Good Eats With Friends

One of the perks of living in Salt Lake as a Momo is that it's a bit like a hub.  The Momo hub.  So whenever friends come into town to visit, we're here!  Unfortunately, one of the quirks of living in Salt Lake is that almost everyone we know has family here.  So instead of making a lot of new friends or seeing our good friends often, everyone's hanging out with family a lot of the time.  So even though our really good friends from South Pas moved to SLC shortly before us, it's been rare for us to find time to hang out.  Well, we finally got around to it and it happened to be the same weekend our other friends from South Pas would be visiting.  The last time we hung out was Christmas 2012 which was also before two of us had our second babies.  

The last time we met in Salt Lake...  

And less than a year later... with our new additions!

The waffles at Bruges and Waffles... absolutely devine.  

The fries are supposed to be good, but Andy and I didn't try any (and the thought did cross my mind when he asked me what to order that I should advise him to get something sweet and salt, but then I ignored the thought and he only ordered us sweet stuff - lesson learned, content communicate or order yourself and don't trust your hubs hahaha).  

We sat on the deck and fenced our boys in with chairs and let them run amuck.  It's really neat when the kids grow up and are able to interact because less than a year ago, Jordan was the only one walking but now all three were causing trouble...

And a group photo I made into a gif!

Overcoming Fears

We were in St. George this past weekend for the wedding of the missionary who baptized me!  How amazingly wonderful and full circle is that?!  It was AWESOME - more on it later.  On Friday afternoon, between the sealing/luncheon and the reception at night, Andy took Jordan to Pioneer Park which is basically a ton of red rocks to climb.  From the photos Andy took (not pictured here), you'd think he had a pretty amazing time.  Photos can be deceptive....

It wasn't until Saturday, after going to a park and asking Jordan repeatedly if he wanted to go back to the red rocks or bridge (to which he said, "no... no red rocks") and basically forcing him to go by asking him again and again until he changed his answer to yes (I hope my kids don't pick up on that trick), that I was informed of Jordan's initial trepidation the day before.  

Andy said, "it's like night and day" over and over again.  He was enjoying the landscape, hopping and running despite us advising him sternly to WALK please!  He began making up songs about hopping and going on bridges as he was pouncing on the rocks and gravel, like he knew the terrain well.  He would ONLY hold my hand if I asked him to because I needed help - not because he needed assistance.  Bubba also seemed to enjoy it (it was his first time - we stayed in so I could do some work) and I of course, enjoyed it for a while and then wondered when we'd be done.  

Don't wear Sperrys to the red rock park... they get stuck in your shoes!

"Tunnel!"  He climbed through many of these.  

Andy was immensely proud of Jordan for overcoming his fears from just the day before.  In fact, he didn't want to leave and asked us again and again when we'd get to go back to the red rocks.  It made me think of all the things I'm fearful of myself and how scary the "first" time doing something intimidating and difficult can be.  Like having your first baby!  Or your first c-section. Or freshman year of college.  Or that first real job in the real world.  It IS scary the first time.  It DOES get better.  And it IS easier with time.  And better I might add.   So whatever might seem hard (for me right now... cleaning house, cooking new recipes and trying to sew) must only be met with endurance!  That might power to persevere will eventually be met with rewards, if not the next day like Jordan than eventually.

On our way out of the park, our St. George hosts, Becky and Jesse, called us with news that Splash had just opened, the new competitors for Swigs, the PLACE to be in St. George.  Apparently they get their cookies from the same exact bakery in Santa Clara - Cravings, so off we went for some buy one get one free cookies and dirty diet coke (not a fan of the latter folks).  Now normally, I am no fan of sugar cookies.  But boy was I in love.  This piece of heaven was absolutely delicious and I cannot wait to try some of the mock recipes I have seen on Pinterest.  

And that was our Saturday leading up to the BYU game which we watched while chowing down on sugar cookies and In N Out burgers in the comfort of our friend's gigantic mansion.

Fall Ball...

Initially, the fresh green hills just east of us looked like they were puking slowly.  Little drops of brown, orange and yellow began sprouting up and my So Cal roots and almost entire life spent there might explain my initial confusion.  What was going on?  

Apparently, it was fall starting.  The colors, the beautiful colors, just looked absolutely dreadful to me.  What happened to the lush green hills I was so acquainted with?  

Once I realized Fall wasn't so bad and actually quite gorgeous everywhere else with red, orange, yellow everywhere and cooler more sustainable outside to play type of weather, it really grew on me.  

We found some time to break away from our normal shenanigans in the play room/office and had some fun in the leaves.  

And then we decided it was time to start prepping for our winter sledding adventures.  

Go Cougars!

One of the perks about living in Utah is that we're only 45 minutes from Andy's alma mater.  We made our way over to a pre-season basketball game last Saturday with just the four of us and gave ourselves plenty of time to spend some money (per Andy, contribute to his school) at the BYU bookstore.  

Bubba sporting his new BYU beenie.  

Andy got this ghetto hat (flat bill) from Ross and I don't like it when he wears it, but hey - it looks pretty good on me, like a trucker hat.  Win win.  

Jordan was sooo hungry that he kept pointing to the popcorn at the concession stands.  We finally acquiesced and here he is, thoroughly enjoying his $4 bag of Y (per Jordan, "ra ra") popcorn.  

If BYU got over 80 points, Yogurtland would give us 3 free oz, so as soon as they did.. we made like a check and bounced.  We beat the BYU Momo crowd and enjoyed our free fro yo!

Jordan had so much fun, he wouldn't stop asking us when we could go back.