So this weekend Tyler and I celebrated two birthdays.  The first was for Val, Tyler’s dad, and the second was for Nolan, Tyler’s uncle.  We started out the weekend by going over to the Browns for Cake and ice cream.  Liana and Joel came with Jaxon and we sat and chated for a while.  After they left, Tyler and I got April and Val to play a card game called Flippity Flop (also known as Golf, but my name is just more fun to say.) We sat up with them till it was way past their bed times and left about 11:30.    It was so much fun! 

The next day we went to lunch with all the Browns at Texas Roadhouse.  Which is always so tasty!   They made Val get up on the saddle while everyone yelled a big yeehaw for his bday.  It was great! 

Sunday was the beginning of the birthday celebration for Nolan.    We always go over to Nolans on Sundays, but this sunday I was so excited because our good friend Brooks was in town.  We were able to visit and watch Mean Girls.  So much fun.  Then of course we sang happy birthday and had cake and cheese cake… yes, cake and cheese cake!  They were both really tasty. 

Monday was our final day of celebration.  We went to a fun bday dinner with Nolan and Kam.  Macaroni Grill and Sub Zero Ice Cream.  It doesn’t get any better than that!    So tasty. 

What a fun weekend and Happy birthday once again to Val and Nolan!  We love you both!

So a while back Tyler, Joseph (my little Brother) and I were watching Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.  This episode was all about subs.  Then they introduced this place in salt lake called Moochies that makes meatball subs and philly cheese.  We had to try it!  So we went while we were on our honeymoon ( I know, so romantic).  The first time we went there we tried the meatball sub.  Man alive it was excellent!  Then about two weeks ago, we went with my parents and I still got the meatball, but everyone else tried the philly cheese.  Ok it is kind of one of those hole in the wall places, but it is super tasty!!

The other day Tyler and I watched the food network (that’s nothing new) and we saw the most tasty looking meal!  It is called Maniladas.  It is a combination of manicotti and enchalads.   It sounds a little weird, but trust me, it was so tasty and pretty easy.  We took a picture because we were so proud of how well it turned out.

Over the weekend Tyler and I finally went to see Up!  After Ryan and Kayla’s open house, Aly, Jarom, and Marlie came with us to see up.  I was pretty surprised, we didn’t hear much from Marlie at all.  But she enjoyed the movie too.  We thought it was so funny.

So I decided that Tyler and I just really like all of these quick trips.  Over Memorial Day Weekend Tyler, Rachel, Joe, and I all drove to California.  Ali called and asked if there was any way for us to bring back her puppies.  So we jumped on the opportunity to take a little road trip.  We woke up and left on Saturday morning at 5 which means we got in about 4:30 there (it takes a little longer when you are driving with puppies).  We went to the beach and dinner.  We had dinner at this place called Swingers, and it was super tasty (they had the best onion rings I have ever had).  Then we went back to Ali and Rob’s house and all of us were exhasted and fell asleep watching tv.

The next day we woke up and relaxed most of the morning.  Then we decided to get up and get going so we went to get brunch at this place called the Terrace which was excellent too.  The best part about that place was it was feet away from the beach.  Then we went and played at the beach again.  Tyler was feeling artistic so he tried to take all of these fun pictures… don’t worry, i joined in too.  How did we do?! 

After a while we decided to head out because Rachel had to work the next day so we couldn’t stay too long.  We left about 4:30 utah time and make it in at 2:30.  Don’t worry though, we had to stop at this place called Raising Cane’s for dinner on sunday night (it was a fried chicken place, a southern food chain that Tyler fell in love with on his mission). The car ride was pretty entertaining though, but let me tell you, driving in the car with rachel and joseph when they are getting tired is not always the most fun.  haha It was still fun though.

It may have been a quick trip but we had a blast and it was so fun to see Ali again!

So almost a month ago Tyler and I drove out with his parents to Missouri for our nephew’s blessing.  It was such a fun trip, but the drive out there took way longer than it should have.  We were driving about 25 hrs (by the way I think it should have taken us 19 or 20).  But we had to take a slight detour from Rawlings up to Casper and then back down to Cheyenne and the road between Casper and Cheyenne had about 3 inches of snow on it in some places which made us drive a max of 40 in a 75… then other times the road had at least been plowed but were still icy at least we could drive 50 or 55 then…. finally we got behind a big 18 wheeler and cruised at a whopping 65.  We made it alive though and I think once we got into nebraska the roads were clear (I don’t know exactly when because I fell asleep).

We made it safe to St. Louis and went to dinner with Joel (Tyler’s older brother), Liana, and Jaxon.  We went to Bandana’s and got ribs… don’t worry, we had ribs the next night as well at a Lottawatta Creek Grill (which was way better than the first night).  We were able to go to the arch there in St. Louis and then on Monday we went to the Zoo!  Rand and Hillary (Tyler’s oldest brother) came into town on saturday and we were able to hang out with them.  So we had the whole family together at the Arch and for dinner.  (Oh and Tyler lost his jacket at the arch.) It was such a fun weekend.

I think out of all the days we were there Sunday was the funniest.  Joel locked his phone and keys in their apartment.  He thought they had left the their patio door open (did I mention they live on the second floor)  So after they tried the front door Rand and Joel boosted Tyler up on the balcony to try the patio door… well it was locked as well.  So we left Tyler up there while we called a locksmith.  In the meantime, Tyler was the poarch monkey and we threw him candy.   The rest of the day (well after the blessing) we just relaxed and played games.

Monday we flew home after the zoo.  Thank goodness for our flight home.  I like driving in the car for a while, but I’m glad our trip home was only 3 hrs instead of 20 hrs.  Tyler and I had a great time with all the family and are happy to say that baby Jaxon is super cute!

So the other day (Sunday) Tyler, Rachel, and I all woke up at 4 in the morning to drive up to Idaho for my cousins baby blessing (who by the way is such a cute little guy!).  Rachel had to be the funniest person to wake up.  I walked in her room and this is how our conversation went…

Me: Rach… are you coming to Idaho with us?   Rach: Huh, ya.   Me: Alright, you gotta get up.    Rach: Huh, where are we going? 

It was such a funny conversation.  Don’t worry, when we got in the car Rachel slept the majority of the way up and the way back home.  Anyhow… That was our first drive.  8 hours in the car on monday! 

Tuesday night we decided it would be fun to drive up to Park City to meet up with my parents who are staying the week up there.  Rachel, Joseph, Tyler and I all jumped in my car and left.  It was raining pretty bad!  We almost hydro planned four times.  It was the scariest drive up there ever… until we started driving home.  You know in star trek when they go into hyperspeed or whatever and the stars look like they are streaming towards you… well it was snowing and that is what it looked like.  We could barely see the road.  It was the scariest drive ever!  I was on the edge of my seat almost the whole drive! 

Well I wish I could say that was the last of our driving for a while, but we have one more drive (which I think will be fun, but maybe a little too long).  Thursday night we are driving out to Missouri.  It will be about 16 hours maybe more, who knows.  But we are going to see Tyler’s brother Joel who just had a baby.  St. Louis here we come!

On Saturday March 28th, I decided it would be fun to throw Tyler a surprise party (because his birthday wasn’t until the 31st).  I had things all worked out.  I was going to make Cafe Rio stuff and the night before I put the pork in so it would be extra tasty!  The next day we ran some errands and then Tyler was off to softball practice (yes, tyler is on a softball team with some of his buddies).  While he was at practice I hurried and tried to make everything and Jenni came over and helped.  Finally 4:30 came around and Tyler called saying he was on his way home.  I had told him earlier in the week that we were going to hang out with our friends Nat and Matt, so I asked Tyler to stop at the store and get stuff for spinach articoke dip, and he did because he is awesome like that.  Anyhow, after we stalled forever while we waited for people to show up, I finally told him to just come home.  He walked in and we yelled surprise, and all he had to say was… I saw your cars.  Geez!  Oh well, it was still fun.  I guess it was mostly my fault because I acted “fishy” the whole day!  Whatever.

The rest of the day we ate our “Cafe Rio Salads” and just hung out with friends.  It was such a great day, even if i didn’t do the greatest job of surprising him.  We all had a blast.