Newb Camp, Art, and Grilled Pineapple

While the bambinos spent the weekend with my parents (thanks again!), Phillip and I went on a fun road trip together.

Our first stop was at Zion National Park. We called this Newb Camp, since we have little camping experience and we forgot so many things (gloves, cocoa, etc.). We did do most things right, though. For example, we brought good, easy food (which we successfully cooked and ate), and cozy sleeping bags (it was COLD that night). Also, Phillip staked our tent so it didn't blow over when the wind picked up in the middle of the night.

While we were there, we took a short hike to the Lower Emerald Pool (fed by the waterfalls in the photo), . . .

. . . and on the way out of the park we stopped at a rock shop where Phillip bought some highly-magnetized hematite balls that clack against each other when you toss them in the air. That was seriously one of the highlights of the trip for him. :)

For lunch we hit Cabela's to try their buffalo burger and sandwich. We made the stunning discovery that buffalo tastes . . . just like beef. Oh well, at least now we know. The fries were the best I've had in years.

Our next stop was BYU, my beloved alma mater. We bought some Y gear at the bookstore, then toured the Carl Bloch exhibit at the Museum of Art. It was very inspiring--I gained greater appreciation for the Savior, and for Bloch's ability to bring out both the divinity and humanity of scripture stories he portrays.



And then we went to Tucano's Brazilian Grill for dinner, which was seriously one of the highlights of the trip for me. Ahhh . . . grilled pineapple, feijoada (Brazilian rice and beans), and more kinds of rotisserie-grilled meat than you can shake a stick at. :)