Christmas tree escapade

Melodie and I decided we wanted a real Christmas tree in our apartment. So we went to Smith's and picked out a beauty:

Got her all strapped onto the car:
But on the way home, we had a tragedy...it's debatable who's fault it was:
We had a beautiful solution though, quick easy fix:
And the marvelous, dazzling, finished product:
I've loved having it in our living room, but we probably should be taking it out, it might burn down our house soon...

Escapade Number 4

My last trip I have pictures from is to Mesa for Christmas the other day. As always, Christmas is wonderful with the family. It was a short, fun packed, three days. We ate, slept, ate, shopped, ate, visited, ate, did the nativity story, watched Scrooge, slept, woke up at 5, opened gifts, got ready for church, talked to Jeff, went to church, visited, ate, napped (well most of the girls did anyway), I held Nate a ton, had family over, visited, ate, visited, slept, visited, played around, ate, played Just Dance...I got out of order somewhere in there, but you get the gist of it. Twas a wonderful time. Here are some pics:

Escapade Number 3: DC

I got to the airport and about a half hour later, Dave and fam met up with me. I held Annie for the first time, and of course she loved me. We had dinner and visited while we waited for the plane. The plane was pretty empty and so we each got our row. My 2 yr old niece, Hallie, was originally sitting next to Dave, but with a little of my awesome aunt skills, I had her sitting next me to in no time. We had so much fun:

I loved all my time with Dave, Nikkie, Janae, Steve, Hallie, Annie, and Nate. I loved visiting with Nikki and Janae during the day and playing with the kids, and then visiting with my brothers during the evening. I miss having them out west here with me. I'm so glad I go to spend so much time with them!!!

Escapade Number 3: Chicago

I think I could get used to this travel thing...Steve and Janae's little boy was born on October 28, and I still hadn't met Dave and Nikki's youngest, so I decided that my nieces and nephew needed some quality Aunt Mel time (and of course I wanted to see my brothers and sisters-in-law...). In the process of deciding which flight to take, I saw that there were many stops in Chicago, where one of my bestest friends lives...so I decided to stop there for a few days :) I flew out the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Hope gave me a royally grand time in the Windy City and I loved every second of it!! We walked A TON, which is probably good because we ate plenty of the best eats. Here's the great time in picture form:

We drove from the airport to Hope's place, dropped off the car, and took the "L" to the city center:

I was so excited to learn how to use the ticket thingy...it kinda scared me the first time because it sucked up my ticket, it spit it back out though, phew!

Hope and I on the train

We went and found ourselves some lunch at America's Dog. It might not have been the best hot dog I've ever had, but it was definitely the most interesting one...

Then we started to meander around Chicago, I was amazed (probably because I'm easily entertained...)by the poster ads they had next to the bus stops, they moved!!! And I caught one in motion :)

We continued to meander, but we had to stop at the most incredible bakery with the most amazing banana cream pie I have ever had in my entire life. Magnolia's Bakery, I'm still dreaming about it...

Hope's friend, Myriah, joined us for much of our adventures, I liked her a lot :)

Macy's Holiday decorating and tree:

Bloomingdale's:

The "Bean":

Christkindlmarket (which I loved, it was like stepping into Germany for a minute...minus the random Indian booth...maybe someday I'll go to Germany for Christmas?):

We went to the Cultural Center to check out some awesome Tiffany Glass domes, but there was a wedding there, so we watched the wedding instead...well some of it anyway until someone kicked us out:

Another train picture:

Sunday was a really chill day. We woke and went to church, then hung out at Myriah's all afternoon. It's a pretty small world. Two of the people in Hope's ward I know from other places. One from serving in Boise, and the other from two places: my cousins' ward growing up and BYU. Crazy. That evening we went to a fireside with BYU basketball head coach, Coach Dave Rose, glad I went to Chicago to hear him speak...Our main activity on Sunday afternoon? Coloring (we're really good at it):

It was probably on Sunday and Monday that I fell in love with Chicago. As we drove home from the fireside, the skyline looked absolutely incredible! Monday morning Hope and I went to breakfast at a Swedish place called Ann Sather's. It was delicious, as is evident on Hope's face...but check out the cool Swedish background:

Hope had to go to work in the afternoon, so I took on the city on my own. Riding the train on my own was a little nerve-racking for a minute, but I met a friend and had a nice visit with him until I got where I was going. I checked out the Museum of Art, which was awesome, but I won't bore you with the pictures I took there. I loved the impressionistic artists though. Then I wandered up and down the streets checking out the awesome buildings of the city. I love the architecture there. Here are only a few pictures:

I checked out the Bean by myself (I can't remember the real name of it) I love seeing the city outline in the reflection:

That night we had Chicago Deep Dish Pizza=heaven:

A visit with Hope would not be complete without a good movie like Emma and some matching socks:

Tuesday morning we went to another little place for breakfast then decided to try check out Navy Pier. I REALLY wanted to ride the ferris wheel...I love ferris wheels...we had a slight obstacle...wind. Not just a light wind. Walking forward was quite the chore:

The ferris wheel...someday maybe, not that day

At the end of Navy Pier:

Some dude, it was kinda a one sided convo:
We hurried back to Hope's, had a dinner, and then I rode the train to the airport...headed to DC...

What a wonderful time!!!

"Escapade" Number 2

Once upon an October day I learned that my brother Ben was coming home from his mission and would have a two hour layover in the Salt Lake airport. So I told my boss I was leaving for the afternoon, and did :) It was soooooooo good to visit with Ben. I loved every minute of it!

The next day we had a work Halloween party. Thanks to Carie for my costume:

That weekend, Will, a mission companion of his named Justin who was awesome, and I drove to Mesa to be with the family when Ben spoke in church. Twas a quick, wonderful weekend.

Escapade Number 1

Once upon a time in July and August I went on two trips by myself that were super short but such a wonderful time. I had the opportunity to drive to Idaho and witness the sealing of a wonderful gal I worked with on the mission. They were sealed in Idaho Falls (because the Boise temple was closed) on a Saturday, so I drove up there by myself praying the whole way that my sweet car would not decide to break down that day. Putput and I made it just fine and it was a wonderful experience! I love Megan and am so grateful for her example of faith and love for the gospel she has shown me since the day I met her. What a blessed day that was!!

I love this place...

I loved every minute of the drive too...I love driving, but I specifically love driving in Idaho! (especially in the summer when I get to see the gorgeous "sunflowers" (or as my roommate would say noxious weeds), this is an attempt at a picture of them:

Then the next Tuesday (August 2nd) after this trip, I took a little trip to Oakland for the day. It was the first time I've ever taken a trip quite like it. I was ridiculously tired, but it was an absolutely wonderful day. Here's the reason in super short version:

Once upon a day as a missionary, my companion and I were walking around Hailey, Idaho and met a 28 yr old single mother of four boys. Turns out she was a member that no one knew lived there. Thus started a wonderful friendship. I spent a long time in that area and those boys became like my own. They never really got active when I was there...it took years...we kinda kept in contact over the years. Johnna married a nice man named Matt, they had another boy, and they worked on getting the family back to church for good. So I went for her and Matt's endowment and then all six of them were sealed as an eternal family!!! Oh how I love this family!!! We went to dinner right after the temple and then I flew home. Crazy, but likely the best day ever!

(Johnna, her mom, and I)

Those two days were beautiful seeing people I love make powerful covenants...I loved it, I love them, and I love the temple!!