Winter at its Finest

This semester is the hardest semester for me yet.  I'm sure classes will get even more difficult over the next year, but so far its keeping me SUPER busy!

I did manage to go snow shoeing a couple times during February though.  That was my highlight for the month.  Both times I went, there was perfect snow.  I found a great little trail up Big Cottonwood Canyon that is not visible from the road so very few people hike it.

The first time I hiked it, we only passed 2 cross country skiers, and saw two more in the distance.  It was remarkable considering it was Presidents Day and the roads were lined with cars.  We really did pick the best trail!

You can see that it was a pretty steep climb

 In front of the frozen Willow Lake

 Later that same week, I took my mom with me to get her out in the snowy mountains.  We've had so little snow this year that unless you get up into the mountains, it feels like winter never really came.

Unfortunately, I forgot the poles for my mom.  I didn't need them earlier in the week, but I should have known better for her.

A light snow had fallen since I'd last been on the trail.  It covered any human tracks that were once there. There was not a soul in sight, no animals, no nothing.  It was the purest winter scene possible.

What animal left these tiny tracks?  I'd guess a rabbit

We loved being able to pave our way through the untouched snow.

After about an hour of hiking, we decided to turn around and go back down the mountain.  Again, poles would have been very helpful because it was so steep.  Instead, there was a little of this...

...and LOTS OF LAUGHTER!!!

My mom was a great sport.  She only took me down once!  Next time, we're taking poles. :)

Photos Galore...December Recap

Between finals, working as much as possible during the school break, holiday festivities, and sleeping I simply did not have time to even review my photos.  And then school started back up (along with several other things) so it has taken me until now to get things straight.  So here is a quick recap from the last 2 months of my life.

Many pictures, very few words.

Nov 26 - Messiah Sing-in at Abravanell Hall

Dec 1 - Festival of Trees.
you may notice I seem to like the gingerbread houses best.  They are just so amazing!

scene from "Tangled"

the North Pole

There were several versions of a Beehive

The White House

Barbie collection

From "The Christmas Story"

"Nightmare Before Christmas"

Dec 17 - Natural History Museum

 Dec 21 - Lights on Temple Square

I counted 17 nativity displays this year

Dec 29 - Zoo Lights

It was a super eventful holiday season, even with all the stuff I had to do.  I'm glad I had fun!  January wasn't quite so eventful and neither has February been.  But, hopefully with spring around the corner I will do a lot more!

Vocal Point

Tonight at work, I had the pleasure of listening to Vocal Point...LIVE!

We often get high profile people at The Roof Restaurant since it is one of high end restaurants in Salt Lake City and tonight did not disappoint! 

Vocal Point, for those unfamiliar, is BYU's male a cappella group.  This last year, they auditioned for NBC's "The Sing Off" and made it through to the top 5 groups.  They do all the sounds like vocal percussion, bass, etc. with absolutely no traditional instruments!  I felt very well represented and was proud to be a BYU Alum as I watched them perform all season.  So you can imagine when I saw them walk through the door tonight that I would be a little excited.  What you probably didn't know (because I could not have foreseen it either) is that I would act like a total groupie!  Yep, that's right.  I'm a little embarrassed to say how thrilled I was to meet them.  I did save a little of my dignity and didn't ask for a picture, but I kinda wish I had.

A little while later, I was in the back of the restaurant and several of the servers were saying how they wished Vocal Point would sing before they leave, yet no one dared ask them.  So, being the groupie I realized I am, I asked them!  To be honest, I think they were a little excited to sing for us too.

They all crowded around our piano and asked the pianist to give them their tuning note and then...

I know!  That was all my phone got and I can't figure out why!!!  It showed that it was recording the whole time, yet it only saved 18 measly seconds. None of the good stuff!  Now you know why I wish I had asked for a picture. 

This is the song they sang to us tonight...

I later talked with our pianist about how they topped any possible serenade, ever!  She was surrounded by 9 amazing guys singing a beautiful song.  LOVE IT!

So anyway.  Its official.  I can be a total groupie.  But, that's just how its gonna be!

Hope you had a great weekend too!