Anniversary Trip

Last weekend, Mark went on a short getaway trip. I work the weekend (and day of) our actual anniversary so we decided to go a week early rather than ending up going 2 or 3 weeks late with my work schedule. Only having a day and a half, our original Park City idea was out for this year. So Salt Lake City it was!

I've always wanted to go on the carriage rides they have in downtown Salt Lake. So Mark "surprised me" and we went for a ride Friday evening. The horse pulling the carriage was funny. At one point we passed a park with bagpipe players. He started to slow down and look over towards the park area. I guess he wanted to stop and join the party! Definitely had flashbacks of my Scottish high school heritage hearing the music! *cringes*
We booked a hotel room at the Little America Hotel. It's right across the street from the Grand America (grand=more $$$). Even though we chose the "lesser" hotel of the two, we were not disappointed at all. We checked into our room and then went out for our carriage ride, dinner and other sight-seeing.

When we got back, the radio was playing. I went and turned it off, figuring someone had left the alarm on, and then realized they had come in to do their "turn down" service. There were even 2 chocolate mints on the pillow and a robe laid across the bed. The sitting room just off to the left of the bed had old fashioned couches and chairs that added to the classy look. We haven't been so spoiled since our trip to Agate Cove Inn for our honeymoon last year.

In walking around temple square, I was on a hunt for a specific statue. Growing up my mom had a portrait of this statue in our living room with the caption:

"Look back. Someone follows behind receiving all your frowns and smiles as patterns for her days and step stones for her miles."

I've always loved this statue, and the quotation just adds to it. I feel it is the perfect description and reminder for motherhood. Our children watch and learn from us, not just by our words, but our actions as well.

After walking around temple square, we headed to the Blue Lemon for dinner. It's a sandwich/pasta shop newer to the Utah area. I didn't find it anything to rave about, but they buy from local farmers so it's hard not to want to support that. Afterwards we retired to our hotel room and ate some Sasualito chocolate chip cookies together that I had bought as a surprise snack. I originally debated between those and Milanos. But I thought we'd buy the Sausalito brand in honor of the city just out of San Francisco last year but found nothing to see but random homes and one tiny store. I guess that's what you get when you just put in a city as the destination on google maps.

Saturday morning, we got up and ate breakfast at their coffee shop. Afterwards, we headed off to the Gateway mall...that lasted about 40 minutes. Then we headed to the Clark Planetarium. We didn't see any shows but just walked around and checked out their free space exhibit stuff. We are not much for sightseeing so who knows what we were thinking when we planned to be in Salt Lake until 4 with only the mall and planetarium....

So what do we do? GO TO IKEA!!! We looked at furniture, gadgets etc but what do we come out with? Peach juice....I know, we're a little random but here's the story: Last year at the B&B linked above, we had this peach flavored drink when we went out to dinner one night. It was amazing and haven't tasted it since. We were super excited to find it so, for 2.99 we splurged and put it away for our anniversary dinner this weekend.

Our trip was cut short (but probably for the better since we were bored by noon) because all 7 of us Wyckhuyse girls and grandchildren were getting together for pictures. 2 of my sisters will be leaving the state this summer so we don't know when we will all be together again. Waiting for my turn, I took a few shots just for fun. It was a bit chaotic trying to get 10 children (all 8& under) to smile and be still. We as sisters had quite a bit of fun doing a few poses as well. I'm looking forward to seeing them in a week or two when our great photographer has the proofs.

Spencer and Brock playing together while the 7 granddaughters were doing pictures.
I was trying to get Grace to smile and be happy, instead happy little Lilly jumped in front. It turned out to be a pretty cute picture.
"Uncle" Mark was a great help. He really took a liking to Miri and explored the ground (rocks mostly)with her. He's going to be a great dad some day!