Savoring Time with Friends and Fall

This is Kelley Larsen, me, and Kristen Wood.  The worst thing that could have ever happened to our wonderful group of Chicago friends was Kelley leaving us.  I don't think I can put it into words, but Kelley is one of the most incredible people you'll ever meet.  She lights up every room she enters and makes everyone feel loved.  When I heard the Larsens were moving to Guam, I was pretty devastated.  And I determined to spend as much time with Kelley as possible before she left!

 This was a girls' night at Mindy's Hot Chocolate with many of the ladies who are huge fans of Kelley's (and who happen to love Chicago, rich dessert, and hot chocolate).

 Another group picture that is pretty much horrible of all of us except for Kelley - glowing right there in the middle.  :)

We also had a family going-away party for the Larsens at Gillson Park/Beach.  It was a really fun night.  My favorite was that Will (Kelley's husband) and his fellow musicians brought their gig to the park and entertained us with the most hip music ever that set the mood perfectly and made everyone else at the park jealous that they aren't as cool as us.

 The day after that party began another few days of savoring time with amazing friends.  Shug, Brittany, and Jacob (our lifelong friends, as you probably know) were all able to swing it and be here in Chicago for a handful of days.  Shug was expecting her third child...so we all wanted to get a visit in before her life would change drastically! I felt badly that I couldn't meet them at a more unique destination, but I had already been indulgent enough with the Newport trip, and for our family's sanity, I couldn't go anywhere.  So these amazingly flexible friends were able to come to me!

 Brittany was the instigator, and I love her for it, because time together is exactly what we all needed!

 These pics were taken on our Chicago River architectural boat tour.  I was just so happy that the weather was good enough to do something so lovely and outdoors.  I believe we even got hot on this ride.

 Of course, I didn't take nearly enough pictures of this trip because we were so busy having a good  time that I didn't even think about pictures.  Actually, we spent a lot of time (as we always do) having very good and important conversations.  One poignant topic was "What on earth will happen if Donald Trump actually becomes president of the United States?" Some of us were pretty worried about that.  I wasn't that worried, because obviously, there is NO WAY that could possible happen.  Right?!?

Okay, it's really lame that I don't have any more pictures.  But I was SO grateful that Brittany and Shug were willing to fly out, and that Jacob drove out to visit as well.  It's amazing how good friends have a way of staying connected no matter what.

Summer Vacation '14, Part 2: San Francisco

After a few days in Utah, I had to go to Stanford to work with a colleague on a research paper.  We figured that since my work was paying for my ticket and hotel room, Jenn might as well tag along to see our dear friend Brittany who lives in Palo Alto as well.  Many thanks to the grandparents for watching the boys while we gallivanted around Northern CA!

Our first night in Palo Alto, who should come to Brittany's house but our old Layton High friend Kylee Simmons!  She happens to live in the same ward, and it was great fun to see her again after 14(!) years.

Brittany, of course, spoiled us with spectacular food such as this really amazing caprese salad.  Thanks, Brittany, for being such a gracious hostess!

Did I mention that Shug flew down from Alaska to hang out as well?  Well, she did!  So, the way it worked was Jenn, Brittany, and Shug would pretend that none of them had any responsibilities or budgets or cares of any kind while Brittany gave the grand tour of the San Francisco area.  Meanwhile, I slaved away in a small, un-air-conditioned room working on my research with my co-author.  So, the pictures are all of Jenn, Brittany, and Shug.  Here they are at a goat farm and a beach.

I heard that they had spectacular pizza at Delores Park overlooking SF.

This is 826 Valencia: a pirate supply shop.  How cool is that?

Jenn picked up some eye-patches for the pirates in her life here.

Brittany looking San Franciscan

Jenn trying out the California beach-model look.

On one street corner, there were all of these books hung on wires above the sidewalk, and then words scattered all over the concrete.  

Words like "lavenderously" and "sharp edges."

Bob's Donuts is a legendary place in SF.  Rumor has it that the fresh donuts are available only after 10pm.  That rumor might be true, because we showed up at 9:15 and the only fresh ones were French crullers.  So we bought some of those. 

The crullers were good enough that we just sat in the car and waited until 10pm to get round 2.  Totally worth the wait.

Hopefully you're realizing by now that food was a major part of this trip.

A selection of some of Jenn's favorite SF houses, which of course reminded us of Full House.

Jenn and Shug at Muir Woods to see the redwoods.  This was one stop I was really sad to have to miss.

Jenn professes to be a tree-lover.

Shug was a trooper, in spite of her delicate condition.

This was probably the best view of the Golden Gate that Brittany showed us (she provided many spectacular views of it).

These are the dancing lights of the Bay Bridge, an art installation going on for the next several months.

And thus ended our SF adventure.