old MacDonald" and "His wife" and while Grandma Glad was not in costume, she did win the pumpkin ball toss contest. Emily's alter ego "Bianca" made an appearance and my costume came from a great thrift store several years ago. Dad really looked the part as a surgeon, and mom was a sexy kitten!

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T03:15:00.000-07:00

We had a great party the other night where everyone came in costume... well even those that didn't come in costume put one together out of the great costume box at mom and dad's :-) We had a yummy dinner of chili and chowder and all sorts of other good stuff. Carving pumpkins is such a fun tradition, and our winner was Emily's elaborate spider web design. We played fun Halloween games and got really neat prizes... thanks mom for a GREAT TIME!

Snowbird

2008-10-28T15:09:00.000-07:00

Last week we had our condo up at the Cliff Lodge at Snowbird. We had a great time- climbing, hiking, relaxing at the spa, entertaining family and friends, and yes even spelunking! Also, there was a lot of good food, time for reading, and watching movies, and just enjoying the beautiful fall season in the mountains!

Rocktober

2008-10-13T17:50:00.000-07:00

While I went away to work, Brandon went to play in the mountains. American Fork canyon is one of our favorite canyons to explore... and you can see why. Can you see the mountain goats?

Winter Already?

2008-10-13T15:38:00.000-07:00

This weekend a storm moved in, and this is what we woke up to! I had just put up our Halloween decorations, so I was not in the mood for snow! Up here, we experience more harsh weather than down in the valley. If this is any clue of what's still to come, it's going to be another record snow year!

Zion

2008-10-06T22:44:00.000-07:00

After it rained for almost 24 hours straight on Saturday, we were so happy to wake up to the most beautiful, clear day in Zion. Of course we stayed with Uncle Al, and he took us out for an awesome hike. This was a particularly busy weekend, so the popular trails were full of people. We found some solitude on the West Rim trail and over in "Little Siberia." It was the perfect day! Brandon says he is going to make a new trail rule: No more medical talk. Al is a paramedic, and I am an ER nurse, so we always swap stories when we're together. One thing for sure is, we always wish we could stay for weeks, and leave there with a list of hikes and peaks we want to tackle on our next trip down south.

St. George Marathon supporters

2008-10-06T22:33:00.000-07:00

This weekend we went to St. George to support Brandon's brother Anthony, who ran his first marathon. All week we have had beautiful weather, and then as bad fortune would have it, it rained ALL day on Saturday. This meant for a wet race. We stood in the rain for 3 hours (got there a little early, which is very unlike us), watching and yelling and clapping for the runners coming across the finish line. This was very inspiring- in fact Brandon has made a goal to run a marathon now. It's a wonderful goal, but one that I just don't think I can share. I pretty much hate running for very long.
Anthony finished the race with a very good time, and we are SO proud of him!

Girlfriends

2008-10-03T03:33:00.000-07:00

Getting together is always fun, but it's even better when we get to go out for SUSHI! Luckily, I had the
opportunity to go out for sushi twice last week. I don't even remember the last time I went out to eat, so
sushi twice in one week means it was a special occasion! Aubree came into town, then Allie did the next
day, and then Court and I went up to Park City when Em was working to see her. I love my girls!

Autumn in the Canyon

2008-09-29T22:07:00.001-07:00

Tonight we took our parents and grandparents for a drive up American Fork Canyon to enjoy the autumn leaves.
It was a BEAUTIFUL evening and the colors were just spectacular!
Afterwards we found a picnic area in the dark with our flashlights and had a hot-dog roast over the fire. Of course we had
S'mores too! My favorite! As grandpa said, "It was choice."

Our wedding

2008-09-25T16:11:00.000-07:00

Our life together officially started June 26, 2008. We were married at Alta Rustler Lodge, in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Brandon and I have spent probably the majority of our time together in the mountains. We got engaged at Snowbird (right down the street), so we thought this was a wonderful place to bring it all together.
I thought everything about it was absolutely perfect! We loved having close friends and family come together to celebrate with us. We had so much help from everyone and it turned out so great!

Fallahi family on the blogspot

2008-09-25T15:54:00.001-07:00

Are we allowed to have a blog even though we don't have kids to show off yet? My friend Aubree told me the other day that those that have kids blog, and those that don't FACEBOOK. True for me, until now. I thought that since Brandon and I were married 3 months ago (wow, time flies!) it would be fun to start a blog and share our life and adventures with friends and family. Being computer illiterate, I can barely figure this stuff out, so bear with me!