Idaho

My mom and I left Debbie and family in Salt Lake while we rode up with my Aunt & Uncle to their home in Idaho. Here is a picture of their backyard, so many fun memories from my childhood and even young adult years happened here!

I went out to enjoy the yard and my uncle Roger introduced me to Honey Bun, his gosling who comes when he calls. She would eat from me but she would also swing her neck at me, I think she didn't like me getting into her territory. 

I was sitting hoping to get the ducks to come to me, with out any success so Roger tried herding them my way. 

My cousin Sara and her family were there and this little babe had her birthday our first day. My mom got this cake while she was shopping with her sister Earlene and told her it was from both her and I. Which helped me win over the kids after that, thanks mom!

Soon Debbie and her family came up as well. Here they are looking at the ducks.

One evening our cousins showed us how they has used the app face swap to switch faces of the different couples. Some where so wrong I would close my eyes in protest others were so funny I was crying laughing. I wasn't the only one. 

 Here is one Russ did of him and Debbie, like I said they are just wrong, but highly entertaining.

I think Russ was in heaven going out with Roger and helping with the bees. Unfortunately Debbie got stung on the face right when I was getting this picture. I personally feel guilty because she asked if we could get this close and I said yeah we will be fine. Apparently they love Debbie's hair which I did not put into account. 

It was so green and had so many flowers, we really enjoyed ourselves just taking it easy and hanging out with our family. Have you ever played Ticket To Ride? It is a board game our cousins introduced to us and it was a lot of fun.

 Joe just chilling with Roger on the deck.

It was cousin central, going on and we loved every minuet of it.

Found these two darlings swinging like this and had to get a picture. 

Utah

The end of June my mom and I decided to hitch a ride with Debbie and her family on their trip to Utah & Idaho.
My mom & I didn't stay in Utah all that long, but while I was there I did get to see some people from my mission. I served in Utah so it is always a trip to go back and have memories fly back at me left and right.
First I went to brunch with Nadja who now lives in Salt Lake with her husband.

Almost ten years later

She brought me to an awesome European bakery in downtown Salt Lake called Gourmandise - The Bakery 

The food was great and the company was even better! 

I also got to see Zak and Sarah and their family. We spent a lot of time teaching Zak and became very close with them. 

I didn't get a picture with them on the visit but they asked if I had seen them in the church broadcast. 

The boy Sarah has her arm around is Eli and yep he is the baby in the first picture. Nadja and I were only companions for a month in a half and I was in Riverton with Zak & Sarah for only 3 months. Not a lot of time really but I think the quality of time made a huge difference. How grateful I am to have had the opportunity to get to know both Nadja and Zak & Sarah, I am a better person for knowing them. 

Can it be August already?

I first posted about the movie Austenland almost two years ago back in July of 2011 and just feel it would be wrong not to do a post about the trailer as well.



I feel a little silly giving a play by play of the trailer since I can't imagine anyone will really care but I have found it fun when others do it so I am going to have a go.

First: Props to the production team, Jane's room is insane! The Darcy pillow, is that a chamber pot down by her bed. The whole "Darcy was here" is so disturbing it makes me feel like a little better about my obsession.

Speaking of Darcy pillows I like mine better...

Next I LOVE the Colin Firth, Mr. Darcy cutout. 

Well because I got to take a picture with Darcy/Firth at Shannon Hale's book signing which is where I first heard that Austenland would become a movie. 

It's hard to tell with the apron but Darcy/Firth is holding a copy of Austenland. 

Sony has been doing a good job with there marketing efforts I think, I particularly like the website they set up which makes sense when you see the brochure in Jane Hayes hands. Also is she packing a carpet bag? I always have wanted a carpet bag like Anne of Green Gables. 

Where did they get the carriage car we get to see Bret McKenzie who plays Martin chauffeuring. 

I like that they don't waste anytime introducing JJ Feild aka Mr. Nobley as the "one of those Mr. Darcy guys". 

Should I mention Ricky Whittle aka Captain East's abs? Alright you twisted my arm I will mention his abs. 

And if you haven't heard Shannon tell the story about signing his underwear YOU SHOULD. 

Any fan of the book would or I guess I should say love the Tally-Ho reference. 

I am also just as excited for the scenes I have no clue what is happening, other than it looks funny!

Oh man I am so excited for this scene! That little double blink Mr. Nobley gives making him look vulnerable makes me swoon, not to mention how adorable Bret is!

Mr. Nobley reminds me a lot of Captian Wentworth from the newest Persuasion adaption.

Don't you love the original songs Emmy The Great wrote/performed for the soundtrack as well?

Tally-ho indeed! 

Meeting Scout

After we arrived in Phoenix my parents picked us up from the airport in their new Ford Flex. Poor mom stuffed in the back with the luggage, car seat & a wedding dress she was either altering or made.

Then we headed to Debbie's for lunch, cousins and for Debbie to reveal the gender of her baby!

The Pink balloon means a girl in case you needed clarifying. My other sister in law is pregnant with a girl so we were all pretty sure Debbie was having a girl just because that is they way our family rolls.

Then we moved on to holding Scout, funny enough it was Joe who told me to get him a pillow so he could hold her first, that is after Debbie of course.

Then Gracie

Even Grandpa got a turn

Debbie's kids have become obsessed with Michael Jackson and they shared their love with Sam. 

What????

Who's Bad?

Somewhere In Middle America

My brother Mark and his family moved to Omaha Nebraska a couple years ago to go to law school. Saturday I flew out to help them get ready to come back to Arizona for the summer, to meet Scout their new baby girl and to fly back with Ashley to help with Sam (nearly 3) and Scout (1 month).

When driving into Omaha from the airport we saw this mural and this guy reminded me a little of John Krasinski. Or maybe I have just had John Krasinski on the brain lately.

Then we went to a pizza shop downtown that has pizza by the slice. I got apple walnut and brie maybe.

Then I took care of business and held my newest niece Scout.

Sam showed me if funny teeth before we headed for a get together in the park.

Sunday was mothers day and when I got up Mark was downstairs making eggs benedict it is something that Ashley's family does and it was delicious.

At church someone was handing out cupcakes with blue frosting, can you tell who had one.

Gilbert and Mesa are relatively new cities so I love going places that actually has some history and buildings older than myself. 

The weather was so lovely here I am wearing a sweater sitting under a tree. 

Here is the tree I am sitting under

while watching Sam play at the playground.

When we got back from the playground Mark was sitting outside feeding Scout.

I am so proud of my brothers for being such good husbands and fathers. You can see Ashley inside working hard packing up not only for their trip but they are renting their condo for the summer as well.

Monday we went to breakfast at Harold's Cafe where a scene from Jack Nicholson's film About Schmidt was filmed. 

 Then we headed to the University so Mark could scan some stuff and show me around the school a little.

 Sam played Judge in one of the mock courtrooms

Scout slept through most of it. 

 We also drove through one of the fancy neighborhoods and I loved this house and tree.

 Spring was so pretty with all the different trees in bloom.

I spent a lot of time outside playing with Sam, here we are looking a ladybug we found. 

 I just love this face he was giving me.

 I had to bribe him to take a picture with me. But really he was so sweet always saying thank you and telling me I was good at things.

 And oh man I loved holding this little string bean, she was so tiny and yet so long.

The day before we left Rainbow Rowell the author of Attachments & Eleanor & Park tweeted that her local bookstore had signed copies. I thought they made the perfect souvenir.

Here is Sammy on the plan waving goodbye to Omaha and hello to Arizona. Once we got seated Scout slept the whole flight and Sam was so good playing with his truck and reading books we didn't even have to get out the ipad.