Girls Weekend 2012

 My mom hosted our third Nelson Girls Weekend in SLC (which occurs every other year)! The trip always passes a little too quickly for me...but we cram in all the fun we can. Thomas spent the first evening with us and then the rest of the weekend at Grandma and Grandpa Youngs', which he LOVED, but I'll get to that in a minute.

Evening #1 (Thursday): Dinner at the Garden Restaurant in the Joseph Smith Building. Followed by a walk around Temple Square and sitting in on a Motab practice.

 Baby love! Thomas and my sister Hayley's youngest, Quincy. First off, for FHE tonight, we are taking Thomas to get his nasty mullet cut off. Second, my dad made his first Girls Trip appearance this weekend to watch Qunicy while we got our nails done and went to Cirque de Sole Friday evening. He is amazing! Third, the show was awesome and nerve-wrecking! (No cameras allowed though).

Later Thursday night, we all exchanged "pampering" gifts and thoughts, enjoyed treats and sparkling cider, and sported our newest jammies from Mom. The fun was just beginning when shortly after taking these photos we heard a knock on the door and a deep voice, "Hotel Security!"

It seemed to be difficult for the security guard sent to our noisy room to be serious when he beheld this sight.

Even later that night, Thomas was still excited and ready to party, so my dad took the two of us on a drive around the city. It was a tour, really, of all the places he and my mom had lived, worked, and gone to school about 40 years ago when they were first married.

Day #2 (Friday): After Thomas was dropped off in Layton with the Youngs, we all got our nails done at Nailed, ate lunch at the Trio next door, and shopped the rest of the day away until a quick dinner at the Blue Lemon (every meal we ate was SOO good!), the Cirque show, and polished off the night with more chatting and treats at our hotel, Little America, of course!

Saturday, we all hit the City Creek Mall again, with everyone departing at different times for different places throughout the day. It was oh-so good and, as always, rejuvenating to spend this short, sweet time with the most important women in my life (and Dad:))!

Photo proof that Thomas was happy without me.

Some things I think Thomas loved about his trip with the Youngs: non-stop attention and doting, freedom to roam all around their home, Charlie-dog, Grandma and Grandpa, cousin Miles, great food, and maybe most of all, Uncle Spenny! Even with major lack of sleep (he was too excited to sleep), Thomas was running around laughing and having the time of his life all the day long! This made it so easy for me not to stress about leaving my mamas-boy. So amazing for me!

Chris did come to crash the party as well on Friday night. Saturday, he and Spencer spent some time getting some old gaming systems up and running again. Ever hear of Virtual Boy? Worst most anti-social, posture-ruining game ever! The boys did however get me to play some Virtual Boy Pin Ball. Let's just hope this contraption never ends up in our home in Colorado.

We met up with Steve and Jayme, Chris' bro and wife, at City Creek Mall Saturday night. We ate treats and hot chocolate and caught up a bit. It was so great to see them! Too bad that I can't get pictures off Chris' camera of this excursion. 

We concluded our trip with a great, traditional Sunday meal made by Grandpa Young. We're grateful for the (short) time we were able to spend with family. Time just keeps on flying by! It's hard to believe we've lived in Colorado for 2 1/2 years now. A little distance definitely makes these family trips all the more special.