Fall

Parrish Canyon Trail - Centerville, UT

Bountiful Lake

The "top knot" in its natural habitat.

This must have been taken shortly after I lost my right arm to the ducks...

This is not a pumpkin.  Or candy corn.  It is actually the lone bell pepper harvested from our garden.

No self control to be had here.

Night at the Museum

This week we ended the longest week in the history of the world with a Friday night full of surprise dates in the big city!

First we ventured to the Joseph Smith Memorial building, this time parking on the north side, which costs $10 if you don't get validation, so we were feeling pretty fancy from the start.  No more running through City Creek in under an hour so we don't have to pay the $1 fee for City Creek parking!  We had dinner reservations at the Garden Restaurant, which was a new dining excursion for both of us.  Apparently our reservations got messed up and our table was sort of reserved for someone else later in the evening, but the manager offered to buy us an appetizer if we ate fast.  So, being the cheapskates we are, we thought this was awesome.  It was seriously the fastest fancy dinner of my life, but it was fun anyway.  (I have to interject here and be a foodie and say the fried pita chips that come with the spinach artichoke dip are uh-mazing.)

The next stop on the date marathon was the Church History Museum.  Once we had toured the facility and were about ready to leave, a torrential downpour of rain hit and we were forced to remain in the museum until it eased up.  At one point we thought we might just spend the night there, which of course means all the exhibits would come to life right?  I'm sure it would have been really exciting to see all those pioneer replicas wake up and start...working really hard (that's all pioneers ever did I think).  Anyway, while we waited out the rain, I tried on some pioneer clothing and considered asking if they'd let me wear it outside so we could run to our car.

Once the rain was no longer at a monsoon level, we ran outside and jogged a couple blocks to the car, dodging a massive waterfall pouring off of the tabernacle and half a tree that blew over in temple square.  I think we'd had enough excitement for one night so we headed home to watch Harry Potter 6 (only the first half because it turns out we are 80 years old - see photo above).  And thus Friday night was awesome.

The Surplus

Someway, somehow we had $105 glorious dollars left in our grocery budget in August.  Normally this means, "Woohoo, the bank can go ahead and lend out another 100 bucks courtesy of the Foley's,"  BUT this reminded us of that Office episode where Micheal has a surplus and buys a giant fur coat, so we decided we'd live like kings at Burlington Coat Factory and spend it instead.  You know, just so the budget is consistent.  (This is rational, ok?)

We didn't go to Burlington Coat Factory, but we did take a "little" trip to Costco.  If you ever have $105 burning a hole in your wallet, the fastest way for it to disappear is at Costco.  We walked in there planning to just buy some butter and we came out with a jacket and some towels and plans to buy a fake fireplace someday.  That place is insane.  But as I was drying off with my luxurious towel this morning, I thought, "THIS is my fur coat."  No regrets.

Meanwhile, we spent the rest on (surprise) food storage and other practical things AND an electric skillet.  Our entire marriage we've talked about getting an electric skillet.  You know, just the $20 kind that allows me to cook all 5 of our pancakes at once.  Why oh why have we not gotten one of these before now?  I've been cooking pancakes in two batches for years.  Moral of this story is, if there is something that would make your life easier, and it only costs $20, then buy it already.

In other news, football season has begun.  When I first hear about the season starting, I find myself having this tiny glimmer of excitement, but then about 2 minutes into the first game, the glimmer is gone...far, far away.  But I have things to study this year and football games are a perfect time for that, so hopefully that will keep me from freaking out about the sheer length. of. these. games.

In other other news, we are really into Rummikub these days. If you ever wondered what childless-people-who-just-make-money-all-day do, it's play Rummikub.  I am getting really good, despite starting turns that I have no idea how they'll end up.  We usually end up laughing really hard at how frazzled I get.

In other other other news, I actually drove somewhere the other day (this is a novelty since I work from home and Scott drives me if we go anywhere during the non-work-hours).  I realized I have no idea what driving around NSL is like.  My destination was the dollar store, and I was within 50 feet of the building and all of a sudden I was in a lane that forced me onto the freeway.  So on I drove with Dollar Tree fading into the distance.  I may need to get out more.