Midweek Getaway

My family and I went on a midweek vacation this week. For the Pioneer Day holiday that occurs here in Utah we went down to Elsinore, UT which is right by Monroe, UT; about two and a half hours from us here in Salt Lake City.

Went went down on Tuesday evening. We didn't do anything that evening.

The next day, Wednesday, was Pioneer Day. We went to the parade in Monroe. We tried catching some candy and an otter pop or two but the kids in front of us really cleaned it up quick. lol.

While we were waiting for the parade we saw several hang gliders.

And a couple of small planes flew overhead.

These guys on stilts were cool.

Look! A tiny horse!

This was our stash of candy. It fit in the cup holder on our chair.

After the parade we went dirt biking on a great trail. The couple that invited us on this trip rode in their ATV, Mom and Dad went one one bike, and Steven and I went on the other bike. I had a lot of fun. The only thing was I did not sleep very the night before so in the afternoon near the end of the ride I got a little crabby. I just wanted to go back to the motor home and get out of the sun and do nothing.

Wednesday night we went and saw the fireworks at the park. It was nice. It reminded me a lot of the White Rock fireworks that we went to when I was a kid. (Here are some of my favorite shots.)

I like this one a lot.

For some reason I like this one two. It's so dainty.

This one is fun.

On Thursday we went on another ride that was much longer and had more roads and trails. We actually went on part of the Paiute ATV Trail which was quite fun. Steven and I did have a little mishap with the bike so I rode on the ATV for a bit while we rode along and passed someone with a socket wrench. But when we got back to the road I hopped back on. The rocky parts were just too much for the bike and two people I guess. It was really pretty up there. Lots of trees and flowers.

Steven and I were on the yellow bike. Mom and Dad were on the blue one.

This little field of flowers was really pretty.

Yay. Pretty butterfly.

This is Abby. She rode on the ATV with her owners. She looks so cute in her little goggles on.

I'm a little sore today and I'm tired. But I had a lot of fun going biking the past couple of days.

Frogs

Mom is in charge of Girl's Camp for her ward this year and I have been helping with a lot of her projects. The theme of the camp is F.R.O.G. which stands for Forever Reaching Our Goals. The whole week is frog themed and they have lots of frog stuff. In Mom's adventures of finding frog items she came across some really cute frog wrapping paper at the dollar store. So she bought several rolls thinking she'd use it for something. She's not going to use it. But when I saw that they were decorating paint cans to use as mailboxes for the Secret Sister stuff I mentioned that it would be cute to do one in frog wrapping paper. My mom agreed. So yesterday I got to decorate a paint can using some frog wrapping paper and scrapbook paper.

This can is used for the visitors. People that won't be there the whole week.

I like it without the label the best. (This is the back)

I cut out a frog with a blue bird to put on the lid.

What's your Dream Vacation?

I have several vacation ideas that I think would be really fun.

Visit The Great Barrier Reef of Australia. I've always thought this would be a lot of fun ever since I was a kid. I am fascinated by the coral and all the sealife. I love it. I even thought about becoming a Marine Biologist when I grew up. It is so gorgeous. I would go scuba diving and take a helicopter ride over the Reef. And of course who wouldn't want to hang out in Australia for a while.

Driving Historical Route-66 from beginning to end. I think this would be such a fun way to see the USA. From Chicago to Los Angeles. Across eight states. I want to drive the route in a nice classic car and with some friends. We'd listen to awesome 50s music and stop everywhere and talk to everyone.

Driving the Pacific Coast Highway, and related coastal roads, from beginning to end. I would absolutely love to do this as a honeymoon. We could stop at Bed and Breakfasts along the way. I would love to drive a nice convertible down the West coast. Maybe a Porsche Cayman. We'd take our time and stop and take lots of photos. I think it'd be absolutely fantastic!

Visit London, England for a long period of time. I have been to London twice and I absolutely LOVED it. I would live there if I could. I love the atmosphere, the people, the weather. I love everything about it. There are so many things and places I haven't seen around London. I would visit them all. I need to spend a month there. Seriously. I would see a ton of musicals and plays, visit museums and look at art, see the Globe Theatre, ride the Eye, I'd check out Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. I'd take lots of photos. Watch Doctor Who on tv. Drive tiny little cars on the left side of the road. Watch tennis. It'd be SO much fun. I need to go back sometime soon.

Yes. I took this photo.

Visit New York City, NY for a long period of time. Knowing how much I love London, it's a wonder to me how I have not been to NYC. I feel like the two cities are very similar. I love musicals and plays. I've wanted to go to NYC for a while actually. It's someplace I've never been to but always wanted to see. I'd, of course, see some musicals. I'd hang out in Central Park. Go to Times Square. I'd like to visit Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. I'd go visit Ground Zero and the new World Trade Center. I would have a grand old time.

Go to every tennis Major. I think my newest dream would be this one. But I still have had this idea for a few years. I'd like to go to the Australian Open (Brisbane), French Open (Paris), Wimbledon (London), and the US Open (NYC). Spending a fortnight at each location just to watch tennis! I have loved tennis for many years now and I think it would amazing to go watch tennis live. And if I got a chance to meet some of my tennis loves then I totally would.