NJ Family Time

I love my family . . . and I have loved every moment of the past four days. Well, except this morning, when I dropped them off at the airport to fly home to New Jersey. See, on Sunday night my Mom, Dad, sister Lauren, and her husband Chris all came out for a visit. And Eric and I had THE BEST time with them. I mean, yeah, they're family and they're awesome, but I feel a bit beside myself by just how much happiness this visit brought to us all. I talked to my wonderful friend Leigh about it this morning . . . (about how I was basically sobbing like a baby from the airport back to my house). I was a little confused by how much sadness I felt from their leaving. Mostly because I go out to NJ all the time, (at least four times a year) and I'm hardly ever teary when I leave. I just know that that's part of the deal for right now. I've accepted it, and I've embraced my home in Salt Lake. Okay, so back to my talk with Leigh. She figured that it's probably because when I go out to NJ, I know life there--I know what's waiting for me, and I know what I'll do, etc. But having my sweet little family out here all together for the first time ever was a taste of what it could be like. It's like not knowing that somethings missing, not knowing to be lonely for something until you've experienced what life would be like with it.

Some of my favorite memories from the past four days would include us all making dinner in the new kitchen. All six of us . . . Eric grilled up the steaks, Chris made corn on the cob, my Mom and Dad made this fresh, delicious salad, I made artichoke and feta pasta, and my sister made this yummy dessert that was made of coconut, chocolate chips, pecans, and graham crackers. It all went on the table with a loaf of Italian bread. It was such a great meal, and such a great time.

Another great one was all of us going horse back riding at Snowbird. That was so fun! My horse's name was Willy, and my sister's horse was Mini. Strange thing about Mini was she has HUGE gas that day . . . cracked me up to the point I was afraid I was going to wet my pants.

I could go on and on . . we just had fun everywhere. We went to Spencer's for dinner one night and had a ball, (and a lot of red meat). I highly recommend the prime rib, and the dirty vodka martini.

And Lamb's--did you guys know that that's the oldest restaurant in SLC? Yup. Opened in 1919. Do you want to know how I know this? I learned it from the HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE tour we took around the downtown area after dinner that night. Here's us right before we went in the next morning for one of the best breakfasts I think I've ever had . . . could it have been the homemade sausage?

Here's us goofing off at Trolley Square in the Banana Republic. Hats are FUN. Alright, so like I said--I really could go on for quite a while. I'll close by saying that I feel extremely blessed. I just can't even express how much joy I have felt in my lifetime because of the family that I grew up in. Having Eric, and now Chris being official additions has made it even better. I love you all so much.