Our Friends from Hemet

Jared and Matt have been friends for about 20 years. Yes, we are so old that we can say that. They were missionary companions in Ohio many many years ago.  We usually get to see them once a year either here in Provo when they visit Robin’s family or when we go to California to see mine. We love getting together with them, all we do is laugh and play Hearts.When we go to Hemet Robin always has a full spread meal with a home made (from scratch) cake for Jared. She even makes the frosting herself and the cakes are just amazing!! When they come here I usually put together a very simple meal, I usually forget one or two side dishes, and there is never any dessert. I’m so glad they come just to hang out.

They have 3 boys and no girls. Our kids play really well together.

 

We played Hearts for a couple hours before they left to continue on to Farmington to see her parents. I love playing Hearts with them because all we do is try to get Matt to lose and all he does is analyze every single move trying to figure out all of our strategies. Then he analyzes the next game. The goal is always to make him lose because he is so good he beats us every time. Well this time Robin won.

Matt was complaining because twice we ended up with missing cards. On the last hand I tried to shoot the moon but ended up with tons of points instead.

Here’s Matt writing his grievances.

 

The kids watched BOLT in the theater. The boys had never seen it and they loved it.

   

Jared is cleaning off their very old computer that they were given two years ago. One thing about Matt is that he doesn’t like technology. He doesn’t own a cell phone, he still has a cassette player, and just got the internet in their home a few months ago. When they had a van they would plug in a 19 in. TV with a VHS player for the kids to watch. Now that they have an SUV they don’t have anything at all. They all love music so they do have 3 Ipods.  Matt had Jared buy Robin one for her birthday and he loaded it up with songs. Her birthday is the day before we met July 1st, so it’s always easy to remember.

We love just hanging out and telling stories. Matt usually leaves me crying, from laughter, with one of his. This year it was the church story.

Back when the meetings were split he didn’t want to go to church on Sunday and his mom was tired of arguing with him so she said fine just stay. He was about 6 or 7. He was so excited he ran around the from yard until he got tired and fell asleep on the grass. When he woke up it was dark and he started crying for his mom. He ran to the neighbors telling them that he didn’t know where his parents were. I laughed so hard at the thought of him running around in circles with joy and then falling asleep in the front yard. I know it doesn’t sound that funny but I’m laughing now just thinking about it.

We love our friends!!

Cracker Barrel

 

Our favorite greasy place to eat is The Cracker Barrel in Springville. We actually came home with money so we headed for “breakfast” around 1pm. The kids sang Wicked songs all the way there and back-even Esher. They have all been listening to the soundtrack for months. Our favorites are Popular and Defying Gravity. Whenever Jared knows the kids are going to see a musical he usually buys them the sound track so they are familiar with all the songs.

We ate and played checkers.

   

Then it was time to go home and face all the laundry we had waiting of us-my least favorite thing in the world!!

Home

We left late from Price and Mae’s and we had to go by the airport to get our bag. We didn’t get home until about 2:30 in the morning. On our way My Love spotted this beautiful giant double rainbow.I had never seen a full rainbow until last year in Cedar City when we were staying at our Bed&Breakfast.  They are just magical!! I would have made up the pot of gold at the end of it too. I started yelling “Get the camera” over and over until I woke up Tristan who was super startled and started crying. I felt terrible!

He couldn’t take a good picture of it so he popped out the sunroof and took these shots of each end.

 

Tristan forgave me a few minutes later and again was smiling. I love this girl she is just so much like her daddy!!

  

Our trip was thankfully uneventful. We arrived safely and all climbed into bed ready to sleep in!! Esher is usually the one that misses his bed the most so he stretched his toes and gave a big smile and hug to his pillow.

Saying Good-Bye

It was time to say good-bye and we were all sad about it!Jo Ann had one last surprise for us-CUPCAKES. She is the best grandma, red velvet cupcakes for breakfast-yeah!!!!

We took the train from DC to Baltimore and then the shuttle to the airport. I love it when all forms of transportation work together to get you anywhere you want to go!

The DC train station is just incredible. These picture by now means do it justice. I must remember that this was the only form of transportation for a long time and this is the Capitol of this country so this train station kicks some serious booty!!! They went all out and you can see it in every detail of the building-just incredible!!!

The conductor found my cell phone on the sidewalk-thank goodness!! It fell out while we were loading everyone and everything on the train.

Esher was so excited about the train ride.

 

 

At the airport we all had lunch.

Esher looked out the window most of the time.

 

This is the cutest thing Esher does and he does it every time we get on a plane. He will sit and look at the instructions on where your inflatable device is and the exits.Explaining it all to me when we take off.  He makes sure he is on the right page as the flight attendant or video goes through it. He is probably the only one of his kind left.

 

After our two long flights the kids went crazy on the Denver Tram. It was so funny because they were dancing like crazy and there was no music!

When we arrived, it was pouring rain and windy. My Love had accidently erased where our car was so he had to run up and down the lanes clicking the car alarm trying to find it. He was soaked. When he arrived with the car we tried to get in the car fast because I didn’t want the inside of my car to get wet. In the rush we left one bag behind. That will teach me to yell at my kids for a material object-my car. So as punishment I get to drive in serious stormy weather 2 1/2 hours out of our way when we go home tomorrow.