Life's Little Pleasures

I. Love. Swinging.

Seriously, there is such a free feeling about flying through the air unrestrained. I have found myself sneaking out to the kid's playground while Landon is gone and stealing some time on the swings. Haven't indulged your inner 3 year old for a while?.... Swing away! 

And the winner is....

Toni Englestead! Landon went to high school with Devin and Toni, and I have only met her a handful of times. It seems like I have known her forever though, because of the craziness of online journaling. Toni and Devin recently moved to Tonopah, Nevada and bought their first house (Congratulations!) So I thought for the giveaway I would get her a pretty clock to hang in it! Anyone who knows me knows that I have NINE clocks in my tiny apartment. Out of hand.Thanks for reading my blog over the last year, Toni. It has been great getting to know you through your writings! Please email me your address so I can send your prize! (chelyncc@aol.com)

Sorry to everyone who did not win! But fear not, I think I will be doing a giveaway again soon. It was fun! I love you all and have loved keeping up with your families and activities over the last year!

Fun in Philly

Today we were finally able to go into the city and see the Historical District. Landon and I loved it, I was fascinated that I was standing in the place where our country was born. We took a train downtown and then took tours through the Liberty Bell, Congress Hall and Independence Hall. We also took a leap of faith and got a Philly CheeseSteak from this vendor on the side of the street. They were prepared by the grungiest, grossest man who had dirt stuck in his fingernails and did not prepare our sandwiches with gloves... I am just waiting for everyone to come down with something terrible. 

Congress Hall 

the words from the constitution

Independence Hall

Liberty Bell 

Philly Cheesesteak vendor 

Ashley, me, Annie and Brandi

riding the train 

Here is all of us waiting for the train to come. There are some really fun married couples out here with us. I'm really looking forward to a great summer! 

Happy Blog-iversary!

There was a series of these cartwheel photos... but my panties showed

For those of you who actually checked.... I am a little belated, but STILL... I started my blog a year ago! I searched through some of my old posts for memories sake and have suddenly become super grateful for my little slice of the world wide web. It has served as a great journal and I have started the process of turning it into a book. Now... for the exciting part! (I saw this on some other people's blogs, thanks for the idea) TO CELEBRATE.... I am having a giveaway! What am I giving away? I'm not sure yet, but I do know that it will be amazing and coveted by everyone who knows my lucky winner! Leave me a comment and I will draw a winner in one week! 

In other, less important than a blog-iversary news, we arrived in Philadelphia and really like it here! I will give you an update on that tomorrow, or the next day, or something... 

Love From the Road

Well... it appears we are alive and well, and settling in for an unsettled night at a janky dive of a hotel in Nowhere, Illinois. We have traveled a meager 26 hours on the road total, read "Angels and Demons", consumed bags of gummy bears, peach rings, and dill pickle sunflower seeds, and crossed 6 states. Today we had the pleasure of stopping at the world's largest truck stop in Iowa, a place I am convinced my Dad could wander around for weeks in delirious happiness. It contained not only three floors of seemingly endless aisles of truck junk, but also contained a dentist and chiropractor's office (yes, you read that correctly). I took some fascinating pictures of this diamond in the rough, only to discover that the cord to my camera has gone missing, a fact that is deeply troubling me considering I am headed off for four months for an extended "vacation". Hope all is well back in Zion, please pray for me as loud arguing and discontenting sirens are serving as the background music for this post. Love you all! 

And... another door closes

Tonight is our last night in our little cottage in Happy Valley. We have spent the last week packing everything up and now we are sleeping on an air mattress in the middle of a deserted living room. I am really going to miss this house and this town. I absolutely love it here. Landon and I met here, got engaged here and have made our life here... I guess they say every time a door closes, another one opens. Unfortunately, that door is going to open in an apartment complex in downtown SLC. I am excited to start nursing school and begin this chapter of my life... but sometimes it is sad to look in the rearview mirror. 

I am especially going to miss this pantry! What am I going to do with my ridiculous amounts of coupon-purchased groceries?! 

Ta-Ta for now Provo....(oh ya, and in true summer sales fashion, we have changed selling locations, Philly here we come!) 

The wait is FINALLY over!

I GOT IN!!!