Bear Lake getaway

Quick getaway to Bear Lake with my high school besties to celebrate our 40th birthdays! 💙 A perfect overnight trip full of laughs, good food, gorgeous views, late-night chats in the hot tub, and soaking in all the nostalgia. 

We stayed at Heather’s parents’ adorable lake house with the most beautiful view of the lake—it was the perfect spot to relax, laugh, and reminisce. We did a fun gift exchange of our favorite things, ate at some yummy local spots, and of course couldn’t leave without getting a Bear Lake raspberry shake. 

Grateful for decades of friendship and the kind of friends who you still love and can pick right up where you left off no matter how much time has passed.

Her parents lake house had the most gorgeous views! 

and fun little visitors

Just sitting on the deck, enjoying the views, and catching up on life!

When in Bear Lake you can't pass up the opportunity for a raspberry shake!

 It was a great way to end our month long Utah stay!  Till next time Utah!

Friends!!

We love coming to Utah and reconnecting with our friends! As always we pick up right were we off as if no has passed. That’s the sign of a true friend.

First visit! The Singletons! Our visit lasted most of the day and it flew by way too fast! It was fun to get the kids together again and we had so much fun playing games, having pizza, and just overall enjoying each other’s company.

Brad’s is loving Jordan’s red Jeep. It is the same year, color as Brads high school keep, so it was definitely driving down high school memory lane with those two. 

High school reunion with these girls!! Some I haven’t seen since high school except through social media so it was so nice to visit in person. Especially to see Sarah again. Sarah was living in Katy when we first moved here and was a huge support system to me. Especially when I was going through cancer. It was so fun to have someone from high school living close by (we celebrated our 10 year high school reunion together with a pedi and dinner and brought our yearbooks to reminisce. Best way to celebrate ever!) She moved a few years back, so it was so wonderful to see her again!

And my sweet Heather💕

And Emily. I love these girls so much! And yes that is the new LDS temple that is being built in my hometown. My parents are so excited.

Love all my friends and love that we can carve out times in my summer trip to catch up.
 

Visits

Its so fun seeing old friends when I come into town.  I don't always get a chance to see friends are my trips, unless its an extended vacay, and I'm so glad schedules worked out to see these beauties!  You know you have the best of friends when even after a long time of not seeing them, you pick up right where you left off as if no time has passed!  Thats how these guys are.  Love them all!

Pedi's with Heather

 FroYo with Emily

 and lunch and playdate at the Singleton's

Here's where Jordan is telling the kids about the time him and their dad pranked a friend by dumping a bunch of leaves on their porch and then Jordan took off due to someone catching them and left Brad to fend for himself by walking about 2 miles back home.  Jordan tells the story way better, and as you can tell Carson thought it was hilarious.

 So glad that these boys are such good friends still.  Even though they were small they still remember being best buds in Arizona when he had the awesome experience of living next door.

 Love her!  So glad that Jordan married her!  Love how Brad's best friends wives are some of my dear friends too.  Still wish we were neighbors Jenny!  That was a dream!

 and Grandma.  Sure do love her!  It was a little hard to not have Grandpa there, but the boys had a blast playing batman bingo with Matt while I got to chat with her.  She's one of the best around and I'm so glad to have her in my life. 

Seeing old friends

 After Brad had to return back to Texas for his annual IH conference, I stayed a few extra days and got to spend some time with some old dear friends!  Loved seeing them and wish it could be more often!

Sarah was in town from Washington staying with her parents while her husband was away for army training.  She grew up just up the street from me and we were in YW together.  Glad we were both in town at the same time!

One of my best friends from high school Emily, I love that even though we may not have seen each other in years its like no time has passed!

Our boys played along great!  Too bad we aren't closer, I'm sure they'd be best buds. 

 Kajsa, Heather, and Jenna.  Love these girls!  Just missing Brittany!  

Pima County Fair

We went to the Pima County Fair a couple weekends ago with the Singletons.  It was very spur of the moment and we weren't planning on going, because Brad is not the fair going type, but when Jordan asks of course Brad will say yes.

You should have seen how Carson's face lit up when we pulled into the parking lot and he saw all the rides.  He was so excited and literally kept saying "mom, I'm so excited!"  

 Carson's favorite rides where the roller coasters!  A boy after my own heart.

 The only ride Tanner and Lucy could ride, and they loved it.

We got so lucky at the end of the night.  We had used up all our tickets and where pretty sad that we where done, until Ms Jenny looked down and right at her feet was a card.  When she asked the worker how many tickets where on the card he said $38!  No one was around to asking for it and how where we going to find who lost it?  So their loss was are gain and we got to ride a few more rides that night to the delight of the boys (even the big boys ie: Brad and Jordan).

It was a wonderful night to make lasting memories with our friends before we move.

Weekend Fun

What a non-stop weekend!  Jack came down with his family.  Jack as in "THE Jack".  He's living in Yuma and wanted to see the boys (meaning Brad & Jordan).  Its always fun to see these boys get together.  

I've realized that with girls you make friends wherever you are.  We're adaptable.  We need/crave a social life, but with guys their life long friends will always be their high school friends.  Although us wives complain how all they talk about is their "glory" days back at Mountain Crest High.  Its still fun to hear.  I swear I'm always hearing a new story that these boys did, and although I should be used to it by now, I'm always shocked to hear what these hooligans did.  

Jordan pulled out the ol' high school/pre-mission pictures and we all got some good laughs at their hairstyles and clothes that they used to wear.  We even got to read some missionary letters that they wrote to each other.  It was a great day.

Seeing the next generation of Jack, Brad, and Jordan play together was just as fun.  Krew fit right in with Carson and Jude.  We went to the park for a picnic and a friend in the ward had a jumping castle for their daughters birthday part and let the kids play.  

Although its hard to tell from the pic they are dog piling each other.  Jude on bottom, Carson middle, Krew on top.

After we said our goodbyes we saw that a house behind ours was on fire.  Not something you see everyday and it makes you sick to your stomach thinking about what that family just lost.  Fortunately we learned that it was just a house under construction so no one was hurt/personal belongings destroyed.

Click on the picture to make it bigger and you can see the flames as well as the frame of the house.

Then headed off to our valentines day dance!  Brad and I are both not dancers, but it was free babysitting and we got to mingle with friends.  Even though Brad and I are horrible dancers, somehow "Brad's Muscles" won best male dancer.  I'm pretty positive that Jordan rigged it...

Pictures from the kissing booth:

At the end of the night we got the kiddos to come dance with us.  Carson and Maylin were having fun dancing together and I made them get in the "hugging" booth for a picture (no kissing in this booth for these two until they are at least 30!)

Then Sunday we were able to spend a day in Phoenix with Rich while he is in town for a training.  We took him to one of our favorites (Joe's Farm grill) and then went to see Brian, Catherine and baby Sienna.

So many visitors!  I love it when we have fun/busy weekends.  This coming weekend is going to be just as fun as our little boy turns 4! *tear* He's growing up too fast!

2012 Toddler Olympics

With the Olympics this month I thought it would be a fun idea to do a toddler Olympics with some of our friends and it was a big hit!  My friend Kylee knew exactly what we could do since her family does them every summer for the grand kids.  It was so fun and everyone loved it that I think we may have to make it a tradition.

The morning started off with the breakfast of champions and flag decorating.

Once the flags were made we had a little flag parade.

Our little flag garden:

Said the pledge of allegiance:

And passed the torch:

We weighed and measured each contestant (the kids loved seeing how "big" they were):

Ran hurdles:

(Notice Carson's shirt?  Its a real London Olympic 2012 shirt.  My neighbor is originally from England and her mom shipped her a bunch of shirts for her boys and she let Carson wear one for our Olympics)

And did a soccer kick to see how far we could kick the ball:

We ended our games a little early because it was starting to get too hot.  So we jumped into the award ceremony.  The kids loved getting trophies.

Thanks to everyone who participated.  We had soooo much fun!