Grand Canyon and Baking Cookies During Conference

We decided to fit another trip in to St. George since I had UEA Break and so did my sister. It's probably the last time we'll go down before Michael gets home. It was really nice because we had great weather there while others were stuck in the first signs of winter back up north.

On our way to the Grand Canyon we went through Zions, mostly because we didn't take the right turn in Hurricane. We found out it was the longer route for sure.

The Grand Canyon is a have-to-see place! It should be on everyones Bucket List. It was amazing! I couldn't believe what my eyes were taking in. At some of the lookout points I would get a little wobbly and would have to turn around. Later that night when I was fighting my sleepiness, I would have little snip-it dreams of floating or falling off the cliffs.

When I was younger, I would dread these trips. My parents would listen to my non-stop complaining and whining. I am happy I've come to appreciate things that are around me.

Baking Halloween sugar cookies while watching conference is a new tradition I am starting!

I love the month of October. One, my birthday; two, the smell of campfire that lingers in the air; three, the changing of colors outside; four, the brisk but not too cold weather; five, Halloween and treats! The list could go on but I do ask one thing: weather, I beg of you to give us fall weather back, PLEASE!!!

NEWS JUST IN

ELDER MICHAEL NASELLA will be landing in Salt Lake City, Utah NOVEMBER 27, 2009 at 11:45 am. That is 8 WEEKS from this Friday!!!! Wahoo!

09.12.09 Lotoja

We had a way too busy year to have time to train so this year we decided to volunteer to still feel a part of the race. It turned out to be a lot of fun. Us girls got a lot of gruff from some of the jerks that rode the race, but in the end we had some real good laughs about it on the drive home Sunday morning. The first night, Friday, was registration and our job was pretty much box duty. Our job was to find empty boxes, break them down, and then haul them off to the cardboard bin.

These are our "Yes, I can help you" t's for registration night.


Day of the race. "Event Crew"
We were suppose to make sure all riders were really who they said they were...or something like that

Happy to see the last riders off

Now time to clean up the starting line

After cleaning up, we headed out along the race route to help the riders along. We were able to help out at a crash near the begining and help with thirsty riders up a nasty canyon along with many other things. At the finish line, Bridget and I helped pass out the finishing awards which doesn't sound too bad right? WRONG! It was the worst job, at least we think it was. Let's just say by the end we pretty much wanted to throw the awards in the peoples faces:) Again, something we laughed about on the drive home. All I wish is for those men that mistreated us all day to hopefully feel a little remorse.

Our cool tats of the Lotoja insignia

Labor Day Weekend

So I know this is way late but we had a great holiday weekend so I wanted to share.

1st we went to Heber Valley Camp for a family reunion for Dave's mom's side. Sadly most pictures were lost but we do still have pictures of my first experience repelling...

After the reunion we met up with my fam in Park City. My dad had a tennis tourney so stayed in Deer Valley, watched some tennis, and went down the Alpine slide a couple times. It all reminded me of my childhood days.

Dear Mr. Dean Hughes

I finally finished the sequel series to Children of the Promise, Hearts of the Children, today. I read all 10 books in the 2 series and I loved everyone of them...well, loved isn't a strong enough word to describe my feelings towards these books. I don't know what I am going to do with myself now...

Dear Mr. Dean Hughes,

If you by chance stumble across this blog one day, I would like you to hear me out. I know you said you were done with the Thomas family, but couldn't you just add one more series? I've grown so close with them, I can't picture my life without them. I do have to say, I believe you finished it off in a great way. So great I was almost in tears in front of 20 + students. I've really fallen in love with reading and yes, just about obssessed with WWII and history because of these books. Thank you for the time and effort you put into these great books.

Forever a fan,

Rachel Price

Yellowstone '09

This year's Yellowstone trip could have been categorized as under the "R and R" list of vacations but that was not the case due to this 1000 pieces puzzle of The Parthenon that Dave was so eager to bring and put together. We arrived at the cabin Wednesday early afternoon and it wasn't more than a couple hours later that we pulled it out and started piecing it together. Come to find out we have some mad puzzle workers in the fam. Once they start they don't sleep til the last piece is placed. Countless hours were spent on this puzzle. We also found out that there are some munchkins in the fam that like to place crucial puzzle pieces in tin cans. It came down to a late night Saturday with not much light, bags of popcorn, hot cider, and 5 determined puzzle workers. The last piece was placed Sunday morning after found in the chair cushion by Dave after searching high and low.

The Red Rock Retreat

Quake Lake
The only bear we saw:(


Playing with hot water...really I burnt my foot

A nice warm river we found

Old Faithful

Tired driver

I don't think we'll ever forget this trip to Yellowstone. It will always be known as the "Puzzle Trip." And I almost forgot, we'll also never forget Jon and Julie's "Fire-Hole" Chili...it will forever be ingrained in my eyes of what became of it that night. Thanks Prices for a great and unforgetable time. We have filled our heads back up with the "I wants" that will last us probably until next year.

No More Sea-Green Carpet

This last week we finally got every last piece of the sea-green carpet out of our house. Dave installed the new carpet and wood on our stairs. It looks so good! I love the smell of new carpet, too, it makes it smell like a new house. Here is the construction on them:

Before

During

Afters

Happy Birthday Elder Nasella

Just wanted to wish my brother a Happy 21st Birthday, today. Not that your life changes much, being as we have no need for an ID that shows 21 years of age:) He's got only 3 months left! So exciting!

We can't wait to see you! Happy Birthday Elder Nasella!!

The Newest Addition to our Family

Countless hours Dave spent at the computer researching and eliminationg motorcycles on ksl.com (I swear we keep ksl classifieds going). I think he made a great choice. I'm excited for the many rides ahead!

Yellowstone, here we come!

Lava Hot Springs

Bridget, Ryan, Dave and I all had work off a few fridays ago so we decided to take advantage and enjoy a weekend up at Lava. It was my first time. We camped right on the river, too. It was a lot of fun. We spent one day in the pools, including hot pools which we only lasted for about 30 minutes cause it was such a hot day, and another day on the river.

Our hobo dinners- aka tin-foil dinners, turned out a little over done. It was funny because all of us teamed up against Dave when he wanted to take them out earlier and agreed that they always take forever. Well Dave was right, they should of been taken out a lot earlier, thus we all had very dry and burnt hobo dinners.

Roasting Starburst. YUM!

The river rides mostly consisted of Bridget and I driving the boys to the top and watching them at different points coming down, then meeting them at the bottom to take them back up.

Ouch!

I was able to go down once.

Dave's Happy Birthday Song

I know this is a week late but I wanted to post it and share the Price tradition of singing happy birthday. It's pretty much anything off key, loud, not in sync, etc. It's a great tradition:)

Happy 24th Birthday Dave!

Yesterday was Dave's birthday. It started off with a blueberry and white chocolate chip pancake breakfast and this funny card with a mushy message:) I took Dave to my work, Goodwood Barbecue Company, on his lunch break. He loved it!

Family and friends came over to eat some bbq food and cake and ice cream.

Birthday boy making a wish.

I made him a pina colada cake this year

Wellyn patiently waiting for the prayer on the food.

Among the many presents he received, this was the most thoughtful...

My sister made a trophy for Dave...she is so funny!

Gratitiude for Freedom

One day after graduation I was roaming around my in-laws' bookcase trying to find something to keep my mind busy. I came across these books by Dean Hughes. The series is called The Children of the Promise. It's historical fiction, about the WWII era and an LDS family trying to survive in this time. I was immediately hooked. I've now gone onto the sequel series called Hearts of the Children that continues the story of this family with the next generation in the 60s. Anyway, although it's fiction Hughes puts only facts in about the historical aspect, thus, I have grown such a greater appreciation of what other generations have faced as well as people living in other countries out of America. Ever since I've started these books I have find myself to be somewhat obsessive about WWII...a little weird for me since history was one of the things I hated growing up. My mom would drag us to these boring museums that I would drag my feet through and whine; sorry mom. The tides have turned. Dave has loved this fascination as well because he can get me to watch rated 'R' movies since they are about WWII. We've watched quite a few.

This last Sunday I almost broke down in sacrament as we stood as sang The Star-Spangled Banner. Can you say, WOW?!? I am so grateful to live in this free, democratic country! Even at this time when our democracy is being toiled with; I am so blessed to have the freedoms I do. I can think and act the way I believe is right, travel across the country, hold a decent job, be with whom I please and be an equal with him, etc. without being threatened by government. Even with these books being fiction, they have helped me grow and have strenghtened me as a person and a citizen of this country. No wonder so many have had the dream to some to America throughout America's history.