Utah: Our St. George Getaway

After the wedding,

B-train needed to get back to St. George

to work for a couple more days.

Road trip!

We left the girls with Grandma and Grandpa and

headed south for the weekend.

We dropped B at his apartment and had a little getaway.

Drew had never been to campus,

so we stopped by and walked around a bit.

The weather was gorgeous.

It was good to get an idea of where B spends his days.

We had a football and Andrew even ran some routes 

in the quad for me. Love it!

We stopped by the temple visitors center.

The temple is closed for renovations right now.

They had a lovely collection of nativities

from around the world in the visitors center, though.

I had picked a few fun hikes for us to do while we were down there.

First up: Red Hills Desert Garden

For this desert-loving girl, this park was FANTASTIC.

Lots to see: plants, a little aquarium, a couple of fossils.

It was awesome.

We were there during the day,

but could see Christmas lights on lots of the plants,

so I talked Andrew into going BACK that night

to see all the lights.

I don't know that I'd want that job:

having to put the lights on the prickly pear...

Also spent some time walking around Pioneer Park.

Took Andrew to The Crack.

Neither of us were up for actually going 

all the way through the crack.

I don't know if I'd still FIT through there.

It's a tight squeeze.

Oh, St. George is gorgeous.

We both found ourselves saying,

"I could see us living here...

in ten years when Andrew's released." Ha!

We went out to a fancy dinner at Cliffside Restaurant.

It was so nice. And delicious.

And the view out the window was unbeatable.

Love how the temple is such a prominent landmark.

When we were heading back to Red Hills,

we saw that part of downtown St. George

was also decorated.

We stopped and walked around a bit.

These palm trees were cool.

Red Hills didn't disappoint! 

I loved seeing the desert all lit up.

Look at how big these succulents were!

Such a fun evening.

We got a super cute Air BnB Casita,

which I didn't take a single picture of. Boo.

It was basically a guest room of someone's house,

with a separate entry way.

It was super comfy and we loved it.

(AND it was FORTY dollars a night! What???)

On Sunday we went to church with Kyle and JoEllen and

their family. I love hanging out with them. They are so fun.

Brandon actually had to work that morning,

but he joined us at their home for dinner afterward.

We played games, visited, and tried to figure out of

Emily's California Raisin was male or female. Ha ha ha!

When we left, we headed out to find some more Christmas lights.

St George is super festive!

On Monday, Brandon needed to work again.

Andrew and I got to participate in JoEllen's 

family tradition of trying to leave a gift (this 

year, it's a mannequin foot) with your siblings.

It's hilarious.

We've been adopted in to the Shelton clan 

for ding-dong ditching the foot. Yes!

After our prank, we headed to Snow Canyon.

It is a BEAUTIFUL state park that we had never visited.

Picturesque views everywhere you look.

Loved hiking a couple of the smaller trails.

One of the trails leads you to this rock,

where a few pioneers from the 1800's

wrote their names with axle grease.

So cool!

Oh, how I love spending time

exploring the beautiful world!

Next, we headed back in to town to visit

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

We got to see our boy hard at work.

Making fudge.

It was so cool to watch the process.

And then we got to buy some to take home with us!

His bosses and co-worker were SO complimentary.

They just love Brandon and are so thankful to have him

working there. It's fun to hear good reports on him.

They were SUPER busy, so he had to work a little

longer than we expected.

Andrew and I went to lunch at Iceberg.

I got the SMALL shake.

What????

I couldn't finish it. Boo.

When B was done at work,

we road-tripped back up to Salt Lake

to spend Christmas with Andrew's family.

In North Carolina, all the beautiful trees prevent

you from getting an expansive view of cities like this.

Such a fun little Christmas getaway.

Happy to explore some of B's stomping grounds.