2017 [Pregnant] Summer To-Do List | DIYs

It was less than a month ago Chris and I were at a Real Salt Lake game and it was snowing. Now it's averaging 80 degrees every day. Utah weather is so weird.

But summer is here and I'm so grateful that it's finally warm outside! I get to spend this summer pregnant with my twin girls. I'm so happy that I get to start my family that it's easy to ignore the fact that my summer plans aren't what they normally would be.

Here is a list of my summer plans. If you're not pregnant, I'm sure there are a lot more adventures you'll be going on, but if you are pregnant, maybe my list will give you some extra ideas on how to have a little bit more fun when you're uncomfortable and dying of heat.

2017 SUMMER TO-DO LIST!!
	BBQ		Mini Golf
	Be spontaneous		Movie in the park
	Bowling		Outdoor yoga
	Bubbles		Pick flowers
	Campfire		Picnic
	Chalk Drawings		Pool Day
	Concert		Read books
	DIY spa day		Roadtrip
	Drive-in movie		Rodeo
	Explore SLC		Root beer floats
	Farmer's Market		Skip rocks
	Figure 8 Race		Snow cones
	Find an ice cream truck		Star gazing
	Finish a puzzle		Take more pictures
	Fireworks		Try a new recipe
	Go fishing		Try new restaurants
	Go to a Parade		Visit a garden
	Go to the fair		Visit a museum
	Lake/Beach day		Watch the sunset
	Make a pizza		Waterpark
	Make lemonade		Write poetry
	Make popsicles		Yard Sales
	Make summer wreath

My Travel Wishlist -Blogtober Day 4

As this is posted, I am currently on my way home from a roadtrip with my family. So I thought it would be fun to share with you the places I want to travel most in life.

Some of you may have seen my "American Journey" post in which I explained how I want to travel to each state in the US for a specific place and purpose. I have never given up on that goal, despite only have one state checked off (and it's not even the state I live in). But I do have other travel goals outside of the US. This list is about places both in and out of the US that are at the top of my wishlist.

New York City

I honestly cannot think of a time when I haven't wanted to visit New York. Even as a child, New York seemed like some magical place that I really wanted to visit. There are literally so many thing to visit and experience in New York and I want to be able to do it all!

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Honestly, what human being my age who grew up with Harry Potter does not want to go here? It may not be a city, or landmark, but it's Harry Potter which represents something that made a big influence on my childhood. Harry Potter books, movies, pictures, and even just the mention of the name always seems to make me smile so this is a place I know I would enjoy.

London

This has been a more recent addition to my wishlist. I think in my younger years I didn't know much about London so I didn't really care. I loved British accents but the place didn't seem so exciting to me. However, in marrying a man who wants to move to the UK, and falling in love with BBC's Sherlock (it's not just love, it's an obsession), London has moved to the top of my list. I'm always fascinated in being in a place with old architecture and history and London has tons of that! It really is a beautiful place and I really hope someday Chris and I can go.

Scotland

If you've met my husband, you know his wish is to move to Scotland.  He served his LDS mission in Scotland and is ridiculously in love with the place. But the more I learn about it, the more I am falling in love too. Also, as anyone who reads my blog should know, I'm in love with cows. And Scotland is home to my favorite type of cow, the highland cow. So for reals I just need to go there.

Canada

Umm.... I don't know the reason. I've just always wanted to go to Canada! Also, going off on a random tangent here, a few months ago Chris and I went through all the episodes of Breaking Bad (which is amazing). So when on Pinterest I sometimes look up funny things about Breaking Bad, and my current favorite is this:

Washington DC

This is one of those places just filled with history that interests me so much. DC and its surrounding areas have a lot of historical landmarks and buildings that I want to experience firsthand. I've always been mad at Chris that he got to go without me and I hope we can experience it together soon.

The Grand Canyon

A few years ago my parents took my brother to the Grand Canyon and I was upset I didn't get to go. I love nature and what God has given us in nature (this is why Yellowstone will forever be one of my favorite places). So the Grand Canyon is one of those places that I just know I need to visit someday.

Italy

This isn't at the top of my wishlist, but my ancestors on my dad's side came from Italy, so I've always been a little more interested in Italy than other European countries. In talking to Chris, he's also had a desire to visit Italy and the historical sites there, so maybe Italy will become a place we actually get to check off our list.

The Snowboarding Experience

When I was younger my family went skiing. And. I. HATED. IT! It was the worst! It was cold, it took forever, and my stupid ski kept falling off and sliding down the mountain! Worst experience ever!

Flash forward to 2014 and I make the decision to try snowboarding to please my husband and his family (that's not true). Every year around Christmastime my husband's family stay at their condo in Wolf Creek and going snowboarding/skiing at Wolf Mountain. Not wanting to feel left out or cause anyone to not participate in their traditions, I decided to learn to snowboard, even though I was terrified.

So wearing my brother-in-law's clothes and using his snowboard (actually a combination of the twin's stuff (they are both on LDS missions so they didn't need it)), I geared up and joined my in-laws at Wolf Mountain.

My husband was wearing his new hat with a built in beard, which proved to be way to hot on the surprisingly hot winters day, but he looked good!

So I get strapped into the snowboard and we board the ski lift and head to the top of the bunny hill, where I fall off the ski lift into the snow and my husband helps drag me out of the way of others exiting the ski lift (thank goodness for my helmet, sunglasses, and the cold that helped hide my shame).

I sit at the top of the mountain, surrounded by my in-laws all trying to tell me how to tell me how to stand up. But I can't, because I have no strength... basically anywhere in my body... which was all proved through the duration of my experience. So my father-in-law had to help me up... multiple times.

After quite a bit of back-seat driving I am abandoned by everyone except my husband, who proved just how kind, loving, and patient he is as he sat there as it took me twenty (or more) minutes to get up after my many falls. Somehow I learned how to go down the mountain and we reached the bottom of the mountain and we got back on the ski lift to try again.

At the top, I again fell off the ski lift, to the major concern of the lift attendant who tried to instruct me on something but I was too concerned about getting up again to really care. So there I was at the top again, not knowing how to get up. This time took much longer to get up partly because a huge group of people were blocking my way and even if I did get up I wouldn't know how to get around all the people.

So I sat there, my husband far away from me down the mountain, but still in sight. Some random woman comes over and tries to teach me how to get up but it's just so difficult! And then my husband starts hopping up the mountain (miraculously without falling) to get back up to me. My mother-in-law shows up off the ski lift and comes over to help as well. So I am finally able to get up and start gliding down the mountain.

At this point I'm so frustrated about how difficult it is to get up that I do everything in my will power to not fall down. That time I only fell down three times going down the mountain and I started to understand why people might enjoy snowboarding, and I knew I liked it much better than I ever did skiing.

I think we went down another two times, each time my mother-in-law using her skis to help me up when I fell (thanks Michelle, you're fantastic!). Then we went into the lodge and had giant greasy French fries that were absolutely delicious! And I was done. I did not want to go back out in the cold again, I did not want to use any more of my strength, and I was just done.

But they made me go one more time so they could get a recording of my awesome snowboarding skills, which didn't even turn out so you can't see it. I went down the mountain one more time, without falling down once and I fell an exhilarating rush of adrenaline and felt really happy... until I reached the bottom, didn't know how to stop so I fell backwards and landed ridiculously hard on my arms. I was able to go back to the condo after that with my mother-in-law and eat fruit and take a nap.

I ended up ridiculously sore and unable to move basically any muscles for a few days. It was/is awful. I think I will try it again next year, after I complete all my New Years Resolutions and am stronger and can possibly be able to lift myself up off the ground, but for a first time I was happily satisfied and glad that I did it!

Have you ever tried something new that scared you? Leave a comment below and let me know! 

THANKS FOR READING!!