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

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 

I 

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!

The 24th is grander than the 4th in Oo-Tah

Before I sat down to write this blog, I wasn't looking forward to it. I felt like we really didn't do anything at all exciting in the month of July. I was even a little envious looking at other people's photos and posts. Everyone seems to be going on vacations and I am just here like oh yeah.. still in Utah.

 

However, when I started looking through my phone I realized that we had done more

 this month than I had originally noticed!

It's funny how quickly I forget life is more exciting than I give it credit for.

Yeah, I'm not going on a lavish vacation this month.

But I did just go to New York for two weeks

and my birthday is coming up.

 

Hello?

Exciting, right?!?

 

Therefore, my goal this month is to appreciate the little things in life.

They're exciting too!

 

 

Brian and I made fruit pies for people on the 4th of July.

 

Watching the fireworks at my aunt's house.

This is a good picture... however it would be better without those dreadful Chaco's.

 

'Murica!

 

It's so fun to have nieces and nephews at family functions again.

While they were in Paris, the holidays were so boring!

 

I got a haircut this month. I am kind of having regrets about it.

I think the bangs were kind of an impulsive decision.

Now I have to wait for them to grow out.

I'm not saying I don't like them because they look terrible or anything..

it's just harder to do your hair quickly when you have to make sure your bangs don't look funny.

 

 

Brian's parents were able to go to California so they were gone for the biggest holiday to hit Utah..

Pioneer Day!

 

If Mormons drank, this would be the day they would get crap-faced.

We just love celebrating the pioneers.

Seriously.

There were more fireworks than the 4th of July

and

people EVERYWHERE!

 

I am usually gone in July so I don't think I realized how insane it is.

 

Kicking it on the 24th, Brigham's Brew style.

 

Was able to take a photo with this gem of a car that my brother-in- law got a year or so ago.

It's like a life-sized Lego car.

 

BE JEALOUS!

 

 

I don't work weekends anymore.

I am so grateful that Brian and I have more time to spend with one another.

It has been so much fun to finally hang out again!

 

We were able to celebrate a few birthdays this month with Brian's family.

It was his little brother's birthday on the 22nd. My mother-in-law made bomb Indian food and cake.

 

Jeffrey requested better than.. you know.. cake.

I made the name less awkward by deciding that we would call it

Better than sex with Willie Nelson Cake.

 

Way less awkward.

 

:)

 

It was also Brian's little sister's birthday on the 24th.

We celebrated by eating Café Rio salad and drinking mock-tails

as it was her 21st birthday.

 

Some very very very exciting things will be happening this upcoming month!

I cannot wait to share them with you come September.

 

Much love,

Rachelle & Brian

 

(but mostly Rachelle. Let's not kid ourselves here.)

 

haha!

 

:D

 

"Well... this is weird." - Dad

I hate surprises.

Brian knows this.

Whenever he tries to surprise me, I dry heave.

I'm a weirdo..

or more likely, a control freak.

Yeah, that's it exactly.

However, I sure love to surprise others.

That's how our last trip to New York for the week of Father's Day came about.

We bought our tickets two and half weeks before we left.

We told no one that we were coming. Not even the people here.

Because if you start talking about it in casual conversations, it makes it easier for a slip up.

We went to the airport and had high hopes of running into no issues this time...

than life threw us an anticipated curve ball.

Stupid tornadoes

Our flight was cancelled.

We booked another flight for the next day.

We made it to DC, but by that time the storm had moved over to the East Coast.

Delayed in DC for 5 hours...

Then, we finally made it to Syracuse.

We took a taxi to my parent's house and surprised the heck out of them.

(You can see the video of our surprise on my FB page if you so desire. Mind you, swearing is involved if you're morally opposed to hearing such things.. oh mom.)

Well, just my mom. My mom started yelling, smothering us and crying.

My dad said (mid chew of a sandwich)

"Well... this is weird."

I'm glad I got a reaction from my mother or else I would have flipped out.

"You mean to tell me I traveled through storms and delays for 48 hours to hear you say, 'this is weird'?"

Maybe it was shock.

Maybe his sandwich was just super tasty.

Yeah, that's exactly it.

We had a lot of fun on our trip. It was very relaxing. We traveled to a few places on some little day trips. We hiked and went on some long walks. We had A TON of food! I was able to visit with my friends. It was just what I needed.

Now for the (not so) funny story..

When we arrived to the Syracuse Airport I realized I had to use the restroom..

routine, right?

I went to the bathroom and walked back to our gate.

I took out my purse to get my phone to text my mother..

Oh wait!

Ran back to the bathroom.

 I was gone from that bathroom like a minute at most.

A cleaning lady had my phone in her hand,

"Sweetheart, did you leave this here?"

Yes. Thank you so much!

I'm about to leave the bathroom when I faintly hear her say, "I tried to turn it on, but it wouldn't start."

Come again?

I look down at my phone.

The screen has cracks and scratches and obvious water damage in the screen.

"I don't know what happened to it some lady gave it to me."

Woman. I will slap you.

Galaxy

June 4, 2013- June 22, 2013.

My sweet sweet phone

I cherished you.

You lived a beautiful life.

You didn't deserve your life to be cut so short.

May your beautiful soul rest in peace.

Needless to say, this means I don't have many photos of our trip.

Just the ones I uploaded to FB and Insta while on my trip.

Here they are for your enjoyment and in memory of my precious Galaxy... bless her heart.

Our first night in Syracuse. We went to the Turning Stone Casino.

We have wanted to do this every trip with my brother.

He always bails out on us, so we decided to go with my parents instead.

They are way cooler anyways.

;)

Brian absolutely loves the Farmer's Market.

We always make a trip there when we go visit my mom.

Brian takes pictures of Amish people.

We get a Hoffman Hotdog and an apple cider donut.

It's a good time.

I know that Brian likes the "great" outdoors so we went on a few long walks and a hike this trip.

Brian, Rachel, Joey and I went up to Chittenango falls and did the hike that starts at the bottom of the waterfall and goes to the top of it.

It was a lot of fun.

Joey was so precious.

When he first saw the falls he turned to his mom and said,

"Mom. I've never seen such a thing as this."

It was so cute.

View from the bottom (above)

View from the top (below)

 I was also able to surprise my dear friend Kaitlyn at her baby shower.

The shower was as beautiful, radiant and sweet as Kait.

We visited my grandparents at their farm house.

My grandpa has taken up the hobby of making guitars.

Brian wanted to see how it was done, so my grandpa took him and my dad to his shop.

The guitars are delicately crafted and beautiful.

It truly is an art form.

My grandpa waving us good-bye.

I loved being able to go on this trip.

I have missed my family so much.

I'm so lucky to have a husband who is okay dropping money on a trip to grand old

Syracuse, NY.

I know there are many more exciting places he would rather travel to, but

he wants me to be happy.

I love him for that.

Try to sleep tonight after seeing this frightening image!

Albuquerque