One Week in Utah

For those who don't already know Jeff switched jobs about a month ago. He had a really great opportunity to move to a different energy company called, Linc Energy, where he'll still be doing mergers and acquisitions only it's a better company with more opportunities for growth (and more time off...yea!). So, in between leaving High Sierra (his old company) and starting his new job he decided to take a week off to decompress. We thought we'd head to Utah to visit family and friends. It was the perfect time of year to travel since we got to see all the gorgeous Fall leaves along our way.

 I haven't been to Utah in October in years, so I had to visit my favorite Fall spot...Sundance! It did not disappoint. We met up with our good friends, Blair & Kim Smith and their daughter Sophie for lunch at the Foundry Grill and then headed outside to enjoy the beautiful Fall weather.

 I can't believe I didn't take more pictures. This shot does not do the beauty of this area justice. Trust me, it was unbelievable with colors.

 The weather was SO nice the first few days we were there that we were even able to swim in Grandma's pool. It doesn't hurt that she heats it to 94 degrees either. :)

 We were there over General Conference weekend, so during the Saturday night Priesthood session the girls and the babies went to Gardner Village to see their witch display and eat dinner. I had never been, but had been hearing about it for years. It was fun to finally see it and the kids did great!

 Three cousins playing together. (Anders, Eliza & Adelaide)

 We headed up the canyon for FHE to roast hot dogs.

 We got to visit all three living grandmas starting with Grandma Lind, but unfortunately we forgot to get a picture. Then we visited Grandma Richards, who is 101! She's adorable and amazing!

 I love this shot of her with Jeff. She just loves him and told him while we were there that he's always been one of her favorites. She's his favorite for sure!

 We got to go out to dinner with Craig and Kristin Mills at the Bombay House. Still the best Indian Food I've found (and I've had it in NYC & London), bar the Indian Wedding we attended. That food was pretty amazing too!

 I met up with some college girlfriends at Thanksgiving Point one day to see the petting zoo.

 The kids all got along so well. Here is Jack & Addie with Kristin's little guy, Sullivan. 3 little toe heads.

 After Tpoint we went to lunch. Unfortunately Karissa had to bail early, but here is Jeno & Kris and the kids. Some of Jeno's kids are missing since they are school age.

 We got to have dinner at the Kesslers, our dear friends from Denver that moved to Utah a year ago (we're still mad), but we forgot to take any pictures. After dinner we drove to Bountiful and slept over at the Edgington's new home. It made the whole they moved to Utah thing seem real. It was sad, but also great to see them again.

 We drove to Ogden to spend some time with my grandma Stratford. It's always so much fun to see her and get caught up. She's 86 but you'd never know it. She runs around like a 50 year old and even made us a delicious peach pie.

 In all of our traveling around for visits our kids took a lot of their naps like this.

 We spent some time in North Salt Lake at my brother, Rick's house. It's always so fun to visit there. It's like a mini Disneyland with their indoor gym, endless toys, tons of cousin love & of course Aunt Jodie doling out candy. 

Here's cute Blake with Addie watching Sesame Street.

 Jeff & Josh playing basketball.

 All the Stratford cousins with Jack & Addie.

 Rick & Jodie with Jeff and me

 Last, but certainly not least here is Brent & Rosemary, our amazing hosts for the week. Thanks for all the meals, kid tending & good times! We always love to visit home.

Stopped at a Sonic along the trail home.

We had such a wonderful week with family and friends. We had many more good times that we forgot to take pics of (seeing cousins Adam & Ashley and their new baby, breakfasts with friends, visiting BYU's campus, just to name a few)...seriously it was a jam packed week...and we still have so many more people we would've loved to visit. It's always a challenge when we go home to balance family time with friends we want to see. Since we both grew up and went to college in Utah there is an endless supply of dear friends we like to visit and unfortunately don't always have time to see them all, but we packed quite a few in this time.

Everyday while we were there we'd ask Jack if he was ready to go back to CO yet, and every day he responded, "No, I'm not ready yet. I want to stay in UT a while longer." Then on the last day he said, "I want to live in UT!" Break my heart. What he doesn't realize is that if we lived there we wouldn't be spending every day visiting family and friends. It's all packed in when we visit. I'm sure he'd still love it though. So many cousins and friends. I always feel a little sad when we have to leave, but once we're back in our home (and our own bed) it's always so nice to be home.