Summer Vacation '14, Part 3: Utah

Jenn and I caught a cab at 3:30am to fly back from SF to Utah on Pioneer Day.  Why the rush?  Because we had a very important date that night:

The RSL game, with my parents, Kati, Joe, Sophie, Isaac, Ivan, McCall, Brady, Blake, and Ellis.  This was my birthday present from Jenn's parents: tickets to the game while they watched the younger grandkids.  So nice of them!

The original plan was for Henry to come to the game while Ellis stayed with Grandpa Dave and Grandma Lori.  But Ellis was easily the biggest World Cup fan at our house over the past month (except me, of course), so Henry graciously gave up his ticket so Ellis could go.  That Henry, he's a good kid.

While Brady was taking pictures of our group, he thought he'd just turn around and snap a picture of the people across the aisle to see what they would do.  This is what they did.

Ellis ate the game up.  He learned the "Believe" song, joined in the "Nick Rimando (clap clap clapclapclap)" chant, and screamed at all the right times.  

We were almost the last ones to leave the field, as Ellis just couldn't get enough.  Don't we kind of look like an RSL ad?

Whenever possible, we get together with our old high school friends when we're in town.  We're still close to so many of our friends, and it's always spectacular to see them!

One of the main reasons for our trip was to attend Jolie's wedding to Spencer Price.  We had tons of fun celebrating the day with them and think they'll make a spectacular couple!

Jenn and Sierra sporting their matching retainers.  Which one is 14 and which is 32?  Hard to tell...they both look 14 to me.  :)

Jenn and the boys went with Andrea, Zach, Sierra, and my mom to This is the Place State Park and absolutely LOVED it (all of them, actually).  There were tons of awesome activities:

Pony rides

Cow milking

Wagon rides

Panning for gold

Amazing views

And even getting a shave in an old-time barber shop!  This is seriously the perfect place if you're ever looking for something to do in Utah with or without kids.

While the ladies and kids were at This is the Place, they were kind enough to give me and my dad leave to fish the Weber River for the day.  I really relish these days in the mountain valleys, with just me and my dad and the river and (hopefully) the fish.  We were pretty successful this time, with my dad's brown trout above being the real highlight.

Henry, with some help from Sophie and Ivan, created this intricate strategy game called "AD," and we all got to play it.  Maybe we've got a future game designer on our hands?  His inventions are getting ever-more complex and creative.

And just like that, our time in Utah came to a close.  As always, it was far too short for our taste, but we so appreciate everyone carving out time to spend with us when we come!  The time with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins is really what it is all about, and we love watching our kids get older and interact more with all of these people that we love so much.