Flaming Gorge

So Thanksgiving break officially started for me today at 5:15 p.m. What does that mean? A break from homework to curl up on the couch and look over last summer's pictures. I decided to post a few from our camping trip at Flaming Gorge---a lotta fun and fireworks! Luke and his brother Tyler decided to continue a Roman Candle war from the previous night and attack their little brother Josh while he was wake boarding. Their Dad had no sympathy and only drove Josh closer and closer to them. Luke deciding that the shore was still too far and conspicuous, swam out to submerge himself with only the fireworks above water. This is the brothers as they burst up and suprise Josh (he'd kill me if I knew I wrote it, but you should have heard Josh yell! But it's okay he later grazed Luke's head with a candle as Luke took his turn out on the wake).

And here he is winning the height and distance jump contest he had with his brothers! Actually I don't think this is the winning jump, I don't think I caught that one, and I have to admit the wipeouts were just as much fun to watch.

Stubbs, grumpy that he had to stay on the beach (Luke's mom and sister in background). He would have too much fun trying to get on the wake board with whoever was out.

The water was gorgeous! Visibility down to 20 feet in some parts of the lake.

After destroying one buoy, caught terrorizing the second.

Stubbs and his cousin Maggie (Josh's dog). It was an amazing sunset. We had one end of the lake practically to ourselves, the location was great, the weather was stormy on and off, but still got in a lot of fun. And sitting out the wind storms in the tent wasn't half bad either! Ali, Luke's sister, and I made banana boats--bananas, chocolate, and marshmellows all wrapped up in tinfoil and cooked on the coals--it was our nightly ritual. And being able to come straight off the boat to dirt-biking was awesome. I'm anxious to go again!

Stubblefield

It's been awhile since we've posted pics of Stubbs, he's changed a bit.

We thought he was done growing till we saw his dad in Reno. He's a small bear. Stubbs is coming up on the century mark, and shows no sign of slowing.

But he's very much still a puppy.

Sarah 2012!

As promised, Mooseburger Helper. It was very good. Viva la Sarah!

The Road

Last night I finished reading Cormac McCarthy's The Road. I picked it up when I had a few extra minutes in the afternoon and ended up skipping my homework to finish it. I didn't want to put it down its that engrossing. And scary, and suspensful... Its really well-written, the author is a Pulitzer Prize winner. I'd recommend it if anyone wants a good read, that doesn't take long to get through, and that makes you lock all your doors while you're reading! I'm just gonna say--I hate basements, and we need more canned peaches. Cormac McCarthy is Lukes favorite author and he'd wanted to read it for a while, but I stole it before he started...last time that happened he never got to finish (it got left on a bus, by the way it was Killing Che, and we left it in Rosario, Che's birthplace---I mean when we were reading it we were seriously hiding the binding from the Argentines! I got to finish it, and it was really interesting also--an account of the CIA and the Bolivian gov't hunting down Che).
The Road comes out in theatres this November, I'm really interested to see how they make it and what it ends up being rated.

Sarah Palin Rally!

Last Monday Luke and I went to a Sarah Palin rally in Salem, VA---that's the advantage of being in a battleground state, the rallys come to you! It was worth the freezing cold and long lines (there were thousands of people there). You don't see it in the picture but the opposite stands of the football statium were completely full too.

And here she is! Everyone was chanting "Sarah, Sarah!" waiting for her to arrive, I don't think I've ever experienced that much excitment over a VP candidate. It was awesome to hear her talk, she was so energetic and charismatic, but more than that it was nice to believe in a candidate. It was defintely worth ditching class for!

We couldn't resist buying some Mooseburger Helper while there (pictures to come) and that's what we'll be eating election night! Now if we could just find a moose...

Feasting at the Country Club, Every Weekend!

Yes, we frequent the Lexington Golf and Country Club quite regularly, in black slacks, white shirts, and ties...in the form of waitstaff for weekend banquets. Its turned out to be a great job for me and convienent second job for Luke, who works at Radio Shack. We make great tip money---'cause the food is gormet and everyone drinks up a storm, get to eat whatever we want, and get to take home all the pretty floral arrangements (I'm most excited about that part). It's also a great job during college 'cause it convinces you to stay in school---after finishing at 2 am taking down the room and then putting it all back up for a different occassion there's no way I would want to have to do this for the rest of my life! But we've got down all the different formal table settings (the coffee cup handle points to 5 o'clock), and its interesting getting to see how the kitchen functions. If I ever do become a chef I'll definitely specialize in pastry, and Luke's a perfectionist when it comes to meat---how about that for a restaurant, cake and steak! Yeah, we waited a wedding last Saturday and I was most excited about the cake, Luke brought home brisket...

We Graduated to a U-Haul

So previously every time we've moved across country we've been able to fit everything in the back of the truck, but this time we had to get a U-Haul...it feels so different almost restrictive 'cause now we have all this stuff (which I obviously really enjoy--the bed, couch, table, ect...) but stuff is such a bother! It's so different than living out of a duffel bag, I might prefer that, but like I said I REALLY like my stuff...So all that aside we made it out here with trailer, motorcycles, dog and all, pulled up to our house after midnight and finished unloading at 3 am. I hated all the furniture then---do we really need a couch, a mattress, I can sleep on the floor! But sitting in a nice comfy chair now---yeah, it was worth it. But then again at the end of the year when we move again...
I don't know where all these random thoughts are going, I'm just waiting for Luke to get home from work, and I'm avoiding homework.
Oh, I'm in a yoga class--I love it, but now I have a mat, blocks, and a yoga belt---more stuff!

Adventures of Abby and Luke

This is a fun internet toy. It makes you grateful for where you've been, but also anxious to go travel. See how well you know us. Who's been and lived where?

California!

Luke gave me the best suprise ever--a trip to California! Not only did we get to visit my grandma who I love so much, and not just because of her de-licious apricot jam, but my sister too. We drove, explored, slid through (literally!), shopped, and dined our way through San Francisco. Then we hit up my old home town of Sonora, and saw a few friends, but not nearly as much as I wish we had had time for. But I did introduce Luke to Calaveras Big Trees--a park dedicated to the Sierra Sequoia.

This is the tree where cars used to drive through. Now it's the perfect picture frame.

My favorite place! We visited my old home and I got to enjoy my orchard.

And my old house! The new owner plans to have it be a health retreat/spa. Of course I plan on buying it back when I am quite a bit richer....

Luke is the best husband ever, I LOVED my suprise!

Afternoon at Delle

Yesterday Luke and I spent the afternoon riding at Delle. I am getting much better on trails and finding my balance on the whoops, but Luke is the one who did all the real riding and jumping!

Tagged

I was tagged by Alli and so now its time to divulge 8 little known facts:

1. Luke and I have driven across the country 4 times and we love it--especially taking detours to places we want to see. We ran out of gas in Colorado once because the stations in Kit Carson were all out and we were clueless that the next town lacked stations at all.

2. In 2002 Luke and I were at the same BYU vs. U of U football game--even sat in the same general section. We even both almost joined the Air Force (Luke was accepted to the Air Force Academy).

3. Luke is a wonderful poet and writer.

4. I love spicy Mexican food--especially good salsa and flour tortilla chips. Also I am on a quest to find the absolutely best chicken taco. So far I'd say El Jardin in Sonora, the oh-so irresistable lemon-chicken taco, and the taco at the Salt Flat Cafe in Wendover, UT are up there.

5. I actually like to fold laundry, especially when its warm.

6. Luke first said that he wanted to marry me when he saw my off-roading skills on an ATV, now I'm learning to ride a motorcycle and I prefer it.

7. I like to let my nail polish wear off instead of wiping it and re-applying.

8. I like the banks of rivers--the South Bank in London, Puerto Madero in Buenos Aires, or the Ben Salem Wayside Park in Virginia.

Yes! I do love Luke!

So we decided to start a blog, and this is it! We've actually been meaning to do this for a while, 'cause its a great way to share photos and news--enjoy!