Family for the Fourth! PizzaPIZZA

I know, I know, my family is STILL here. And I couldn't be more pleased. We had a ton of fun over the weekend. And although some of us were back to business as usual come Monday, some of us are unemployed and/or on vacation. Monday we met the business as usual sister to go to lunch while she had some time.

My mom is a "Triple D" fan so we try to find some where ever we are. When mom suggested one to Rissa for lunch, Rissa knew exactly where it was. 

Maxwell's East Coast Eatery:

The pizza was thin crust and really good! After lunch, those of us that remained found our way to a very large used bookstore just up the street. Some of my finds included:

          -Large Ogden Sesquintenial blanket (picture taken for Ross of course)

          -A VHS copy of the Singles Ward. The only thing more appalling than seeing this around was the fact that someone wanted almost $10 for it. 

          -An instructional guide on how to "pick a family flick." I was hesitant about this buy but when I saw the chapter on "How di I get my kids to watch black-and-white movies?" I knew this book was for me (and the fam of course!). 

          -A book that was possible owned by Later-day Saint prophet George Albert Smith. This is particularly funny because many of the books were signed by prophets. I love the honestly in the ownership uncertainty of this book. Willing to risk it for $50?

The bookshop featured many different sections, mostly labeled. So when my dad and I had lost a little interest we decided to goof around with this sign.

Close to the bookstore was a very random (who am I to say that though) store offering "distinctive gifts from Scotland." And, being rather proud of our Scottish heritage, we wanted to check it out. Including the many Scottish hats they offered. 

Next stop, Happy Valley! Looking happy with some shakes from good ol' Sammy's.

The day wasn't done yet. We ventured to cooler climes and checked out the views at Sundance resort. It had been quite a long time since I had been up that way, particularly in the summer (you know, when it is actually bearable -brr!). 

We had a nice peaceful walk around. Everything was so lovely and quiet. 

I learned that the reason why it was called Sundance, was because of the way the Sun danced on the mountains in the late afternoon. It was lovely.  I took a little video of the little creek to help me when I feel stressed out. 

It was a nice way to wrap up my parent's trip. It was hard to see them go (it always is). But weird to think that in a month, who knows, I could be living down there.

Week Wrap Up #7

This week was another fun one because I finished my Kentucky (and Memphis) trip AND hung out with the rest of my family from Utah AND California while they have been in town for the Fourth of July. I have a few different odds and ends for this week's Week Wrap Up.

After I flew in the Petersens needed to go water the garden at their future house. After the sun set it was a little chilly, and of course I had a headache, but I could still appreciate the beauty of the area.



I can see the appeal to people to build out there, in more "wide-open spaces." It blows my mind that someday (hopefully soon) the house will be complete and full of family and friends.

After watering we went to grab something to eat and I saw this pretty intense Canada pride car. I think they won something recently...



In all my store wandering, I take pictures of the most random things. I leave them on my phone until I have the perfect weekly opportunity to dump them here. All in hopes that someone else can appreciate them.

Like this slightly hypocritical toddler tee. What do you think it is trying to say? I get the Seuss quote, but the "Brigham Young University" bit at the bottom makes me wonder if there won't be some unspoken angst if this little one doesn't end up attending BYU.



"You can steer yourself any direction you choose, but if it ins't BYU forget about it!!"

How about this screen capture of autocorrect that is a raving lunatic?



Chill out with the "haha"s, if it's extremely funny 3 "ha"s will suffice.

The longer I stay in Utah, the more pride I have for my home state of California. And since we all know how much I love internet quizzes, what a better way to test my pride than this:

An internet quiz to see what state of this grand nation I should live in. Yep. I got California. The second time I answered it a little differently and got New York. Maybe Ross and I should've put New York as his number one for clinicals. But maybe we will end up there anyway! I've never given the East Coast much thought for my future permanent residency, but I have had some friends say I would fit in nicely. No, not because I am cranky (they contested), but because I am a free spirit and creative. I'll take it.



Like a select few in the population, thrift stores invigorate me. It's like someone setting you loose in a store where a bunch of gold is hidden. It's just up to me to find it!! I win yet another round.

My mom isn't the "shopping" type, so it makes me extremely happy when we get to go shopping together. We find commonality at the thrift store. She searches for books, I search for everything else. I found this cute skirt with detailed embroidery.

And it fit! I love how it is so bright and summery. 

Family for the Fourth! Garnder Village

When your family is in town, it is a non-stop party. It takes the mundane out of life!

After picnic walks, and museums & fireworks, we thought it might be getting hard to top all that. But we had more tricks up our sleeve. Really I should say that Rissa had more tricks, because Rissa always has the best ideas.

Presenting: Gardner Village

A cute little outdoor shopping village in West Jordan. We went on a good day because they had a big ol' farmers market going on. Including a talented child/teen family cover band. I think they were called The Haunted Mansions or something. They did a lot of rock 'n roll covers.

Hanging out on the cute lil Americana bridge. 

Sister selfies! 

These two, so adorbs.

After we wandered back over to Sugarhouse for some wandering. Previously wandered too, there is a fun little independent bookshop called The King's English. I was one of the few that had never been, and its a pretty neat lil place.

Another fun family day. Please never leave?

Family for the Fourth! Fireworks at the Capitol

Utah has been hotter than two cats dancing on a hot dutch oven.

^It's okay, you weren't supposed to understand that. Speaking of which, my family is here for the Fourth of JULY! I blogged about our adventures up at Silver Lake here.

For a fun fourth of July adventure, Rissa and I were thinking Red Butte Gardens. However, Mother Nature had something different. Or the Devil. Because hot damn it is absolutely boiling out there. My parents came to Utah for a reprieve from the boiling California desert heat. Only to be greater by temperatures hotter than back home. Yes. You read that right. Hotter than Palmdale.



Instead we decided to check out the Natural History Museum. Which I thought would be a snooze fest because that attention span of mine. But it was way fun! They have lots of interactive activities!

You can see my dad playing with one of the models. And a bunch of our feet above some dino bones. Thanks glass floor! A big part of the exhibit was of course dinosaurs. Utah is pretty big into dinosaurs, it was a thing once. And because dinosaurs are frightening and deserts are hot and dry and barren, there are a lot of "make this face with me" photos.

Check out the top right picture. Little prehistoric monkey thing!



Happy faces in dinosaur places! It is fun to get your picture taken by bones...of dinosaurs.

The museum has lots of other things besides dinosaur bones though. One of my favorites was all the gems and stones they had. How much for this one?

At one point I think I may have "accidentally" locked Ross out of the museum. 

Its okay. He took refuge in the Area of refuge. But eventually my mom saw my "mistake" and let him back in. Love you Rossy! Oh yeah, he took the afternoon off from studying. It was a small miracle for sure. He is so close to taking his exam and being DONE! But not just yet. 

There is a pretty view of Salt Lake City from the museum. This is a risky picture because, IT. WAS. SO. HOT. Especially out there with the sun reflecting off shiny surfaces. I barely made it. 

We chilled at Rissa's chic home until things had cooled off a little. Ross and I ventured out to Sugarhouse Park to check out the fair and spots for the fireworks. I got some cool new jewelry from a local vendor, but we rushed back because it was miserably hot. 

There are many fantastic locations to see fireworks in the Salt Lake Valley. It is a pretty big deal here and high schools, parks, companies, organizations, all get together and have very legit fireworks shows. We decided to try our luck at the Capitol Building. Because I'm not republican, and I don't want to die a martyr, I've never been to the Capitol building. 

But I can say, one this grand, patriotic day, it was breathtaking at sunset! It has a nice grassy lawn and we found a really perfect spot before things got too crowded. 

A pano with a dad clone. TWO? How lucky!!

The view wasn't the absolute best for firework viewing, but we could see various shows all around the valley, and that was pretty cool! 

Perhaps the best part of the night was the surprise fireworks show after we had left the Capitol. What do I mean by that? I mean, Rissa was driving us back home when almost directly above the car, we saw the largest and most bright and beautiful fireworks! Right above our heads! A few more shot off and they were so close that the smoke clouded the view of the car. It was epic.

And although I haven't joined my comrades in public appreciation for America and all those who fight and work to keep it free, I am most grateful. It is a humbling day to realize the freedoms and liberties we have, which are even more special when we share them with family. 

Family for the Fourth! Silver Lake

Let me help you keep this all straight.

I flew in from Kentucky and Friends Monday. Then my parents came into town for the Fourth of July a couple days later. Family family family. I love it. It is so different from Grenada. I love being so close to family now I'm back in the U.S.

Widdi family shenanigans began with a stop in Provo to pick up the littlest Widdi.

Return to my old stompin' grounds of Glenwood -Provo, UT.
I have no clue why this photo uploaded so it looks like we have some soft-focus angelic filter. But I will take all the help I can get.

Then food- of course.

We checked out this new-ish and super hispter burrito place. Because I continue to stand by the fact that no respectable burrito exists in Provo, probably just out of pride. 

Cassie took us to her work, where she helps give llamas MRIs or something. I don't know, I just couldn't get past the llama part. Then we checked out the amazing and gorgeous NEW life sciences building.

The finishing touches are going up but still... wow! It is a beautiful building and it will be nice to have updated, top of the line stuff instead of those eerie, filthy aquariums 5 stories below ground in the Widstoe Building that preceded this one. Not even kidding, those things are what nightmares are made of.  

Later that evening we picked up the eldest Widdi who had to work (boo responsible people). 

And she had the wonderful idea to head up Big Cottonwood Canyon to a place called Silver Lake.

It was beautiful!



We packed a picnic and although I wasn't prepared for how chilly it was (dang you Grenada bones!), the mountain air was still pretty refreshing).

Look at these two little lovebirds!

I almost forgot! We also saw a moose. Couldn't get a good picture but it was pretty cool.