Off to Oregon!

After camping with the Hamiltons we headed back to South Jordan, to then leave to visit Rachel and Cory (and their kids Emory, Tessa, and newest nephew Fischer).  (more driving, yay!)

Before we left I got a new tooth thanks to Dr. Roundy.

 Tessa was being cute as soon as we got there.  

Then we headed out to the Oregon Coast.  It was amazing.  The weather was cool and I loved it!  

Don't ask, don't tell.

We went peach picking, but it turned into peach eating for me.  

Biggest juiciest peach ever!

 Just looking at the waves outside the beachfront condo we stayed at, thanks to my parentals.   

The making of this photo was quite controversial.  

Totally worth it.  

Being in Oregon with everyone was so much fun!  We played some more golf.  We ate out at awesome restaurants.  I even tried surfing thanks to Cory wrangling up some gear for us.  The water is FREEZING, but man, it was lots of fun.  I wasn't good, but I definitely improved and it was a blast.  

Sadly, my time on vacation came to a close and I drove up to Portland to catch a flight back to Richmond.  I was not present for the following photos, so there will be little commentary.  

 Cute!

Cuter!

My wife takes cool pictures.

I'm told Katelyn whipped herself in the face after this photo.  

Overall, the trip was amazing.  I loved being around family and Oregon was so nice.  Maybe OSHA for residency?  I wouldn't mind living in Portland at all!

Happy Anniversary!!!!

For our 4th anniversary, Sydney and I were going to be in Utah, so we decided to spend it in Logan, UT where we met.  We stayed at the Anniversary Inn and just got to relax after the stress of 3rd year and board exams and cross-country driving and church callings and business running....we just did nothing....kinda.

The room was ridiculous and AWESOME!

 And they gave us all sorts of treats and breakfast and everything was awesome!!!

 We went golfing.  How many of you guys went golfing with your wife on your anniversary.  I did, because my wife is the best.  Sorry.  It's true. 

After a few days in Logan, we headed down to Mapleton to see Syd's family.  (more driving, yay!)

We went camping near Payson Lakes at a campground called Blackhawk.  The view was incredible.    

                             Why are you awake?                                         I love that there are 190 wards?

 We found a lego guy, so naturally we tortured him.  

 To his credit, he never talked.

 Fiz was loving it.  Free to be a wild dog.  

My two favorites! 

Camping tired him out.  

We had a lot of fun with the Hamiltons.  Looking forward to spending more time with family once we live a little closer.  

A trip to Utah

Literally, within hours of me finishing my Step 2 board exam, Sydney and I (and Fiz) headed across the country in our Honda Civic.  

This was our setup.  Fiz was so upset to be in the back seat and insisted on being as close to the passenger as possible.  

 Last meal at "The Black Sheep" before Syd fares Richmond farewell.

Yum!

You're home now, so we can play...right?

Leaving Richmond into a fireball.

 We made record time (30.5 hours) and got our vacation started right by heading up to Bear Lake.  It was so nice to be back in Utah during the summer for the first time in 3 years.  We loved it!  

This picture is probably my favorite.

 Back-to-back, only person who stayed on!

Obviously there was a lot of riding the "banana sled" (referred to as the Water Weenie in my family).  I could play on that thing all day for weeks.  So much fun!  

There was also golfing and eating and raspberry shaking.  It was pretty much one of the most fun vacations Sydney and I have been on in awhile.  We also went hiking at the Ice Caves which was awesome!  There was also golfing, which is always great.  I can't say enough about how stinking fun this was.  

Random Fiz picture to end this post.

The Wild Ponies of Chincoteague/Assateague

While I was studying for my board exam a month ago, we made a last minute decision that Sydney was going to move to Utah and start looking for a job before I come out there for away rotations in October.  We had planned a vacation to Utah already, but Sydney was just going to stay in Utah instead of flying back to VA with me.  So, naturally, we had to do all the fun things that Syd had been wanting to do in VA in a very short amount of time.  One such thing was to visit Chincoteague/Assateague Islands to see the wild ponies.  (Cue nostalgic music)  I couldn't care less about wild ponies, but Sydney read this book as a child and always dreamed of visiting.  

So, we went and it was a blast!  We didn't really see the ponies, (only from very far away) but it was a great break from studying and I got to spend time with my wife!

 We went on an awesome kayaking tour.  

 The ponies are there.  Trust me.

We got out at a beach and went swimming, only to be stung by jellyfish.  Those little suckers freaking hurt!  Syd got stung a few times just before I got stung on the leg.  OUCH!!!!  

Overall, an awesome time and a childhood dream fulfilled!  We actually saw a pony while we were driving around the island that we later learned was a living relative of Misty.