Brad studied all summer to take the DAT and did pretty well... this is a local minor league baseball game were he brought his books and studied the whole time, I think he paused long enough for us to take this picture to make it look like we had fun :) ... it was an (un)eventful few months
Meanwhile Bridget started a new job (working in human resources for a large dental software company) and Brad had to start classes again. At the end of August we each finally got a break and went to Brad's home town Naperville (near Chicago) for our wedding reception (the only time the Carn's could host it due to their busy traveling schedule).
We had some awesome tiki torches to help fight off the bugs, although the last 30 mins everyone got eaten alive anyway. Luckily we had amazing weather and the reception went off without a hitch. This is us 'extinguishing' the proceedings of our wedding reception, a la Survivor style... we are both such nerds. But I got another chance to wear my wedding dress (so sad, I would wear it everyday if I could)!
These are some sweet aprons that a lady in Brad's ward made us as a gift. I think this might be our Christmas card this year, ha!
While we were in Naperville we got to do a few things (go to Portillo's, a minor league baseball game, the Chicago temple, and stock up on Bears apparel for the football season). One day we went the Museum of Science and Industry and we got to ride Segways. Actually pretty fun! Suprisingly easy to drive. If we had a couple extra thousand dollars lying around we might invest in one... those bad boys can go like 40 mph! (The one we tried out was rigged to top out at 5 mph, so sad)
This was some exhibit on how cow manure can be recycled and used in other ways. We couldn't resist... first it's basically Brad's motto & secondly this is far too much immature bathroom humor to pass up on :)
One day we even got to go down to Nauvoo and Carthage and spend the day having our own private tour of the town. We went a week after their busy season ended so we saw maybe 10 other people that day. We left at 6:30 AM and got home that night at 11:00 PM. A full day but worth it!
Brad though it would be a nice treat for the missionaries for him to bring the gun show to town... haha.
And our other notable adventure from the summer was the purchase of this motorcycle, Bridget wasn't thrilled at first but she actually learned to like it after we took some night rides around Provo. I would like to do a tribute to the short lived member of our family, an ode if you will:
BIKE
He came in to our lives
welcomed with so much love (mostly from Brad)
and left so suddenly
as we realized we couldn't rationally keep him
there were tears as we said our goodbye (aka I came home one day and Brad had sold him)
but he will always be remembered as
the bike that captured our hearts for those short 6 six weeks
this is a shout to you little buddy, where ever you are
