So my original plan to post once a week has failed miserably. At least my heart was in the right place. Instead of doing a post for the first week of September, i'll being trying to sum up the entire month just about.
Todd's Birthday was the Friday we left for California for our reception. We celebrated at Mimi's Cafe the night before with Kelsi and Dayvisson. Neither of us had been there before, but we enjoyed it. The service was very good until Kelsi didn't get her salad or dessert, but our waiter fixed that by giving us two desserts instead. Afterwards, we enjoyed the traditional ice cream cake that my mom used to make for me every birthday. Alaina made it, and it turned out great! It consisted of crushed oreo cookie crust, cookies and cream ice cream, and crushed Snickers bars.
We arrived with David in California at about 9 pm on Friday, September 3rd for our California reception. We (dad, Todd, Alaina, and Daivd) stopped at In-n-Out in Pinole to get the trip started off right. We brought Kevin home animal style fries and a Double-Double to reward him for all of his hard work in getting the house ready for the reception and 7 guests.
Mom, Dad, Alaina, and Todd left Saturday morning after cereal with all the guests (Justin, Emily, Braxton, Meridith, and McKell) to go up to Calistoga to be pampered with spa treatment while the house was being set up for the reception. Justin, Emily, Braxton, Meridith, and McKell went to Muir Woods. When we returned, we helped set up and then got ready for the party. Alaina and I received people for a few hours as the temperature steadily dropped. It was warm most of the day, but got cold suprisingly quickly, but that's one of the things that comes with leaving close to the coast I suppose. There were Costco sandwiches, wonderful fruit shishkabobs, pasta, cake, frappe, a chocolate fountain, and many other treats. Besides some cold weather, and a frozen Ipod (which Justin was eventually able to fix), we had a great night and got to see some of Todd's friends.
On Sunday we went to the old Benicia Ward for Fast sunday. Afterwards we had a nice lunch in the backyard. Justin's party went home early Monday morning, but our flight didn't leave until Monday night, so we helped a little with the party take down stuff, with some help from the Nelsons. Our flight arrived in Salt Lake late Sunday night when Kelsi and Dayvisson so graciously picked us up (in addition to also dropped us off Friday night). The had survived the wedding festivities! Now it was back to the real world with work and school.
Speaking of school, Todd began school the week before we went to California, on the last Monday of August. He is now starting his Masters program in Civil and Environmental Engineering at BYU. That means he only has to take 3 classes instead of the customary 4 to be a full time student. It also means he gets his own desk and computer (well, the power supply was bad on my computer, so they had to take it, and have not yet brought it back...but at least I have my own desk, right?). His work also changed offices that same friday when we left for California, so now he works in north Provo just across the street from the Days Market. The air conditioning actually works there...what luxury!
The weekend after the California rececption was Brigham City Peach Days. We went up Friday night and stayed with Justin's parents Leyland and Lisa, who had already opened their doors to us just a few weekends before for Stephen and Maddie's wedding weekend. Saturday morning was the parade with the Nelson Family, where I, amazingly enough, managed to not get any candy thrown in my eye. Afterwards, Todd went back to the Nelson residence to watch the BYU football team get reduced to tiny school girls by Air Force. I finally gave up on them about half way through the 4th quarter.
Alaina and I walked up to the carnival/market/party that is Peach Days and pick up a box of peaches for DeeAura at her request. Once the deed was done we started heading back. I am embarrassed to say, however, that I forgot a belt and Alaina, who had so thoughtfully packed my bag for the weekend, chose a looser pair of jeans that did not cooperate. I also didn't feel right having Alaina carrying this huge box of peaches while I was holding my pants up, so I struggled the entire walk back, which seemed to be about 5 miles in the Sahara to me, with one hand holding on for dear life to my pants, while the other tried not to drop the box of peaches. Kinda embarrassing, but also really funny... I just hope DeeAura really enjoyed those peaches...
After getting the traditional Navajo tacos and Peach cobbler, our Peach Days experience was complete and we were ready to return to Logan. In the morning, we went back to Brigham City for church at the River Ward. There was an interesting debate/heated discussion in Gospel Doctrine about the correct pronunciation of the Biblical prophet Hosea (I guess it's pronounced Ho-sha). We then had pot roast and carrots with biscuits and honey butter at the Nelson's house for Sunday dinner. After visiting for a bit, we returned to Provo and normal life.
Since then it's been mostly school and work. Todd is playing on two soccer teams, one in Lindon, one through BYU intramurals, and one BYU football intramural team. We've hiked the Y for FHE a few weeks ago, and then hiked Stewart Falls (up past Sundance) the Monday after. Anyone know of any other good hikes that can be done for FHE around Provo while the leaves are changing colors and it's still relatively warm outside?
Today we had a block party for our new ward, which we have only been able to attend twice due to all the craziness in our lives the last month or so. We had normal burgers, delicious turkey burgers, pineapple, watermelon, sun chips, and good new friends. I think I managed to learn all but 3 of their names...too bad there were only about 20 people there...
