Charlotte May 2010- Picture Overload

In May, Macail and I got the urge to go on a trip for her birthday. It didn't take us long to decide to fly to Charlotte for the weekend for the Sprint All-Star race. I have converted to MaCail to a NASCAR watcher and she is more than willing to go with me whenever I get the desire to go to a race. We flew out of Vegas on the 21st of May and flew back in on the 23rd. It was a short but fun trip. When we got there on Friday, we went downtown and walked around. It was cool to see. We first drove by the Panthers stadium, then parked our rental car and walked. We walked by Bobcats arena and up aruond this outdoor area where a ton of people were hanging out. We got to see Whiskey River and look inside, no going inside that bar for us. We then went and just took in the rest of downtown before it got too late and dark to see anything.

On Saturday morning before the race, we decided to take a trip back downtown and check out the new NASCAR Hall of Fame. It had just barely opened and we took the opportunity to go inside. It was such an awesome thing to see. We got to drive a simulator around Charlotte Motor Speedway, practice changing a tire, putting gas in the cars, doing a qualifying lap, and waving the flags. We totally enjoyed ourselves and learned more about the sport. We also ran right into Rick Hendrick who is the owner of one of my drivers. He was such a nice guy. I actually felt bad about asking for his picture, because I was the first person to notice him and after I asked he had about 15 more people ask. It was such a fun thing to see.

After the Hall of Fame, we took off for the race track. The highlight of our trip. It was a cool race and just awesome to be at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This is the home of NASCAR so we got to be around a lot of die hard fans. The people back there were so nice and you could tell they love this sport. We got to see Denny Hamlin up close while he was unveiling a car that was designed by a fan. MaCail and I were both star struck to see him, we both kind of have little crushes on him. She has informed me I can marry him as long as she gets to marry Kasey Kahne. The fun part about this weekend is they do all these fun things at the track. They had a burnout competition that we got to watch. Joey Logano won this year. That was cool to see. They also have a race in race before the real one. Carl Edwards hadn't made it in yet, so he had to race in this one. It was a shorter one. Then the All-Star race came after that. Michael Jordan actually was there and he started the race. I didn't get to see him as close as I would have liked, but I still got to see him in person, which was cool enough. Kurt Busch won the race, which didn't make either of us very happy but it was still fun to watch and be there.

On Sunday, we got up and checked out of our motel and decided to check out some of the race shops. We went to Roush/Fenway and Hendrick. It was cool to walk around there stores. Because it was a Sunday you couldn't walk in the actual shops and see how things are ran in there, but that is something we wouldn't mind going back to do. We took pictures, but by this time our cameras had died, so they are all on our phones. We had such a good time. Thank you for going with me Macail. I am so glad we can do these things together and see things I probably never would have been able to see.

Phoenix Spring 2010

On Friday afternoon, we left St. George and headed to good ol' Phoenix. I love that place and decided this weekend that I could actually live down there. We made a few stops on our way down. One of them was at Jacob Lake, for those of you who don't know, my grandpa was killed in a car accident 12 years ago coming across there. It was a very scary feeling to drive over that pass and think of him.

Picture taken at the top of Jacob Lake We also stopped a couple other places that we had never been too. We stopped at the CliffDwellers and took some pictures of the awesome rocks. It was such a fun thing to see. We also stopped at Lee's Ferry and took some pictures. It was the first time I have ever stepped foot in the Colorado River. It was freezing but so fun.

The three of us crammed in one rock.

Standing in the Colorado River

We then went on to Phoenix where we layed out on Saturday morning, then took in a NASCAR race. I have been totally addicted to NASCAR for quite a few years, but I have just recently started to get MaCail and Tara into it. They are starting to like it and we are planning more vacations to go see more races. I love Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards. MaCail has decided she likes Kasey Kahne and Denny Hamlin. Tara likes Matt Kenseth so far. The race was so much fun to be at. Jimmie about won again. He has won 2 of the 3 races I have been to. It is so fun to watch them when my guys do good.

The three of us enjoying the race.

After the race

We stopped by the Mesa Temple on our way to the race. It was amazingly beautiful. I loved it. I have never been to that temple so it was nice to get to see a new temple. I love palm trees and love that the temple has them all around it.

On Sunday, we got up and went to church then went to a Diamondbacks game. It was so much fun. I have never been to a professional baseball game before so it was a new experience for me. Tara and I sat in right field by the Pirates bull pen. It was a lot of fun and I got sunburned. It was fun to spend some time doing something I have never done before, but to also spend some time in the sun and just relax.

Tara and I with the field in the background

All together it was such a fun trip. I got to experience things I have never done before. It was a lot of fun and an eye opening experience for me. I got to see some new country and spend some time with some great friends. We had such a fun weekend and it was just nice to get away. I loved it and can't wait for more fun.

New blogger

So I have finally decided to get a blog, so I can kind of keep a journal of my life. I have been having so much fun that I want to be able to keep a posting of it and have ways to remember it all.

A couple weekends ago, one of my closest friends got married and she looked gorgeous. It was so much fun to go to her wedding and see friends I don't get to see very often. She got married in the St. George temple and I was able to attend it. This is only the second sealing I have gone to since I went through the temple and it was amazing. I got to hang out with my best friend, Elisa for a few minutes at the temple.

Staci, Me, and Amber at her dinner.

The weather down here in St. George has been so nice lately so my friends and I have been going for quite a few rides. One Sunday afternoon we decided to go for a fun ride and we ended up taking some pictures. It was a lot of fun and as you can tell from the pictures it was a beautiful day. I love living down here around all the beauty of this wonderful part of the state.

Tara, MaCail, and I with the temple in the background.

Awesome pic of the flowers in front of the temple!!

As you can tell we have a lot of fun down here. I am going to Phoenix this weekend so I will have more fun pictures to post next week. I hope I can do this. I will try to keep it updated.