Utah

We love so many things about Utah. The climate...for the most part...the scenery...family...and the best friends ever! I was so excited to see all my friends this week that on the way to church I got a little emotional. Moving to Utah was so good for our family. I remember Brandon telling me before we moved there...he said that the people at work and in our neighborhood would be a good influence on him (members or not), that his testimony would be strengthened, and that our family would grow closer. He really had no idea how all these things would come to pass. But he was right. More right than he ever thought. Our ward family and those he came in contact with at work we simple...INCREDIBLE. Both our testimonies were strengthened and because of the influences of friends and family...our family became closer. And I owe so much to our Foxboro 1st and 2nd wards. You are amazing. You have been the best friends I have ever had and I love all of you. We had some great fun in the short week we were visiting.

06.30.08 Brandon went golfing and the three oldest spent the morning with Missy and the neighborhood kids. Scavengar Hunt and Allan got A hooked on the Wii. While the kids were preoccupied I went with F to Seagull book to buy, Danielle you will be proud of me, Twilight and New Moon. So excited to read them. Actually I finished Twilight in 2 days. Could not put it down. I was up till 3am. Back to Monday. After lunch, we went to Kangaroo Zoo with Missy and Meagan! What a fun place for the kids. They loved it. Thanks, Allan for bringing socks! We had a lot of fun with our friends. M could not get enought of Ellie and Ashlyn. She was so happy to finally get to play. Then it was off to the Fox's house for a haircut and color. I love Angie! As long as we live on the west coast and vacation in Utah...she will be my hairstylist. The kids had fun with Easton on the tramp and M was so cute...tickling Easton everytime he fell down. So cute. That night we had a BBQ with the Foxs, Ackersons, Andrews, Packers, Dustins (you're sneaky btw. thanks for the game. we love you!), Andersons, Thatchers, and Meagan and Ashlyn. Allan shot off fireworks and the kids loved when Skee jumped over one of them. What a daredevil! To end the evening festivities we roasted marshmellows and made S'mores. It's so good to be with friends. And M and I couldn't get enough of sweet Berklie. She's tooooo cute.

07.01.08 Discovery Center Gateway with Lynette and Maddie! We love them so much. The kids loved DC and Lynette and I just gabbed. Loved it. F found the magnet letters and we spelled his name. They loved everything. What a fun place for kids. We will definitely be going back next time. Brandon did some shopping at Dick's and Barnes and Noble while we played at DC. He had fun and got to read in the shade while he waited for us. The kids didn't want to play in the fountains so we went to get Ben's Cookies. Thanks, Lynette! Those were yummy. And I will never forget Maddie's meltdown. That was so funny. Brandon watched Maddie Tuesday night so Lynette could come to the Spaghetti Factory with all the girls we love. Thanks, Honey! We had so much fun! I love these girls. And I call them Girls because I feel like a teenager hanging out with them. They keep me young. The food was so good, as usual, and just sitting there chatting was so fun. I can't wait till December. After dinner, Che, Jess, Veronica, Anabelle, Lynette, and I went to PBKids where Che bought adhesive mustaches. We all put them on and had a sale associate take our picture. It was hard not to smile cause when we did the mustaches would come off. I loved Jessica's. She looked freakishly normal. Her mustache matched her hair color exactly. It was scary and so hilarious. Thanks for the pics, girls.

07.02.08 Brandon went golfing and had a bad game. His words not mine. I won't tell any details because while I thought they were funny and Dave and Skee also got a good laugh at him I will leave it at that. I told Ang that I should pick up golfing and she said then the both of us could beat our husbands! LOL. By 9:30 we were on our way with Rachel, Brandon's mom, to Lagoon! What fun. Brandon and I hadn't been there since '95 and so much has changed. We went on some of the roller coasters and got soaked on the Rattlesnake ride. Lagoon-a-Beach was packed but the kids like the slides. Before we left we ran into Melynda, Lincoln, and Melynda's sister and saw Lynette from a distance. F and I went on the kiddie roller coaster and he loved it! After Lagoon, I went home to grab my camera and headed out the door to take the Foxes family pictures. They were so great. All smiles and I was in and out of there in 10 min. That's a record. Thanks, Ang. You have THE cutest family. I just love Stockton. 'Was that a good smile?' He's too cute. I love him. That night Brandon took A to the new Indiana Jones movie while the girls...and F went to find Eclipes in paperback. With no luck. But I did find it in hardback for $11 at Costco. I love Costco. Then we got some fabric supplies for my temple dress that I didn't work on while I was there.
07.03.08 Park City. And oh how I love shopping at the Outlets! I dropped Brandon off at the resorts and the kids and I hit the shops. We hit Old Navy first, got some cute clothes, then on to the next store. The Children's Place. I got so many church clothes for the boys including green linen pants for $1.99! I didn't pay over $2.99 for anything. The girls got flip-flops for 99 cents and all the kids got sunglasses for the same price. We got school clothes, pajamas, and church clothes for well under $100. I was so excited! We were in CP for a while...longer than I thought...so we went to get Mrs. Field's Cookies and play at the playground there. Then we went to some other stores to browse. Soon it was time to pick Brandon up from work and head back down the mountain. We came home and got ready for a BBQ with some cousins. Leah came home from Logan to spend some time with us and we were happy to see her. Then we headed over to Eaglewood Golf Course to watch the fireworks. We set our blankets down in front of a sandpit and I noticed a little girl's familiar face. I looked around to find her parents and the Castleberry's were sitting next to us! I was so happy. I had been grouchy due to the lack of sleep I had been getting...reading till 2 am. Anyhow Carrie and I chatted about the kids, church callings, and school. It was so great to see her and her adorable kids. They grow so fast. Before it got too dark we headed to the clubhouse were we caught Jamon and Tasha dancing to the live band. Carmen Rassmussen was singing one of her songs. We also ran into the Olsens up there. Then a plane flew over top us and 3 skydivers jumped out. How cool. Brandon and I headed back to the family and got ready for the fireworks. They were really good. I love the 4th of July! I feel so grateful to be a citizen of this great nation. I love America.
07.04.08 Happy Birthday, America. Another game round of golf for Brandon but when he came home and I asked how his game went he said he was done for 6 months. Leah and I ran some errands in the morning and at noon we took the family to see WALL-E! What a cute movie. The kids really liked it and I thought it was sweet. We came home for a nap and another BBQ. My brother, Adam, and his wife, Becky came to BBQ with us. They have 2 little boys, Matthew and Kiel. So cute. I love when my kids can spend time with their cousins. It makes me happy. Brandon BBQ some pork and Leah made a yummy dessert. Everything was yummy. Then Lyn and the kids lite the fireworks. I got F on video saying the Pledge of Allegiance. SO cute. I love him. I'll post that later. And as requested, Amanda, I took Adam's Family Pics. I think they turned out really cute.

We had such a fun vacation. Idaho and Utah. Now it's back home and back to reality.