Luke and Rachel: 2013

December 21, 2012 ~ Rock of Ages

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December 8, 2012 ~ Blue Man Group

December 7, 2012 ~ Alamo & Getting a tree

Lucas's tradition growing up was going to Pine Valley to grandpa Hafen's cabin and cutting down a Christmas tree. Growing up we always had a real tree but our tradition was going to the Home Depot parking lot and getting a fresh cut tree. I loved that tradition growing up but I thought it would be so much fun to cut down a Christmas tree! We researched it out and the closest place that we could legally cut down a Christmas tree was just outside of Alamo, Nevada. Considering Alamo was an hour and a half away we made a day of it!
We woke up early and headed for the road. I didn't realize how small Alamo was though! We drove through the whole town, including the neighborhoods in 20 minutes! We asked one of the locals for a good place to eat lunch and they mentioned a place behind the Sinclair. We were confused at first and asked for directions and he said it wouldn't be hard to miss. I thought it was funny that the sign for the restaurant even said, "behind Sinclair".

After lunch we headed past Alamo to a spot that had trees. It was kind of nerve racking getting there though because the gas gauge on the Ford was broken and so we didn't know how much gas we had left, we were going to an area without phone service and there was no gas station for 30 minutes once we left Alamo. Finding a good tree was harder then I thought though! The trees weren't as big as I thought either but we eventually found one perfect for our little apartment.

Sally knew of a hot spring in Alamo that we could go to, so we went.

Godfather's Dessert Pizza

We went to the live nativity with the Tielemans family at Opportunity Village after getting back in town. It was a cold night sitting on metal bleachers and watching the show but it was really good!

November 30, 2012 ~ O Show

After the Show, which was amazing! We took pictures in the Bellagio gardens.

November 23, 2012 ~ Taralyn Wedding!

November 23, 2013

Taralyn got married!! It has been so fun growing up with Taralyn and its crazy we happened to get married in the same year. The wedding was the day after thanksgiving and so all of the family was there. Taralyn asked me to be a bridesmaid and I happily accepted!
Taralyn had this super cute Thank You sign so while we were waiting for Taralyn and Jordan to come out of the temple we had some fun. Lucas wasn't able to make it to the wedding because of work and so I sent this picture to him, thanking Him for marrying me! I am one lucky girl!! I love weddings, but a wedding just isn't the same without your husband.

You gotta Love the Sisters Mafia!!

The cute Allen family

The Flower Girls

All of the bridesmaids

The Groomsmen

I was lucky enough to get a picture with the beautiful bride!

After pictures Taralyn and Jordan stayed for their photo shoot at the temple and all of the family headed to a chapel for a lunch. The lunch was so much fun! It was like Thanksgiving day all over again but with Jordan's family also. Taralyn and Jordan ended up being more then 45 minutes late so we started to eat without them. They still got food but they were eating while everyone was putting away tables and chairs. But while everything was being put away my dad saw an opportunity for a bet. He bet that no one could make a half court shot with the basketball. If someone could do it their first try they would win $1,000. He must have been very confident that no one could make it because he never bets over $500! If only Lucas was there, he would have had a good shot at winning considering he won $500 at our wedding dinner for making a half court shot on the first try. No one made it, no one even made it after their 3rd or 4th try. Dad was making fun of the boys for not making it so we bet him he couldn't make it. But sure enough, Dad "swished" it from half court first try! Everyone went nuts when he made it.

At the reception there was a cupcake bar and hot chocolate bar. It was perfect because it was a little chilly outside.

Getting Down on the Dance floor!

The whole day was beautiful! Everything turned out beautiful! I am so happy for Taralyn! They make a wonderful couple!

November 15-19, 2012 ~ Hawaii

Lucas and I wanted to take a trip to Hawaii and we thought why not during the surf competitions and huge waves!! Also, we wanted to take a trip out there to see Byrant and Dalein before they both graduate in May 2013 and leave Hawaii. Why not take a vacation and have a free place to stay, right? Bryant and Dalein were nice enough to let us sleep on their couches and take us to the different beaches.
I bought a ticket to Hawaii on Allegiant airlines and Luke was going to come a day or two later flying standby with Sam. It was crazy though because of course after I already got to Hawaii everything somehow filled up!! For the first day I was in Hawaii I thought Lucas wasn't going to be able to make it, but they figured out a way to get to Hawaii. They flew to a different city and then took the flight to Hawaii out of that city.

It was really windy so I had to hold my hair down.

Laie, Hawaii Temple

The first day we had with everyone there we were able to go see a surf competition. I had never seen a surf competition so it was really cool. The waves from a far didn't look too big but once the surfer was in the water next to the wave you could tell it was a huge wave!

We went to this bay that is known for having sea turtles on the beach. They were Huge!!

Lucas and Sam body surfin' it up!

Just catching some rays...Bryant could use some...so could I though...

My one request was that we went to the Dole Plantation to get pineapple ice cream. Its AMAZING

This was one of the few beaches that didn't have "No Swimming" signs due to the big waves. Or
should I say we didn't see a sign and there was no one around to stop us. I got in to swim with Lucas and Sam but the waves were too big and strong. When I was in the water Lucas stayed by my side and would pick me up each time the wave would knock me over. After tossing and turning underwater, getting water in my nose and mouth, and having the bottoms of my swimsuit ripped off I called it a day. Not to mention, of course, Sam and Lucas were both there to see how white my bottom was. Lucas helped me up and understood when I said I was done swimming. It was still fun watching them swim, but I was afraid they would get hurt also.

Lucas and Sam left a day before I did because of the flight situation. The last day I was in Hawaii Bryant and Dalein took me around to see the different monuments and buildings. I had never seen a lighthouse in person and so that was one of my requests, to see a lighthouse.