#19 Go to the Phoenix zoo

On Saturday Brad and Lindsey invited us to spend the afternoon with them at the Phoenix Zoo.

African Antelope

Rhino

Vulture's

Lindsey and I feed a giraffe at the giraffe encounter!!

 Here we go!

 Our giraffe was named Jambo and was 25 years old. 

 Meercat

 Baboon

I found the baboon's to be creepy and didn't really like them.  The guys thought they were hilarious.

 Lindsey and Brad

 Brook and Jordan

 Lindsey along the tropic trail

 Monkey Island

 Macaw

 "Hiking" in the Savanna

 Monkey Village

In monkey village, the monkeys aren't caged and play in the trees above you.  

 

Turtle 

 Ruby the Elephant

This was the one animal Lindsey was the most excited about seeing.

We had such a fun day!  We spent all afternoon at the zoo and loved every minute.  We can't wait to be able to take our kids there. 

The Wave, Coyote Buttes

Jordan and I have been trying on and off for the past three years to get permits to hike to 'The Wave'.

We finally got permits!! 

We planned a quick road trip, driving to Page, AZ after work on Monday and then stayed the night at a hotel before getting up really early the next morning to start our hike.

The Wave is located in the Coyote Buttes area of the Paria Canyon wilderness on the Utah/Arizona border. 

The BLM limits access to the North Coyote Buttes Wilderness Area to just twenty permits per day. Ten of the permits are available in advance by an on-line lottery that is conducted four months before the month for which the permit is sought. The remaining ten permits are made available by lottery the day before one's intended hike. Year round the lottery is held at the ranger station.  We had tried twice to win permits through the lottery at the rangers station and didn't get our names drawn either time so we tried the online lottery and got our permits for the hike that way.

"About to embark on an unforgettable adventure" as the trail head says.

 It was so cold in the morning!  I was so glad that Jordan packed gloves for me. It was early but I was so excited to finally see the wave.

The warning sign that clearly states emergency response is never rapid.

There is no trail and it is very easy to get lost!  At the start of our hike I took this picture.  I could understand how people lose their way.  Luckily we had our GPS and notes from my Dad that led us right in. 

We occasionally did see carins which helped keep us on track.

About to enter the wave!!

I was so excited that I started giggling, after all this time I was finally there.  

 It was a short but moderately difficult day hike that takes you to a multi-colored chute that has been cut into a sandstone mountain. 

 The Wave!!

 Jordan

 We saw one couple from Switzerland leaving as we got there.  We were all alone for quite awhile.  It was amazing!

 Brook

 Jordan wanted to look around and climbed to the top of the wave.  That is me eating my lunch! 

 The wave was a lot bigger then I thought it would be.  Jordan secretly took this picture of me looking around.

 Both Jordan and I had hiking the wave on our life goals.  We are finally able to cross this of our list!

The Piano Guys

Friday night Jordan told me that for our date night we were going to a piano and cello concert with Brad and Lindsey.  I have to admit it sounded a little boring and I wasn't too thrilled about it. 

We met for dinner at Pei Wei 

It was the first time Jordan and I have eaten there.  It was so good. Definitely a place we will choose to eat at again. 

Then we went to see the Piano guys.

"The Piano Guys is an American music duo consisting of Jon Schmidt and Steven Sharp Nelson. They became famous through YouTube, where they posted videos of renditions and mashes of popular songs accompanied by professional looking video clips."

It ended up being really entertaining.

My favorite song they performed was a mash up of Taylor Swift's Love Story with Coldplay's Viva La Vida.  I also loved their version of Adele's "Rolling in the deep"

Here are some of their Youtube clips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfH2BY5pdLw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUjWJSnGVB0&feature=related

Dinner Success!

I love to try new recipes and they don't always turn out as planned. 

Tonight I wanted to try to make homemade Cafe Rio barbacoa salads.  I love Cafe Rio but there isn't one very close to us so we don't get to go there very often.  

It was a lot of steps, but pretty easy to make and turned out sooo good!  It tasted just like being at the restaurant.  Dinner success!!

Tortillas baked with cheese for the bottom of the salads.

Black beans cooked with cumin, garlic and cilantro.

Jasmine rice cooked with garlic, cilantro and lime.

Barbacoa meat cooked all day in the crockpot.

Salads were topped with a homemade ranch cilantro dressing.

Salad complete!

Phoenix Suns vs Utah Jazz

For Valentine's Day Lindsey surprised Brad with tickets to the Phoenix Suns vs Utah Jazz game. 

She invited Jordan and I to come with them, so we all bought tickets together.  

Our seats were center court but as far to the top as you could go! 

 The day before the game Brad's parents surprised them with second row seats.  They felt so bad when they found out that Lindsey had already bought tickets with us.  It ended up working out perfectly. They were able to give their tickets to some friends from school and then Lindsey would switch her pass every period so that the guys all got a chance to watch the game from the second row.

My favorite #13 Steve Nash 

 Jordan and I had such a fun time. 

I cheered for the Suns while Jordan cheered for the Jazz.

 Lindsey and Brad

 Lindsey and Brook. 

I am so lucky to have found such an amazing friend!

After the game we were able to meet some of the Jazz players and Brad got his hat signed. 

It was such a fun night.