Swimming in the Desert

We live in the middle of the desert!  I thought Utah was pretty dry and deserty but it is practically an lush oasis compared to here.  We don't have any grass right now but we have planted some and are just waiting for it to grow.  

There is a lot of sagebrush and yellow flowery things.  The smell of sagebrush reminds me of horseback rides in the mountains for some reason so I don't mind that it is everywhere. 

There are not a lot of trees.  I have decided I want my future house to have a lot of trees.  Especially fruit trees.

  

There is one park here with a pretty little lake and some grass fields that we go to practically everyday.  

It's always always windy.  Everyone has a truck.  

I like running here because it smells like sagebrush and the views of the mountains are pretty and it is relatively quiet...except for the dogs.  EVERYONE has a dog.  When I go running I think I wake up every house I run past because their dogs go crazy.  I have already been chased by two dogs and today on my run, this big old scary dog came bounding toward me out of nowhere but luckily, when he got within about ten feet of me, I pulled out my pepper spray and shot it right at him!!  It didn't hit him; They should make those with a farther range!  But it scared him enough for me to walk away backwards to make sure he didn't chase me again until I was far enough away. I have a major fear of dogs attacking me so this was a triumphant moment. 

The sunsets are beautiful and the people are nice enough.  One lady in the ward has been especially welcoming.

We are getting used to it and it is working out, but I do miss home.

In other news, Chaz gave Boston a haircut and it makes him look so old...

Family Time

We got to stay with both of our families for a few weeks before we made the big move.  It made me so happy.  Here are some of the awesome things we did:

Hung out at the Bollwinkel's  and let Bosty and Max grab each others faces, hold hands, and tackle each other...

One night we went up the canyon and had tinfoil dinners and smores and Boston followed the dogs every move.  He was in HEAVEN.

Action shot of throwing the tinfoil dinners in the fire.

Is Chaz getting better looking?  I think so....

Then we went to the Allred's and on a whim Jeanette and her girls and Johnny and Sarah and their kids and I decided to go camping.  We just went up by Mt. Timpanogos and it was so much fun.  We just hung out, talked by the fire, went on a hike to a waterfall, and almost froze to death during the night.  Johnny brought a single blanket!  And that was it!  It was pretty scary for me to be in a tent all alone with Boston and no Chaz but we made it.  Chaz is so nice to let me go.

We let Boston in the tent after it was all set up and he went into turbo mode.  He was literally bouncing off the walls and throwing himself onto and off of the sleeping pads.

It was so fun to spend time with my nieces, who are getting so big and are already way cooler than me.  They are such funny, helpful, and good natured girls. 

There are very few things I love more than the Utah mountains.  I miss them.

Jeanette is pretty much a professional artist. Not pretty much, she IS professional.

Max helped make sack lunches for the hike.  And it looks like he snuck some powdered donuts while he was at it... :)

We spent a lot of time in my parents backyard with the kitties and goats or over at the farm seeing the horses or the tractor or up in the playroom.  That place is toddler heaven.  I guess the whole Allred house/farm is.

This is me.  I am the writer of this blog.

Grandma Bollwinkel's is the best place to swim because she fills the pool with WARM water!  They love their grandma.

This time with family was just what the doctor ordered before we moved off into the vast abyss of sagebrush.  Thanks for putting up with us (and for all the good food!), family!