Tuxedo Time

So we had this tux, and Justin looked so good in it I asked my dad to take some pictures of him for me. I jumped in with the dress I made for the wedding, but I look so incredibly tired I don't really like much of my own pictures, but boy does Justin look nice.

Yucky! I don't love this picture, and unfortunately I closed my eyes in every other picture we took! URGH! But you can see the dress I made for the wedding. It was fun to make, I haven't really "sewn" anything from a pattern in quite a while.

My eyes are practically closed, not because I was blinking but because I was so darn tired.

Salt Lake City Temple

This is the temple that Justin and I were married in. It is a very sacred place to us, where we believe that families can be sealed together for time and all eternity. What a great thing to see Justin's brother make such wonderful commitments and promises to his wife and his Father in Heaven!

Here is a website that explains a little bit about our beliefs in case you want to check it out - http://www.mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/basic-beliefs/membership-in-the-church/temples-and-family-history or you can go to just http://www.mormon.org/ just click on the link.

We took the opportunity to get some beautiful pictures! Of course when we got there our camera's batteries had died and we left the new ones in the car. But Justin saved the day and ran back to get them. The photographer was a little perturbed that two of the brothers where gone when he started taking pictures, but all's well that ends well, I hope.

This is the Tabernacle on Temple Square, from which the Mormon Tabernacle Choir hails. The building was just renovated. It is really worth seeing. And the construction history is really fascinating.

Here comes the bride... and groom!

Here is Justin's Brother Josh and Camille right after the wedding. The day was totally swelteringly hot, poor guys! I guess when it comes down to it maybe it was good at our wedding in May when it was snowing - at least we weren't dying of heat stroke during all our pictures!

Kristin

Melissa, Garrett and Heidi

I guess Greg got the memo on what to wear, because he and Justin were twins- totally unplanned!

Purple Mountain Majesty

So the mountain is Utah are not exactly purple, but they are majestic.

Here are just a few of the mountains that we remembered to photograph while there.

They are truly awe inspiring!

Cook-out

I would say that we had a BBQ one of the nights, with some old friends. But, we have learned since moving to the south, that a barbecue is not throwing a few hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill, that is a cookout. A barbecue is roasting a pig, pork at that point I guess, or ribs. So while we yankees called it a BBQ I felt it important to draw a distinction between the two.


We had a great time getting to know the Eliason's beautiful children. And I cannot believe that Misty had a baby three weeks ago- you look fabulous! We also had Tom and Sara Christensen over. It was so fun just talking with you all! We are excited for all that is going on in your lives!

Improving our short game.

The whole reason for our trip to Utah was to celebrate the marriage of Justin's younger brother Joshua Garrett to Camille! The whirlwind romance (the way we like it too!) came about since our trip home in October. So we had not yet met the darling Camille. We decided we needed to go on a double date. We ate at Cafe Rio! so good my mouth is watering now... then went mini-golfing! We had a great time and got some really fun pictures

Feast for the eyes, and tummy.....

We decided that this year we were going to have a little bit of vacation time, during our vacation. Most of you would think this is a given, but for those of you that visit family on their vacations it is less like a vacation and more like a solidly scheduled diplomatic meeting and we the delegates of North Carolina must be seen everywhere. But, just like Audrey Hepburn we took our own little Roman Holiday- of sorts.

We went to a water park- Seven peaks, which we forgot to take pictures of, OPPS! Also, we went to Thanksgiving Point to walk through the gardens and eat at one of the restaurants there. We loved the gardens, you should know by now how much we love to photograph flowers and we had a hay-day there.

Did I mention there were a lot of flowers?

Below is the largest man made waterfall in the U.S. (and possibly the world).

It really was huge. I don't think that the pictures does it justice.

There the path that leads you over the top, and even above what is pictured

there are more smaller waterfalls, that all gather into the larger falls.

My brother just redid the dinner menu for the Harvest Restaurants at Thanksgiving Point! So we had to go check it out and we had the most wonderful meal!

We started off with a Tuscan Flat Bread- that was loaded with grilled chicken, artichoke hearts, and Sevillo tomatoes on a bed of spinach and pesto spread! Delicious!

Then we dove into our individual plates, but I must admit, etiquette wise we fail miserably! We kept trying each others dishes, and were loading food into our mouth hand over fist as well! But it was worth every single bite!

Justin had the Bronzed Salmon Fillet, on a bed of Jasmine rice and vegetable gratin. Can I just say-I love CREAM!

I had the Pan Seared Alaskan Halibut, topped with a pistachio-pesto sauce and orange confit over Yukon gold mashed potatoes. (which in and of themselves where to die for)

We just kept eating and eating and eating. I think we over ate..... (that is a bit of an understatement, but worth it completely!)

After our meal, my big bro took us on a tour if the whole kitchen! It was huge! and totally awesome! I am so proud of my brother! He is a fabulous Chef and think he is doing an incredible job! Take a trip to the Harvest restaurant the next time you can!

We love you Rand!

Thanks for the wonderful meal! We also loved tour your new house, and are so excited to see the remodel progress- did I mention we love to remodel too?*-! (obviously) and had a great time talking with you and Vic! Welcome to the family Vic!