Herriman Fire!

So this past Sunday afternoon Russ and I got home from church around 2pm....it was just a quiet pretty afternoon with a slight breeze. Around 3:30pm as we were laying on the couch being lazy bums my sister Natalee texted me and asked if the fire was close to our house and if we could breath ok with the smoke. I was like what fire??? I opened my front door and to my surprise there was tons of smoke coming from right behind the hill/mountain by my house. We really didn't think much of it and went back to being couch potatoes. Around 7:30pm we went outside to look at it and this was our view!!!



All the neighbors were outside just watching as it crept up over the hill and started coming closer to our neighborhood. We got lawn chairs out and just watched it. A few hours went by and our neighborhood was put on voluntary evacuation. Many people were packing up their cars in case we were told we had to leave. I wasn’t too worried at this point since the fire still had a ways to go to get to our house. However, as the wind picked up the fire kept jumping down the hill further and further. Now I was getting worried! Russ and I went through our house and got all of our pictures, computers, a suitcase, and a bag full of clothes. As I went from room to room I couldn't decide what else to take......it ended up being nothing! Weird...I know. Everything else could be replaced. Furniture could be replaced, decorations could be replaced, TV's could be replaced. I stopped and just stood in one of the upstairs bedrooms looking out the window at the blazing fire just thinking what actually is important. Memories! Those can't be replaced. So I went through our house again grabbing every little picture I could find, little things that Russ has given me, my temple dress ( I know I could buy a new one but that is the one I got married in). I just felt overwhelmed that I was going to forget one of these "important things." I still felt confident that the fire wasn't going to get our house, but just the thought that it might just made my heart drop. It was such a weird feeling. Around 11pm our neighborhood was on official evacuation. We packed up everything in our car, locked up our house, said a little prayer, and went to Natalee and Jordy's house. Needless to say it was a long night. I obviously couldn't sleep very well. Below are some pictures we took from our neighborhood. I took them just on my phone so they are not very clear but you can get an idea of how close it came to some houses.







We woke up the next morning and the fire was pretty much out, thankfully! Only 3 homes were actually burned down, I know that is tragic, but it could have been SO much worse. Seriously, the fire came within feet of dozens of homes. They reported close to 400 homes had some sort of damage from smoke or debris. It was seriously a miracle there were not more homes destroyed. I am just so thankful for all of the firemen that worked all night long fighting that darn fire! I can't imagine having my husband, dad, or brother up there fighting those flames. Thank you firemen!!! Our house and neighborhood are fine and we were able to return the next day around noon. Thanks Nat and Jordy for letting us shack up with you for the night and for coming up to our house to help us. Events like this are scary and unfortunate but events like this puts life in perspective and makes you thankful for what is really important. :)

Oh wow!!! 2010 is flying by and I have not posted for 6 months. I am such a slacker. Russ and I have had a good year so far. Nothing too exciting is going on but I thought I would share a few little highlights. Russ graduated from the U in December, whoo hoo! He got his Bachelor’s degree in Economics. I couldn’t talk him into walking at graduation so this is the only picture I have documenting this accomplishment. He worked so hard and I am so proud of him! Man, some on those economic classes seemed brutal! Good job babe! I am excited to see what is in store for him next. Maybe he can go and save our economy now! He he. :)

My parents gave us a cruise for Christmas which we went on in March. We cruised the Mexican Riviera. The stops were Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. It was such a blast! It was just so fun being with my family for a whole week just having fun, laughing, relaxing, and of course…..eating our little guts out! Thanks mom and dad!

We also celebrated Lori’s, Russ’s mom, 50th birthday. Go Lori! 50 is totally the new 40. :) Below are just a few pictures from her surprise party. Jeri did such a good job putting everything together!

Someone else just had a birthday yesterday…….it was by beautiful sister Natalee’s birthday! She turned the big 2-8! She is getting so old, ha ha, jk! I just like to tease her that she is the “older” sister. Jordy invited some friends to go to Café Rio and then over to their house for birthday cake and the Jazz game. The game was so fun, so glad they won!!! Bring on them Lakers!

We also have had two new babies in our family born this year! My cousin Joel and his wife Maranda had their 2nd little girl Nicole a few weeks ago. I have only seen pictures because they live in Nebraska but she is beautiful as ever. Can’t wait to see her in person! My other cousin Ashlee and her husband Roger had their 1st little girl a few weeks ago as well. She was born at 28 weeks and came into this world unexpectdley. She was born at just a little over 2 pounds! They named her Brooklyn (after me of course, jk!) and she is the littlest, cutest, most precious thing you have ever seen. I was able to go up and visit Ash and baby Brooklyn the other day at the hospital and I could not believe how tiny she was!!!! She has such a personality already, she kept extending her little leg and had the cutest facial expressions. She has the longest fingers and toes, I love it! I think she is going to be tall like her daddy. Ashlee is such and amazing mom already. She has the best attitude and just has a spirit about her that is so neat. Love you Ash and Roger…..you are such great parents and little Brooklyn is so lucky to have you! The babies don’t stop there……..my beautiful cousin Heather is also pregnant with a little boy and she is due in August. Can’t wait until he is here!!!

Love the Fall.......Out with the old, in with the new.

I feel like I have not posted in forever! I can't believe Fall is almost gone! I seriously LOVE Fall. The mountains are as beautiful as ever, the air is so crisp and refreshing. The best thing is that it's Utah football season!! Love the football games. Russ and I just moved into our house this past weekend. I can't believe it's already done. The builder built it in 71 days! For the most part everything went smoothly. You know the saying....."if you build a house with your spouse and you are still married by the end of it you can get through anything"......ha ha, I thought Russ and I would for sure disagree on everything. However, we agreed on a lot of it. So I guess we are good to go! :) Thanks to every one who helped us move. Especially to Russ's family, they pretty much moved everything in for us. So NICE! Thanks mom and dad for letting us shack up with you for a few months, it was fun! It feels good to have our own place again. I am excited to meet our new neighbors and make lots of fun memories!

A little of Belgium....A little of Paris. So Amazing!!!

Russ and I had the amazing opportunity to go to Europe a few weeks ago! This was both of our first times over there. We first went to Belgium for a few days. It was such a cute little place. We stayed in Brussels most of the time. Then we went to Paris for a couple of days. Seriously, it's one of the coolest places I have ever been to. It's so different than anything I have ever seen. I wish we had more time but the time we did have we had a blast! Below are some pictures, I could have posted a million more but it would have taken me forever!

This is the main plaza area in Brussels.....my camera was not very good so you can't see the tops of all these buildings. They were so pretty and so old! They were built in the 1600's.

This guy totally asked us to take a picture with him....then he put his hand out and said 2 Euros.....I was like, wait, didn't you ask us to take a picture! I am just stupid and don't notice when people are trying to make money.


The pee pee boy!....aka Mannekin Pis. I thought the statue would be bigger but it was still cool to see.


I was going to buy all of you one of these to bring home. He he!

Of course we had to get a Belgium waffle and chocolate covered strawberries....they had these little stands everywhere! So yummy.


More beautiful buildings.....



Paris!!!


Getting ready to board the train to the most AMAZING city!

Arc de Triomphe!


Eiffel Tower

Michael Jackson rally under the Eiffel Tower. Everyone was going crazy over there over his death. Every store, restaurant, and shop was playing his music. I love Michael Jackson, I am sad he is gone!

On top of the good old double decker tourist bus.

Napolean's Tomb

The Madeleine




The Lourve




Seine River...goes through the whole city. So beautiful!



Sacre Coeur.......the highest point of Paris. It's this old church, it has amazing views of the whole city.



On top of Eiffel Tower. Russ got scared, he doesn't like heights :-)



Enjoying a refreshing popsicle on a warm, sunny, Paris afternoon.


Good ole crepes......they were everywhere. I don't even know how many of these Russ and I ate. They were so good!


Norte Dame


Eiffel Tower at night.....it was so cool when it all lit up and was sparkling. VERY romantic!



I don't even know what this thing is but I had to get a picture.....love the naked bodies. This one is for you Kenzie!

The Best Shaved Ice in the World.......

Ok, so I am staying on the North shore of Oahu for this work thing this week. It brings back so many memories from when I went to school here for the summer a while back. I LOVE the North shore. Anyways, there is this most amazing shaved ice place in the world here. If any of you have experienced this you know what I am talking about. It's called Matsumotos. It's this little ghetto grocery store place that is known for it's yummy shaved ice. They put vanilla ice cream in the bottom then the shaved ice on top. They also have these sweetened red beans you can put in the bottom but I just do the ice cream. I don't know why but it seriously is the best little treat. I just could not pass up the opportunity to go since I am here. I HAD to get one. I got my usual, blue raspberry with ice cream! Andrea, Katie......remember how obsessed we were with these. He he. I was so embarrassed, I had to go to this work meeting right after and my teeth and tongue were still so blue. It was hilarious. Sorry....I know this is such a random post but I had to share. :)