Trip to Italy!

Last night Darin and I took a little vacation to Italy!! We had SOOO much fun! We started out by dropping Matt off at my parent’s house then we took a “flight” (of stairs) up to my parent’s balcony! There was a cute little Italian bistro! We listened to Italian love songs while we ate our delicious dinner!
Our trip was a little long for Matthew so he took a flight to see us!


We started out with a delicious caprese salad


Then we had chicken parmigiana, pasta, and breadsticks (that I forgot to take a picture of). Then for dessert we had Italian sabayon!



Dinner was so much fun! We had a candlelight dinner, twinkle lights surrounding us, and a great view of my parent’s neighbor’s beautiful waterfall. (I know this picture doesn’t show it all that well).


After dinner we threw some coins into the “fountain of love.” Then Matthew and Darin ran through the fountains (aka the sprinklers!)






We left “Venice” and went to our hotel in “Tuscany” and watched a foreign film “Life is Beautiful” then hit the red eye flight back to the states! It was such a fun night! Thanks again mom and dad for your help, letting us use your balcony, watching Matthew, and everything else! And thank you Darin, for putting up with my silly little adventures and making them so fun!

Busy Week!!

We’ve had a very busy, and very fun week this week!! It started out on Saturday with one of my favorite events of the summer! We go my friend Lindsay’s Backyard Concert!! It was so much fun (as it is every year)!! The weather was perfect! I was a little nervous because it had been pouring rain in Bountiful when we left, but when we got to Park City it was cool and comfortable! The food was delicious, the music was fabulous, the company was great, but my favorite part was getting to meet Lindsay’s new fiancé!! SOOO excited for you love!!





Matt kept flirting with these girls that we didn’t even know!


Lindsay singing with her dad!


Lindsay and her new fiancé Pete!! Congrats you two!!



Sunday was kind of a crazy day! Last week I got called to be the new Young Women’s President, but I didn’t get released from being Primary President. I thought I had everything worked out so that I would just need to go to Young Women’s, but when I got to church my Primary councilor had a last minute emergency and needed me to do sharing time! So, I taught Young Women’s AND did sharing time (luckily the Stake did most of it)!! I am really sad to leave Primary—especially my secretary! She was AMAZING and we had so much fun together. But I am looking forward to Young Women even though this is my first calling in YW so I am a REALLY nervous! Especially with Darin being scout master and both of us going to mutual every week with 2 kids! Pray for us!!

Monday we had a fun day! My cousin Katie came over for a visit with her husband Dallin and two kids! They are so cute! Matthew had so much fun with them!! We wish that they lived closer so that we could get together with them more!

Elizabeth, Matthew, and Daniel


After our visit with the Anderson’s Darin and I dropped off Matthew at my sister’s house, and went to the doctor. While we were there we found out that #2 is a BOY!!! I think it will be really fun for Matthew to have a little buddy to hang around with! I was 100% positive that #2 was a girl, and I was totally wrong! (Obviously!)

Thursday Darin and I were supposed to go to Lehi to have dinner with two of Darin’s cousin’s and their spouses, but last minute Darin had to work late. I decided to go without him and I am SO glad I did!! We had so much fun!! Just wanted to say a quick thank you to you wonderful ladies! Love you Kelli and Amy!! (and John and Tommy!)

Also, our garden has been doing AWESOME!! No thanks to me! Darin has done such a great job with everything! We’ve had SOOO much produce!! We’ve had 3 kinds of tomatoes, 2 kinds of squash, 2 kinds of eggplants, zucchini, beets, diacons, carrots, corn, 2 kinds of swiss chard, cantelope, watermelon, 2 kinds of cucumbers, 3 kinds of peppers, all kinds of herbs, rhubarb, raspberries, strawberries, apples, apricots, and hopefully we’ll still get some peaches. Here is Darin and Matt with one of our spaghetti squashes!



Whew!! What a week!!

Ladies Lunch (and Matt)

Today was such a wonderful day!! I got to have a little reunion with my old college friend Nancy!! She is one of my all time favorite people!! You can’t help but smile when you are around this girl, and you wouldn’t believe all the things she does! She is my hero! Today Matthew and I got a chance to have lunch with Nancy and her daughter Anne at the Olive Garden! Although the food was delicious, the company was even better!! Thanks Nancy for the fun day!!


Nancy and Anne

Me and Matthew

Matthew pushing Anne in the stroller

Last week we went to the zoo with my sister in law and her girls! I can honestly say that was the BEST time I have ever had at the zoo!! It was so fun to watch Matthew!! He LOVED it!! He got so excited to see the monkeys and he also really loved the elephant! Thanks a million Heather!! We had a blast!! Here are a few pictures from the day:






On a separate, unrelated topic, Matthew found my deodorant and destroyed it. Here is a picture of the guilty culprit.

24th Weekend!

We had a wonderful 24th weekend!! I love the 24th!! It started (as it always does) on the 23rd. All of my family headed down to the Bountiful Parade and cheered me on as I walked with my primary kids. I decided that since it was nearly 100 degrees and being pregnant, I would be less authentic this year and wear a short sleeved blouse. I was REALLY glad I did!!


After the parade we went to my sister’s house and she made the most delicious dinner I’ve ever had!! She did a big pasta bar for my mom’s birthday and I think I want the same thing for my birthday! All of my family went in and gave my mom a pogo stick for her birthday. Is it just me, or is it really funny that a 57 year old grandma would want that for her only present!?

After dinner we enjoyed Heather’s amazing key lime pie and watched the fireworks. I think that Matthew thought that he was orchestrating the fireworks because he would point to the sky, say “go” and then get really excited that a firework would pop up!!





The next day we had a barbeque with Darin’s family at our house. It was also an excellent meal! We had steak, shrimp, baked beans, grilled crookneck squash from our garden, corn on the cob, watermelon, cantaloupe, and limeade! Then for dessert we had home-made peach ice-cream, which I didn’t do a very good job making. But, all in all it was a wonderful weekend!

Gunnerson Reunion

This weekend we had a wonderful Gunnerson reunion! Thanks Olivia (and Rick) for all of your planning, cooking, and hosting! The only thing that could have made it better would be to have Geoff and Jadi…we missed you guys!! We went up Friday night and had the best lasagna of my whole life!! It was so good! Then we watched mom and dad’s presentation of the new Cebu Philippines temple. Some people stayed up and played games, but I was a party pooper and went to bed.

Saturday the boys woke up early and went golfing. When they came back they took over the kids and the ladies went and got a pedicure!! The best part was the paraffin wax treatment! I think that I need to do that regularly!! It was heaven!


Our cute toes!


After the pedicure we met up at the park. We also met up with Nate and Janie, and we were thrilled that they could come!! We had some delicious lunch, played some games, and got some family pictures taken.

Here is the whole family all together: (minus Geoff, Jadi, Kayden, and Kaylee)


Mom and Dad:


Rick, Olivia, Luke, Noah, and Eli


Chris, Heather, Breanna, Parkar, Lissie, Katelynn, Jacob, and Logan (Magnus):


Nate, Janie, Cooper, and Hayden:


Darin, Haylee, Matthew, and bun in oven:


Thomas:


Darin racing Breanna:


Darin racing Hayden:


All the grandkids oldest to youngest (minus Kayden and Kaylee):


Thanks again for everything! I feel so blessed to have married into such a wonderful family!!

Yes, the Rumors are True!!

Baby #2 will join us January 23, 2011. We are thrilled!!

3 Years!

Darin and I had a WONDERFUL anniversary!! We went up to Log Haven up Millcreek Canyon! It was absolutely beautiful!! I hadn't heard of this restaurant before, but I guess it has won lots of awards, and it the most romantic restaurant in Utah. It was!! Darin and I got to sit at this really romantic secluded table that was in the corner of the restaurant with the most beautiful view looking right out to a waterfall!! It was beautiful!! I took my camera with me but I felt like the restaurant was too fancy to be taking pictures, so here are two I found online.


For dinner the chef started by bringing out a little spoon for each of us with a little chili dish and sprinkled cheese to get our appetites going. And it was super delicious!! Next, Darin started with a baby frisee salad with candied house cured pancetta, blackberries, butternut squash chips, and a citrus vinaigrette. Those blackberries were the biggest I’ve ever seen in my life. I got a Southwestern Cesar salad and it was excellent! The rolls they brought out were delicious, we had 9 grain, sourdough, and Asiago cheese rolls. They were all wonderful!! And, they served them with freshly whipped butter! After our salad and rolls chef sent out some citrus sorbet to cleanse our palate before the main course. And, onto the main course!!! Darin had the “Double R Ranch Signature Filet Mignon” with green peppercorn-gruyere potatoes, asparagus, malbec demi glace, and micro mirepoix. If we go back there, I will definitely get that!! His filet mignon was to die for!! My dinner was excellent too. I got the Pan Seared prime center cut Top Sirloin with peppercorn butter, Maine Lobster Tail and drawn butter, glace de veau, mashed potatoes, fire roasted asparagus. Mmmmm….soooo good!! It was a super yummy dinner!! i would recommend going there to anyone, as long as you are willing to spend a little more than usual. After dinner we went for a ride through the canyon and then went to Cold Stone!! What a great night!! Thanks for the 3 best years of my life Darin!! I love you!!