Arches National Park

This past weekend, Brad and I went on a camping trip with our friends Stephen and Chase. Stephen is moving to California in a few weeks, so this trip was kind of our last hurrah! We decided to go to Arches National Park, and we had a great time! It was pretty hot on our seven-mile trek, but it was definitely worth it in the end. Enjoy the photo evidence!

The boys excited about our Dutch Oven dinner! Man, this dinner was delicious! Potatos, bacon, pepperoni, cheese, onion, green pepper, carrots, and all types of seasoning! Unfortunately, it ended up taking about THREE HOURS to cook so we didn't eat until about 10 pm. Yay for camping!

These next few photos are of the view from our campsite along the Colorado River. Look at all that red rock!

The first stop on our seven-mile hike: Tunnel Arch.

Pine Tree Arch, plus Brad standing on the Pine Tree Ledge

Brad's new career: Red Rock Pizza; based off of this photo, we will create an award-winning pizza restaurant where we will bake pizza in red rock ovens. Everyone who visits Arches will see this and be reminded of our restaurant. Winning.

Landscape Arch: If you look on the right side of this picture, you can see a big pile of rocks underneath the arch. This was a large piece of the arch that fell off in 1991. People were actually there when the piece fell off, and someone even got a picture of it! It was pretty cool.
We enjoyed a lot of incredible views! Ignore my grossness: it's hard to stay cute when it's 100+ degrees outside!
This next pic is one of all of us in front of Partition Arch. This arch has this large piece...


Then this smaller piece you can sit/stand in! It was pretty cool looking, but a little scary to balance!


Next up, Navajo Arch. This one was kind of hidden, but Brad and I found a few fun play spots on the way there!

And now for the final three (because quite frankly, this post is too long): Double O Arch, Black Arch, and Delicate Arch (the famous one on the license plates)

Double O was kinda cool because it is two arches on top of each other. Black Arch was just a small one off in the distance. The hike to Delicate Arch was a completely different one from the seven-mile hike we went on to see the other arches. Plus, it was pretty steep, three miles, and really, really HOT by about noon. So we decided to just see it from the Delicate Arch lookout point. It is still pretty nifty!







So in a rather large nutshell, that was our weekend. Oh, but we can't forget what we saw along the way.

GO JIMMER!!!

Just so you know...

So Brad and I decided that we are moving to good ol' Rupert, Idaho for the rest of the summer. Since we are starting graduate school in the fall and I have yet to find a job we thought it would be a good idea and save some money and spend some time in Rupert (and obviously come visit everyone in Boise!! Who wants to let us stay with them?? :).

For graduate school we are trying to decide between two post-bacc programs that will hopefully help Brad get into dental school. They are both one year long and are geared toward pre-med and pre-dental students. One school is San Francisco State University, located in the heart of San Francisco. (cool, huh?). This would be an awesome place to live, close to family and such, but would only offer a health certificate at the end.

The other school is called Barry University and is located in North Miami, Florida. All the way across the country! Obviously Florida would be a cool place to live for a year or two, plus Brad would receive a Masters in Biomedical Science upon graduation after a year. However, we would be very far away from a lot of family!

We are praying and talking and trying to make the right decision, but either way I know it will be great. What do you guys think, Miami or San Fran???

Sea Change

I feel like all of these crazy changes are starting to happen, and I really can't keep up with all of them on my blog! One of by best friends had a baby while the other one got married (all in the same week!!). Once I get a new computer (fingers crossed), it should be easier. Anywho, here is the long update you have all been long-awaiting!

The birth of Cameron Lee Porter

On May 23, 2011, baby Cameron Lee Porter came into the world! Brad and I were able to go to the hospital to see Sarah and Jayce and meet Cameron for the first time the next day! It was really a wonderful experience, and I know Sarah is going to be an amazing mom. She is so cute with him already. About a month back I threw a baby shower for Sarah with a blue and yellow duck theme. We had a great time! So here are some pics from the shower and some pics of Cameron!













Such a cute baby! Congrats to the Porters!

The Marriage of Pete and Dani Janzen!

Brad and I were lucky enough to travel down to Gilbert/Mesa, Arizona this past weekend to watch Pete and Dani tie the knot! It was such an amazing experience, and I felt so lucky to be able to see one of my best friends get married in the temple. Pete is surely smitten with Dani! Congrats to both of you guys, we love you!Coming out of the temple!

Pete and Sis. J. Love them!

The cute couple dancing the night away!

Magnum

The Janzen Clan! Yay!

Along with the wedding, Brad and I were able to visit Eric and Dawn (brother and sis-in-law) for a little while down in Gilbert. We had a great time getting to know them better and playing with Elizabeth! Hopefully we can go down again sometime soon. (Since we have a key to their house and all... :)

After our jaunt in Arizona ended, Brad and I decided to stop in Vegas on the way home, go to a show and stay there for the night. We had a good time seeing the show Matsuri (especially since the tickets were only $11.00!!) and just walking around Vegas seeing the sights. We had a great trip!Us with a member of the Matsuri show.

Enjoying a delicious crepe in Paris! (the paris of Las Vegas of course)

Fountain show at the Bellagio

We have had a crazy few months and weeks, but things are going great! Brad and I decided to move to Rupert for the rest of summer before we start school again (either in San Fran or Florida) so our next update will be from there!

Marianne and Brad

Valentines Day

So I know Valentines Day was FOREVER ago, but since I finally have some free time I need to post about the amazingness of Brad. I really have the best husband in the world!! For Valentines Day I had to get up early for homework and Brad surprised me with post-it notes all over our bedroom! On each post-it he wrote reasons why he loves me. They were all really cute!



Later Brad came home and made me a lovely dinner, Lasagna with garlic bread and salad. It is his specialty! We had fun just having a low-key V-day together. Brad got me some cute earrings (Juicy of course!) and I got him a sweet new tie.


After dinner Brad even made us some homemade sugar cookies. We had fun cutting out V-day shapes and decorating them together. It was a great day!!



I love Bradley R!!

INTRAMURAL CHAMPS

THUNDERCATS, HOOO!!! So last night my intramural basketball team became the DI Intramural basketball champions!! It was a close game but clutch free throws at the end sealed the deal! It was so fun playing with these girls this season, and it was awesome to end my years as a college intramural athlete on such a high note. Go Thundercats!



The last picture is of me and the other bigs on the team. Couldn't have done it without such awesome posts!! We had such a fun season. It definitely feels great to go out on such a great win! :)

Life Update #1

I have been really, really bad about keeping up with my blog. My computer has been on the fritz for some time now and I lost the cord to plug my camera into other computers (my computer has a slot for the SD card, so that is usually what I did). So I decided that every time I feel like being lazy and taking a break from my crazy studying/paper writing that will be going on for the next three weeks, I will update a group of old pictures to my blog. So here goes!!

Visit with Alyssa, Josh, and Logan Jurgensmeier

A few months back we were lucky enough to take a drive up to Bountiful with the Provo Jurgensmeier's to hang out with our SIL Alyssa and our two nephews, Josh and Logan. It was the first time all of us got to meet Logan, and it was so much fun! He is definitely a cutie.

Me and Logan just hanging out and having a good time snuggling on the couch!

I thought it was so cute/funny that I caught pics of both Brad and Bryce holding Logan and all of them making the same faces. They all sure look like Jurgensmeiers to me!

We can't forget all the fun we had with Josh(y) (and Josh as well :). He is getting older now and is really good at remembering all of our names. He is such a fun kid and we really like hanging out with him whenever we get the chance!

Alyssa, you have to come and visit again soon! Next time you can bring Cory as well :) And we have to get a picture with the whole group, I am not sure how we didn't make that happen...

Anyways that is our first update. Life has been so crazy lately that blogging is not my #1 priority, but I definitely keep up with everyone else's blogs! Also, anyway who wants to come visit us, we have an extra bedroom waiting for any friends who want to stop by! Keep posting!

Love,
Marianne and Brad