Utah Trip

My best friend/roommate from college got married the first week of December so Austin and I got to make a quick trip to Utah! Susie and I clicked right from the start when we met at a mutual friend's dinner party and have continued to remain close, even though I now live in Nevada and she lives in California. We have been through it all together... boyfriends, breakups, illness, roommate drama, death, working as CNA's, nursing school, late night McDonalds runs, running around the Avenues to burn off all the calories we ate from those McDonalds runs, country dancing, random trip at midnight to Vegas after the Utah version of dancing turned out to be really lame, and so so much more! But most importantly, we were always there for each other to talk and be a support system when we were young, naïve, and far from home. Plus, I never would have met Josh if it weren't for Susie! She's the one who set us up on the blind date that decided our fate for eternity! So you could say I owe her a lot :).



Austin did so great on the flight to Utah. He slept the entire time and woke up right as the plane landed! The trip back home wasn't so nice though. He cried the entire time and stopped right as the plane landed.... Oh well, it was worth it. C'est la vie!

We stayed with Josh's Mom/Step-Dad for three days and had a great time! Utah was its usual cold, snowy self and it made me really home sick for the old days. Don't get me wrong, I love our home in Nevada and I love that we don't have to get up an hour early to shovel our car out or put salt on the ground. But there is something about Utah that will always be home. My favorite memory of this trip was sitting around the living room in front of the fire while it snowed outside with Christmas music in the background and watching Austin play with the Christmas tree. It was so picturesque, I was in heaven!

He loved that tree! I think it's because of all the bells.

Austin playing with the bells he just removed from Grandma R's tree.

The first day we did a little shopping and stopped at Santa's village to take some pictures. This was Austin's first experience with true cold weather and he wasn't very thrilled about having to wear a jacket. He is such a funny baby. Since the day he was born, he hasn't liked to be restricted. He has never been a baby you could bundle or swaddle. But he looked so stinking cute in his little jacket so it was worth having to hear him complain about it every time I put it on ;).

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa R. for my cute jacket!

visiting Santa's house!

We love Grandma!

We also went out to Dinner at the Olive Garden and then drove around Layton looking at all the Christmas lights! Austin slept the whole time so I actually got to enjoy it!

Sleepy boy! We had a busy day!

The next day I went to the temple for the wedding sealing but I was an hour early so I walked around the temple grounds and saw the nativity and then hung out at the visitor's center because it got too cold! The sealing was beautiful and Susie looked gorgeous. I had to leave right afterwards so I could feed Austin but we came back later for the reception at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and had a great time! I got to see friends that I haven't seen in forever and meet members of Susie's family that I've heard about, but never been able to meet in person. Janis went with me to the reception to help me with Austin so I could actually go around and socialize and I am so glad she did! I was worried that she would be bored or feel left out but she ended up finding an old friend from her childhood that she got to catch up with so it all worked out!

Our little stud in front of the big tree at the JSM Building

I was so excited to see this girl (Sarah Butters Anderson)! She got married the day before I did and then I never heard from her again so to say we had a lot to catch up on was an understatement.

This poor baby was so wiped out by the end of the night and honestly, so was I!

Susie and Brian make such a beautiful couple and I wish them all the luck and joy in the world! I had so many memories flooding into my mind the whole day and it made me realize what a wonderful life I have had! The fact that I got to be on Temple Square looking at the lights on December 5th has so much meaning all in itself because that is the day I went on my first date with Josh and we went to temple square to look at the lights! I wished so badly he could have been there to experience all this with us, but he couldn't get it off of work :(.

The next day Janis, Austin, and I met up with Jen (my sister in law) for brunch at a cute breakfast place in Sugarhouse. We talked, and laughed, and had a great time walking around the pharmacy across the street. I know that sounds strange but this pharmacy was more like a boutique with all of its adorable gifts and Christmas decorations. After that, we stopped at my Dad's house and Austin got to meet his Grandpa Helm for the first time. My Dad and I have what you could call an "interesting relationship" so this was very special to me that we were able to see him and enjoy this bonding moment. Next on the list was a stop at Sonic for a yummy flavored soda (a must have when you are spending the day with Janis) and then we spent the rest of the time at the house relaxing by the Christmas tree, reading, and playing with Austin. Grandma and Grandpa had so much fun with him that he never once had a moment to himself! We had to fly out later that night so Grandma had to make sure she got in all her cuddles and kisses for the day. I was sad to leave when the time came to head to the airport. The only thing that could have made this trip better would have been to have Josh there with us! Next time :).