Our weekend in Utah

This past weekend Steve and I took a trip to Utah for my early birthday present. Steve's Mom looked after our kids so we were able to spend a few days together doing some really fun things. I took my camera but of course didn't take very many pictures and am now regretting that. We left on Thursday afternoon and as soon as we got to Salt Lake we took our things to our hotel and then met up with Rod and Mollie. We got something to eat and then we went to the Jazz game. It was a preseason game against the Nuggets and it was lots of fun! We were pretty high up but it was just fun to be there and it was nice to spend time with Rod and Mollie. It was a late night so I was falling asleep in the car on the way to the hotel.

The next day we got up early to go to the Salt Lake Temple. We had never been there before so we were pretty excited to go. The Temple itself is so beautiful but it was even better to go inside and have that experience. It was a pretty rushed day so as soon as we were finished in the Temple we went over to the Gateway to have lunch with our good friends Allan and Kristy at Tacano's. It was delicious but I ate way too much so I was sooo full! After that we set off for Provo but we made a couple of stops at Tai Pan and Ikea, I love those stores! Then it was off to the BYU football game and I fell asleep on the way there aswell! We got there early so we played a bunch of games and won some t-shirts and some basketball tickets. I really wanted to go to the Brick Oven but I was way to full from lunch which I was sad about. The game was lots of fun and even more fun because we won! We got back even later that night so I was shattered and once again I fell asleep in the car. I'm just too wimpy now, I can't handle late nights!

Finally on Saturday I was somewhat able to sleep in which was nice! We started getting ready and watched most of conference but then listened to the rest on the way to Temple square. We had lunch at the gateway which was really quiet until everyone from the first conference session came down there. While they were all coming down we walked up to Temple Square. We went into the museum for a minute and got a few things from the store there and then we went over to the conference center. Of course there was lots of people protesting outside but there were also some kids with signs saying, "I love Mormons" so that was pretty funny. It took a while to get inside the conference center but we finally did and then out of the thousands of people there we ended up sitting next to one of the counselors from our Stake Presidency. It was a lovely experience, I had been to conference before but Steve hadn't so it was so nice.

At the end of conference we went to try and find some of my friends that were also at conference. These friends just lost their son this past week, he passed away after an exercise induced heart attack. He was only 17 and was the loveliest boy, he was in my primary class back in the day. Anyway I love the Gillen family so when we finally found them it was so nice to just give Debbie a hug. We talked for a while and just caught up and talked about some of our old memories together. It's so great to see old friends, it never matters how long it's been since you've seen someone like that, it just seems like you've never been apart. I really have been blessed in my life to have grown up in a ward with so many amazing people who I know would do anything for me and I would do anything for any of them.

Well, that was the end of our fun filled weekend, well apart from getting some yummy dinner at Cafe Rio on the way home. It was during the Priesthood session so it was packed with women, poor Steve! We had a amazing time together and it was so great to spend some time with just Steve. He really is the most amazing husband ever. He puts up with lots of grumpiness from me and he's so patient! I really appreciate his Mom (and other family members who helped) for looking after the kids. We really are blessed to have so many great people in our lives, we have amazing families and friends that I am truly grateful for.