Readers!

You know readers,  I was looking at some sexy blog statistics and I realized that I have not created art in blog post form for quite some time now. Now please don’t take this personally readers. It’s not that I think you have bad breath or anything. I just love coming home from work and not touching a computer. It’s very relaxing, you should try it. That and pilates.

But, as is bound to happen, certain events have compelled me to take up a computer and clack out a wandering post or two.  The compelling event this time is a return to the motherland, the great state of Utah.

Wife and I got to spend an all-too brief weekend in the Beehive State but in it we crammed: family, friends, mountains, food, fun games, Oscars, and Ticket to Ride: New York Subway Edition.

While I could pontificate about everything that went down, I’m contractually obligated to only hit the highlights. (Darn content providers) So let’s fire up the way back machine and do this! JUICE IT!

THURSDAY

Bobbo picks us up at the airport and immediately decides the best way to welcome us home is to pick up 10 bags of rock salt that weigh 40 lbs. Always know how to treat a guest don’t you, Bobbo?

FRIDAY

Bobbo and I went off to tend the ‘phews while Wife hit the Gardner Village with the girls.  Boys are little men now and I  expect them to start shaving and asking for the car keys any day now. We finished off the night with a visit to the temple as a fam. Perfect ending.

SATURDAY

Saturday was the day of meeting with friends and thinking back to the good ol’ days. We first met the old roomies and their hubbies. Great times had by all. But it was the ending and the mandatory taking of the picture that provided the best memories.

Here’s the thing readers. Wife and I love taking pictures. Especially with our Nikon. Kinda takes the guesswork out of most of the shot. That is, except the timer. Wife insists on using the timer for group shots and it usually ends in disaster. The best thing is that this process has repeated itself so long that I was able to give a running commentary to the roomies and hubbies as Wife fought tooth and nail with the camera. Here’s a short transcript:

ME: “Ok here she goes. She’s going to try to set it on some precarious ledge and then peer into the lens like a old grizzled gold prospector searching for treasure. Yup. There it is. Right, now she’s going to ask how many times to push the timer button.”

WIFE: “Honey? How many times do I push the button?”

ME: ” Just once baby! Ok now she’s going to shout confusing directions to us to try to fit us together like a Tetris puzzle.”

WIFE: “Ok now Shaylee take four steps north-northeast and pivot to your leeward side!”

ME: “Right now that we’re this far, she’s going to check for wind shear, factor in the earth’s rotation and having done all that a helpful stranger is going to approach her and ask to take the picture for her, which she will politely decline.

HELPFUL STRANGER: “Excuse me ma’am could I take that picture for you?”

WIFE: “Oh that’s ok I’ve actually had years of experience of doing this very thing. My whole life was made for this moment.”

ME: “We’re at the home stretch. She’s going to hit the button, throwing the camera completely out of focus and run squealing like a first grader from a boy with cooties. And finally we’ll relent and get some other stranger to take the picture.”

WIFE: ” EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!”

Ah, memories. And if you didn’t believe me behold!

Nice stranger picture:

We also got to catch up with our dear friend Marlayne who just recently got married. We swapped stories and swapped friendship slap braclets (Man I wish. We did give her our two month late wedding present, though. I call that a win)

After meeting with the friends we trooped back to SLC to have a night of food and games with the family. We played Ticket to Ride and then watched Ghost Town. Highly recommended.

SUNDAY

We got to see Nana and go to church with the family. After church, Wife and I decided to enjoy God’s creation and drive up to Alta. We didn’t have enough time to ski this trip but we were able to go to the lodge and watch people ski and live vicariously through them. All I can say was it was amazing!

Sunday night was a special night because we all got to participate in Bobbo receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood. Bobbo’s prepping to go on a mission any time now and it was so great to be able to be there in that step. We also got to celebrate the parental’s birthday together since their birthdays are 4 days apart. We also got to watch the Oscars, I’m sure Wife will blog about that.

4 of the 5 broskis plus Dad

MONDAY

We had an afternoon flight so we took the opportunity to tour the Draper Temple. For those of you who haven’t gone I would highly, highly recommend it. It is a stunning building and so incredibly peaceful. We went through with my Mom which was great.

We then flew out Monday afternoon and got got back around midnight. We were both really tired and were looking forward to a good night’s rest but we were met with an evil foe….

A beeping fire alarm.

Thankfully, it wasn’t a squealing fire alarm but it was just reminding us incessantly that his battery was going to die. No prob there, I thought, I’ll just help it on it’s way and pulled out the battery.  Well it turns out that ALL the fire alarms in the apartment are sentient and decided to declare war for, only a few seconds after pulling the battery, ALL the alarms in the apartment went into squealing mode.

So imagine Wife and I struggling with a baying alarm at 12:30 in the morning. Not a pleasant experience. So we put the battery back in and decided to just block it out and go to sleep. In our PJs, in bed listening to the soothing sounds of the fire alarm mournfully beeping, Wife and I tried to go to sleep.  But then we got to playing the what-if game:

“What if the battery goes out in the middle of the night?”

“What if the neighbors then decide it’s a good time to introduce themselves and their sawed-off 12 gauge named Bessie?”

So with those thoughts firmly in mind, we scooted off to our nearest 24 hour store and bought us some batteries. Besides one little snafu where I put the batteries in the wrong way and set the alarm of again, we accomplished our goal. And no neighbor introductions either! I call that a win.

All in all, the trip was just what we needed. It was so great to see everyone and see the mountains and the snow.  More pictures for your feasting! ENJOY!

Ha!

This picture was taken by Geebs, age 2

Crazy nephews

I’ll get you next time Alarm o’ Doom