Roomie Reunion

Okay, so about a week ago I went to my college Roomie Reunion.

We try to get together every 4 years or so, last time was in Park City and we rented a condo, it was a bit of a challenge because everyone was at such different stages in life.

This time was definitely easier, because while we all have very different lives, we all have grown up and matured to the point that we can have discussions about just about anything. Not feel left out if someone decides to have a one on one conversation with someone else, and even gotten to the point that all of us made sure we each got a chance to talk one on one with each other... therefore catching up on each others lives a lot better and a lot more intimately. And not only that, we all tried to be conscious of how each other might feel and tried our best not to make each other uncomfortable... though I'm sure that still happened a couple of times.

We stayed at an aunts vacation house in Heber... it was beautiful and was such a blessing. It helped to keep cost down so that 5 out of the 6 roommates could attend (we definitely missed the 6th... but living in the east definitely makes it harder to come out west... especially on short-ish notice). The house was immaculate and we tried our best to leave it spotless and tidy when we left for our own homes once again.

We stayed up late talking and playing games, and at one point freaking out because of a random "bump" in the night (and accidentally setting off the house alarm! But we got it shut off quickly enough).

 (And yes, we actually used the headlamp and the ski poles(?) to go downstairs and check the unfinished basement for shady creepy stalker type people...)

We each took care for providing a meal and only ate out once (though the little cafe had wonderful food!) and we went to a very quaint coffee shop that used to be a full service gas station back in the days... they even had the old 1950's gas pumps out front!  We sat and talked outside until I got a sunburn... IN OCTOBER!! It was fabulous! I regret having ever doubted I would have fun...

(me and my absent roomie... and yes I'm aware that I don't pout very attractively... and yes, the absentee roomie is rather short so my arm is intentionally kinda low... MISSED YOU!!!)

Next time I really hope that our missing roomie can make it. We missed her.

(There, that's a better picture of me!)

Artsy Fartsy FTW (For the win!)

Okay, so this morning I'm probably either racing to get my kids ready and off to their Grandma S's house or I'm already at my MRI to see what is going on. But while we are waiting I will update you on my weekend!

Quite a while ago my mom invited me to go with her to the Park City Arts festival. She has been going annually for over a decade! Up until this year she went with her mom, but due to some unfortunate events that is no longer possible, so she invited me.

We left on Friday and headed down to Salt Lake. While there we stopped to drop off some things to my Grandpa K and to visit :)

It was so good to see him! Even if he wouldn't let me get a picture of him doing "brain surgery" aka pretending to shove his pinky finger all the way up his nose while pulling a hilarious face. That stunt always brings back good memories of when I was little.... that and him "Growling"... such a ham! I love him so much and his sense of humor always has me laughing.

(He and my mom making a "pinky promise" about something.... hmmm my memory must be going!)

After visiting with "Grumpy" and going out to dinner with him we headed to our hotel for the night.

The next morning we headed up to Park City to attend the Arts Festival.. or the "Kimball Arts Festival" for those of you that are picky. :)

The art there is so cool! This rooster was part of a group of other motion sculptures... each of the heads would nodd in the wind. I loved how this ones body wasn't a solid color, but instead had texture to it.

Mom bought me a really fun hat that I'm totally going to wear to death:

My mom and I are of the opinion that these pictures we are standing in front of could totally be done by my machinist of a dad!

(See dad.... you could totally do those!)

I loved looking at all the different types of art! They sooooo make me want to try my hand at art again... even though I am sorely out of practice and would probably be disappointed in my lack of skill... even then, I want to learn how to weld at least!

I mean... how many cool things could I make!!!! Funfun! 

Okay, so maybe I'm a little ambitious... I admit... but aren't these things so cool to see? Turbo has asked me to play this one over and over again. :) Maybe I can convince Jer to let me build a shop out back? hmmmm maybe not, not enough space :( And then there's that whole... I don't know how to weld thing...

And yes, there was "normal" paintings there too... this one totally made me think of my boys! batman: check, Light saber: check, big wheel: check....

So fun!

California Vacation Pt 3: The Getty

So one of the last things I remembered my camera for.... (yes, I forgot my camera... and yes I did go to Disneyland that day... and I got incredibly sunburned... but maybe that is for the best, this way my kids can't see what they missed, cause they would be pissed. And I'm planning on eventually taking them all back there, probably when Turbo is at least 64" tall...)... was the Getty! And just a warning, if you haven't figured out that these vacation posts are picture intensive, then let me just say... this one has the most pictures!

First we parked and got on the tram up to the museum:

The building itself was very artistic and airy... it was almost like the guy was doing his best to make you feel as though the exhibits were actually outside!

For most of the week that we were there I totally forgot to get in any of my pictures! So here I conned Jer into taking one of myself and Erika... and no my hair doesn't usually look like I was electrified... that was the wind silly!

Then Erika got one of Jer and I! :)


We took a cool tour of the Renaissance part of the museum, about how the art changed as time passed... and I was so enthralled that I forgot to take pictures...can you tell I was a little loopy that day?! After that I conned both Jer and Erika into taking a garden tour with me... because apparently (if you haven't figured it out) was was absolutely in love with the plants and the weather there! Heck, who can blame me! I'd just come from the cave like, snow ridden state of Idaho!

Here is a picture looking down on the gardens:


And me with my headphones on so I could hear the tour guide talking without her having to shout:

The rocks with the stream underneath... you could hear the water constantly :)


As you got further down the stream, there came to be less and less rocks obstructing the view...

And then there was the Bougainvillea! Look at that awesome vine! Soooo pretty, and all over down there!


And more pretty green stuff!

The waterfall that the stream feeds into and the pool beneath it:


And me being cheesy and forcing Jer to cooperate!

Good enough to eat? Nope, not unless you want to hallucinate!

The azalea bushes in the pond:


See, I'm not the only one that likes green!!! Van Gogh does too... so Meh!

And so does Monet!

And this picture they got mad at me for taking... not because of flash, but because it was in the Leonardo De Vinci Exhibit... and apparently I'm super oblivious and didn't see the bazillions of signs saying "no picture or video" until AFTER I got in trouble...Doh!

It was a really cool place to visit and I thought the coolest thing was that you could get up close to everything... no barriers to keep you from getting close enough to actually see the paint strokes. It really helped make you feel as though you were meant to ENJOY the art. As strange as it seems, most museums don't make you feel that way.

Thanks so much to our awesome hosts and the people that made us feel right at home!

After visiting you guys I totally want to come visit again! I hope we didn't wear out our welcome and weren't too much trouble. If ever we can repay the favor... PLEASE let us know!

Thanks again, you awesome, awesome, fabulous people!

California Vacation Pt 2: Hanging Out!

While in Cali, we not only did a bunch of awesomely fun things, we also got a chance to hang out and reeeeeelllllaaaaaxxxxx :)

We went to a sweet coffee shop with excellent crab cakes for breakfast the day after we arrived with everyone,

Erika has an awesome neighbor named Ericalyn who is the bomb! She takes really cute photos...

...so we headed over to the beach after breakfast so that she could get some pictures of Mrs. B's little girl (really sweet little girl!).

Unfortunately the water was icy cold... as Jer found out quick enough.

and yes, he totally made fun of me for taking the next picture.... "ooooooh saaaaand, woooooow" but HEY! It's the BEACH! and for his information... I'm from a land locked state!

In between running around to Medievil Times and eating at really good Breweries and restaurants, there were errands to run :) Gotta keep life going! Miss J found out that my Ipod was a great distraction!
Look at those curls!!! Soooooo cute!


Then of course there was my preoccupation with the greenery... lol PURPLE TREES! I was in awe... and the sun, and the beautiful weather, and the boats... and the walk through the park with the awesome Chai tea.... mmmmm, yum!


Jer made quick friends with a little girl that Erika was watching one of the mornings we were there... She climbed right up on his lap and made herself at home :)


And we were introduced the the joys of SingStar... which I have been keeping my eye out for on the PS3 (but may end up having to order)... Karaoke at it's best! The kids were a good audience :)

Miss J and Mr C were soooooo cute!

This Vacay was the best of both worlds, we did enough to feel like we got to see things, but had enough days that we could sleep in that we also felt relaxed and that we actually got a vacation!

Stay tuned for more tomorrow... same bat channel, same bat time!