Anyway, the time flew by so fast and I really wish we had had more of it. I feel like I did not get to spend wuality time with all the people I wanted to, ut we did get to spend some very wonderful time with several of our favorites.
We began with a three day stay at my Grandmother's in Ogden. It was so nice for Noah and I to really be able to get some one on one time with her. We went to see Indiana Jones and visited my cousin and her children. The kids had a great time together and I always appreciate how hospitable Michelle is when we come visit. She made us lunch and showed us around her amazing place in Honeyville. I am completely amazed by what she is able to handle and accomplish. She is one of those people who has 42 hours in her day while the rest of us only have 24. And she never complains. Taking care of three children, 2 house dogs, several labs they are breeding and 4 horses! Not to mention, at this time, the neighbors pets and lambs. And it's all clean! I'm not even on the ball enough to get pictures of it all. I'm so ashamed and in awe!
Once in Logan, the Sawyers were gracious enough to house us again, for the rest of the week. We love staying with them and are grateful to them for keeping us. As soon as we got there, it was like we had never left. Lauri, Andrea, and Emily put together a fun girl's night hosted at Laura's - it was like old times with all of us together again. Many thanks to Jay who took this kids to a a movie for us. 
I love being with these girls! We always have so much fun and I hope that no matter how old we all get or where we all end up in our lives, we will still be able to get together regularly for Girls Night.
It was definitely a trip full of favorites - friends, food and fun. Other highlights included: eating at the Indian Oven (my favorite, not Noah's), eating at Firehouse Pizza (Noah's favorite), going to the demolition derby (a Logan must), going to the Summerfest (a Logan tradition), going to the Celebration Center and Salt Lake city on the train(see Emily's blog), and having the privilege of spending the day with our friend's the Deberards on Marta's Momentous 40th birthday.
Marta is 40 and pregnant and smiling! Another amazing woman who puts me to shame.
Here are Matty and Noah comparing their height. I think Matty is slightly taller, even without hair.
We also got to spend time with Debbie and family who made us a very good dutch oven meal (again a woman who puts me to shame with her cooking and working and three kids). I'm glad I have surrounded myself with such inspiring people - now if it would just inspire me to do something! 
Here they are selling thier glass creations a t the weekly Farmers' Market.
We also were able the Reddigs and the Thimmes family. Although very short visits, we were thankful to have gotten to catch up a little. Again, no pictures though.
Some things we did not get to do, but will next time for sure: spend more time with Debbie (I feel like we did not have adequate time), go to Charley's Ice Cream, attend VBS at First Presbyterian (which we were very sad to miss this year) and take more pictures!
Here are Noah and Sophie Zebarth saying goodbye to each other. We really miss all our friends in Logan and so look forward to seeing all of them whenever we can. And even though we wish we could all be together all the time, we were glad to be coming back to Arizona, which is beginning to fell like home finally, and our family and friends here. We hope you can all come visit sometime, and if not, we will see you next year! Can't wait!
The following weekend after our trip to Las Vegas, my mother and I returned there - this time we flew. We met my cousin Gerri (who lives there) and my aunt Bobbie (who works there) and drove together to Cedar City, Utah where Bobbie and my uncle Keith live. Mom and I have not seen them for over a year. We had a wonderful weekend just eating and watching movies - 7 to be exact! It was so fun to be able to spend a weekend doing such lazy things. I really hope we can make this a regular thing.At 4:00pm, in front of the hotel, a limosine picked up 4 other couples we had invited to come and took them to the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel. Shortly after, another limo picked us (Barb, Charles, Becky, Brent, Dave and I) up and took us there also. Upon arriving, Barbara's stomach began churning and she did not look so happy. We tried to assure her that it would not be bad and all be worth it - she did not believe. After a bit of anxious waiting, we were led to the "Doo-Wop Diner" where 4 other couples - all very good friends from their past who had traveled from PA, TX, TN and AZ - entered. This shows a bit of the emotion and excitement that filled the room.
After the guests got seated, The Fonz came in and performed a vow renewal ceremony. It was just the right amount of cheesy and sappy and funny. He did an awesome job - it could not have gone better! And even though Barbara was ready to never speak to us again, she admitted afterward that it was a wonderful surprise and she would manage to forgive us somehow for putting her through it all.
We spent the rest of the weekend touring Las Vegas together. We ate at some great restaurants - Marrakesh Morrocan, Wolfgang Puck' @ MGM Grand, and Maggiano's. We also saw some great shows - Cirque du Soleil's KA and Spamalot (a spoof on Monty Python's Holy Grail). We rode the rides on top of the Stratoshpere hotel (300+ feet off the ground) and had coffee at the highest Starbuck's in the world! Dave and I watched the fountains in front of the Bellagio for hours - my favorite. And my dad did some clothes shopping. We were all sad to see it end. We want to thank all the couples for traveling so far to be a part of this joyous occasion. We really appreciate their participation - Linda and Paul McMinn, Clyde and Eliza Walls, Brent and Becky Hardcastle (notice his spiffy new clothes), Richard and Helen Kelly, Ken and Jeri Guthrie, us and the happy re-newlyweds. Can't wait to do it again 50 years from now!
To celebrate the beginning of summer, we planned a trip to Phoenix with a couple other moms and kids. Originally, our plan was to go to a giant water park in Mesa, but as the day approached, the temperature was dropping. We couldn't believe that on May 24th in Arizoan, the weather was grey, cloudy and 65 degrees! But it was no damper on our fun. We instead went to a place called Castles and Coasters and rode rides, went to dinner, and the Imax theater. We had a blast! Even the hotel room was fun - here the kids are "swimming" in the giant bathtub in the room.
In May, we finally went to the Rooster Cogburn Osterich Farm. What a blast - it was so much more than I had expected and I can't wait to go back! Almost as good as Disneyland! We have been saying that we need to go ever since we moved to Arizona since it is near the freeway between Phoenix and Tucson and we must pass it at least once a month.
After the ride, we fed treats to more ostriches, some deer and some lorikeets. Upon leaving we had to purchase an osterich egg to taste. They weigh about 4 pounds and are the equivelant of about 2 dozen chicken eggs.
We made omelets out of it (with tons left over of course!) It was very good and much fluffier than chicken eggs. Even the dogs loved it! You can be sure that anyone who comes to visit from now on will be taken to the Osterich Farm - it's a real unforgettable treat.
