July continues with more Family and friends in the mix

The very next day Adam and I work a full day and then met at the house at 530pm. Our bags were packed and we just needed to load the car. We bid farewell to “the girls” said a prayer and were off on our trip. We were on the road heading to Grand Junction. It was a nice drive through the mountains. The highway was not too busy, once we passed the tunnel most of traffic cleared up and it was a clear drive to our destination. I drove most of the way. I really enjoy driving through Glenwood canyon. I have always loved driving that part. The way the highway winds its way through the canyon along the Colorado River. It feels like a race track to me. I get so caught up with the drive I forget how fast I am going until I look over and see my hubby with white knuckles holding on to the door. We made it to our hotel where we slept for the night. The next morning we were up at the crack of dawn, but fell back to sleep as one should do when on vacation. We got out of our hotel around 930am and found a McDonalds for breakfast and then back on the road. I did most of the driving again that day, as I was so anxious for our destination, Cupcakes and IKEA.



I know, I know, where are my propriety’s? I am into cupcakes right now. I am on the hunt to the best cupcake, and then I want to be the best cupcake maker. Yes I know I set my goals really high. This is my phase right now so just let me embrace the CUPCAKE. Once we hit Provo, UT. Two things are on my list, Cupcake and Café Rio. Adam pulls the address out and puts it into his GPS and soon we reach the cupcake store. I am like a school girl, just giddy with excitement. I am going to hit 3 cupcakes stores in Utah and decide who has the best one. We enter this charming little store. I am amazed at all the things going on the in store. The decorations, the smell and the counter which hold all the cupcakes. There is this cute blonde girl who greets us. She asks us if we have been here before. I inform her I found her on the internet and that I am from Colorado and doing a cupcake tour and your shop is on my tour. I will be face booking the experience on who has the best cupcakes in Utah. She just laughed and tells me they do.

HMMMMMM….I am serious. I tell her, I will see. Then start looking to make my choice. Too many to choose from, what should I get? I try a few samples that she brings out and think to myself. “This is good.” I make a call to Julie and ask her what they would like and so we buy 6 cupcakes to try. As I pay for my box I hear Adam behind me chatting away with a woman. Of course he is. We are only in Provo for 5 mins and he has already found someone he knows in a cupcake shop off University Ave. It is just not anyone it happens to be my old visiting teachers’ mom. Chrissy’s mom who comes to visit in Denver. Now Chrissy has moved to Oklahoma and her mom, I am not sure where she lives was visiting her other children in Provo. But that is Adam, he recognizes everyone. Watch out or he will recognize you!

Now the next stop is Café Rio. This is our favorite place and every time we are in Utah we have to hit it. We get the usual, which is a chicken burritos enchiladas style. Since we are on a time restriction, I eat a few bites of the messy madness and we are back on the road heading towards IKEA. Lucky me I get to drive in the carpool lane passing up all the traffic, getting closer to my destination. We are coming down the point of the mountain and I see it. My heart skips a beat, I see the big Blue and Yellow sign with my favorite words “IKEA” it is the promise land. I am almost running into the store. We gather a paper and pencil and make our way through the maize of the store. This time we came prepared. I had a good three hours of time allotted, measurements in hand and a list of items I was looking for. But with that, it still was not enough time to shop. We were rushing in the end with our bags of goodies. We were not able to find everything on our list and some of our measurements just didn’t work with what they had. Maybe next time we will try the meatballs.

We hit our destination of West Valley, Utah. Julie is there and the party was beginning. We decided to stay with my old roommate/best friend Julie. Julie and I go way back. Let me tell you about Julie. I hope she will not be embarrassed as she has nothing to be embarrassed about, it’s me who does.

Yet I will still share our story.
Julie and I first met in the MTC. We were companions in there. I thought Julie was an odd duck at first. I just didn’t understand her. She was so full of energy and the spirit it was kind of draining. She had allot appointment and never told me what they were for, but I had to go and sit outside. You know. I don’t think I still know what they were for? Anyway, we had to do service once a week at the MTC, our job was to clean the bathrooms one of those weeks. I was about to burst at this point with her. We were in the bathrooms cleaning and I had a toilet brush in hand. I turned to her and said, “Sister in the real world we would not be friends.” As I am saying this I am shaking the toilet brush and it is spraying toilet water in her face. I turn away and we are silent for days. Julie and I flew out to Switzerland together; we only talked a few times on the phone and saw each other a few times on our missions. We flew home together. I remember our first night in Switzerland and our last night in Switzerland. It was the last night that I remember what a wonderful person she was. About 7 months later I called her up as I had moved to SLC. I remember I made her be my friend. She was so busy working and going to school she didn’t have much time. I would show up at her job at the mall and just talk. I am sure she thought I was annoying. But I made her be my friend. Before you know it, two years later we became roommates. Next she got a job at the same airline I was working for, that is when we became travel buddies and for six years Julie and I had Grande adventures around the world together. Julie’s family became my second family. Julies’ sisters became my sisters. This bond that we have is bigger than us all. And so Julie is just more than my best friend, she is my family.

Now that we have arrived at Julie’s house the party is beginning. Julie arranged a dinner with all the sisters and mom. So there we are, all of us together. I was trying to remember the last time we were all together like this. It must have been at least six years ago. I was dying seeing everyone. Seeing their kids and getting the low down on what is going on. We figured out that Mom has a total of 21 grandkids so far and counting. Dinner was wonderful and seeing everyone was even better. Gradually they left and it was only Christine, Julie and I in the kitchen. I decided it was time to try the cupcakes. So we pulled them out. Sliced them up and tried the different flavors. WOW. These are incredible. Yes that cute little girl in the shop was right.

These are the best cupcakes!

The trip continues with more Family

The next day we get up and ready for whatever. We really didn’t have any plans other than be at Kathy’s at 3pm. I had already spent my fill at IKEA and so going back was not a good idea. Adam spent time with Alan and Julie, Mason and I went shopping. We were shopping for food storage. Julie knew where all the good stuff to get with really good prices. So I spend my monthly fill for food storage and loaded the car once again. We said our goodbye’s after another lunch at Café Rio and heading to Kathy and Dave’s house.

It should not have been so difficult for us to find it. As Kathy gave us really good directions, on the second time around both reading the direction we found the castle they are living in. Yes I say a castle as there are big steps up to the biggest door I have ever seen. It is a beautiful home and a place that I hope they will stay forever as it has beautiful views and the space to grow into. Nathan and Marnie were there and the six of us played a few games before it was time for dinner. Kathy had made a stew that her mother used to make for them when they were growing up. It was really good. About the time we were finished with dinner. Seth and his family arrived. Everyone got a tour of the castle and the kids had a great time playing upstairs. Before we knew it, it was time to head to the reception.

The point of the trip was to go to Adam’s cousin’s reception. Since Adam really wanted to go we decided to turn it into a mini vacation. It was great to see Keith and his brothers and meet their wife’s. It was awesome to finally meet Aunt Deana. I had heard a lot about her over the years. I got to meet extended Hiatt’s and the man who gave Adam’s his PB. One woman, some aunt of something said something that really made me mad. Other than that it was a beautiful reception and good to meet the cousins and extended family.

As we are leaving the reception Adam get’s a call that I left a bag of clothes at Kathy’s. We head back to retrieve the clothes and find ourselves talking into the night with Kathy and Dave. As I talked with them I felt more of a connection with Kathy and realized that she is a kindred spirit and I would like to get to know them better.

We sneak in like high school kids into Julie’s house trying not to make a sound. With all that work we find Alan on the computer in the basement. The next morning we go to one hour of church and head home. It was a fun and relaxing weekend. There was no rushing around to trying and see everyone, get everything in on one weekend. I never made it to the other two cupcake shops. We didn’t spend as much time with Seth’s family as we would have liked. I didn’t spend enough time at IKEA.

But there is always the next time. RIGHT?

July continues with Family

This month has got to be the worst month for OT at work, which is what I have been doing among all the fun. The next week we had family in town. Adam’s brother came with his wife, two of her nieces and a niece and nephew that belong to another brother. The house was full for a week. They had much planned for their time here. We found places for everyone to sleep at night. Chase somehow made his way to sleeping in the hall. I think he wanted to be near the girls but not with the girls so he planted his spot right in front of the girl’s door in the hallway. I have to say those kids are just amazing. It is fun to just sit back and watch them, watch their individual personalities. Miriam doesn’t eat cow because it is her favorite animal, Malory is such a beautiful young woman. Chase and Abbey are the best brother and sister. I love the comments that come from Chase; he is quick wit and a funny little man. Abbey is so smart and insightful. She is so kind and loving and really loves the dogs.

Saturday we were all able to spend some time together as Nathan invited us to go along with them to the Renaissance Festival. We were barely past the castle gates and Chase wandered into a store to pick up a sword. There were so many fun shops and people dressed in costumes running around; free shows to watch and a parade passed us by with a elephant and all. Abby got her hair braided. The afternoon ended with us all sitting on the grass people surrounding the arena for the jousting event. The King and Queen blessed us with their presence and we peasant sat and watched the show. Nathan talked trash with the Black knight, they yelled back and forth as he would ride by on his horse. The weather began to change and the sky became dark and I turned to Adam as the big drops of rain started to come down. Knowing the extreme weather we have had this summer, the rain would come fast, hard, and hail would be following soon. We decided to bail, the rest of the group wanted to hold out. So Adam and fled for the car. We exited the castle gates and found a huge line for the bus back to the car. We decided to hoof it back to the car, we walked, and our pace increased to a power walk, soon to be a sprint to the car. We reached the car as the hail barreled down on us. Oh was I glad we were in the car and not out in the weather.

On our way back home we both saw the most unusual thing. We saw lighting strike off in the distance on the left side of the road in some trees. Then for a second there was a blue glowing light that followed. We were both amazed at the light; it was not until the light had passed and I was still staring trying to figure out what is was. Adam asked me if I saw it.
About an hour after we got home the crew arrived drenched from the storm. They ordered pizza and stayed in for the night. Adam and I had plans to go to a play. Bye Bye Birdie, which we got ready for and left. It was a great evening going to the play, seeing the kids who performed and seeing the hot boys the girls were telling me about the past few weeks. The kids did a great job and I am so glad we went to see them.

As with all family that comes to town there must be a night at Casa Bonita. Yes, I went once again to enjoy the atmosphere of Casa Bonita. Anyone who goes knows you don’t go for the food. They make you buy the food whether you eat it or not. But what you get to eat unlimited sopapilla. YUM, raise your red flag at the table and a server appears out of now where with baskets of sopapilla. Sopapilla and Bart’s Cave that is my favorite part of Casa Bonita. Adam and I exited early from the night and let the others enjoy the wonders of Casa Bonita until it closed.

The next day our company left and what they left behind were some beautiful Pink flowers on my counter in a vase. THANK YOU>

Who doesn’t like July?

Really, who doesn’t like July? There is so much to do. BBQ’s, farmers markets, family, friends, trips and just things you can only do in the summer time around here. We have been camping once this year, but had a few other trips planned and they have been cancelled. I am not that sad about the cancelling of camping trips as I am not much of a camper. I will post our trip as I have it all ready, just can’t get the pictures up with it just yet. As there is still a big chuck of the summer left there may be another camping trip coming up soon.

Let me begin the month with the celebration of our country’s birthday. Oh this is a fun day for us. We love the 4th of July, we love the food, fun and of course are big fans of the lights in the sky at night. We decided until the last moment to just stay home. I am so glad we did, it was nice to just be us and with friends for the 3 day weekend. Adam and I started our 4th off at the Farmer’s Market in Cherry creek. We walked up and down looking at all the neat stands with the fresh produce, flowers and items that were being sold. It was so busy, and the Arts festival was going on as well a few blocks away. We always eat breakfast at the market. I found my favorite place ever that morning it was the crepe stand. I had the most amazing crepe of brie, ham, apples and Basel. Oh my mouth waters just thinking about it. We picked up a few veggies for the week and also an organic pint of blueberries. (Later we had a taste test and both agreed that the organic was hands down better)

After walking like what seemed for hours we were ready to head back to our car and head home. I was so tired, not sure why but decided I needed a nap. So we did what anyone who has nothing to do on a Saturday afternoon does. We took a power nap. Later that afternoon, we headed to our friends the Webster’s to their BBQ. Even though the rain came down, it did not dampen the party. It was in full force when we arrived. The kids had blankets all over the floor, covering every inch and they were there working on a craft that had been planned for them. There we were able to talk with people we had not seen in a while and others we see all the time. It was good to be able to enjoy the time with other families in the area. After the BBQ we headed to the GVR Park where we met our other friends. We arrived before them and out of the blue Adam recognizes someone. Of course he does. It never fails where ever we go, it does not matter where in the world we are. Adam recognizes someone.

Our group arrives and we decide to go closer to the music. We found a spot, pulled out the cards and played crazy eight until it got too dark to see them. We laughed and ate and just plain enjoyed ourselves. We ran into a few other people we knew and they stopped and talked with us. It was fun to be near the lake, with live music and playing cards. As they played the last song, the anticipation grew for the fireworks to begin. As it was cold outside Adam and I cuddles under the blanket and watched the wonderful show above. There is magic in the air when you watch a firework show. For only 20mins people will gawk and remark together over the lights in the sky. Together with ooh and awe. It was a great show and we completely loved the finale. Then with everything we have in us, we all rush to get out stuff up and out and deal with all the traffic to go home. I have to say, we have been pretty lucky where we have parked the past few years, we were out of there in five minutes once we were in the car.

We head back to our neighborhood where we saw another show. I am completely amazed with all the stuff our neighbors can get their hands on. Adam was right there lighting his stuff off and making noise in the streets up until Midnight.

The month is only beginning even though we are close to the end.