Finding the "Can Opener"

My work took me to Salt Lake City last week. As is the case when traveling by yourself, the evenings are generally kinda lonely.  But to my delight, Tricia & Kaytie arranged to meet me at my hotel...whoo hoo!!

When I picked up my rental car at the SLC airport, they told me the only thing they had available was this sweet little number and asked if that was okay.  Well I hymmmmmned and hauuuuuud and finally said "you betcha".  But in my heart of hearts I knew this car would pretty much be wasted on me. (I  can picture my sons & husband  thinking.."you got that right, mom." drool, drool.) Where the heck was the 'can opener?" Perfect sunny weather was in forecast for the entire week.

Ahhh....haaa!  A gang of accomplices. Just what I needed. Between two more creative brains...much smarter than mine, we managed to pop the top and were ready to cruise the town.  We first looked in the glove box for the book.  Pulled it out and it hadn't even been unwrapped. We chucked it back in the glove box unwrapped, explored, then we located all the right buttons and presto gesto....the sun was upon us and soon the wind would be blowing through our hair.

Now for that ride! We cruised the down town looking mostly for a parking spot to go eat. Go figure we couldn't find one so we ended up parking back at my hotel and walking five SLC blocks to Olive Garden and enjoying a fun meal together. We walked back to the hotel and spent the rest of the evening chatting and laughing and telling stories.  Thanks Tricia & Kaytie for rescuing me from the evening dull drums and for the help in cracking the car open. Fun times :) !!

Doug Done Grad-gee-ated

The end of April we made a road trip trek back to Billings, Montana to attend Doug's Graduation from MSUB.  We drove the car...J got to fly & meet us in Billings.  The nice thing is we got to stop in and see Dave & Judy & Kael in St. George where Judy was spending time with her mom. We got to see Kaytie & Jared & girls for a great pizza dinner.  Annie grabbed my hand after a couple minutes & I was whisked away as "grandma" to play. We got to see Trisha & Aaron & spend the night with them & their little kidlets making it a comfortable two day trip to Billings.

What is with snow & graduation??? The Montana hills & Billings welcomed us with snow. Just in case we missed it...

Impressive!! The graduation guy looking fine.

So this picture takes a bit of explanation.  J teaches on-line courses for MSUB.  He decided to take his gown & hood and ask if he could sit with the professors at the graduation.  If any one knows J..being the personable guy he is.. asked  & talked hard enough and was able to convince the powers that be, to let him be a part of the professor section.  They told him he also needed a cap, so last minute before grad started he had to race to the MSUB bookstore to purchase one. Phew--triumph!!

Little bro and big sister.

Doug in row straight ahead third one in with head down. Stacey & I were sitting right across from him.

"Are you getting this historic moment, mom?"

Receiving the long long looooong awaited recognition.

The brand new graduate, strolling confidently toward us.

The professor gang.

  The neat thing about J being part of this group was he was able to step away and greet Doug coming off the stage after receiving his diploma for a hand shake & hug

A proud moment...sniff, sniff

Time to celebrate!!! IHop here we be. Actually we went for lunch and then later really celebrated at our favorite Chinese place.  Then a trip to the infamous Candy Town USA, where J is on first name bases with all the Soda Jerks.

While in Billings we ran across the "big guy"

(This is actually an old room-mate of mine & her husband. Elin & Clint.  He is a professional "big guy" ssssssh aka Santa.) So good to see them again.

Getting a Grandma "fix"

Ryan learning to score with the camera. 

Check out the concentration of Max doing a score

I was assigned to work a couple jobs in Bellevue, WA, which is really close to Tony & Debbie's.  So I got to stay with them instead of doing a hotel.. So much better!!  I was able to spend some times with my Max & Ryan just before bedtime and enjoy reading & telling them stories.  Here are  a bunch of pics.

Ryan ready to take off in his wooden rock'n airplane

Max learning to take a score with my camera

Ryan trying his hand at it.

Not too happy here!!

Score with grandma

Funny face camera shot. "Grandma..what big teeth you have."  A favorite fairy tale we told. When I told them I was going to tell them Little Red Riding hood, Max said."Yes!! That's my favorite color."

Ready to blast off into dreamland

I was able to spend the day with them on a Saturday before my flight that evening.  Debbie took us to the Seattle Woodland Zoo.  Couldn't have been a more perfect sunshiny day.  Max all decked out in his Max the explorer garb.

Ryan ready to ride.  He's got his animal crackers ready. Bright sun!

Chill'n on the log bench

Beautiful little momma. Can't wait to meet this new little guy!

Ryan up and close with the bird statue. He loved hugging them all.

Explorer Max checking out the rocks to climb on.

"Look there's a bird or a plane or....."

Doing the African Bongo drums

Ryan checking out the elephants.  Max checking out if they have teeny tiny ears or large ears.

 So good to spend time with them.  Love that Max sat his chair in front of the window..waiting for me to get home from work one day.  Then when it was time to leave, Ryan crying and hugging me asking if he could "keep me."  Turns my heart light bright.

The capital G day!

Mike & Doug waiting for the excitement to begin. We made the trek over to Rexburg to share in graduation day for Mike and Nicole from BYU-I.  Nicoles parents and brother Josh were able to be there too.

 

 

On your mark...get set.... let's Grad gee ate!

What after all that work...it's empty!!?

Ohhhhhh....after my intership....I get it.

Of course it's Rexburg in April..graduation day began with a snow storm.  Showing off for the South Carolina family I suspect. Brrr cold, we woke up from our hotel room, stepped outside to at least two inches of snow piled high on our car and no scraper..drat & frost bite fingers!!  It snowed on & off the rest of the day, but just before graduation started at 6pm, it relented.

The most excited, relieved and ready to be done cute graduates

Let's dance!! & celebrate

Joining smiles with some of the sibs, Doug, Stacey, and Josh.  It was "good times" as Mike would say.  We also helped pack them up to be ready to make their long cross country journey to South Carolina where Mike will do his intership with chemicals and scientific mumbo jumbo that only Mike could interpret..  They will be able to live with Nicole's family for the 2 months of the intership.  Then move three hours north of there to start Chiropractic school.  Here's wishing you all the best in your next adventure!! Love you guys!