A very fun weekend

We journeyed to Salt Lake this past weekend for a friend reunion with Davids friends from high school. While we were there we had so much fun. Since we moved, we have missed our friends and family in Salt Lake so much. We haven't been able to travel up as often as we wish we could and so it was extra fun to be able to spend a weekend basking in friendships.
We started out Friday morning and got to Salt Lake in the early afternoon. We were planning to take Mckinley to the zoo but it was raining so we hung out at Alan and Melissa's house, who were so wonderful to let us stay for the weekend. Mckinley had so much fun playing with Canyon and getting up on to the top bunk bed by herself (she could only go up, not down.) that she didn't even notice that she was going to have to wait until Saturday to go to the zoo.
We made Gioza that night and it reminded us of when we lived up there and used to have huge Gioza parties and make tons of it. I should never be considered responsible enough to make the rice when we are with friends. I always either burn it or don't cook it long enough. This time around, it was pretty mushy and everyone was very nice about lying that that was the way they like it.
Alan told Mckinley that this was a hat. She wasn't quite sure since she had seen Canyon sitting in it earlier.
After eating dinner, we played a game of Yahtzee, and then David and I taught everyone how to play Old Mexico, which is a dice game that is a lot like BS. They had so much fun playing it, that they stayed up until 2 am playing. Do you ever remember the lame girl that you would always invite to slumber parties who would fall asleep at like 9 o clock? That was me this time. I went downstairs to put Mckinley to sleep at 11:30, with good intentions to come back and keep playing, but I fell fast asleep, probably before Mckinley did.
In the morning we woke up and Melissa took us to the Farmers Market at Pioneer Park. There was something for everyone there. We sampled a bunch of things, I bought some fresh cherries, and bought a really cute headband after I watched the lady in line ahead of me buy the one I really wanted. (the one I got is cuter anyway though. I really bought one because Melissa looked so gorgeous in hers :)Mckinley just wanted a snow cone but she didn't want any flavoring in it. Whatever.
Downtown, there is an amazing place just across the street from Pioneer park that sells authentic Belgium waffles that are to die for. They are really nothing like the American version. I cant even remember the name of the place but wow. Thanks Melissa for bringing them into my life. I might starve to death if I have to eat my own home made waffles now. Haha.
Then we went to the Zoo. You know what the first thing we did was? This: The ever important drink from the lions mouth.
Then on to the monkeys.
Then to the Rhinos. One of the Rhinos escaped and we learned an important lesson: You don't have to run faster than the Rhino. You just have to run faster than Murph. Haha.
Zebras! Mckinley says they are black with white stripes.
Mckinley was so excited to see the Elephants. She got to watch part of the Elephant show from the best seat in the house.
Mckinley has a stuffed giraffe that she sleeps with every night named "Giraffee." When we got to the giraffe place she was so amazed. I think she would have spent an hour or more just looking at the giraffes if we would have let her.

The cherry on top was the famous train ride. What fun. I'm always a little worried about riding over the rickety bridge and next to the "don't call them Buffalo, these are American Bison." But we survived yet again.

After the zoo, Mckinley took a nap in the car as we drove out to Jeremy and Mary's to see Dawson, their new baby. I'm so mad that I didn't take any pictures while we were there. He is so cute, and little. It was fun to hold him.

The final event of the day was the reunion up Millcreek canyon. It was so much fun to see everyone and their growing families. Some of the baby's we hadn't seen yet and it was fun to meet them. Mckinley had so much fun playing with Isabel.(Yay a little girl to play with!!)It was fun to watch them together.


After everyone but the Campbells, Murph and us had left, Murph took out his guitar and played some songs. This was him playing "part of your world," from Little Mermaid for Mckinley. He had her full interest as soon as she recognized the words. And we were all laughing about his rendition of the song. It was pretty cute.

The next morning we met Sunni and Shawn for Breakfast at the Original Pancake House. The plan was to go to Ruth's Diner but there was a two hour wait for breakfast! It was fun to see them and catch up. That was a lot of food.

We had so much fun on this trip. Thanks especially to Melissa and Alan for giving three homeless folks a place to stay. Can't wait for next time.