Some of this week’s highlights:

-My sister Mary turned 19. To celebrate, my brother Shawn treated me, Rosie, Mary, and her friend Melina to lunch at Olive Garden and a day pass to Boondocks. We had a blast playing arcade games, the XD theater, flight simulator, mini-golf, bumper boats, and go karts. Then on Sunday was the traditional Watson family birthday dinner…complete with the “memory circle” game.

-Rosie got to have a sleepover in Sandy with Lola (practically a cousin) for two nights. The first day I spent catching up with Jacob and Andi…next thing I knew it…it was midnight and I slept over too!

-I finally met Jenn from Texas (an online buddy I was introduced to through my husband) We’ve been talking for five years, and we got to bond over Cafe Rio pork barbacoa salads. Yum!

-The 4th of July was great fun! I went to the SLC Farmers Market at Pioneer Park with Jacob and Andi, followed by the Murray Park carnival. Next, Rosie and I met up with Esther for lunch at Rumbi Grill (another Utah restaurant I’ve missed) Then, I spent the evening as an honorary Bytheway (my best friend Emily’s last name)…a delicious dinner in Murray, followed by a big family gathering at Grandma By’s across the street from Sugarhouse Park for fireworks. I didn’t get back to Spanish Fork until after 1:00 am. Whew!

All in all, I drove over 400 miles between Spanish Fork, Lehi, SLC, Provo, American Fork, Draper, Murray, and all those other cities along I-15. That definitely won’t be the norm while I live here.There are still so many people I want to see, but it’s nice to not have to cram all my visiting on an extended weekend non-revving. This week I really need to get cracking on “responsible” things like actually UNPACKING all the bags that are sitting on the floor of the bedroom. And looking for jobs. And spending quality time with my dear Rosie.