Thursday, September 26, 2013

Summertime Sadness

Kyoto Buns has got that Summertime Sadness too!
Lana Del Ray speaks to her soul.

In reality Kyoto was upset with us because she saw that our suitcases were packed and she knows what that means- that means we are going on a trip and once again...
she is not coming with.

 We left her for Colorado.
It was a fantastic trip.
We went because back in April, Brian had discovered that his favorite band of all time,
The National
would be performing at the Red Rock Amphitheater.
He has been anxiously awaiting September ever since.
Neither one of us had ever been to Colorado before. We really didn't know what to expect.
I can honestly say it was a lot different that I had envisioned in my mind, but in a good way.

For instance, I had no idea that trees grew out of the red rock like that. 
I'm probably a loser, but I thought that was very cool.

I also kept making references to Disney and Fox & the Hound, as that's what the drive into Avon reminded me of. 

I think I annoyed Brian asking him every time we saw a cliff, 

"Do you think that's the 
cliff the mean bear threw 
the dog off of?"

There were a lot of cliffs.
So yup, he wanted to kill me.

  
After an 8 hour drive, which call me crazy, wasn't too bad actually..
we made it to 
The Pines
resort in Avon, CO.

Here is Brian looking off of our terrace in the room. He is contemplating all of the beautiful things in his life, while reading a chef's cuisine digest.

This is the life!

 

Here is the view from our room. 
The air was so fresh and clean there. 
The place is so grandeur, that I felt microscopic in comparison. 
I had a lot of fun testing out my camera's settings, hence the multiple photos.

After Avon, we went up to Vail, CO.
Which was literally just up the road.
It's a cute ski town basically Park City on Steroids.
 
There I am in front of an Italian coffee, pastry and chocolate shop.

Here is Brian taking a super deep breath.
Not only because the view from Mt. Evans is simply breath taking but also because...
We were up almost 13,000 feet. The air is pretty thin.
It's freaking hard to breathe up there. 

It's funny because almost the whole way up there are warnings that say,

"If you begin to feel light headed turn back."
"Drink plenty of water to help get adjusted."
"Snow, rain may keep you from coming back down, you may stay the night in one of our complimentary sheds in case of inclement  weather."

I'm cool. I'd rather die.
 

But the view up there was spectacular.
We hiked about a half a mile to the look out and already we were out of breath.
Those signs were no joke. 
You really can't do as much as you think you can without fully adjusting to the air's thinness.

Brian wanted me to hike. So I did.
I was in the elements, but out of my own.
*note: the golden sparkly flats I chose to wear.*


Brian was very disappointed we didn't get to see any real life mountain goats.
But hey! We did get to see this little guy.
His name is Sir Alfred Chuck.

On the way down, we decided to pull over and sit on the edge of the cliffs and look out. 
It was really pretty because it was foggy, eerie and even a tad spooky.
It was awesome.

Brian amongst the clouds.


Next we went to Cherry Creek, CO. 
It's just 5-10 minutes from the heart of Denver.
There were two malls (an indoor and an outdoor one) within a block of each other.
Can you say HEAVEN?!?

We parked our car at the indoor mall and walked to the outdoor one so we wouldn't have to pay at the meters. 
Yeah. We're sneaky and thrifty like that.

We ate breakfast at delicious little crepe place.
I got apple cinnamon and Brian got banana's and nutella. 
 

Brian and his Nutella...
He's such a white boy.




Then, I wanted to go to the Bronco's stadium.
Brian thought it was too far away... but I made him go.
I must say, I like the Bronco's colors.. brings me back home

Orange and Blue




Then came the moment we had all been waiting for.
The moment Brian had pondered and obsessed over for 5 straight months.
The moment that had brought us to fun Colorado in the first place....

The National!

But first... there was more waiting.
You can't watch The National in the daytime.
They deserve more intimacy than that!

Who do you think they are?

So we waited..

And waited...

And waited...


And than...

Now I'm not saying Brian cried.
I don't know if Brian cried.
I chose not to look and check for fear that he might have been.
But, I would not be surprised if he had.

They were honestly great. Every song sounded better live than on his album.
If you've never heard of them, I would recommend them.
Some people say they have a hard time getting into them because they think the songs are sad...
They are not sad.
They are slower and melancholy.

But they have fast songs too.

The songs may be a little sad, but they are hopeful.



This is me: Sad that we had to come home.
The ride there was awesome, but the ride back felt like it took years!
The ride from Grand Junction to Price felt like 8 hours in and of itself.

Probably because we didn't want to return to our responsibilities. 
I know it's not practical to be on vacation forever but,
Can't we at least feel like we are on vacation all year round?! 


So lately, when I go to my in-laws for dinner, I pull out a photo album and I look through it.
There are some cute pictures in there of little Brian Boo. 
Here are just a few of the gems I snatched while looking through album #1.

*Below*

He is thinking:

"So... let me see if I got this straight.
I end up marrying a girl who takes how long
to get ready?!?"
 

On a somber note. 
A great man, the patriarch of the Southwick Family Clan
(my mother-in-laws side of the family)
returned home.
After 21 years he reunited with the love of his life.

We truly will miss him and his sweetness and willingness to help even until the end.
I will never forget how warmly he welcomed me into the family.
I will never forget his hugs and his sweet kisses on my forehead.
I will never forget his smile and his laughter.

We will never forget his humble strength.
We will never forget his example to us.
Until we meet again, you are in our minds and hearts.

*Below*
A tender picture I found in one of the albums of Brian and his grandpa

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Nobody likes you when you're 23.

The month of 
AUGUST
was an exhausting blast!

Since it was my last month of vacation before
(dun dun dun!)
dreaded school began...

I wanted to go out with a BANG!

We held a game night with Brian's parents and played Apples to Apples until late in the night.
Just look at those party animals!

"I never lose a game."
- Brian 



 I voluntarily hosted a girl's night with all of my cousins.
We had the sleepover of the century!
I know. I'm insane. Lock me up and throw away the key.

But it was so much fun!




My parents came into town for my birthday.
They are such party animals. They always want to be doing something and they always want to stay up late. I am grateful I was able to take some time away from work or else their life style would have killed me.





I now know that if my parents lived nearby or if Brian and I ever move to Syracuse I will be:

1. Majorly sleep deprived
2. Fat
and last but not least
3. Broke-da-broke!


We went out to eat a whole bunch!
Not the best quality photo.. but we don't get many pictures taken of us that aren't out of focus pathetic selfies.
So we'll take what we can get.


 We took my little cousins on a date to the Nickelcade and out for ice cream.



 "Is my tongue blue?"


We went on a drive along the Alpine Loop.
Luckily the squatches were not out that day, so we were not attacked.


We went to Park City and SLC with them.
We conned my mother into buying tickets for the Alpine Coaster.
She almost killed us when she found out heights were involved.
Too bad she was already in the line!
Ha ha! Sucka!


We found this amazing gem at a travel agency office in Park City. 
I was so terrified taking this picture that someone was hiding in it, ready to scare us.


One of the most tender moments in August was when Brian finally held Frances.
She fell right to sleep.
Brian even mentioned later that night,
"You know... Frances is really pretty cute."
Uh oh! I think I'm in trouble!



My mom is also slowly turning me into a Relief Society Crafty Weirdo Machine.
As she converted me into
-dare I even speak it?-
decorating for the season!!
What the?!?




It is cute though...

I am always sad to see them go. We had a lot of fun and I can't wait to have the opportunity to see them again which will most likely be next May when I finally graduate!

*sigh*
If only I could get time to move just a little faster!!!!

It was also my 23rd birthday
I am happy to say that Blink 182 doesn't know what the heck they are talking about.

People
still
like 
me 
even 
though 
am 
23!

In fact I'd even go so far, if I may be so bold, to say that people

LOVE

me and I'm 23!

Take that Tom Delonge!!!!
You are a musical genius but you are an idiot.

I kid. I kid. 
I love me some Tom Delonge.



My in-laws were able to come over and witness the birthday party of the decade at my abuela's house. 
Hopefully it wasn't too overwhelming for them!

My parents got me beautiful jewelry and a gorgeous vacuum cleaner.
The things you love when you are married...
It's the little things.





Brian took me to the Black Sheep Cafe for dinner and got me some awesome gifts.
"Why yes, I will be going to see Macklemore in concert. Jealous much?!?" 
Thanks sweetie. You da best!
I am thrilled thrilled thrilled.


Some Yummy Pear Cactus Lemonade.


On our way to the car we found these lovely gems we just had to attempt to recreate. 
If only we carried miniature teacups on us at all times...


My dearest cousin Nicole, just started school at BYU. 
So now she is within 15 minutes of me at all possible times.
I could not be more excited.
We are taken P-town and the 4 letter word (Orem)
by storm.

These noobs don't even know what's a'comin!
Watch out!



I was able to go to a friend's bridal shower and meet up with some people I hadn't seen in a very long time! I love catching up with old friends.
It's seriously the best.




Oh yeah! The Bruun's offered us some tickets to see a play the other night because they couldn't make it and we totally jumped on that.

We are so spontaneous.

well... as spontaneous as married couples get I suppose. 

LOL!

Now it's time to go to bed. I have to keep to my school sleeping schedule or else I will surely die.

Hope you all have a great month. 
Catch ya on the flip side.

Rara out!