Scratch Map

How cool are these?? I just saw these on A Cup of Jo and realized that I probably wasn't going to be able to live without them. You scratch off the country with a penny once you've been there. How original! I love it!

Grant, our anniversary is coming up.. ahem.. this might make a nice gift ;) I'm kidding! Kind of...

Little Buddies

Photo Adventure in Eden

While Grant and I were in Utah for our Crane family reunion we met up with my dear dear dear friend Amy Jo (kindred spirit!) one evening. She drove all the way up from Provo and it was so good to see her again! She took some family pictures and then she did an anniversary shoot with Grant and I. Amy Jo did all of our wedding photography. Can you believe Grant and I have been married almost two years??

We were up in Eden, Ut and the night could not have been more perfect. It was just like old times! Amy jo, thank you. We had such a good time with you!

amen.

Utah Trip

This picture is so classic Crane. Crista and Grant are the only ones who look normal. It turns out Cranes aren't SUPER photogenic. I do love Outback though!

Mountain man Grant chopping some wood up at the cabin!

An ad for Subaru.


The cabin in all her glory!

..and of course, the outhouse or "privy" as dad would say.

Another Subaru ad.

I've been to the Mt. Nebo overlook countless times with my dad. Everytime we go up there he brings his binoculars so we can spot mountain goats, but without fail we NEVER do. It's always a good time though.

If you look really close you can see the cabin nestled up there in the trees.

I already miss the sunsets from our deck in Ogden. Best sunsets in the world.

Orlando with the best friends

Well this post could not be more past due.

Recently, (I say recently, but I really mean back in MAY) Lindsey and I went to see our best friend Christyn in Orlando where she works at Disney World as Aurora! It was wonderful to be together with those two again! We spent our time at the beach, at all the different parks and eating all the delcious food that Christyn made for us, but by far the best part of the trip was just catching up. We talked and talked and talked and talked and it never got old. I guess that's how it is with best friends :)

House of Cards

Today is the perfect day for this song.

Mt. Kilimanjaro

{all photos via flickr}

Well, since Grant and I don't have any big vacations or travel plans in the near future (besides Utah in June woooo!) for now I have to settle with just planning our dream trips.

While I was studying at BYU I had several classes from Dr. Durrant. Although his tests are killer, he is so awesome and is passionate about what he teaches. Two of the classes I took from him were Global Adventure Travel, and Studies of Sub-Saharan Africa. They were two of the best classes I had at BYU. Dr. Durrant was a great teacher because he has spent an extensive amount of time living in Africa and studying the people of both Tanzania and Chad. He was the one who first sparked my interest in climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Mt. Kilimanjaro is the tallest peak you can climb that doesn't require any technical climbing experience, which is good because I don't have any! :) Dr. Durrant once told me that you'll never forget the first time you see Kilimanjaro. At 19,341 ft. it is one of the tallest free-standing mountains in the world. It takes between 5 and 8 days to reach the Uhuru summit depending on how much time you want to take to acclimatize.

It's a unique climb because although you at the base of the mountain where you begin your trek it is a jungle, the top of the mountain is covered in glaciers and snow. You experience such a variety of climates!

So, who wants to come???

Menorca

While Grant and I were dating we always used to talk about all the places we travel to together. While we already realized our Brazilian dream, we still have some other places we want to see (like the whole world!!!). Grant's brother Mark served his mission in Spain and for part of the time he served on the small island of Menorca. We all decided that once Mark got married the four of us (Me, Grant, Mark and his lucky lady) would all go on a trip there.
Well, Mark, I'm still waiting!! I'm kidding. But I do hope that the day is coming soon! Until then I'll just have to keep looking up pictures of Menorca and daydreaming of the day when I can roam these quaint street and swim in the perfectly clear water.. sigh.