Happy 5th Anniversary!

To celebrate our 5th anniversary on Aug. 13, Thad and I planned to spend a fun weekend in Salt Lake City, and leave Analyn at his sister's house that Friday evening so we could go on a romantic date. But plans usually don't turn out exactly how you want them, do they? Emily's kids got sick the week we were planning our trip, so we took Analyn on our hot date, and on our night out on the town. Oh well, it was still fun and she behaved really well. Let's face it, Thad and I aren't that exciting anyway. By 9:30 we were dead tired and decided to call it a night.

We got to experience some great American democracy in the works when we visited the Utah State Capitol building Friday morning. Crowds of protestors had gathered to rally against the state congressman who is proposing legislation similar to Arizona's immigration bill. We missed the congressman's speech, but we witnessed the protestors and their signs. And I'm pretty sure we appeared on a few Latino TV stations around Utah. Sweet! The experience got my blood pumping, though. Amidst all those protestors, I felt at the same time, proud to be an American, and frustrated toward those who think that they can come and live in our country and benefit from it, without contributing to society and paying taxes, and then who get angry when they must face the consequences. And then they wave they American flag in OUR faces like WE'RE the unpatriotic ones!








We visited all the Temple Square sights that I've walked past several times, but haven't actually explored since I was little. Analyn was not afraid to run right up to the glass and peer out over the city, on top of the administration building. Thad and I approached the lookout a little more cautiously.





Our hotel was right next to The Gateway, which was so convenient. After a quick nap in our room, we walked over to Gateway and ate dinner at Tucanos. With our tummies full and content, we set out to enjoy the evening. And at 6 p.m. it was still about 90 degrees outside. We walked past the fountains in the Olympic Legacy Plaza, and Analyn gazed excitedly at the water. It looked refreshing and enticing ...



Oh, what the heck! Why not strip down and run around naked in a crowded plaza? Sometimes you've just gotta live in the moment, ya know?





Waiting for the tram to take us to a concert in the park






We randomly saw two of my aunts at the concert! One lives in Pocatello, and one lives near Tremonton.



On Saturday we didn't have any set plans, which led to some pretty cool discoveries. After enjoying our awesome continental breakfast and the pool, we took a drive around the Avenues to look at houses, and we ended up accidentally finding the cemetary where my grandmother was buried two years ago! I attended the funeral service and vaguely remembered the area. So I called my aunt and she talked us through the cemetary to my grandmother's grave. We spent a few moments just looking at it. That was really special.



And as we found back in 2008, that cemetary is also a poplular resting place for several past prophets and apostles of the Church. Among others, we found President and Sister Hinckley's head stone. It's pretty impressive. And there is a special feeling surrounding that grave site.




This is a beautiful hike up near Alta that we almost got to try out. Instead, after two hours of driving, an exhausted Analyn finally fell asleep in the car, about five minutes before we reached the trail head. So this is as close as we got. But at least it was a beautiful drive!