Back to the grind...

I had a lovely three days in Houston. I was seriously cutting it close to make my flight out (was standing in the security line and could see people boarding my flight) but I made it, and it was amazing. I don't typically like to push it with flights, because I hate being rushed (at airports or otherwise) but this new gig isn't as easy to just leave early as the last job was.

All I wanted from this weekend was to catch up with friends, relax, and get some sun. I would say my mission was accomplished. The Burnses were more than accommodating. Saturday we went boating and despite my fear of not getting up on the wakeboard (haven't been since I learned how five years ago) I didn't really have any problems. The water was ridiculously warm. I'm talking, no shock at all when I got in. I bet it was about 85 degrees. I've never really been boating when there wasn't at least 6+ people wanting to wakeboard, so it was strange when my turn came up again and I felt like I still needed to rest. We had a bit of a (3 hour) setback before getting to the river when the trailer got a flat tire, however, we only needed the 2 1/2 hours we were on the water. Everyone was pooped.

That evening I did some laying around in the pool, and then we BBQ'd and ate outside and it was divine. They asked if I wanted to go out, but all I really wanted to do was shower, and relax.

Sunday was church, and then I was the bad influence who took little Rachel home with me and we laid out after Sacrament meeting. (Oops.) Another delicious dinner, and then it was back to the church for Rachel's seminary graduation. Man, I do not miss the days of seminary. Not at all.

That night some of their friends from the ward came over for ice cream sundaes. I chatted a bit, and then just went upstairs to finally finish Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. I'd put that one down for a while, as I frequently do with books, but I'm glad I finished it, especially since the movie will be out in a few months.

Monday was a lazy morning, and then off the family went for Rachel's high school graduation. They kept apologizing for leaving, but I just felt bad I couldn't go to graduation since I had to fly out that evening. I will admit, even though I was so excited and loving the relaxing, I did wonder if I'd get bored or lonely with my three solo hours in the pool. It only took about 20 minutes for me to forget I had a good chunk of time to kill. By 1pm I realized I was hungry so I had some lunch, got back in the pool, and the next thing I knew, I only had 15 minutes left before I had to get ready. I was not ready to leave that pool. Not ready at all. I could have gone another 2 hours easily. I'd downloaded The Help onto my kindle and couldn't have been happier reading in the sun, sitting in my blow up chair in the pool. It was seriously heaven. Oh yeah, and I'm totally proud of myself because I wore sunscreen every day (even reapplying once on Monday) and wore a hat. I'm getting paranoid in my old age, and I'll admit, I still have a nice tan, and when I saw a chick totally fried at the airport I felt very smug.

Monday afternoon

The Rachels, just before she left for her graduation. I remember when this one was four or five years old.

Now I'm back at work, totally unmotivated. Lots to do before I head out again this weekend. Surprisingly, I'm not even sick of traveling. I guess I've been having too much fun, and I've really really looked forward to each trip.

Hope everyone had a lovely Memorial Day weekend!

What I've been up to

and the reader's digest version of what happened...

Nephews Spencer, Jared, and Hudson. I actually was not at this event, but Spencer was blessed in Salt Lake City. How cute are these boys???

April 21-24

Easter in Salt Lake City. Nephew Ryan and niece Megan coloring eggs. Lil cuties.

-spent a night with an old college friend

-spa day with Mom and Rebecca (Mom and I ended up staying seven hours and it was glorious)

-Z'tejas with old roomies Alli & Libby. Non. Stop. Laughter.

-spent the night with Alli and Toby and stayed up talking till 6am

-discussed grown up problems with Al and Tobes over brunch at Mimi's

-had emotional breakdown due to thinking about all my friends and tough things they're going through, and serious lack of sleep

-Cafe Rio with extended family

-more mexican food for a late dinner and a piano bar with a friend

-Sunday School at Grandma's church

-Relief Society at Aunt Vicki's church

-drove my mom and myself to SLC airport

May 6-8
Back to SLC for Kambria and Preston's wedding.

-Barely caught my flight due to a very confusing gate situation at JFK. Justin and Ellie were on my flight. Had the whole row to myself.

-Spent the night with Alli and Toby, stayed up talking, once again until after 6am. (Woke up two hours later....)

-"Brunch" at Maglebees. (I use quotes because no one does brunch like NYC.)

-Took advantage of the icredible weather and went shooting. (I swear this photo is decieving...Toby is further back than he looks. Also, I did not shoot. I haven't ever used a shotgun and I didn't want to take the chance of having that gun smack me in the face and having to go to the reception with a shiner.)

-Met up with my handsome date and then headed to the Hilton in downtown SLC for the reception.

-Had the best time seeing so many New York friends at the wedding, especially those who no longer live in New York. (Kam and Preston dated in New York and now live in SLC, so there was a good group of us at the wedding.)

-Enjoyed Kam bringing pieces of her heritage into her wedding. (Her Mexican viel, the Lebanese food, the father-daughter dance being a salsa dance.) It was so great and her dad's speech was one of the sweetest I've ever heard.

-Enjoyed spending Mothers' Day by going to church with Grandma, Aunt Terry, and Aunt Vicki.
-Made my flight back to New York just fine, was joined by Justin, Ellie, and Maria.

May 13-15 New Hampshire to finally meet little Spenc.
-Flew from Newark to Logan and decided I would suck it up and pay the extra cash and go that route from now on.

-Woke up early enough to be able to get Madeline up when she woke. Melted in half when she wasn't confused at all, knew who I was, and reached for me.

-Smothered both babies all weekend long.

-Gossiped.

-Laughed our heads off.
-Ate. And Ate and ate.

-Went to a fish......run? Can't remember what it's called........

-Watched the Yankees/Sox game.

-Read.
-Enjoyed the fact that I can always just be lazy and do nothing at Brad and Nadia's and still have the best time.
-Wondered why I let months go by in between visits.

-Was sad to leave, like always.

-Hung out at Logan airport for two hours due to plane delay, and another hour on the tarmak. Decided I will not fly next time....

May 20-22
Berkshires.

-Took up 12 friends.

-Was a complete stress case, as usual.

-Had to call John while on his golfing vacation for the following: a door that was accidently locked and closed, a screen door that was locked open, and had to be taken apart (unnecessarily, we later realized,) a pool that would not heat up, and a friend who'd done a back dive into the pool and hit his head and had to be taken to the emergency room. (He was okay, thank goodness. Doctor glued up the gash in his head, gave him a neck brace, and sent him on his way. I think I was more tramatized than he was.)

-Played some hilarious truth or dare (yes, we're in our 20s and 30s.)

-Eating in the screened in porch.

-Watching the sun go down after the rain had come and gone, and the temperature was perfect, while on rocking chairs on the deck (my favorite moment.)

-Fire in the fireplace.

May 24 -Jason, Elise, and Hudson came into town and I was so excited. Seeing all the adorable photos Elise puts on their blog is like torture for an auntie 3000 miles away.

-Grabbed some din at Patsy's, followed by ice cream at Emack & Bolio's.

-Insisted on carrying Hudson the whole way to the restaurant, and a lot of the way back which resulted in a very sore arm.

May 25

-I'd told Jason and Elise I'd watch my little Huddy Buddy so they could go out one night.

-Ten minutes into being cooped up in the hotel (and after 10 hours in the office) auntie was stir crazy so we went for what turned out to be a four mile walk. This was my view all night, and I could not get enough. Hudson is the happiest most mellow baby. Ever.

Coming up:

-Houston this weekend for non stop laziness by the pool and on the boat at the Burns's.

-SLC the following weekend for my bday.

And then, a break from travel......for now.

PS I don't know why blogger suddenly made everything double spaced mid post but it's really annoying me and I couldn't fix it......

Links for Friday

I know. I've been MIA. I've started a post about a million times and usually make it as far as the title, or the first sentence, and then get busy with something else. Life has been insane. Work has been crazy, the week nights have been crazy, and I'm in the middle of a seven week stretch of being on the road almost every weekend. It's been exhausting but so fun.
Headed to the Berkshires this evening for a weekend of guilt-free laziness with a bunch of friends and 6pm can't come quickly enough.

Here's some links for you. Happy weekend!

A fairy tale proposal.

Bad habits to quit.

Dr. Laura's thoughts on Empty Nestors.

A marriage proposal that starts out pretty cool, but turns extremely cheesy. Would be a perfect proposal.........for Prom.

A photography cheat sheet.

One of my favorite blogs.

There are still honest people in the world.