Utah

When I think back over the past two weeks in Utah, I feel incredibly blessed. We have the best family and friends. They made this trip one we will always remember. Here's all we did!

Wednesday, July 27th
It was all smiles, flying out to Utah today.

Thursday, July 28th

Today was a packed, but great day. We started the day meeting up with the Gold family, Brother Gold and his sons, Mark and Nate, as well as Mark's fiance, Rachel, at BYU Creamery for lunch and ice cream. It was so good to see the Gold family and to meet Rachel. (Brother Gold and Mark were our home teachers for quite a few years. I then had Mark and Nate for seminary.) We have missed them a lot since they moved away from Virginia. After lunch, we met up with my brother. He took us to his new office for a tour, (he is a newly-hired BYU professor,) where we quickly learned that he works with Hank Smith, a favorite motivational speaker of my kiddos. They were so excited. We hoped to meet him, but he wasn't in his office. Pictures outside of his office had to do, but both kids were very happy with that. After Joe's office tour, we toured the BYU campus a little. (Taylor will be heading to college in just three short years! This tour definitely had a different feel than those we've taken in the past. It was easy to tell she was looking at the campus from a "Do I want to go here?" perspective.) It was a lot of fun catching up with my little brother. Later that day, the boys and girls split up. The boys went to go see a movie with Grandpa, while the girls met up with my best friend, Tami, for a little shopping and some yummy dessert. 

Friday, July 29th

Today was another busy, but great day! We started the day with shopping, (we always take advantage of inexpensive BYU gear and modest clothes while in Utah,) and then lunch at Leatherby's. We then headed to Ryan and Laura's. We knew we would be seeing them soon at Bear Lake, but the kids just couldn't wait that long to see their cousins. They were so kind to let us just drop in on their day with very little warning. I'm so grateful. My kiddos had a great time catching up with their cousins. Mark and I had a great time as well! 

Saturday, July 30th

Today was a big day! We got to attend Mark Gold's wedding. It was wonderful to see him get married. His new wife, Rachel, was absolutely beautiful and the two of them looked so happy. I am will always be grateful I got to be a part of their day. After the wedding, we were starving, so we headed to Pi Pizzeria for some late-night pizza. It was way too good! 

Sunday, July 31st

This morning, we drove up to Bear Lake to spend a few days with the entire Woodbury family to celebrate fifty years of marriage for Mark's parents. After our drive, lunch, and some time catching up with family, we all drove to Bloomington Lake. It was a beautiful lake! Mark and I enjoyed the scenery while our kids enjoyed time in the lake with their cousins, paddle boarding and jumping off a rope swing. Later that night, we enjoyed time playing games together. 

Monday, August 1st

We had such a blast with family today! We started the day touring Minnetonka Cave. It was very cool. We then stopped for raspberry shakes, (Bear Lake is famous for its raspberry shakes, so we had to try them!) before heading to Bear Lake to swim and tube. We finished the day with singing and dancing. The cousins did a really fun dance in the dark while dressed in glow sticks. So fun!

Tuesday, August 2nd

Our last full day at Bear Lake was a fantastic family day! We started with games at the park. So fun! The kids then swam in the pool for a little while, before we headed out on the lake again, this time for skiing and Zup boarding. Mark tried skiing. The kids and I tried Zup boarding. It was a lot of fun and I was so proud of us all. Taylor did really well on the Zup board, getting up on her knees immediately and almost getting up on her feet a few times. Spencer did well also. He didn't try getting up on his knees or feet. He was too afraid of fish in the water, so he rode on his stomach with his feet in the air the entire time. It was pretty funny. Near the end of his ride, however, he was feeling more comfortable and started riding with no hands. We all had an amazing time!

Wednesday, August 3rd

We said goodbye to Bear Lake today, but not before Taylor got in one more chance on the Zup board. She woke up early and went with Ryan, Laura, Talia and Brenton. They had a great time. Taylor was able to get up on her feet this time! So proud of her! After saying our goodbyes, we headed up to Rexburg, Idaho for the rest of the day. It had been 17 years since we had been there. We were excited to see how much it had changed. Well, it has changed a lot, but yet not so much. It was such a fun day. We took the kids on a tour of the BYU Idaho campus, to the temple and to all the places that were important to Mark and me while there. We also hit up the bookstore, scoring lots of fun gear, including Ricks College shirts and sweatshirts. We seriously loved every minute of it. 

Walking down memory lane...

In my apartment lounge, where we first met. 

In the stairwell of the old science building, where we had dinner on our first date.

Outside my apartment door, where we had our first kiss.

Outside my apartment window, where Mark proposed.

At the tennis courts, where Mark first witnessed my competitive side.

Outside our first apartment.

Seventeen years later, in our new Ricks College sweatshirts. (My favorite picture from our entire trip!)

Thursday, August 4th

Today we were absolutely exhausted and needed a down day, so we took one. We did a little shopping in the morning and then picked up a movie to watch that afternoon. I don't think we moved from the couches once we sat down. It was just what we needed to be able to enjoy the rest of our trip.  

Friday, August 5th

Today was another great day! We felt refreshed and ready to go. We started the day with Jon Stone, one of Mark's favorite mission companions. He was kind enough to invite us to his home to have lunch with his family. It was fun to see where they were today and to reminisce about their mission. Later that day, we went to Pi Pizzeria with Mark's parents for dinner. (Yes, again. We couldn't help ourselves!) After dinner, Mark and I took the kids to East High School (where High School Musical was filmed) at Taylor's request and then to a Led Zeppelin laser show. Mark and I had went to the same show shortly after meeting. After the show, we took the kids up the mountain, behind the Capitol building, to look out over the city. It was such a great night. 

Recreating a picture from their mission. It was too funny. 

Saturday, August 6th 

Today was our last busy day in Utah. We made the most of it and had a great day. We started the day with lunch with Mark's good friend, Jason Bramble. They had a nice time catching up. We then went to a Bees game with with Mark's parents, as well as Cassie and Ryan and their kids. We always love a good baseball game and had a great time. After the game, Mark got a call from Ryan asking if we wanted to meet up at Pi Pizzeria. We weren't hungry, but we wanted to see his family one last time before heading home, so we went anyway. We had a good time together. Our kids sure love their cousins. 

It was Utah State night at the game. 

Sunday, August 7th

Today was a day of much needed rest. 

Monday, August 8th

Today we headed back to Virginia. It was a long day. We actually didn't fly out until almost midnight. We spent the day doing laundry and packing and then headed to the airport to catch our red-eye flight. There weren't quite as big smiles heading home. 

Again, I feel incredibly blessed. We have THE BEST family and friends. We can't wait to see them all again!