Post Vacation.

Seth and I have been home from South Carolina for a little over a week.  I tell you we may miss the people in SC, but we sure don't miss that humidity!  When you are living in it, and it's all you know-you don't know any better (you poor Southern folks). Since living in Utah (where there isn't much humidity) Seth and I have gotten spoiled.  It is hot in Utah, but not the miserable-humid-sweat stricken hot that is in SC.

Anywho-we had a lovely time in South Carolina visiting our families!

I'm not quite ready to blog about that trip, but I will give you a little update with us.  Last Saturday, Seth and I wanted to go to Porcupine Reservoir and see what it entailed.  It was a beautiful area with many rocks and much mud :). 

Our View.

As I said it was muddy, and difficult to walk around in.

We went with our neighbors and their nieces.  It was nice to get outside-enjoy some sunshine-and stick my feet in some cool water.

Our Porcupine Group :).

While Seth and I were on vacation another set of neighbor's looked after our plants for us, so we decided to have a little din din for them to express our appreciation.  We were looking for something a little different and fun, and recalled our LA friends making grilled pizza at different times.  I thought that would be perfect and for some odd reason I always like to do new things when we have folks over.  It makes Seth a little nervous, but thus far everything's turned out great!  Anywho-it was fun to create our own pizzas and man it tasted superb.  

Seth preparing his pizza dough.

Jaron tossing his dough in the air and hitting it on the ceiling several times :).

Jaron & Hanna patting their pizzas out for grilling.

Putting toppings on their pizzas.

I didn't get a picture of our pizza's once completed :(, but I'll tell you they were soo yummy-and we will be preparing them again at some point.

For dessert, we had one of my favorites (and not so one of Seth's favorites):  Peach Delight!  My mom use to make it and Eason and I use to down that joker in about 2 days.  I love it, but haven't made it before because Seth doesn't enjoy it.  We had fresh peaches and Seth okayed me making this for our dessert last night and will I ever be so thankful!  Now, I just have to force myself to not down it in 2 days :).


In just under two weeks Seth will be defending his thesis!  He is currently preparing for his defense, and we are both looking forward to the day he can relax and have all this behind him.

Reading the paper.  He's such a cute one.

Seth & I have recently purchased a 'coat rack' that is pictured below.  We found it at the farmer's market, and although Seth could make it-we decided it'd just be easier for everyone if we bought this one.  Later in life when my man has more time we will be more crafty :).

I love this little baby because it is made out of wood palettes-totally uneven-different tints, and the hangers are made out of bent, decorative utensils.

Our front entrance.  Please excuse the extra plants around-we are 'plant sitting' for one of our friend's that is in China.

Well that about wraps up this update.  We've had a great week thusfar, and are looking forward to the weekend!

Showing off our cute little flower vase, with flowers picked on the way home from church, and our Cook Picture!

The Cook's :).

Our 'silly' faces.

Canada Part II

I know I always say this, but MAN Where has the time gone?  July 3rd already-and At that It's almost over!

Let's venture back into our recent Canada Trip.  After Seth's conference we traveled South to Calgary.  While in Calgary we made our way over to Banff National Park.  If we would have done our research better-we could have planned better and tried to spend more time in Banff.  There are four National Parks in this area, and they are all somewhat connected to each other.  Due to our poor planning and time restraints we only got to see Banff, but we would LOVEEEEE LOVE LOVE to go back to this place.  It was absolutely gorgeous.  We went on a somewhat cloudy day and it was still beautiful, so I can only imagine what it would look like on a sunny blue sky day!

Entrance to Banff.

Very Pretty Rockies :).

Seth with a Canadian ten dollar bill.

We were pretty excited when we were told it was a ten dollar entrance fee to get into Banff.  We thought that was pretty cheap-especially when compared to the entrance fees at USA National Parks.......

Then we found out it was Ten dollars a Person.....Bummer!

These little tunnels were built for the wildlife to be able to easily cross to the other side by simply walking over the highway.

While driving we saw this big guy on the side of the road.  

We pulled over to try and get a picture, but we OBVIOUSLY weren't as daring as a group of folks who were right by the fence.  I couldn't believe they were so close, and were only trusting a puny little fence to keep this HUGE elk from bulldozing them.  Seth and I stayed further back and away, wanting to give this guy some space.

That cute man of mine.

At Lake Louise.  Stunnning! (Not me of course---the Lake).

It is so fun to see things for the first time with Seth-he likes to take it all in.

Man that is just tooooooooo great.

After visiting around Lake Louise for a bit (we didn't venture to far from the much traveled trails due to the fact that they told you not to hike around Banff unless you have four people in your group--being the law abiding folks that we are, we didn't travel far off main trails due to it being just the two of us.  Seth said he wasn't going to join with a group and trust that they would stick with us throughout the hike) we went to have some lunch.

We actually ate at a pretty decent place in Banff and went to a candy store.  I've never known that Seth enjoys Jelly Beans, until recently when I bought some and he scarfed them down and expressed his new found love for Jelly Beans.  In the candy store I saw a pretty big Jelly Bean area and wanted Seth to come and create his own Jelly bean bag variety.  Not thinking much about price (because it said up to 100 grams was a certain price) we went to town and I made the poor fella pose for pictures.

Seth getting ready to go to town filling up that bag full of Jelly Beans.

Getting a little of every flavor and variety that was offered.

So, after filling the bag about half full, we mosied on over to the register and I pulled out that little Canadian ten dollar bill that we weren't able to use previously to get into the park.  While waiting the guy at the register looks over Seth and I and immediately states, "You from the States".  "Why yes, yes we are" I replied with a puffed up proud face :).  The guy then replied with "That will be 13.88" I tried to contain my posture and keep my mouth from dropping to the floor.  Slowly put my ten dollar bill back into my wallet, and pulled out the Visa.  Seth and I didn't look or speak to each other, and we each tried to walk to the car looking like we meant to spend $13.88 on some jelly beans.

Once in the car Seth and I are both appalled and speaking our mind to each other about this recent purchase.  "100 grams, I thought that was going to be a decent amount of Jelly Beans"  "That's why he knew we were from the states, because only idiots from the States don't know how much 100 grams is".  We constantly brought up this $13.88 spent on jelly beans, and due to that amount we both refused to eat anything for supper.  We snacked on the jelly beans and a few other things we had brought with us and sat in our hotel and sulked.

You can see where Seth's finger is to the top of the where the jelly beans go. Only half of the bag is full.  Don't you notice that is a forced smile.

Don't worry-we're over it now :).

While in Banff we hiked to two waterfalls.  It was a little scary for me at certain moments, but we managed and were very glad to see the waterfalls.

A little anxy about walking over this river (which was moving very fast mind you) on this walkway that was balancing off the rocks.

The first waterfall.

Getting ready to go to the next waterfall.

Looking good.

So after getting to the second waterfall, to see the fall you had to walk out on  this metal contraption that was pretty much hanging from the side of the rock over the middle of this raging river.  Water from the waterfall was smacking you the face, and we had this other couple with their children hanging out on the metal contraption with us.  Seth wanted a picture so I quickly let him take one of me and quickly took one of him.  That's why I look so strange, but still wanted to share the fun adventurous story :).

It was very lovely though-once we got off the metal contraption thingy :).

This is just a side note for Seth-every picture I take of him he never is looking at the camera smiling.  He is always looking over the top of the camera or at me, which you see in this here photo.

When we were heading out of Banff we saw three bears through the woods.

If you look around closely you can see one in about the lower mid left, and the other two middle middle and middle right. Seth was pretty excited to see these fellas.

Another pretty Mountain in Banff.

There were a bunch of Esso's in Canada-reminded us of Clemson!!

After all our fun in Canada we were both ready to get to Utah and wake up in our own home.  Have our own Coffee-make our own breakfast-go to church-See our cute little Garden-and Get back to Work!  We both miss our routine when we aren't in it.

Thinning our basil out and using it for Pesto!

Our garden is doing well.  Flourishing under the nurture and care of Seth and I :).  We have basil, onions, green peppers, squash, and tomatoes.

We are proud of this little garden!

Well Seth and I will be traveling in T-Minus 2 days!  Looking forward to seeing everyone!!!!!

Hope you all have a great Fourth!

The Cook's :).

PS  I will have to restate my previous post statement about Utah BBQ.  We have had very DELICIOUS BBQ that our friends have Made us, but I did not include them when I stated that Canada/Utah BBQ needed to be taught a few things.  They are from the South; therefore, not including in that group of people.  Just for the Record :).