utah trip

Yeah, we're finally getting around to blogging about our trip to Utah a couple weeks ago. We lucked out and there was room on the flight down for Brooklyn to have her own seat! She slept the whole way down -- it was awesome.

The main reason we went was to watch Braden's last Provo High football game. We have been going to Braden's games together ever since we got married, so we were excited to make it to Senior Night! We got him a special present -- a mini replica of his PHS helmet that Austin custom-ordered.

Brooklyn warmed up to Aunt Breanna pretty quick...

...and she got a present -- one of Bre's cute boutique hand-stitched sock cats!

We were curious to see how Brooklyn would react to stairs. She climbed right up like a pro. Going down was a little more tricky -- we'll have to figure out how to work on that in an apartment with no stairs...

Brooklyn was much more interested in the cats than she was when we last lived there.

Grandma Taylor got special permission to come watch Braden's game. Brooklyn was instantly comfortable with Grandma thanks to Skype!

We went to visit Austin's aunt Jenny and her two adorable twin boys. Nathan and Daniel were too cute and it was fun to get the kids together to play!

Austin and Cheryl got to go down to be on the field with Braden before the game as all the seniors were recognized.

Someone was excited to go to her first football game!

It was a beautiful crisp fall day -- perfect football weather!

Braden had a great crowd at the game -- us, Mom/Cheryl, Breanna and Kellen, both sets of grandparents, Aaron and Michelle and family, Aunt Lori, and even some AZ-PHX missionaries!

Brooklyn was shy with about everyone -- except Aunt Lori! She had the magic touch!

Lori brought the cutest -- and tastiest -- cupcakes to share.

Provo didn't win the game, but they played really well and Braden was rock solid, playing both offense and defense. He has lots of great polynesian friends on the team that made sure he had more than enough awesome leis for Senior Night!

We were so glad Mom/Cheryl got to come down to see Braden's game. And Braden played so hard that he fractured his foot! Ouch!

Brooklyn also loved seeing Grandma Carole after the game!

We went to Franklin -- Austin's elementary school alma mater -- to see Breanna's fifth grade classroom.

Austin did a short lesson on design and logos with the students and had them draw their own Franklin Falcons logos.

We had to stop by Guru's because that's where it all started -- our first date! Brooklyn loved the sweet potato fries -- further evidence she's ours. :)

We made a quick stop at BYU to get someone a halloween costume (we'll get around to that blog post one of these days...)

We got to see all the James side of the family as well as some of the AZ-PHX missionaries that have come home and are at BYU.

Austin had arranged a small acoustic house show with his friend Kimball that Friday night -- it was fun to play and listen to acoustic renditions of some old favorites from the band they were in together a couple years ago.

We got to see our former MTC boss -- and good friend -- Heidi, who was kind enough to stop by and see us before the BYU football game. Heidi will always be one of our favorite people ever because she hired both of us and that's how we met!

Laura and Brooklyn got to see Laura's good friend and former roommate Sarah -- they had a great time visiting at a park.

We also got to see Laura's brother Jon, who is studying at BYU. We took him to dinner at one of our favorite Provo restaurants of all time -- Bombay House! It was his -- and Brooklyn's -- first time trying Indian food... and they both liked it!

We had a great visit. It felt really short and really busy at times -- but that's because we're really lucky to have so many great family members and friends that we wanted to see! We didn't get to see everyone we wanted to since we only had several days, but we will definitely be back sooner or later. But in the meantime, come visit us! :)