Utah - day 8

Can you believe that we are to this point already? I can't believe how fast time flies, especially when it is limited to begin with. I am really ready to be home, but I am so totally going to miss this place; Lori, her roommates and friends, and just the good time that we have all seemed to have.
Yesterday was the perfect Friday! It honestly seemed like a Saturday because we got to sleep in and then Lori made a killer breakfast: hot pancakes and a homemade strawberry sauce. She also made amazing strawberry milkshakes. She had one class at noon and I had a lot to do between the time I dropped her off and picked her up again. I came back to the apartment and looked up and wrote down directions, got ready (hair and make-up) and went and took care of the laundry. When she was done with class we went and met a friend and former missionary from PA for lunch! It was so much fun catching up with Jenni again. We ate at yummy Red Robin (5 alarm burger is amazing - just ditch the jalapenos) and talked and laughed; it was a wonderful afternoon.
After lunch, Lori and I ventured through the mall for a bit before returning home to get ready, yet again. I was getting ready to go to the Draper Temple Open House and Lori was going on a date. We both had wonderful evenings and had fun getting home to tell each other about our nights. We used to love to have time at home to talk like that, so it has been fun to do it here as well. It was my last Friday night and it was a little bittersweet because I really don't want it all to be over with. The only consolation I have is that it won't be the last time that I have to come to visit.

Utah - day 7

I can't believe that I have already been here a week - time really does fly! But before and I can tell you what I did today - I have to fill in the details of yesterday!
Yesterday was a really great day (as they all seem to be). I finally made my way to campus, well, it was the Bookstore - but it was still great to get out and do something. Lori spent most of her time away from home between work and school. When she was home, we actually took an afternoon nap and spent time together with nothing going on. She had to re-write a paper (stupid computer problems) but she's awesome and did it without too much grumbling! Dude, if it had been me I don't know what I would have done, but it wouldn't have been too pretty, I'm sure. While everyone was away I cleaned their apartment. I got bored, but it was really fun. I scrubbed the kitchen and living room top to bottom - I really felt like I got a lot accomplished! I had several movies playing and it was a really great time. Lori and I stayed up while she finished writing her paper (sort of) but had fun talking a bit.
After writing this I've decided that it wasn't all that exciting, but again, it was just a great day. I made plans last night to see some friends at lunch today and tomorrow, so it should be fun! I will also try to pull the camera out again and get some more pictures before I leave.
Until the next time...

Utah - day 6

Yesterday turned out to be one of the most awesome days ever. It wasn't that huge great things happened, but nothing went wrong and it was just a good day.
Lori let me borrow a book while I was here. I have never really considered myself a reader, but I know that when I find a great book that I can really get into, I can't put it down. That's the way I was with the book called "Dear John" by Nicholas Sparks. I read it in less than two days and still had time for everything else that I wanted. What a great story!
When I wasn't reading yesterday, Lori worked on homework and I searched the internet for just the right bread recipe. Of course I got so into my book that I forgot to start the bread so it could rise so we went to plan B and made breadsticks (it took less than 45 minutes start to finish!). Lori worked hard on her homework yesterday, trying to get everything done. Poor girl had 2 papers that were due today. She finished writing the one and when she went back to look at it, 2 of the pages out of one paper were completely gone, she had to rewrite those! But she did an excellent job and we had a great time. After we ate our dinner and dealt with some special people we met, we called one of our good friends, Loralie, to go to Coldstone Creamery with us. Tausha (Lori's roommate) also came with us. We had THE BEST TIME laughing and eating ice cream. I have waited over two years to have Coldstone again and it didn't disappoint. We actually ate our ice cream out side in the cold - it's a wonder we aren't all sick today.
We came back to the apartment after goofing off and Lori got back to her homework (she is SOOO good). Tausha wanted to go to the gym. It was past 9 pm and if you know anything about me, that is not the time to start going somewhere. However, I went with her and I am so glad I did. I have really missed my workouts at home and it felt good to move again. We had a really great time. When we were done, we started walking back to the apartment and decided that we weren't quite ready to go, so we went around the long way. It felt really great.
We got back to the apartment in time for lots of their fun friends to stop by - it was really a lot of fun chatting with everyone. I am really beginning to like it here, so much so that it is going to be really hard to say goodbye. Oh well, that's life and it is what it is. I guess the only thing to do now is make the rest of the time that I have here count.

Utah - day 5

Tuesday was a great day! Lori went to her classes and I enjoyed a rather quiet morning/afternoon. Nothing of incredible significance or excitement happened - it was just the perfect day for vacation. We had 70 degree weather yesterday - it was almost tropical! Lori, her roommate Sara, and I went and grilled some steak shish kabobs with zucchini. It was great to get outside and get in some fresh air. In the evening Lori had to work, so another roommate, Tausha, and I decided to bake up a storm. We made yummy Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies and Cream Puffs. It was fun to create something; at the end of the day, I felt like I had accomplished something, even though it was just food. After we were done baking we watched one of the funniest movies I have ever seen called Strange Brew. I haven't seen the end yet, so don't tell me what happens, but what I did see was great!
The weekdays are definitely less eventful than the weekends here, but I am completely okay with that. It makes for a completely relaxing time (and more quiet).
Lori has off of work tonight, so we will see what adventures lie in store for us.
Happy Wednesday!

Utah - day 4

Well - we're almost to the half way point in the trip - I can't believe how incredibly fast it is going! I feel quite a bit like a slacker; I had planned on going to classes with Lori, but haven't yet. Today I actually feel a lot of regret for not going, a situation I plan to remedy tomorrow (maybe).
Yesterday was such a laid back day. I look back now and I don't think I have ANYTHING to show for it. Actually I take that back, and I'll explain in a bit. I took Lori up to campus and then I came home and started to 'work'. I had real work to do, but my work computer would not connect to my personal computer, so my attempts yesterday were in vain. After her class I picked her up and we came back to the apartment. She did her homework (good girl) and I tried to be quiet so she could. She had another class in the afternoon and after they were over we went to the mall for lunch. I had an Arby's sandwich-I don't know what my problem is, but I L-O-V-E their food. Then we went shopping. Part of the purpose of this trip was to find a dress. I can't seem to find very good ones back home and this was the perfect opportunity. Lori and I tried on dresses for almost an hour. Lori bought this awesome and gorgeous green dress and I actually lucked out and found 2 dresses. I really wanted something springy and pick - but no luck - oh well, maybe next time.
Lori had to work last night and so I had more time to myself. I occupied myself by cleaning the kitchen and watching movies. Today I think I will try to find some sort of crafty thing to do while she is away. If not, I could take one more peaceful evening with some movies.
Yesterday certainly was certainly not super exciting, but it was an easy going day - and that is what I call a vacation.

Utah - day 3

Don't you just love how original these titles are? I mean, you can totally tell I sat here racking my brain for these ones. I figured I had better hurry and blog about yesterday or we'll be having a two for one special tomorrow.
Yesterday was a lot of fun! I found out how incredibly social, popular, and well-loved Lori is (although I already knew that). In the morning we went to their stake conference. It was weird to be back in a single/student ward and stake, but at the same time quite enjoyable. Their stake presidency was reorganized so one of the men from the presidency of the seventy(I never actually caught his name) and one of the members of the seventy (Elder Costa) were there and spoke. It was a great experience.
Once we got home we started making preparations for a party. Lori invited some of her friends and co-workers from freshman year over so I could see them again (I met most of them when I visited her last time). The party then grew into a few of her neighbors and by the time it was all said and done, I think most of her ward stopped by at some point. Ok, so that may actually be a bit of an exhaggeration, but we had over 40 people in this little apartment. It was such a hoppin' place that the party spilled out the front door and onto the balcony. It was a night of high energy and adventure. It was fun to see old friends, meet new ones, but mostly I had fun watching Lori be the awesome person/hostess that she is. She totally made everyone individually feel welcome. It was a great night. The only sad fact about last night was that it was so busy that I forgot to take any pictures. Oh well, I guess we don't have to have pictures of everything.
So, until tomorrow...

Utah - day 2

What an incredible day. Saturdays are almost always the best days anyways, but it was especially fun to be able to spend it with Lori. She was super excited because she didn't have to work at all. We had a great day together. It started with making yummy breakfast and getting ready for the day. We finished eating and decided to get going. We had big plans for the day. Lori had to do some homework for her interiors class at the mall so we started there; definitely an interesting place. Then we decided that we needed just a few things at Costco (go figure, her day off and we still end up there). After we were finished there we had planned to go straight to Salt Lake, but then we realized we had stuff that needed to either be refrigerated or frozen, so back to the apartment we came. We got home and unloaded (and felt like we needed a nap) and one of her roommates was there and getting ready to go home so we took her with us and dropped her off on our way out to Salt Lake.
This is when the true adventure began. As we were driving we started thinking about all of the places that we used to go to when we lived here. We started by driving through downtown Salt Lake to see where some things were and then we headed toward North Salt Lake - the land of our childhood. We drove up a hill to a playground we used to play at.

We went swinging,

I went down the slide once

and we spun on this funny tilted spinny thing. We don't know what to call it other than fun - any ideas???

We even captured a few videos for your viewing pleasure...

We took so many pictures of us out there; it felt just like being little kids again.
After the park we drove through the parking lot of the church that we learned to ride our bikes in; it's funny how much smaller it seemed yesterday than it did 10+ years ago. We drove by our old house and were amazed to find how great it looked. The last time I visited and drove by the house I was disappointed that it looked so sad, but whoever lives there now has really done some great redesigning to the house. I almost didn't recognize it, but it was gorgeous (the pic doesn't do it justice).

We drove up through this incredibly beautiful community called Eagle Wood. They started construction on the development when we lived there, but they have REALLY been growing; it seems like it goes on forever.
We even made it to THE frozen custard shop that we went to when we were younger - still as amazing as ever (and yes, there is actually a picture to go with this, too).

Once we were finished eating we drove back by the former house to take a picture and then it was back into Salt Lake for a quick lunch. We went to Crown Burger - it is possible that they make THE best burgers EVER! (Please note the authentic fry sauce on the bottom - delish!)

Thankfully we split one so we could enjoy the rest of the adventures of the day. We left Crown Burger and started to make our way back down to Provo. We did have one more stop though, and that was to pick up Lori's roommate. It was such a fun drive, a little bit of 'I was right and you were wrong', and a whole lot of laughter. I got to meet her roommates family - they were so great. They invited us in and fed us soup and hot rolls! It was perfect for the stupid cold that I am fighting. We made it back to Provo around 7:30 and I was done; it was time for jammies for me, but Lori made M&M cookies for today (we're having an awesome party for desserts and friends - should really be a great time.) We started a movie and that was pretty much where my night ended (as usual). It was an awesome Saturday and we are excited for today!

I guess it doesn't really matter what we do, just as long as we're together!