Utah Trip

Utah Summer Road Trip 2014

After our long stay at the lake we made a quick trip to Utah for Tyler's 25th high school reunion. We had a great time and managed to pack a great deal of fun into a three day weekend! We headed out of town on a Thursday afternoon and drove through the night as is our usual mode of travel when taking the kids with us. We travel by night for this very reason:

How much longer until we get there?

This was less than 20 minutes on the road. No joke!! It is so much easier to get dinner on the road, eat it on the go, then night falls, kids sleep, and we arrive in the early morning. It works great with teenagers and tweens too! We made super good time and arrived in Idaho Falls at around 2am. Reilly is collecting pictures of temples from everywhere we go so she wanted a picture of the Idaho Falls Temple. 2am turned out to be a wonderful time to let the kids out of the car and run around while Reilly took pictures.

Then it was back in the car and back to sleep for all the kids and we headed on to SLC. We got into town early and drove around downtown and looked at the sites (even though we were just there in March and not much had changed.) We headed to our hotel and got there at 6am. Tyler called it see how early we could check in and for the price of half a day's rate we could check in right then rather than 1pm. Sweet! Done! We arrived just as the Continental breakfast was starting. Our favorite hotel puts on a grand spread for breakfast and we dropped the kids off at the dining room and Tyler and I headed to bed. We slept for nearly 5 blissful hours. It was glorious. The kids came back were so quiet that I didn't even know they were there!! True story. I had put on a sleep mask and headphones (Tyler had a horrible cold and was snoring LOUDLY) and drifted off to sleep. I woke up in a panic and was madly texting Reilly and Kameron to find out where they were only to see them all sitting right there quiet as mice. God bless technology. For once all their little devices keep them all busy and SILENT. Tyler and I woke up refreshed and we headed to the outlets. We had wanted to check out the new outlets in Highland when we were there in March but didn't have a chance. We stopped there and found something for the everyone. Why aren't there any good outlets in Spokane?!

Then we drove onto Pleasant Grove and dropped Reilly off at her friend Jessie's house. Jessie, her mom, and little brother recently moved from Spokane to Utah so we were all excited to see them. Reilly and Jess hung out and we continued onto Provo. We were REALLY hoping to have lunch at our favorite taco shop...Diego's. DENIED. I think it must be out of business or going out of business...we stopped in March and it was closed...and then again this trip. There was no reason for it being closed per se it was just locked up. We were so sad!! Luckily this place wasn't too far away and semi-cheered us up.

In March we tried Sodalicious but Swig is where it's at!! All the hype was true. Delicious. The Dirty Dr. Pepper was fabulous. Everyone got some flavor combination and all were good. But the pieces de la resistance were these bad boys!!

Swig cookies are THE THING!! Who knew cookies could be so trendy? But their reputation is even reaching us up here in Fargo (aka Spokane). At our last YW activity our YW President made these for the youth. Hers were pretty good but these were amazing!! It is a very good thing that there isn't a Swig up in these parts!! But Hey! We just got a Target (not the first one in Spokane...there are two...but one that isn't 20 minutes or more away) this new one is less than 5 minutes away! Woohoo and a Cafe Rio is going in right next to it!! Sweet. Anyway...I digress... the cookies and soda were good!

After running a few errands and waxing nostalgic it was time to pick up Reilly and get ready for a little soiree at the Utah Governor's Mansion. That's right! That's how we roll.

I have mentioned this numerous times on the ol'blog but I will mention it again. Tyler's childhood best friend, Kevin, is married to one of my childhood best friends, Naomi. (31 years and counting!!) Naomi and I grew up in Springdell together and Naomi introduced me to Tyler. It is all around delightful that Tyler's friend is married to my friend. BUT...In NO circumstance is it MORE DELIGHTFUL...than when having to attended your spouse's high school reunion. Boom! Instead of dreading it like a root canal I was looking forward to it!! Unheard of right?

The first night of festivities for Mountain View High School Class of 1989 was a gathering at the aforementioned Utah's Governor's Mansion. Their son happens to be in Tyler's class and one of his best friends growing up. Naomi and Kevin picked us up at our hotel and we headed downtown to have dinner before the soiree (what else would you call it?) at the Mansion. It's been a long time since we all went on a double date!! (My first date with Tyler was also on a double date with these two.) It was hilarious as usual. I always laugh my hardest hanging out with Na and Kev. This time was no different. It was so nice to have some time alone with them before the crush of reunion goers. Kevin was student body president so he is a hot commodity at reunions!

It was a lovely Utah night and it was fun to see Tyler and Kevin reconnecting with all their old high school friends...if they could recognize them! Sometimes those name tags came in handy. While they were chatting, Naomi and I took the opportunity for many many photo ops. Yes, Na I am posting them all...even the hideous ones...because they make me laugh!! Having my friend there to laugh with made my night and I ended up having a great time too!

Every photo of me is truly hideous because I am smiling my biggest gummy smile and my eyes are nearly closed because I am laughing so hard I am crying in every single photo. Naomi on the other hand is channeling her inner sophomore high school picture. Imagine:...perfect smile (she had just gotten her braces off)...perfect bob...perfect ribbon headband...lovely pastel sweater vest...and the slightest hint of lip gloss. Her school pictures were always the best!! Mine were not. Picture: bad bob...braces...ugly sweater vest..and a half smile/half smirk (that became my school picture trademark) due the lame "chicken man" photographer telling me to say "Boy Crazy!" every year and me giving him that look and eye roll. They.were.not.cute. Anyway... back to my story. Naomi looked fab as usual.

Tyler and Kevin did reunion-y things...blah blah...no one cares. (kidding)

We took selfies in the governor's mansion...in his office...yeah that's right! It is highly doubtful that I am ever going to be invited to go the the Washington Governors Mansion (or any other governor's mansion for that matter) so I have to get my kicks where and when I can.

Tyler laughing at us...laughing at him. Listen...Kevin has to be semi-serious about these reunions because he has "official duties" but Ty...not so much. Then we were told to get in the picture for the official photo, and even though we did not attend this high school, nor were in the class of 1989...we did.

The MVHS Class of 1989...Governor and First Lady Herbert...and us.

Kev and Ty

Action Shot!

As I said on FB: Hangin' with Jeanette Herbert the First Lady of Utah. She will always be Sister Herbert to these boys.

I encroached. 

Naomi, Jeanette Herbert, Nate Herbert, and Kevin

Sister Herbert (What else should I call her? That is how I was introduced to her many years ago.) is a super sweet and lovely woman who has opened up her home for YEARS to this rowdy bunch and lent them her vehicles for their many escapades and dastardly deeds.

Tyler, Matt, Kevin, and Nate... their re-telling of their infamous post graduation road trip to California nearly had me on the ground with laughter.

The highlights for Tyler's posterity:

"If we want to stay out my aunt's house one of you has to go out with my cousin. Who's it gonna be?"

"Listen!! My cousin has some "thirsty friends" who want to go out with us!!"

"Dude! One of her friend's name is Sidney. All Sidney's are HOT!  Have you ever met an ugly Sidney?!"

"Yeah, I'm coming and I'm bringing some STUDS with me!!"

"I am BATMAN!!"

(Add to that a custom 80's momo- mormon van, Mexico, sombreros, some hot chicks, NCMOS, and let's just say a good time was had by all.) and I enjoyed hearing every last detail!!

The night can pretty much be summed up by this picture!! My favorite of the entire trip!!

Now back to us...

You've heard of the ugly cry... I think the ugly laugh may be worse.

Channeling my inner southern belle. Keep in mind we were laughing very loudly...some might say... hysterically... whilst taking these pictures in front of the governor and his wife. Oh well.

The Yocums

The Johnsons

We also were given the go ahead to freely roam the mansion and of course we did. It was really cool inside.

My favorite room

The smoulder...Ty channeling Downton Abbey 

More selfies!!

Tyler and friends that he has had since elementary school.

We were literally being escorted out by security when we (Naomi and I) decided to take a few more photo opportunities!! I love it.

We were pretty much the last group of people to leave... I think Na was the very last. Where was she? Washing dishes!! She never ceases to amaze me. It turned out to be a great night of old friends, funny stories, and lots of laughs. A big thanks to the Herberts for being such gracious hosts to all of us. We had a great time!!

To be continued...