"Tin snips, babe"

Marshall and I have been working in our yard non stop since we moved in. It was in desperate need of some TLC so I had my friend Carrie (who is awesome at landscaping) and draw up some plans and Marshall and I have slowly been putting the yard together (it is INSANELY pricey). We final completed the front yard and after all that hard work it sort of becomes your baby. We water daily, check on the new plants, weed, etc. Well we planted about 12-14 day lilies and in order for the roots to grow we needed to snip off the tops. One day I decided I would take on this project, not only to the day lilies but to everything we planted and that was a TON of stuff. It took me forever! Pruning Sheers

Later that night Marshall came in from the backyard and asked me why his tin snips were sitting on the table. I told him I had no idea, I had not touched his tin snips. We then began to discuss what I did that day. Mid conversation Marshall got an ear to ear grin on his face and went out back. He came back in and held up the pruning sheers and said is this what you used to do all that work? I told him yes and that I was not done so I left them out. He started laughing and said "those are tin snips babe". I felt pretty stupid but then he went to the garage and showed me the pruning sheers and they do look a lot alike, and they were both red. The pruning sheers would have been much easier to use though. Cut me some slack... I am new at this!
Tin Snips

Flaming Gorge

Over Labor Day weekend Marshall and I got invited to go to Flaming Gorge with some family and we JUMPED at the opportunity. We left Friday night around 8 and were instructed to stop at the "Mountain Man Rendezvous" in Wyoming at which we would camp. Marshall and I had no idea how much we were about to experience. Marshall and I drove seperately and beat everyone else there but it was pitch black at our arrival. At about 12 we got a call and a hose on Uncle Terry's truck had burst and they were stranded on the side of the freeway in Utah but help was on the way and they were bound and determined to get to us, which they did at about 5 am. So we got rest and some breakfast and headed to the rendezvous. People come from all over for this event yearly and they get IN TO IT!
We forgot our camera back at camp so these are just stock images but you get the idea. There are tons of booths set up of hand made items that are exquisite. And there are several demonstrations throughout the day, such as how to make a fire with 2 sticks. It was a really neat, different experience.After that we headed to the Gorge for some camping FUN! I didn't get in the water because it was FREEZING cold but you know Marshall did.And so graceful might I add.
We had such an amazing time! So glad we got one last trip in before it got too cold!

My handy MEN

The day we returned from Italy my brothers family was in town from Chicago. I was upstairs with Carter and one of the closet doors in the office came off. I told Carter that we would have to wait for Marshall to come home to fix it. Well, the minute Marsh walked in the door Carter was scrambling to get his tools in his tool box, his safety glasses on and his tool belt on and filled up. Marshall being the sport that he is grabbed his tool belt (although it was not needed at all) and headed up stairs with Carter. It was one of the cutest things I have ever seen. Carter was a great help. When Marshall asked for a screw driver Carter gave him his (toy one). It was adorable! Soon after the two of them went up stairs more help arrived...
Little Austin with his power drill.
It turned out to be a bigger job than we all thought, it took 4 of them to get it right.
Later that day Marshall decided to turn on the hose. I took these pictures from inside to say the least.
Initially Austin filled up the bucket full of water, he then began swishing in onto himself, he then dipped his head in it and finally he just jumped in and sat down. Kids just love water.

Our Late but VERY worth the wait HONEYMOON

July 15th - We flew from SLC to Paris, France **Sorry no picture**
July 16th - Our first day in France. We arrived in Paris at about noon (Paris time) and our first adventure was figuring out where our hotel was. French people do NOT like Americans so they were not very friendly or helpful. After about an hour of researching we finally found some help and we were on the subway to the hotel. From the subway we had to take a bus so that was another adventure all in its own. But alas, we made it! We quickly changed out of the clothes that we had been flying in for 9 and a half hours, took the other bus, got back on the subway and reached the city.This is our view from our dinner table. And the Eiffel Tower is absolutely ravishing in person.
July 17th - We visited Notre Dame. Again, totally amazing!
We then continued on to Sainte-Chappell where you walk in and it is just an ordinary, not very cool church but you then take this staircase...And you arrive at THIS
The entire top room is stain glass. It blows you away. They are in the process of restoring it so on one side it is clear and ravishing and on the other it looks like this...You can see all of the dust that is collecting. Crazy hu!
July 18th - We went to the Louvre! We had planned on going the night before but we got there too late so we had to get there when it opened so that we could see the main stuff that we wanted to and catch our flight to Rome.The Louve is HUGE! I wish we could have spent an entire day there. The entrance is under the triangle.A few I wouldn't say our favorites but some of the most famous pieces from the Louvre:
The Winged VictoriaAnd of course... The Mona Lisa

Continued...

July 18th - We flew from Paris, France to Rome, Italy. We arrived a little late with just enough time to take a taxi to our hotel and get a bite to eat for dinner.July 19th - St. Peter's Basicila & The Vatican. Below is Marshall and I in square of Rome.
This was my favorite piece of art that we saw not only on this trip but in my entire life! It is Michaelangelo's Pieta and it is housed in St. Peter's Basicila. I have never felt the way I did when I saw it, it is the most amazing thing on earth! I would go back, just to see it. That is how amazing it is!Inside St. Peter's Basicila.

Then we moved onto the Vatican. It was on of my favorite places that we went. It is floor to ceiling ART! And it is an incredible feeling to be in the Pope's home.



This is the Sistine Chapel. You were not supposed to take pictures but I found that out after I had a few ;o)
Michaelangelo's "The Creation" LOVED IT

July 20th - The Colosseum. If you don't know about the Colosseum click here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colosseum. It is so much history.


July 21st - We took a train from Rome, Italy to Florance, Italy. We arrived early so we were able to get a lot done.




"The Birth of Venus" by Sandro Botticelli is housed in one of the museums we went to in Florance. That blue streak is a glare from the window :(

Donatello's "Statue of David"


Michaelangelo's "Statue of David" AWESOME! We went through the entire museum and then went back to the Statue of David again before we left, we were just in awe by it.
This was our hotel in Florence.
July 22nd - We took a train from Florence, Italy to Venice, Italy. This first picture is of the Rialto Bridge.
Marshall and I on our Gondola ride. Worth every penny by the way! IT was sooo romantic!

July 23rd - Venice by day

A gondola
The Rialto Bridge

Everything is literally by boat. The only way into the island is by train and it only comes in and out so all transportation in the city is by boat. We saw a garbage boat, a UPS boat (it was brown and yellow), a police boat, the whole 9 yards! Something I think everyone should see before they die. It is like nothing you will ever see again!
St. Mark's Basilica


Our Hotel in Venice
July 24th - We boarded our cruise. These pictures were taken throughout the week.




Of course we have to hit the rock wall





July 25th - Dubrovnik, Croatia








Marshall cliff jumping in Croatia









July 26th - Just a day of sailing
July 27th - Kasudasi, Turkey & Ephesus, Turkey. Another one of our favorite places.
These pictures of of ancient Ephesus. They are restoring the old city.


This is where Emperors used to go to the bathroom.
Gotta love Marshall ;o)
This was the old library. Across the street from the library was a brothel and in the library was a trap door that lead under ground to the brothel. ha ha ha

A lady making a turkish rug. It takes years and the rugs are amazing.
Our cruise ship parked in turkey.

Us in front of Kasudasi, Turkey

Marshall getting a turkish shave. He said he has never had a better shave.


July 27th - Santorini, Greece. The white along the top is the town.

So... in order to get up there you have to take... oh yes... a donkey!
Isn't it beautiful?!?

Swimming on the black rock beach in Santorini. It was a topless beach... we found out the hard way.







July 29th - Cofu, Greece
Hanging out at the beach in Corfu


July 30th - Another day of sailing
July 31st - We arrived back in Venice to come home. We were flying on discounted tickets that my friend that works for Delta got us and Delta had overbooked by so many they were offering $1000 vouchers to people if they would stay in Venice another day. Well, since Marshall and I were already on a discounted ticket we automatically got bumped. So we headed out of the airport to find a hotel. We were on the main land of Venice, not the island so it was kinda sucky. Well, we ran into on of the girls that worked for Delta and was helping us and she offered to put us up for the night. So we went back to her place, had some real Italian pasta and went into the city of Padova. It was way different than all the touristy areas. Well then next day we went to get on the flight again and Rome had a huge delay so the were re-routing people to Venice. Well, there was one seat and Marshall made me take it. That is right... I left my husband in Venice on our honeymoon. He met up with our friend Fredrika and she put him up again and he would try to get out the next day. After 2 more attempts he had still not gotten out of Venice so we booked him a full price ticket and got him home. It is a good thing we have a "travel savings account" so we are ready for these kinds of things.

Anywho... we had an amazing time that we both consider to be life changing. I would not trade that trip for anything. Marshall and I are closer than we have ever been! If we can get through traveling Europe we can get through ANYTHING!