Our Trip to UT December 31 2007-January 4 2008

December 31, 2007
It took us FOREVER to get out of the house! ugh! I swear we went back & forth from the house to the car like 50 times! So we ended up leaving our house around 1:30 PM & then we went & ate at a hotel my husband has a key for (cause he delivers pizza there A LOT) and so we ate at the common area by the pool. Then by 3 PM we got on the road. I was a bit upset at the late start & then to have car issues. I took this picture to show my sister that the roads were clear....however we had troubles with the check engine light coming on & so we had to stop to get it checked out to make sure it wasn't anything TOO serious. (It says it has to do with the transmission, but our whole trip was safe there & back.) It became 6:30 PM & my husband insisted on stopping to feed the kids (LOL I can laugh about it now....) Amelia was screaming something fierce in the back seat & I screamed at her & then my husband yelled at me to not be so mean & I broke down & cried. I felt bad that I get like that when I am frustrated. So I sat in the car while my sweet husband took my wonderful children into McDonalds to eat (I wasn't hungry). I tried to relax in the car & I couldn't. I text messaged my sister to let her know where we were at & the whole situation & she told me that they would save us food & to not worry about it.

We finally arrived around 9:30 PM...(now this road trip has only taken me 3 1/2 hours before...(most people it takes 5 haha) but yeah this one was a bit too long for me I think. I love road trips, but not when I know that it usually doesn't take 8 hours to get there.)
My sister lovingly reheated the butter for the crab legs for us to eat...and she made us some massive steaks!!! (they looked huge, but I ended up eating like 1 1/2 haha). The crab was excellent! I was a bit nervous to try it, but it wasn't too fishy tasting & it was fun! Here is my boy helping to crack a crab leg: I think my sister's in-laws are awesome for having traditions like they do. I guess they do the steak & crab legs every new years eve. Makes me think I of what I want to do with my family when they get older (and actually like meat LOL...right now my kids are practically vegetarian.) Then the night was full of hanging out. My sister's sister-in-law makes these adorable flower hair pieces for little girls & we thought they would be adorable on the hats that I make. She wants to know how to get started on selling them. I am kind of in the same boat with my hats. I need to start something! Then we noticed it was 5 min to new years so we gathered around & then yeah felt like a new year LOL ;op. Then we played Guitar Hero & I swear that game wigs your eyes out...can I get an amen on that?? LOL Like I only played 5 songs & when I was done the tv looked like it was stretching...the frames on the walls looked like they were stretching...My eyes were like that for a 1/2 hour I am serious! It's a fun game, but I know there is no way I can play a real guitar haha. My nephew Tylen is getting so tough looking! ;o) He is into a lot of sports & things in high school. I can't believe how old he is now! My sister is pregnant right now & she is glowing ;o) She has really rosy cheeks & she is just too cute! We had a king size bed & we shared with Benjamin. Amelia was in a pack & play. It wasn't too bad of a night ;o).

January 1, 2008
My sister's father-in-law made pancakes, eggs, hash browns, and oatmeal for breakfast. I thanked him for doing that! My sister did good marrying into this family. Then we left for our friends house about 2 hours away to drop our stuff off. Then we went to my brother's house to be there for his baby, Roman's, blessing. When we were about 5 min away they told us that it was moved to the church. So we finally found the church...haha...and it was a good time. The blessing was one of the longest I have ever witnessed ;o). It was good though. We felt a little awkward cause we were wearing jeans & Chris was one of the only guys wearing jeans. But oh well...My brother's little girl Alexandria absolutely loved Benjamin ;o). I think he liked her a lot too. He is always making buddies & that night she was one of them. She asked her parents if Benjamin could ride in her car & they told her they didn't have room for a car seat...then Chris mentioned she could come with us & she was sooooooo excited! haha. It was so cute to see them play together. When we were at her house she read books to him (she is 4 & doesn't know how to read, but she knows the stories haha).My niece Cambrie also loved playing with Benjamin. To get Benjamin to know who she was she fell on the floor a lot. I know that sounds weird, but when Ben was 1 1/2 she had tripped & fell & Benjamin rolled laughing! Well she continued that whole night doing it haha. In this picture from left to right: Roman B, Benjamin F, Alexandria B, Cambrie E. We had dinner there & it was nice to be around my family. We also took a couple of pictures. One with my parents & all their kids (except my brother Joe, who couldn't make it, so they had Amanda's brother stand in so all we would have to do is photoshop in my brother Joe...LOL! So I tried to do just that:Can you tell who it was I added in? LOL!!!!

Then we got a picture of the grandkids that were there (Joe's kids weren't there & some of Eric's kids weren't there...there are around 26 grandchildren.):
Back (left to right): Dominic B, Ivan B, Joseph B, Tylen E, Keeton E
Front (left to right): Sheylynn R, Luke B, Cambrie E, Emily B, Roman B, Amelia (crying) F, Benjamin F, Alexandria B.
My kids were not happy about having to sit there. Amelia had major anxiety the whole night & only wanted daddy. It was nice for me haha ;o).

Here is a picture of one of my brother's & my sister. They were really close in age & so they were close growing up ;o). Awwww cute!

Here is my brother Elwon with my daughter Amelia. I like the look on his face awwwww ;o) he is proud of his little niece ;o). He told me she looks just like I did haha...duh! jk ;o)
Then we went to my friends Tom & Kelly's house. They are so awesome for letting us stay there! It really reminded me that I have real life friends out there haha. I mean I know I have friends, but for the longest time I have only been in touch with people online. It has been hard on me moving here to where I live & to make friends. I have known Tom since I was 14 (8th grade). We had a lot of good times & so it was fun to visit & just talk about the people we knew & the old days. Kelly also introduced us to the show, The Big Bang Theory. It's pretty funny ;o). (I found out I can watch it online, but there is only 2 episodes so I think I will be a bit behind...maybe I will have her record them & send them to me haha.) We played the WII they got for Christmas...bowling was fun! I sucked of course, but oh well it was a good time. I found my Superstar move was the most effective LOL! The kids slept in a room that Chris told me was the bonus room...and I said yeah it has no windows that's a bonus! haha Cause my boy will wake up when the sun hits! So he did end up sleeping an hour later than usual so that was nice!

January 2, 2008
My sister-in-law the night before offered to watch our kids if we wanted to go out one of the nights we were in town. So we chose tonight.
We sat in Tom's office deciding on what to do & we thought about inviting a few more friends we grew up with in WA to go with us (we realized a couple of them lived close by...) So we tried to invite this friend of ours that I have known since I was 14 & she was obsessed with Tom so much that she had a shrine in her room (we made fun of her when we were in Jr High...they were friends). Anyways Tom has tried to meet up with her for lunch or whatever & she thought it was weird cause he was married & wanted to meet up with an old girlfriend (which Tom says they didn't officially date)...he said his wife was going to be at the lunch & so it wasn't THAT weird. Anyway she ditched the idea. (that was when she lived in Vegas). Well 2 years ago I tried to visit her in Vegas & she ditched me to go on a date (I haven't seen her in 5 years & she made plans with someone else the night I would be in town). She told my brother she felt bad about it, but yeah I was mad. Ok trying to catch yall up on this person that used to be my best friend in High School. It just seems like since I have gotten married & especially since I have had kids that she has avoided me all together. When we were in this youth group we made this list of all the girls & put who would get married 1st. Her & I fought for the last place. I don't know why she chose it cause she dated all the time & I never dated (not my choice). Anyway as it turned out she was one of the last to get married. So I often wonder if she is bitter about that? I have also tried to get in touch with her numerous times & she always bails or is too busy.
Anyways back to the present story...I looked her husband up online...I found he was a Realtor & so I called him. He sounded like a really nice guy! I told him who I was & that I wanted to get in touch with his wife & to see if they both wanted to go to dinner with a few of her old friends. He said it sounded great & he didn't think they had anything planned. So he gave me her cell# & told me to check with her. He also asked how I found his number & I told him that I knew he was a Realtor & his name & I found him on the internet...then I joked that I knew everything about him LOL. he laughed. When I called my "friend" I made the mistake of calling with Tom's phone 1st. I think she is avoiding him all together. (Which is so sad, because Tom is so awesome & his wife is amazing!) She didn't answer the phone. Then I text messaged her (which I have heard is the only way she talks to people cause she doesn't like conflict...which to me makes even more conflict...) Here is how the texts went down:

Me: This is Birdee_ _ I was wondering if you and your husband wanted to go to dinner tonight with my husband & I and Tom & Kelly we are willing to go there if Orem is too far...your husband said it sounded good :o) he mentioned you didn't have much to do today

Her: Hi hope u had a great christmas! Tonight wont work but I would love to connect sometime we go to _ _ _ _ _ every once in a while

Me: I live in _ _ _ _ _ now...try to get out of your previous engagement please I would love to see you and meet your husband...this is my only vacation in a year and I really would like to reconnect with you...if your plans are extremely important then how about tomorrow?

Her: Wow _ _ _ _ _! Its so beautiful there! We have a couple of engagements so I really cannot we will try to come through _ _ _ _ _ this summer love ya tons

Me: We aren't bringing the kids also

Her: have fun on your vacation! So sorry

Me: Yeah so I guess I will just have to wait until the 20 year high school reunion then...are you gonna be there? Or will you have a previous engagement? Pencil it in now ok?

Yeah I didn't hear back from her. To be honest I took her texts to be fake. She seemed so fake! Ugh I get so frustrated with how she has practically written me off. It just really bothered Tom & I the rest of the time & we were so obsessed about talking about her (I know gossip is bad, but we both feel so inadequate of why she is being this way to us...). I have just wanted to write her another email (cause she will not answer her phone...) and ask her to tell me she would like me to stop trying to get in touch with her...I need to just write her off, but I just remember all of the good times we had back in the day & so I just don't understand it. It really saddens me & I know I shouldn't be so rude to her, cause that doesn't make & keep friends well haha. It just goes to show when someone feels like they have been stepped on they act out meanly. I mean if I had a long lost friend ask me to go out or meet up I would make the time to do so! I don't get it. So I gave up.

Then I emailed our friend Liz to come out with us & she called while we were at the movies, but she jumped at the chance to see us (a true friend). We went to the movie, I Am Legand,...it's pretty freaky, but pretty good. I wouldn't pay full price, but it is good enough to see in the theater, so I suggest cheap theater LOL. My sister also called while I was in the theater! (she was supposed to find out what she was having (baby wise)). ;o) There is something about people calling me when I am at a movie haha! At least it wasn't the people that were trying to get a hold of the previous owner of my telephone #...these were welcomed calls!

So we went to Chili's after the theater & waited for 25 min. Liz came maybe 5 min after we sat down. She looks so adorable! She is pregnant with her 4th child & she is still as beautiful as I remembered her. I have always loved how she does her hair! It was so much fun to go out to dinner with friends! (something that doesn't happen too often :o( This night really made me want to move back to UT!)
Going around the table from left to right: Birdeena & Chris F, Tom & Kelly F, and Liz S.
We went to pick up the kids & so we hung out for a bit (I got stuck in the car talking to my sister & we had a heartfelt conversation & there were tears shed :*o( I just need to say I hope she makes the best decision! I learned something that happened to my sister & it broke my heart that she felt she had to do what she did. Anyways I found out what she is having, but she doesn't want to tell anyone, so I have to keep my mouth hush hush...I already love that baby!
Chris finally set off the car alarm to get me out of the car LOL. And I went in to visit. My brother, Chris & I got into the convo we had with the friend that bailed on the dinner date & my brother kept sticking up for her...it really pissed me off & I finally said that I hated her. I was acting out (LOL that sounds funny to me). Anyways Chris asked if she was friends with me or my brother & I said obviously him cause she talks to him more. He went to her wedding reception & I couldn't make it. (she didn't go to mine either, but that wasn't why I didn't go...I can't afford much & this trip was my only trip in a year which is so hard for me!). So anyways I ended it with saying what I did about her & went downstairs & folded a bit of laundry (for my sister-in-law) haha. We got back to Tom & Kelly's & played another game on the WII & watch another episode of The Big Bang Theory.

January 3, 2008
I didn't feel well this day. I had a sore throat & I felt achy and tired. But as the day progressed I felt a bit better, but I felt sleepy all day. I was supposed to see Liz at her house & even my old roommate Tia at hers. I felt really bad! Some friend I was! ugh! So I lazed around the house & got on the computer a little bit. It was nice to be able & relax! Here's how the day turned out...And I am not sure where Benjamin learned this...he started it...:
Chris showing Benjamin how it's done LOL!!! At 5 PM Tom & Kelly went off to go grocery shopping & they planned steaks for dinner mmmmm! Tia called around 5:15 PM & asked if we wanted to meet in SLC & I told her they were planning dinner & that I hadn't felt good all day. Tia actually said that her kids have been sick, but they were a bit better. I knew she wouldn't want to keep her kids out late so I told her we would have to get together another time :o(. I felt so bad! I felt like Tiana. (But I wasn't trying to avoid Tia, I really didn't feel well!). So Liz if you read this, know that I felt so crappy & I REALLY wanted to come see your house!
My husband talks more & more about the possibility of moving to UT & how he would like to. If he gets a job there we would do it.
It was so cute I got this picture of Amelia with Tom & it is so sweet how she just cuddles up to him haha:
Then I got a few pictures of Tom & Kelly's oldest boy, Conner, reading to the younger kids Taylor & Porter & my boy Benjamin:
I got a picture of the view from Tom & Kelly's house...it is hard to show, but it is gorgeous! You can see so much for miles! The white dot in the middle is an LDS temple It looked a lot bigger in person, and so I really want a new camera haha ;o). But yeah city lights all around!
January 4, 2008
Again I felt like junk, but as the day progressed I felt a bit better. Today was heading home day :o( Chris and I had taken the car to the dealership the night before & so we were waiting until they were done with the car (I guess they had to update the computer? and they thought that would help the code). I got us all packed up & the only things we left were: bib and Pepsi...and I am thinking our bath toys :o( I hope not! ugh. It is so hard to get all packed up LOL. I am glad that Tom & Kelly put up with us this whole trip, because it was really nice to be able to stay in one place & not get the kids used to everyone's homes. The road trip home was good, but the check engine light came on again :o(. Guess the car dealership that sold us the car will have to fix something else (they said they would pay for it...we bought the used car last Thursday.)
We ate lunch at the One Man Band Diner. It's a cute diner where there is normally one man working, but there were 2 women this day LOL. We like to got to this place to eat when we are close by. I LOVE their Navajo Taco!!! mmmmm so we got one for me & one for the kids. (Chris ate what he wanted LOL). The kids didn't eat it much :o( I LOVED mine ;o). I think we left town around 2:30ish...About 6 PM we got to the pass, which is a high wind area, & to the left there was this MASSIVE dust cloud headed our way & I couldn't believe it (it seriously looked like late night)! Chris said it made him feel like we were driving next to a twister in the movie Twister LOL. It kind of did feel like that. Anyways we get to this part of the road where the dust is blowing like crazy & we see a truck has been pushed off the road & there are cops etc. So we stop at the next gas station to use the restroom & they were outside...so we went to the only other gas station at this exit & it was much nicer & in doors haha. We over heard truckers & the gas attendants talking about the dust storm. One trucker told me that winds coming from Sacramento were around 200 mph! She was headed that direction I guess. I told her she was brave being a truck driver in this! We got the kids food & sat at the truck stop for about an hour. Then we heard that 14 trucks on the road we were headed home on had been pushed off the road & the road was down to 1 lane. We decided to head out since Chris needed to be at work. He was already gonna be late, but this could make him even more so. To make a longer story short LOL We got home about 10:00 PM & Chris helped me get the kids ready for bed & then he went to work. He is such a great husband & man! I appreciate him so much!

This trip was so much fun & I told Chris it made me feel like I had real life friends LOL. I spend so much time online that I wish I had these real life friends closer by to be able to hang out more often! I miss having the dinner parties & just relaxing & playing. I found Tom & Kelly to be just like us (night owls, but maybe they were cause we were there? hmmm LOL). They were awesome! I loved seeing my family & wish I could do it more often! My sister-in-law offered to watch the kids if we moved there & I had to go to work or something. which would be so nice! Most of all I really want to live there to be closer to my sister. I miss her so much & I worry about her. We have really become close since I have moved away & she calls me so much now (we have the same phone system, so free minutes...) I see my sister-in-laws here & how they are so close & they do everything together & so it makes me miss my sister so much more! My parents are planning on moving to Florida when they get the chance & so it was nice to see them. My brother Eric & his kids I haven't seen in ages! So that was nice! It was just a great trip & I wish I could move. Pray my husband gets a job that he enjoys & something so that I can travel more often & see these friends & family! ;o) Thanks for reading (if you did LOL I know it's long!!)