August Trip to Utah

In August, David and I went out to Utah for several different reasons. It was one of the nicest trips we've ever made to Utah because everything we did there had an eternal purpose to it.

We got to hang out on Temple Square our first day there. Here we are in front of the conference center.

We also had the opportunity to go to a wedding of one of David's good friends. In between the wedding and reception there was some ping pong playing.

Here's all the "Lakefield Boys" and their wives at the reception. We were only missing Matt Case and his wife. All of them are such great people and I'm so glad that my husband and I can associate with them!

Brother Carlson and Chris

The Lakefield boys and Brother Carlson at the Bountiful Temple. They were called the Lakefield Boys growing up because they were all in the Lakefield Ward together.

My family also took family pictures while we were there. Here's one I took from the side while they were snapping grandma and grandpa with their 17 grandkids!

And finally, the thing I'd been looking forward to the most, was going through the temple with my grandmother. She hadn't been to the temple in 67 years and decided it was time she went back. My whole family was there--cousins, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, and family friends. It was one of the happiest days of my life. It was also one of the most spiritual experiences I have ever had. To be in the temple with one's entire family is exactly what heaven's going to be like!

Just Some Pictures of Us

So, David and I bought a sleeper sofa for our downstairs office and I had the bright idea to have a sleepover on it that night! Let's just say we didn't get the best night's sleep of our life that night. Here's David pretending to sleep.

We drove down to Charlotte to be with David's family for the Fourth of July. David's niece Caroline loves to cuddle with him!

Courtney made one of her amazing cakes for Heather's b-day.

And she made a nutella poundcake for David's birthday....it was amazing!

Here's some pictures of us that we took while waiting for the fireworks on the Fourth of July.

In July I got to go to a Michael Buble concert with my wonderful friend Sarah. It was AMAZING!!! I absolutely loved it and would love to go to another one of his concerts. We had a blast!

Number 17

For all those who remember my post about the 16 Reasons Why I Love Utah, here's number seventeen!

Mabel Wilkins

Utah Trip/Family Reunion

During June, David and I went to Utah for a family reunion. Along the way we were able to see some of my friends and have a wonderful time! Thank you everyone for making yourself available for us to see and also for allowing us to have a great family vacation!

216ers (This was taken just about a week before Angie had her baby):

Cousin's wedding barbeque (cookout):

This is our family's vacation home in Wales, Utah where we had the family reunion:

David and I getting ready to go 4-wheeling with our chique de mais sun glasses:

Looking down on Sanpete Valley from the canyons:

See, Utah is pretty too, David!

We were there over Wales Days so they had some festivities. Our family consisted of the majority of the children's parade:

The other half was goats in tutus:

We were also in the main parade the next day:

David drove the gator in the parade....he LOVED it:

But he did come back a little crispy!

Visiting friends:

Birthday Fun!

My birthday was.....memorable! David and I did a lot of wonderful things. The week before the big day we took a one-night trip to the beach. Although we had been planning the trip since last year so it wasn't necessarily just for my birthday, David did surprise me by booking an ocean-front suite for the night. With its own kitchen, jacuzzi, living room, and balcony we had an absolute blast! It was the first trip just the two of us had taken since our honeymoon and it was amazingly relaxing to just show up at a hotel with nothing planned at all and to just spend two days doing anything we wanted anytime we wanted!

Here are some pictures of our hotel room:






This is the view from our balcony. And since we were right on the ocean we took a nighttime stroll on the beach. There was no one else out and it was gorgeous in the moonlight!

We had been planning on camping but because the weather wasn't cooperating we stayed at a hotel. However, since we'd already bought the stuff for s'mores we decided to make them anyway...in the microwave.

The next day we went to the Fort Fisher aquarium. It was fun, fun, fun!

This is an albino alligator (or crocodile). But cool either way!

Apparently North Carolina has a large variety of carnivorous plants (who knew!?). I was so excited to see a Venus Flytrap for the first time! (I know, I'm a nerd)





A picture of the USS North Carolina that fought in WWII. We didn't take the tour because it was raining too hard.


Here's a kind of bad picture of us on the dock in historic Wilmington, NC.


Also for my birthday, David bought me some beautiful flowers.

Finally, and the reason my birthday is so memorable, is I decided to get my EARS PIERCED! However, as many of you know I'm a little itty bit afraid of needles. So, would you really be surprised to find out that I fainted? Um, well I was surprised! They even had to use smelling salts on me and everything. It was loads of fun waking up in the middle of Claire's with no idea what had just happened and a bunch of twelve-year-old Miley Cyrus wannabes staring at me like, "I got my ears pierced when I was three and I didn't even cry!" Anyway, I really did have a great birthday. Thanks to everyone who made it so wonderful!