Look at us! On an airplane ALL BY OURSELVES!!!
We hardly knew what to do with ourselves, as you can see.
Where were we headed? Does it really matter? We were alone - just the two of us! Free as birds! And someone else was paying for it!
This is where we stayed. Cable Mountain Lodge, right outside Zion National Park in southern Utah.
BYU invited us to a finance conference they were hosting. We were really proud of them for putting on such a lovely event . . . and we were glad they decided to invite us! For the conference, Ben went to seminars from 8-12 (while I sat in the hotel room ALL BY MYSELF), and then the rest of the day was reserved for adventures!
BYU provided all of the meals, and the food was phenomenal! It was fun to meet all of the BYU finance people (+ many wives), as well as the finance professors and "partners" from other universities who attended the conference.
I enjoyed this dinner with the red bandanna napkins and the bluegrass band.
Audience members got to help with the music. I gotta have more cowbell!
Many virgin daiquiris were served. And in case you were wondering, wine was also available -- for those who have not yet embraced the honor code.
And now, for the adventures!
All harnessed up for canyoneering!
slot canyons
On the brink of dropping to my death, or so I thought.
Going straight down -- I was pretty freaked out by the idea of falling straight backward.
Ben, making it look easy
On Belay!
Squeezing through some slot canyons
Hiking in the Narrows
So beautiful - and the water was so refreshing
See our cool water shoes and neoprene socks?
We needed them for most of the hike - it was slippery!
Angels Landing hike. This sign kind of freaked me out. I imagined myself plummeting to my death many times during the hike.
But the views were spectacular.
Toward the top, these chains were the only thing keeping us from slipping into oblivion.
And see that peak behind me? That is Angels Landing. We didn't quite make it to the top. We decided that we wanted to make it home alive! I seriously thought we were going to die. So glad we didn't!
Because we had these boys to return to! They were waiting for us at JoDee's house in CT. A HUGE thank you to JoDee and Brandon for being the parents of five kids 6 and under! The boys had a great time (and Sam survived without too many tears).
Apparently Henry and Olivia really bonded.
BFFs forever! Henry made sure to tell her that he hasn't yet decided who he is going to marry. There are at least 5 girls who have asked to be on the list!
9 comments:
Yeah! I am so glad you got a little getaway! Those are the best!
That looks AWESOME! Griff, you are so hip and pretty. I love that you got a fancy getaway all alone. Also, I loved your super hardcore pictures in the canyons. Awesome. I think the walking through the water looks like a lot of fun. I might put that on my list of things I'd like to do someday.
Did you know that Kelly Watson and I hiked Angels Landing when we were sophomores? We went down there with her roommate Lindy. Remember her? The only reason I remember any of that is from pictures. I have no actual recollection of that happening in my life. Weird.
That looks like sooo much fun! I loved the pictures! Have I ever told you that I always thought you were like a pixie or fairy? You're just this cute little ball of energy with sooo much personality! I never could keep up with you...you were always going!
Griff, that looks absolutely terrifying. You are so brave and I'm so nervous for you just looking at those pictures. Good job being amazing!
How cool that you got to have a kids-free vacation! And when Ben told me about Angels Landing as we drove home last week, I couldn't believe that anyone would hike it! I actually broke out in a sweat watching a YouTube video of Angels Landing after Ben described it. Awesome pictures, though!--timo
Hooray for vacations! Can't wait to take your kids for the next one ... February'ish right? Hugs!
You guys rock!
I can't begin to describe my jealousy. I sure hope my girls want to go canyoneering when they get older. And that they are big enough to belay me! Maybe two strapped together... Anyway, looked awesome and I'm glad you had so much fun. What an adventurous couple. And those canyoneering shoes looked cool to try too. I want some!
Wow, what an adventure all by yourselves! Looks amazing!
And that Henry--what a little heartbreaker! ;-)
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