"Choose your Love, and Love your Choice" -Pres. Thomas S. Monson

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Salt Lake Trip: PCAT, Mission Reunion, Wicked, etc.

This is a Post with a LOT of pictures. We recently have been up to a lot, and took a fun little trip up to SLC.

I had a mission reunion on Sunday, because my last Mission President just returned home... so we all got together up in Salt Lake. I wasn't sure if I was going to go or not (because Ster and I were already planning on driving up there on Tuesday anyway, so Sterling could take his test) but last minute Sunday morning, I decided I was going, and got on the Shuttle. It was so worth it, and it was GREAT to see everyone from Nebraska!






Ster and I also went on a lunch date earlier on in the week. We had a gift card to Olive Garden, so we went during lunch, and got the all you can eat soup, and salad. (we love it when we have gift cards... IT MAKES DATES SO MUCH BETTER)

I also bought a home wax kit, and have used it once to wax my legs. Some of the girls in Dental Hygiene convinced me to try it... and so far... I've loved it. :) I have to shave WAY less, which is nice!

I also recently did some nannying for a family in our ward. These two little girls were WONDERFUL, and were so much fun! I loved it. Maddy was so good, that Sterling and I took her to the store, and she got to pick out her "prize". Sterling got her this darling Strawberry Shortcake package with lip-gloss, chapstick, and nail polish! She was in heaven! Kate (the baby) has the most gorgeous BIG BLUE eyes I've ever seen! They're adorable girls!


After my mission reunion was finished, I drove down to Provo and spent a few days with Jaycee! (Thanks for letting me use your car Jayce) GEEZ I miss this girl! It was so much fun to spend time with her, and have her take me to a few places around Utah Valley! :) She's become such a cute, independent, city girl, and we had a blast together shopping, eating, chatting, and watching movies! :)



So the REAL purpose of our SLC trip was so that Sterling could take his PCAT (Pharmacy Entrance Exam for School). He has honestly been studying for it for about 4 months now... and was DEFINITELY as prepared as he could have been! I was such a proud wife!!!!! The test took about 6 hours. Now... that is a LOOOONG test! He did so great, and got his "pre-results" back! He did wonderful, and I couldn't be happier for him!

 We got to the testing center earlier than we needed to, so we found the nearest Starbucks, ordered a snack or two, used their free wi-fi, and Sterling got some last minute studying in! I on the other hand played Aunt Smashers on the iPad. :)

Once we got done with the Test, Sterling was WAAAAY less stressed, and it was all fun from there.  We went on a lunch date with my Father in Law to the Brick Oven. It was sooo good!

 The Salt lake temple was shut down for maintenance, so we went to the Jordan River Temple! I'd never been there, and it was beautiful!

We also took a little drive up to Park City, to shop and walk around! I AM IN LOVE with this little place! Main St. was tooo die for CUTE!


There was a concert on Thursday night at Pioneer Park (a few blocks away from my in-laws condo)... but upon arriving... we QUICKLY found out that this was NOT our crowd of folks to parTAY with! haha! I think there were more tattoos than teeth, but we snapped a picture and left. As we were walking away, we heard a few choice 4 letter words, and were REALLY glad we didn't stay!

I met up with Kathryn for brunch on Friday morning, and we went to the most quaint little waffle house in downtown Salt Lake. They make the BEST Belgian waffles with fresh cream, strawberries, raspberries, cinnamon, etc. on them! It was so much fun to chat, and catch up on each others lives.


Kim (Sterling's mom) flew into SLC on Friday afternoon, after helping my brother in law and his family move in to a new home in Texas! She's a saint! :) So we went to go pick her up from the airport.

Friday, Jaycee came up to SLC and we all went to dinner at a Coons' family FAVORITE restaurant... Bucca de Beppo's. It's an Italian chain... but in every restaurant it feels like a total LOCAL place! We love it! The food is SCRUMPTOUS, and there is SO MUCH of it! It was such a fun dinner!







Friday night, we had some friends come over for a night of games, fun, snacks, and wild stories. :) These guys are the best. They've been friends for YEARS, and were quite the crew... ruling the halls of Loan Peak High School! haha! I love hearing all these past stories they throw at me of Sterling, and all the crazy things they've done. I have also FALLEN IN LOVE with their wives (the ones who are married anyway). Otherwise... LADIES... these guys are on the market, and make a GREAT catch! ;)




Saturday morning, we headed back down to Pioneer Park for the Farmers Market, and found a little surprise of "Roller Derby Practice". haha! So, we walked around, ate GREAT food, shopped a little, did a little LOT of people watching, and had a fun time together!




After the Farmers Market, we did a little touring around the City, and went to some fun places!
First stop: Capital Building

Cathedral of the Maddeline





"This is the Place" Monument

And last stop... BUT not least... The Capitol Theater to see...
WICKED!!!!






I've seen this musical once before in LA at the Pantageous Theater, and was SMITTEN with the music, and story! Ahh! I wanted to run down the isles, or stand up in my seat and belt out "And if you cannot find me, LOOK to the Western Skyyyy" and "I think I'll TRYYYYY, Defyyyyying GRAAAVITYYYY"! :) haha! I'd love to go back tomorrow! Thanks to Chris and Kim for such a fun time!

We went to church on Sunday with my Mother and Father in-law, and their church building was SO INCREDIBLE! This gorgeous Stained Glass window is in the front of their chapel, and depicts the first vision. It is such an old building with beautiful architecture. 



We brought some stuff home for Jaycee and Brady, to move in to their new apartment... which made our back seat a little full! haa!


All in all it was a GREAT getway, and I love spending time with my love! :) Life with work, school, callings, and every hassles makes "our time together" so much more special! I loved it, and we are refreshed, and ready to come back to "reality" of real life!