Utah!

We had a great time on our trip to Utah! We are so thankful we were able to go.

Our first full day there I went out to lunch with my friend and old roommate, Amy! It was a lot of fun. We went to the Brick Oven restaurant in Provo and then went shopping. We were living it up and went to Walmart AND Target. I, of course, forgot to get any pictures. After my outing we went to Brent's parents house for a big family dinner. They made Brent's favorite, jambalaya, in honor of his long awaited return! Mariska loved playing with all of her Rasmussen cousins, particularly Aubree who is only 5 months younger.

On Tuesday we went up to Temple Square. This is one of our favorite places and we had a wonderful time teaching Mariska about the pioneers. The church history museum across the street had a great children's area with the "I Am A Child Of God" theme. After the fun at Temple Square we ate pure bliss at Tony Caputo's. We found an inner fulfilment that only great food can bring... it had been about 2 years since we'd felt that fulfilment, since our last trip back to Utah! That afternoon Brent had a nice time golfing with the men in his family. I spent that time at my parent's house entertaining the girls with bubbles and a foam rocket. Or rather my Mom was entertaining them... I stood back and did the talking. That night my parents were super awesome and watched the girls for us, while we went to Costa Vida! It was SO good and we were excited to find that there is actually 1 in Texas, it's about an hour from our house, just like Fazoli's...

Wednesday we went down to the BYU Bean Life Science Museum. It was a really neat little museum, made even better by the free parking and admission. They had displays of all kids of animals and insects. Mariska was horrified of the big standing grizzly bear. From there we met up with my parents for lunch at the best burger place in the world, In And Out!! I seriously over ate, realizing it'll be a good while before I get it again. From there we tried going up to Bridal Veil Falls, but sadly it was closed because of avalanche season. I was actually really disappointed. But there wasn't anything we could do, so we headed over to a really fun playground in Pleasant Grove. After the park my parents were awesome again and watched the girls while Brent and I went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner with all the adults in Brent's family. I love the idea of just an adult night and think the Eldridges should do that one night on our next trip. I loved Texas Roadhouse, the cinnamon butter and rolls were so good. Once dinner was all said and done we went up to Brent's brother Ryan's house and visited with Brent's siblings and their spouses, and not to mention hold their new baby!

Thursday we had a lot of fun at Thanksgiving Point's petting zoo. My sister Amber came and brought her 2 year old Emily. My sister Sarah also brought her family and my other sister Joni with her. All the girls, except Emily, rode on ponies and loved it. Emily wasn't the biggest fan of the animals. The big horses freaked Mariska out too, which was a little funny. Brent enjoyed helping Mariska feed the chickens, and now I have to hear him try to persuade me to raise chickens in our yard about once a week! After Thanksgiving Point we ran over to Cabella's to look at more dead animals. And from there we went to lunch at Taco Time, which is MUCH better than the Taco Buenos down in Texas. Taco Bueno is NOT bueno. After lunch we went back to my parent's to give Brynley a nap, she was in desperate need by then. That night we took my parents to my Dad's favorite asian place. And then went back and had a nice visit with my brother Nathan and his wife Jessica. Mariska and Brynley enjoyed playing with their kids Nathan JR and Jessa.

Friday was awesome. We left early in the morning and met our friends Creed and Tama for breakfast. We always enjoy getting together with them. Luckily the girls weren't too grouchy for our visit! After breakfast we headed up to Logan!! We went up and drove to all our old favorite places and met our friends Mike and Katelyn and Chris and Christina for dinner. I hadn't realized until after they were all an HOUR late that we actually hadn't set a specific time and they had no idea we were there so early! It was pretty funny. But once they finally showed up it was just like old times again! It was as though Brent and I had never moved. All our girls (5 total) had a great time playing together. We didn't leave until about 10pm and our girls were SO tired. Mariska was a blubbery mess saying goodbye! She was bawling over leaving her dear, dear friends. I'm sorry to say I don't have pictures of us with our friends yet, they took them with their camera and I haven't gotten copies. The girls fell asleep almost instantly in the dark car and as Brent and I drove back through Sardine Canyon we both felt so very homesick. We miss Utah and all of our friends and family so much. Alas, we know that this is where we need to be and what Heavenly Father intends for our family, hard as it might be.

Saturday we had a great breakfast with Brent's family. Mariska had the greatest time with her cousins, particularly riding in the "carriage" behind Grandpa Ken's bike. It was hard to say goodbye, again, knowing it'll be a long time until we get back to Utah. Next, we went back to my folk's for the big Family Silly Surprise Supper. This is a potlock where no one knows what else anyone is bringing. So, if everyone brings dessert, that's what's for dinner! I love this idea, it's so fun and creative! Brent and I made Raspberry Pretzel Salad and his Grandma Rasmussen's Spicy Mushrooms. Dinner was so much fun! In all we had 22 people. It would have been 26, except Nathan and his family couldn't make it.

My Dad tortured me and all my nosiness all throughout dinner. Just as we were about to bless the food he says, "We're going to have a prayer, eat dinner and then we're going to have an announcement"... I couldn't handle it! What was it?! Was someone pregnant? Did Amber sell her house?! WHAT? So when dinner was finally over, we all gathered around and my Dad pulls out a bottle of sparkling cider to make a toast! The family is all quieted for the big announcement, my Dad proudly announces, "Brent has been accepted to the masters program at the University of Texas!" I hadn't even almost thought about the announcement being about us! My Dad, of course, loves the University of Texas, being an alumni and all... so we had sparkling cider and he passed around the "school song" lyrics and we all sang together. I'm not only very proud of Brent and all of his hard work, but I was very happy that my family shared in the pride and excitement for him that I feel.

After a night of fun, it was time to say goodbye. I had our family and the families of my sibling all get pictures. But I am so upset now, because those have all completely disappeared from our camera! I have no idea how they got deleted, but I'm mad. I see my family once every, what, 2 YEARS and the only pictures I take with them get lost!? Are you kidding me!? So, I'm still upset about that.

So we said goodbye and went to bed. The next morning we loaded up the cars and hit the road. The drive home wasn't nearly as hectic or full of crying as the way up. I'm not sure why, but Brynley in particular handled the drive much better. So we're home now and things are back to normal. Only now I have an awesome car and can leave the house!! It's changed my life COMPLETELY and I love it!! And the girls are loving it too!