Look at how the government has totally botched the H1N1 vaccination of America...and we want to give them more control over our health-care and over 1/6 of the economy?

The same government that brought us Katrina, Iraq, the USPS, the DMV, Welfare Entitlement programs, the NEA, Social Security, reckless spending, the Federal Reserve, 10% unemployement and a 12 TRILLION DOLLAR DEBT...are we willing to blindly trust that very same government with our health-care?

yikes. where have our freedoms gone?

Call your Representatives, tell them to vote "NO" on H.R. 3962

College Republicans Campout

This weekend Nick and I went camping with the UVU College Republicans Club (Nick's the club president) up Spanish Fork Canyon near Thistle. It was an awesome, beautiful, and remote area. So remote in fact, we had to drive about 15 miles on a dirt road to get to our campsite. We found a beautiful clearing surrounded by trees to set up camp. There were about 10 of us. It was FREEZING once the sun went down, but so much fun! Friday night we hung out by the warm fire while we talked, laughed and roasted marshmellows. Saturday morning we cooked French Toast, eggs, sausage and bacon, delicious.

After breakfast, we broke camp and then found a perfect area across the creek to shoot our guns. Everyone had a good time. Nick especially, enjoyed playing with his Ruger SR-556.

When everyone got bored shooting at their paper targets and old VHS tapes, they reverted to shooting at the trees. Nick shot down the top of a tree after 2 mags.

Nick and his "trophy buck"

After Nick accomplished this, the boys picked out another tree and all took turns shooting at it with the intent of shooting it down. The tree was a little thicker this time, and they were not able to get it to fall over. This is what it looked like after one mag...they ended up putting over 100 rounds into it when all was said and done, but couldn't get it to fall.

This is the back side of the tree where the bullets exited, the front still looked unscathed.

Shooting guns was the highlight of the trip, because we were able to get warm as the sun finally came out.

Nick and Harrison

General Conference

I love General Conference weekend. Growing up in California, conference weekend usually meant sitting around the T.V. with my family or roommates watching the talks. So this past conference weekend was extra special for me. Nick surprised me and got tickets from his dad for us to attend the Saturday morning session. Karen and Devan also met us there and sat with us. This was my first time attending General Conference in the Conference Center. The only other time I have attended conference, was the last time it was held in the Tabernacle. It was a special feeling to be in the presence of a living Prophet and Apostles, rather than just watching them on T.V. I was so grateful for this experience, and the opportunity I had to share it with Nick and his siblings. (Thanks Brother Moyes for the tickets!) Like always, conference was amazing. There were several talks that really stood out to me, however during the Sunday afternoon session, Elder Holland gave a bold talk and bore powerful testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. When the talk was over Nick and I just looked at each other with a "WOW" expression on our faces. I am so grateful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am grateful for the opportunity I had to listen to the words of His Prophet, Thomas S. Monson last weekend.

FALL IS HERE!

I love all four of the seasons for their distinct reasons, but I would have to say that fall is one of my favorites. The brilliant colors, the crisp clean air, the smells of cinnamon and pumpkin wafting out of people's homes. College football games, homemade chili, soups and stews, and the excitement of the holidays, that are just around the corner, quivering in the air, all combined just does it for me. I am particularly enjoying fall this year, living in Utah. Southern California just can't do fall the way Utah does. It is so beautiful here! This past weekend I was able to really enjoy nature's breathtaking beauty. On Saturday, Nick's sister, Karen and I drove up Provo Canyon to Cascade Springs. Words can't even describe how GORGEOUS it was up there, so I will let the pictures try to do it for me.

On Sunday Karen and her boyfriend Zack invited Nick and I to go on a drive with them through the canyon. This time we drove up past Squaw Peak. Once again the only word to describe the view we had is GORGEOUS! It was a perfect Sunday activity.

Goofing off-- It's kind of hard to see but Nick has a weed sticking out of his mouth


Zack and Karen
Photo courtesy of Nick-- he really likes this picture


They are just too cute together!


The cuteness continues




This is one of our most favorite pictures we have ever taken


Love Love Love
(Sorry Nick, I couldn't resist)


So Beautiful! I love how clearly we could see the moon in the sky


Dang! I've got one handsome fiance... that is for sure!

Timpanogos Caves

Nick and I went on the best date ever! We hiked up to the Timpanogos Caves and took the tour of the caves. For those of you who live in Utah, or who are ever planning on visiting this beautiful state, must put this on their to do list of things to do. The hike up to the caves is a very steep mile and a half, but EXTREMELY worth it. The caves are truly amazing. We will definitely be going back to do this again.

The beautiful view hiking up to the caves


We gained 1,100 feet in only 1 1/2 miles!


In front of the cave enterance












These were some of my favorite pictures we took of the inside of the caves


Our view hiking back down the mountain

For those who are reading this, and have done this hike before, I'm sure can agree with me that the pictures hardly do the beauty of these caves justice.

On our way home we stopped by Cabelas and Gunnies to do some gun shopping. Nick has been shopping out a Sig Sauer P226 for about a year now. He decided it was finally time to pull the trigger (pun intended), so he sold four of his guns on KSL, to justify the cost, and got a great deal on this one. This is the same gun the Navy Seals use. He thinks it's pretty cool.

He's not crazy, he just LOVES his 2nd Amendment--
that's the Sig on the right, and xD(M) on the left
He carries one of them all day, every day

I am such a lucky girl to know that I am marrying a man who will be a good provider and protector of our family. I love you, Nick, so much!!!

Moyes Labor Day Weekend

Nick's immediate family is spread out across the country, so it is rare the whole family is together. We were fortunate enough to have everyone in Provo for the weekend (minus Katie's husband, Ryan--who I still haven't met). This was the first gathering since Christmas, so I was really excited to be able to see everyone. Earlier this week, Nick and I had a couple of opportunities to babysit his niece, Carly. Nick has a total soft spot for Carly. I love sitting back and watching him interact with her. He simply ADORES her!! I smile, knowing that this is a foreshadowing of the future. He is going to be such a good Daddy one day (one day WAY far in the FUTURE--we definitely want to wait a few years after we are married before we have kids). I was talking to his dad, and I told him that if we have girls, I am going to be in so much trouble, because they are going to have Nick wrapped around their little finger the same way Carly does. Carly loves Uncle Nick too=) In fact, between the two of us, she insisted that Uncle Nick was the one who rocked her to sleep for her nap- a fact that Nick won't let me forget.

Uncle Nick and Carly and Grandma Moyes


Carly and "Auntie Lauren"- No, she is not crying.



Silly Face! (this is what she does when you say "smile!") Carly, We Love you so much and miss you when you are away!!!

On Saturday, the family gathered at the park for a picnic to celebrate Katie's (Nick's sister) birthday (part 1 of a 2 part celebration). We had a lot of fun spending quality time together. Karen and Devan brought their significant others, so it gave us an opportunity to get to know Zach and Ashleigh too. We really like both of them, and think that they blended with the family well.

Carly and Uncle Nick playing on the playground



She LOVED the slide!


So did Anne, ha ha


Cutie Pie


Check out the STATIC in her hair...



Carly chasing Uncle Devan- I love Devan's facial expression in this picture.



Anne, Carly and Nick



Kate and Carly- Katie is such a good Mommy



The Entire Moyes Clan, minus a Ryan, plus a Zach and an Ashleigh=)

Part 2 of Kate's Birthday celebration was today at her in laws home. The Williams Family invited the Moyes Clan over for dinner and cake this evening. Again it was another night of bonding and a rare occasion to have all of Nick's siblings together. The Williams had us participate in a family tradition that I really enjoyed--Each member of the family takes a turn expressing what they think makes the person whose birthday it is, special. It was a good time for me to reflect tonight on what a WONDERFUL person Kate really is. I am so GRATEFUL to have her as my future sister-in-law. She is so BEAUTIFUL inside and out. Kate, we LOVE YOU so much!!! You have been a tremendous BLESSING to both of our lives. Thank you for being such an AMAZING and PATIENT sister to Nick, and thank you for accepting me into your family with LOVE and open arms. You are such an EXAMPLE and TRUE FRIEND to both of us. HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE!!!

Devan, Katie, Anne, Nick and Karen

Probably the best part of the evening, was when everyone gathered together in the family room around the piano and listened to different members of the Moyes and Williams Clans take turns singing their favorite hymns. Katie and Karen are especially talented singers and stole most of the show. However, there were a couple of hymns where ALL of the Moyes siblings gathered around the piano and sang together for the FIRST TIME. I thought that they sounded so AWESOME together. Video to follow later, if it will load.