Boring by Comparison

Before you go through the trouble of reading the rest of this post, I feel it is my duty to forewarn you that this post isn't nearly as exciting as last week's. And there are no pictures. Still reading? Okay.
So this week we did a lot of working the first half of the week. Wednesday there was no mutual so we met up after I got off work at the Draper temple with my friend/previous roommate Becks and finally got in our first session in months. (With the temple closings, callings, being out of town, and my late work nights we have only been able to pull off sealings and initiatories for far too long.) We barely missed a session when we got there, decided we needed food if we were going to wait an hour for the next, and thankfully made it back in time for them to only start the session a few minutes late because of us. I may or may not have made the men at the desk uncomfortable when I professed my love to them for letting us in for the second session. I seriously was so happy that we got to go. It was actually kind of nice to go after a few months break and to see the new movie. I probably got more out of that session than any other we've ever done. I may have also cried. I'll admit it.
Thursday I worked extra late but then I was free for the weekend! Six day work weeks sure suck, but the next week's 3 day weekend is pretty sweet. Friday we got a ton of things done running errands, going to Darrell's one year Lasik check up, and did more house hunting with our realtor. We still are honestly hoping and praying for our short sale offer to finally come to fruition so we can have the house we really want, so any additional prayers on our behalf would be appreciated. Friday night we were pretty wiped out so we watched a movie with our neighbors and ate super delicious gelato from Sprouts.
Saturday we finished catching up on life, went on an awesome mountain bike ride in Lambert Park by Alpine (barely got back in the car before the storm hit), and then stopped at Darrell's uncle's house to shower so we didn't have to backtrack before heading up Millcreek Canyon to a friend's cabin. Darrell's aunt and uncle built their dream house last year so it was cool getting the official tour, including taking a ride on the miniature train they have that will eventually circle their entire property. For real. We both got a turn as engineer and I also got to drive a side-by-side for my first time as we were exploring their property. Mostly I was jealous of the theater room, zip line, and back jets in their shower. It was great.
We had dinner when we got to the cabin and then spent the next 5 hours just talking and telling stories. The cabin belongs to the family of one of Darrell's best friends Jeff (I put up pictures a few months ago of his dad looking like Al Gore at Jeff & Kailey's wedding) who now lives up in Boise. They'd come down for a sibling's wedding and then we spent the evening with them, Jeff's sister and her husband, as well as two other couples we know from Logan. It was awesome to get to hang out with people we like so much and that have similar humor. We really wished we got to see them more often since we only have a few friends in the area right now and they either live in Salt Lake Valley or have different schedules than us. Basically, it was the best night we've had in awhile and we wish it was something that could happen more often.
Darrell got released from his calling working with the scouts this week when they reorganized the Young Men's presidency in our ward, and then didn't get another calling. After a few days of being really bummed about it, we found out today that the bishopbric had heard we had an offer on a house and therefore thought we were moving in the very immediate future. Darrell made sure he let them know that we were here for the foreseeable future until the bank handling the short sale gets their butt in gear...and that his Wednesday nights were now very open. :)
It was also nice to have a Sunday without any traveling so we could hang out at home and start prepping for our trip this next week. I am majorly excited for my first cruise! Not sure if we'll post this upcoming week since we're flying out Saturday, but I am sure the post about the cruise will have a ton of pictures and that you'll be jealous of my tan. I hope.

Back in the Game

We've got a bit to catch up on but I'm aiming for at least Darrell's canoe trip and our trip with my family back east.
Darrell went with the scouts on a 70 mile canoe trip down the Green River and then spent part of a day in Moab. Here's a sampling of their adventures.

Darrell has more specific stories, but I'll just tell you that they ate well, he got an awesome Chaco line, and none of the clothes he wore will ever be any color but brown again. Turns out the Green River isn't so green. In a nutshell, Darrell has the calling of his dreams and loves getting to go on adventures with these boys.

Darrell got home Saturday afternoon and we got on a flight late that night to head to Washington, D.C. where my sister Brandaige and her family have been living for a few months this summer. Here's some of what we saw/did in D.C., including a few of the cute nieces and nephews.

 Washington, D.C. temple

 Smithsonians

Pentagon Memorial for 9/11

New MLK Memorial...that is now under construction

 Lincoln got graffitied so he was also under construction along with the Washington Memorial

 Got a private tour of the Capitol building through one of Darrell's old mission companions

 The White House, right before some cops overheard my jokes about rushing the fence

 The World War II Memorial was a new one for both of us

 Stopped in New York for a few hours to see the World Trade Center Memorial in the rain and get good street food

 Boston!!!

 No, this show is not playing the background as I type...

 Freedom Trail

 Sox game at Fenway Park for my momma's birthday!

 Took forever to get back to the hotel

 Hayden was sleeping a little too deeply after the game while Darrell was carrying him. Poor guy-both of them!

 Got my momma's name on the scoreboard wishing her a happy birthday!

 Elsie became aggressively involved in sampling ice cream for the first time while we were there

 Greta loves Darrell

 Finally gave in to local tradition and tried out one of the million Dunkin Donuts on the East coast

 11 hour layover in Philly resulted in learning a lot about Ben Franklin and eating yummy cheesesteaks

All in all we had a great trip spanning 8 states in 7 days with the fam.
Since we got back we've worked a lot, seen extended family, Darrell took me to the batting cages for my first time, and we've picked up house hunting again. Last weekend we went up to Logan for Darrell's sister Mariah's wedding and saw some of the fire up in Cache Valley on our way back.

Looks like I overachieved and we're all caught up. Sorry for the brief summaries. Then again, if a picture is worth a thousand words, you just read a novel. Chalk it up on your summer reading list.
As for us, we're just getting through the next week and a half until our second big vacation of the summer-my first cruise! Trust me, we're way more boring than I lead you to believe on our blog. Then again, how could I be bored when I'm lucky enough to have such a great life with such a wonderful guy?
Thanks for being patient during our hiatus from blogging! Hopefully you won't wait as long for the next one.