Happy New Year to You!

I'm keeping my list of "resolutions" quite small this year. One of them is keeping a better journal. I estimate that if I write in my journal at least five times this year, I would have greatly improved from 2010. Oh yeah, I'm definitely going to reach that goal. However, in addition I have made a clause that says I must do better at blogging. Though I don't have a ton of followers, it's good for me to spill out some words onto the screen; To un-load, and re-cap. A few images here and there won't hurt either. So what I ask from you? Check back occasionally and you will be able to catch more of the Anna Vantage.




4 Cool Buildings in Four Days.

Last Sunday I walked around the Temple grounds to see the lights in St. George.

On Monday, we stopped in Manti on the way to SLC. This is such an awesome structure. A "holy fortress."

On Tuesday, me and the fam went to the State Capitol. I had never been there before. It was really neat. It's very nice and very large.

On Wednesday, we bundled up and took a stroll around Temple Square. The lights are magical and the Temple looked grand.



More to come in the coming weeks.

4th of July in Manti

I celebrated Independence day with family and a few friends from Santa Clara. It was decided that we beat the heat this year so we spent our weekend in Manti. We stayed in our 1850's pioneer-era restored home. It is actually a vacation rental, capable of hosting small parties for receptions or weekend getaways. It was a delightful weekend becuase Manti really comes alive with their celebratory activities. There was a volleyball tournament, small carnival style games, food and entertainment, karaoke, a movie projected in the park, a parade of all the surrounding towns' clubs & organizations, and an impressive fireworks show. It was great.

Here's Sara walking around the Manti house. We stuck a coon tail on her, and she eventually forgot it was there. It was quite cute and quite funny.

Just waiting for the parade to start.

We also drove up into the mountains at about Fairview where it was even more pleasant. We went with intentions of seeing Mike and his friend Braedon as they stayed with his family by Scofield Lake, but it was a zoo up there. There were some truly zany people just out there having a good time. It was fun to watch, but we opted out of the crowded scene. My brother Dan had brought up his wife's Sunfish sailboat and it was just too crowded so we opted for a quieter, Electric Lake nearby.

We spent the afternoon with the Stucki family riding four-wheelers, barbecuing, canoeing, and sailing. Pono, Steve Stucki, and I went for a long ride high up into the mountains where it plateaued at the top. There were some snow drifts still up there and we made a stop and threw some snow around. I thought it was the coolest thing to be playing in snow in Utah, on the 4th of July. Playing around the water was fun too, and I'm really starting to crave sailing with Dan & Beckie.