Florida 2011

Well our trip in Florida is winding down. Right now we are sitting around the beach house waiting to go to the airport, our flight leaves at 5am so we will be leaving around 2am.

Our trip to Florida started at 4am Saturday morning when Dan's dad drove us to the Salt Lake Airport. We got there at a great time! The lines were pretty short when we got there. Our flight left Salt Lake at 7am and we flew to Houston, Texas. Dan and I were the rebels in the back seat of the plane! We sat by a family who was on their way to Cancun and also on the flight we saw a family from Bluffdale who were on their way to Spain. While waiting to unload off of the plane we watched a man abuse several pieces of luggage as he unloaded and reloaded them.

We had about an hour lay over in Houston and ate at Ruby's Diner. I asked for Mayo...then when I asked for it again the lady said she had put extra on my sandwich. I explained to her fry sauce and she kindly brought me a cup of mayo :)

From Florida we flew to Ft Lauderdale, Florida. I sat by a high school aged boy who had attended a week-long ROTC Drill Camp at Texas A & M. I should mention that we were also traveling with three of Dan's co-workers and one of their wives.

Our beach house was really nice with plenty of space for 6 people.

Sunday some of us drove to Miami North Beach. The water was nice and warm! Later we went to Hallendale Beach at high tide. Dan and the guys liked swimming with all the waves and trying to ride them, but I preferred the calm water. Also, at Hallendale Beach I got stung by a jelly fish! The life guard just sprayed some cleaner on it...it was pretty anti-climatic.

Monday Dan presented at the American Nuclear Society Conference (the reason we were in Florida in the first place). The other wife, Kariann, and I went to downtown Hollywood to look around the stores. Most of the stores were closed, and the few clothing stores that were open were Latina stores...pretty much we stood out. In the evening we went to the Greek Joint. So Good! We had Saganaki, fried cheese and I had Pork Slouvaki with seasoned fries. We then went to an ice-cream shop and I got cheesecake turtle ice-cream Yum!

Tuesday the guys went to the conference in the morning and returned in the afternoon. Then the married couples went to Flamingo Gardens. We were able to walk through an aviary and watch an animal show. The best animal was the opossum that walked around the stage. We also saw crazy spiders, alligators, and panthers. In the evening we went to Hollywood Beach.

Wednesday the other 3 guys presented at the conference so the guys were gone all day. Kariann and I went to the Sawgrass Mill. There were 400 stores/eateries/ vendors there! It was so big they had some stores twice! In the evening we went to the Hollywood Beach Boardwalk. We walked up and down and after the sun went down we got ice-cream and watched a storm out on the ocean from the beach. It was amazing!

Thursday we drove to Key Largo! Highway 1 is just on the ocean! The married couples went snorkeling. It was amazing! At first I was scared to jump out of the boat because there is no touching bottom in the ocean. We were able to swim over the coral and swim in the middle of schools of fish. We were also able to see a lobster.

Tonight we will leave Ft Lauderdale at 5am and fly to Charlotte, NC. From there we will fly to Denver, CO and then land in Salt Lake City around 1pm. Hopefully, we will be able to sleep all day Friday!

RAGNAR Take 2

It looks like the RAGNAR Wasatch Back Relay Race is becoming an annual event for our family. Daniel participated again this year with his Aunt Myndee, Uncle Randy, Cousin Alex & Wife Stacey, and Brother-in-Law Mitch. Sarah, Kari, and I volunteered this year checking the teams' safety gear at the start line.

Dan was runner 9 out of 12 his legs were:

3.2 miles through Ogden Valley Thursday morning

9.3 miles around Echo Reservoir Friday around 1am

3.2 miles straight uphill through Wasatch Mountain State Park Friday morning

Idaho Falls

This week Daniel had the opportunity to go to Idaho National Labs for a conference. I love the fact that his professor let's his student's wives tag along! Last year we were able to go to San Jose together and later in the month we will be going to Florida.

So what do I think about Idaho Falls after spending 5 whole days there?....let's just say Idaho Falls and I aren't the closest of friends. One night I spent an hour trying to find the Jamba Juice due to one way roads and a lack of a good numbering system for the city streets. I understand that Utah is unique in it's numbering of roads in a way that makes sense and is organized...but the fact that I swear I saw two 25th streets and that 17th street actually has two other names is a little ridiculous. Also no grid pattern at all was used in planning this city...one minute I was headed north and the next thing I know I'm headed back south again.

I did appreciate the always beautiful Idaho sunsets and the amazing river with it's falls. This town also has a lot of parks! I spent two of the days bumming around the Freemont Park.

I was able to go to the Idaho Falls Temple with my grandparents and it is a lovely temple. I had never been inside before, it is the temple my grandparents and parents were married in.

I think Dan had a good time, he was able to learn some 'stuff' about 'stuff' that he works with...and he got free food :D