The Happiest Place on Earth

Danny and I just took our first ever road trip as a happily married couple. It was awesome. We packed our bags and headed out early Thursday morning.

The drive to California took us through Las Vegas and since I had never been there we decided that would be where we would stop for lunch. What an interesting city. Can't say it is a beautiful as all the pictures show--but then again we were there during the day. The hotels were amazing buildings--but once you got inside it was all about the money...and well...wasn't that great.

We went to a mall right there on the strip which had a food court and we ate. Danny and I walked around for about half an hour just looking at the hotels. It was unbearably hot so we decided to get on our way. Las Vegas...not really my thing.
We arrived in South Pasadena around four in the afternoon and drove to my grandparent's house. Ginny gave us one of her wonderful welcomes with a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. This was her and Danny's first time meeting. She took us up to see grandpa in his office and we all talked for a few minutes. Grandma, Danny and I looked at our wedding pictures on our computer before we all went to dinner. After dinner Danny and I went swimming and retired early because we had an early morning. It sure was a quick trip. I promised grandma we would stay longer next time.

When planning our little trip we went for the cheapest place--Motel 6. We weren't expecting much, but were very surprised to see a sheik room when we checked in. Wood floors, newly remodeled bathroom, flat screen TV. Who knew? Motel 6.

The Happiest Place on Earth. Well...if it isn't then it is a close second. Danny and I had a wonderful time riding rides, going to shows, eating food, walking around. It was a fantastic time. I think we went on Space Mountain and Indiana Jones around six times each. Awesome rides.

We drank pineapple slushies in the famous Tiki Room, visited Micky and Minie's houses, laughed on the punny Jungle cruise (yes, Danny did laugh out loud at some of the puns), rode the ferry around Tom Sawyer's Island, ate in the Pirate's ride, and marveled at Fantasia over the water.

This is the Castle during the Tinkerbell Show.


The best part of our trip however reminded us of home. Danny and I were getting ready to head home and walked past one of the covered pavillions. THere was a live swing band playing and people were dancing--only about ten couples though with many others watching. We went over to check it out. It was open dancing! Danny and I danced for a good half hour before the band was done. It was so fun--we were by far one of the best couples. When we walked out the front gates a little later a girl turned and said she had seen us dancing and we were really good. We both love dancing--it is nice to be able to go anywhere in the world and be able to show-off a little together. It was wonderful.
For us, this is a very happy place. And next time I wont forget my dance shoes.

My First Loves Finally Meet

My dad had the most impeccable luck when I was a kid (and I think it is still continuing...). As his calling he worked with the young men most the time I can remember. Being the outdoorsy man he is--they camped pretty much every month. As far as I know--it never rained. Never. And we lived in Washington.
You would think, as his oldest daughter, that some of this luck would have rubbed off on me. It hasn't. I think it is a pretty mean joke. Every time Danny and I decide to do something outside, it rains. It rained on the day of m y bridals, our wedding day, every time we plan to go to Seven Peaks, all three times we have planned to wash the car, and yes--the very first newlywed camping/waverunnering trip. The week leading up to our trip was in the triple digits all week--perfect time to spend a night in a tent and the next day on the water. As soon as we got out tent up, we heard thunder, saw lightning, and smelled rain. However, with our past history of rained out activities, we expected it.

Danny and I packed our car, put on our honeymoon tidied shirts and drove up the canyon. We found a nice little camping site close to Lake Jordanelle where we would play the next morning. I had packed some pretty awesome food. We grilled kielbasa and zucchini (from my mom's garden in Colorado). Later Danny used his boy scout skills and taught me how to make a fire (again). No camping trip is good without roasting smores--which we did.


We actually slept pretty well--despite the storm. We packed everything up in the morning and drove to the lake where Danny's first wave runner was awaiting. Despite the rain, we played for a few hours. I started (having experience and knowing as soon as I gave the controls over to Danny I wouldn't get them back). The lake was glass for the first little while with us out there and we toured around looking at the shores, going as fast as we could and annoying all the late fishermen. When some of the boats started to join us, I started playing around a little more. Showing Danny my wild and crazy side.

I think it was during one of my little lessons on what not to do on a wave runner that we hit a wave dead on and experienced a major wipeout. What made it major for me was that I didn't even realize I was off the thing until I was already coming up out of the water. I went over the handle bars onto my back and Danny went over me, over the handlebars. Somehow he received a big welt (that didn't show in the picture really well)--it was a good battle wound.

We lost both our glasses. As soon as we were freezing, shivering, and realized it was much warmer in the water than on the runner, we decided to call it a day. Again we grilled--teriyaki steaks and potatoes--then drove back to Provo.
It was a wonderful little trip.

The 36th Diamond

Danny is very proud to have gotten me a wedding ring with 35 diamonds in it. I love my ring. Nothing could replace it.

As many of you know:
(and Danny is acutely aware)I love jewelry...and everyone knows that diamonds are a girl's best friend. Knowing this, when Danny was figuring out what to get me for my "bride's gift"--of course diamonds crossed his mind. But how could he top the 35 diamonds he had already given me? Danny always finds a way around sticky situations like this. For my gift he had a family heirloom diamond from many grandmothers ago set into a pendant. I just dont know how he always pulls these things off.

As many of you know:
Danny and I exchanged gifts just after we left the temple after our sealing. The necklace was a huge surprise and he put it on me. I proudly wore 36 diamonds for about 2 hours. When we got to the reception to change back into our formal wear, we were running a little late so in the rush the necklace got put into a box and thrown into a bag in the basement bathroom of the museum...never to be seen again.

As many of you know:
Danny and I spent many hours agonizing over said necklace, calling every place we went, checking every lost and found, talking with every possible family member, friend, associate, janitor, etc. to try to locate the lost family diamond.

As many of you know:
I felt like the biggest looser of the century...especially knowing that his grandmother was aware of the loss.

As many of you DON'T know:
Julie called us yesterday and found the necklace in a bag in her closet yesterday. No...it wasn't her fault. I put that bag there because it also had some borrowed wedding stuff that is stored in her closet.

As many of you will soon see:
I am happily reunited with--and proudly wearing--my 36th diamond.