Summer in Utah.

I lived and worked in Logan for a little under 2 months, quit, and have been traveling the state with my family, and then with Colin's family. One might think of it as a symbolic trade-off. Haha. I'm funny, but I jest.

The biggest thing to report is that my face has subtly darkened and my hair is longer and blonder. I am thrilled. I would say that I'm tan, but people laugh at me when I do that.

We took family photos because Jake and I are leaving to serve missions in September. I'll be gone for 18 months, he'll be gone for 2 years, and Ben may leave in the interim. So it's our last family photoshoot for awhile. It was a real last-minute thing. But I like how they turned out, haphazard color scheme and all!

The missionaries-to-be.

Jake and I went through the temple together, and a lot of my dad's family was there. My maternal grandparents came down from SLC, as well. You may have already heard, but there's actually already a "Lauren no-middle-name Hafen" serving in Paris (where I'm headed), and her grandparents are the temple president/matron at the St. George temple, so talking with her grandma was just really neat.

After 3 months of intermittent skyping, texting, and a couple of phone calls, I could finally bask in the presence of Eagle Scout Colin S. Smith once again. I like him, so it was exciting.

Coincidentally, tomorrow is our 23-monthiversary.

We had a fabulous Pioneer Day, which is a strangely patriotic tradition 'round these here parts, considering the original pioneers fled the U.S. and its government for Mexican territory... (I'm pretty sure it was Mexican at the time... Saying facts publicly on the internet always makes me nervous. I don't like being wrong-- especially not publicly.)

Happy Pioneer Day from Ivins!

We also went hiking in Zion National Park, rafting in Lava Hot Springs, ID, visited with my grandma in Santa Clara, UT, and various other fun activities. But I either don't have pictures of those things, or they're not flattering pictures of me. So no photos.

We also went to the wedding reception of our dear friend and my former roommate/fellow Phi Alpha Theta sorority member/nerdy history compadre, the beautiful Randi Leigh Jones Cline. Except I think she's dropping the Jones and just becoming Randi Leigh Cline. A beautiful southern-sounding name.

She looked happy to see us, which made me feel validated and special. 

So there's that.

Over and Out.