Lovin it in Utah

Dan & Lindsay (She looks so happy).

Paige & our cousin Kyle.

I asked Ethan to smile...this is what he did.

Lil' Tatum (aka family photographer).

My cute grandparents.

My "Utah" Man.

Over the 24th of July weekend, my family had our Lovin Reunion! My grandparents, aunts & uncles, and cousins all drove up here to Utah to have some fun. On the 24th of July, my Dad, Lindsay, Paige, Ethan, Aunt Julie, Uncle Randy, Uncle Darren, and cousins Natalie and Blake, and I ran the Deseret News 5k! It was such an adrenaline rush running along the parade route with tons of people cheering for you (or for the 5 year old boy running next to me). Dan was helping his brothers install a sprinkler system that morning. He is always willing to lend a hand, he is such a trooper. Later that night, Dan and I went over to my parents' house to light fireworks. My Dad hung a sheet up in the backyard to project a movie to make our own little theatre. We watched "Forever Strong" about Highland High School's Rugby team. Being an alumni of Highland High, it was pretty cool to see a film about one of our sports teams. It was a great weekend, and I am so happy we got to spend time with the good ol' Lovin Clan!

Harry Potter Date Night

Last week, Dan and I went and saw the new Harry Potter movie opening night!! Dan was able to get tickets to a private screening from attending a computer software seminar. He knew I had been looking forward to this movie for months, and he was so sweet to take time off work to go to the seminar so we could see it. He is such a good husband! At the theatre, there was a huge Harry Potter costume contest. There were tons of people dressed up as witches and wizards doing magic tricks and talking in British accents, it was awesome! And the movie...amazing!! Absolutely loved it! Can't wait for the next two movies!! (Yes, I am a huge Harry Potter fan). Thanks Dan for a great night, you are the best husband ever!

Check that Out!!

Last Thursday, my sweet husband Dan received a $1500 scholarship from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Utah! Dan is extremely dedicated and a very hard worker. It was wonderful to see how all of his efforts paid off. The American Council presented him with his scholarship at their annual banquet at the Grand America hotel. Dan's parents and his brothers Matt and Jeff were there too. The food was delicious, and they had a fantastic guest speaker! It was Jim Boylen, the head coach of the men's basketball team at the University of Utah. Dan was presented with a huge check, just like the ones you see on TV when people win millions of dollars. It was fake of course, but it was still pretty cool. He was given the real check later. It was a fabulous night! Dan is very intelligent and can accomplish anything he sets his mind to. I am so proud of him! Love ya babe!

RoAd TrIp!!!

Thanks for a great time my sistahs!

The beautiful St. George temple.

My cute sisters, I miss these girls!

Lindsay is so focused.

Paige and I posing at Fiesta Fun.

Us after laying out in the sun. I am the white cream filling in between my super dark sisters. It's so not fair.

Jungle Fever!!

My sisters looking seductive.

Paige, jumping for joy! She was really excited to get out of the car.

Lindsay, looking so happy.

Me, no explanation.

Paige & Lindsay...they make fencing look hot, haha.

"Mini" putting green at our hotel...seriously there were only 8 holes.

Our wonderful hotel & pool outlooking the street, we could wave to traffic.

Fun in the car with Lindsay and Paige.

So my sisters and I decided we were sick and tired of this rainy weather, so we took a girls' trip down to St. George one weekend to have some fun in the sun!! It was a great get-away, I am so glad I got to spend some good quality time with my sisters Lindsay and Paige. We did all the fantastic things you can do in St. George! We laid out by the pool, went swimming, did some shopping at the outlets, visited the St. George temple, ate at the yummy Pizza Factory and the one and only In'n'Out Burger, and of course had a grand ol' time at Fiesta Fun!! (It's like Boondocks, but a little bit more ghetto, plus I think that was the highlight of the trip!) When my sisters and I are together, we are little crazy sometimes. The pictures are living proof, but hey we know how to have fun :-).

Up, up and away...

Yesterday, Dan and I got to see a private showing of the new Disney/Pixar movie, "UP" and we both loved it!! Dan's brother Jim was given tickets through a mortgage company and had two extra, so we got to see it with him and his adorable son Devin. Its such a good family film, we were laughing the entire time. The Disney/Pixar movies are always so creative and clever. Everyone should go and see it, I promise you will love it! People of all ages will enjoy the movie. Can't wait to see it again! Thanks Jim!

Kangaroo Zoo & Kamas

Paul & Bonnie's beautiful home

The new fourwheeler (aka a golf cart on steroids)

Dan and our nephew Sam (he is pointing to a slide, he had no interest in the picture)

Our niece Lauren

This past month we have had so much fun with the Hirst family. We all got together and met at the Kangaroo Zoo in Bountiful. It's a fun house full of inflatable slides and obstacles courses for kids. Our nieces and nephews LOVED it! Dan and I definitely had a workout running around and climbing the slides with them. We were both completely exhausted afterwards, but it was a blast. It made me wish I was a kid again so I could have as much energy as our nieces and nephews did. On Mother's Day, Dan and I went up to Kamas to visit his parents. His Dad let us try out his new monster of a four wheeler. So we tested his sweet ride around their house and up the canyon. There was no windshield on the fourwheeler, so I got a good mouthful of bugs and flies in my hair, but it was worth it! We just love going up to Kamas, it's our little get-away! Thanks for having us come Paul and Bonnie!

It's finally here...SUMMER!!

Summer is finally here!!! Praise the day! Dan and I finished our finals this past week, and we are definitely looking forward to having more freetime without any homework to worry about. Only one more year to go and we will both graduate next spring! Dan has worked so hard this past year, I am so proud of him. Now we are both enjoying our summer break. Summer is my absolute favorite season!! Not only did we meet and get married in the summer, but our birthdays are during this wonderful time of year as well. Summer is the greatest because of all the fun things you can do like barbeques, fireworks, picnics, night games, boating, water-skiing, wakeboarding, fourwheeling, swimming, drive-in movies, vacationing, being with friends and family, and the warm summer nights. You can bet Dan and I will be doing all of these things! Summertime automatically reminds me of my all-time favorite movie, "Sandlot" because it's about a group of boys causing all kinds of trouble during their summer vacation. It brings back many good childhood memories. Those of you who have seen it can appreciate its great one-liners. Plus it was filmed in my parents' neighborhood, really, I can show you Scotty Smalls' pink house. This classic picture is of Squints from the movie, it makes me wish summer lasted "FOR-E-VERRR"!!