Catch up Info, pictures are forthcoming

Amber first mentioned (to Lacey) how great it is to have pictures in your blog. Cori always does photos, so I feel that I am doing a disservice to my fans (all three or four of you) by not posting photos that are right next to me on the digital camera I just don't have time to download right now.

So Brien and I had a busy weekend. My dad's side had a little get together this past Saturday, it was officially called a reunion, but we all spent so little time together that I think a "get together" is a better way of phrasing it. My parents drove up to stay with us on Thursday night, and then continued on to Idaho Falls in the morning. They were able to come see my library and I tried to convince my mom that she wants to come help me when some of my book supplies arrive. It will be nice to have them return to Ely when we can spend some time together (they didn't arrive until after midnight and I had to be up for work at 6am).

Brien didn't work on Friday and I took a half-day so we could drive up to Idaho Falls on Friday afternoon. We spent that night at a Best Western across the river from the Idaho Falls Temple. It was a nice room, the only problem was the individual on the other side of our adjoining door appeared to be smoking in their non-smoking room. We complained to the front desk, but they were booked and couldn't move us, so instead they knocked $10 off our bill.

We had planned on going to the temple, but Friday afternoon we pieced together the clues and realized Brien's temple recommend had been washed and destroyed a month earlier. Instead we took a picture out front and looked at the visitor's center because is was wicked cold outside. You could definitely tell that a cold front was moving through.

After the temple we stopped at a farmer's market. We picked up fresh herbs, giant (really, really, big) cucumbers, zuccini, summer squash, green peppers, a flat of strawberries, and a flat of peaches. We thought that since we were giving my mom back some of her canning jars we could also give her the fruit and she would make more jam, but we had no such luck. So we were stuck with all that fruit (we didn't actually expect her to take it off our hands, it was more of a daydream we had after the impulse buy.)

The family reunion finally happened that afternoon. We were able to see some of my dad's siblings and our cousins. I felt a bit reserved (hard to believe, but true) so we didn't socialize as much as we should have. In the end I was still happy we went up.

Saturday evening we drove down through Logan, Utah, to Mantua (pronounced man-away). Brien went to Utah State in Logan and hadn't been through there in a few years. We went by the Logan temple, stopped at a house he once lived in, and he was able to show me his points of interest. He just glowed. I could tell that he really enjoyed his time there. We stopped at the Bluebird restaurant, had a great dinner that we couldn't finish and bought 2 of their memorabilia plates to add to our dessert plate collection.

Saturday night was spent in Mantua. Rob, Brien's best friend from college, lives there with his wife Chantelle and their son, Brien. They are great people to visit because I felt completely comfortable with them from the first time I met them. I can say what I think and I don't feel like I have to impress them. It had been over a year since we last stayed with them and were able to have a little visiting time, so this was extra enjoyable. Rob and Chantelle are having their 2nd boy in another 6 weeks, so Brien and I made a blanket for them. We had made one for their first child, so Brien wanted to continue the tradition. Brien designs and cuts out "boy" blankets from his old pants and shirts which are a heavy cotton blend. After sewing the strips or squares together he backs it with a fleece blanket, no batting in the middle. This blanket turned out great.

Sunday mid-day we drove home. It felt strange not to stop at the parent's house in West Jordan, but they should have been at church. We look forward to seeing everyone there when we go back for Cori's visit in a few weeks.