You Can't Make This Stuff Up

So we are finally back from our whirlwind trip to Utah.   We went for a wedding, but crammed as many activities as we possibly could into the week we were there, and we are exhausted.  I will not be wanting for blog fodder for a while, but for now, I will leave you with some cool, funny, and just plain crazy moments from our little vacation.

1.  While going through security at the airport, Bria's backpack was tagged for further screening because of some "suspicious" items seen through the x-ray.  Turned out to be her entire rock collection, which is rather extensive, carefully wrapped first in saran wrap, then in aluminum foil, and then packaged in a ziploc baggie.  That's each individual rock, mind you, and at least ten pounds of extra weight in her poor backpack.  I have no earthly idea what possessed her to bring her rocks, but she did.  And she made quite the spectacle at the security checkpoint while they were unwrapping all of these rocks because she was just sure they would be throwing all of her precious stones away. (They didn't.)

2.  During a very long layover in Detroit, Joel took the girls to ride the shuttle a few times and to buy some cookies while I guarded our carry-ons at the gate.  Apparently, while coming back to the gate, Sophia got on the wrong moving sidewalk.  She was walking as fast as she could to keep up with Joel and the girls on the other side, even as she was being pulled backwards.  The moving sidewalks in Detroit are loooooooong, and they were at the moment extremely crowded, so Joel had to reach over and grab her by the arm to get her back where she needed to be.  She did not thank him for saving her from being lost in a sea of strangers, and instead did not forgive him for hours because he hurt her arm and her feelings and is such a mean daddy.

3.  While in Provo, Joel and I decided to attend the temple, since we are 8 hours from any temple here in Michigan.  On our way down we joked that maybe a sister from our branch who just reported to the MTC would be in our session, knowing that it would be virtually impossible for that to actually happen.  I mean, what are the odds that her preparation day would be the exact day we chose to go, and that she would decide to go at the same time?  Slim to none, and we knew it.  Yet, there she was, in our session. Obviously, she was more shocked to see us there than we were to see her, since after all, we do live 2,000 miles away.  It was all very cool and we called her parents as soon as we left the building to tell them.

4.  On our drive down to Cedar City for the wedding, we came across some roadkill.  We've made that drive countless times during our Cedar years, and dead animal sightings are certainly not uncommon.  But this wasn't a raccoon or a deer, it was a freaking cougar.  I feel sorry for the person who hit that animal, that's for sure.

5.  About five minutes before the wedding ceremony was to start, Sophia needed to go to the bathroom.  Joel quickly took her and then never came back.  The processional started, and pretty soon I realized that my daughter was outside of the hall screaming her guts out.  I couldn't go to her, because I was accompanying my sister-in-law in a musical number as soon as the processional was over, but I soon found out what happened.  I had assumed it was because she wasn't a flower girl, which was her big tantrum during the rehearsal, but I was completely wrong.  When Sophia opened the stall door in the bathroom, it completely fell off its hinges and landed on top of her.  She wasn't hurt badly as Joel was there to catch it for her, but she was deeply offended.  She was sure Joel had done it all on purpose and wouldn't look at him for quite a while.  Poor Daddy, he can't win for losing.  But seriously?  The stall door fell off?  When does that ever happen?

6.  Finally, on our way back up to Provo after the reception I took over the wheel between Fillmore and Nephi after the first 3 1/2 hours of driving.  (Yes, you read that correctly....long story and even longer drive, coming soon)  It was nearly 2:00 in the morning and Joel needed to sleep.  Bria and I were chatting as I drove when suddenly a huge white bird swooped down and nearly hit our windshield.  First we scared Joel half to death as we screamed, and then we both quickly realized that it was a giant snowy owl, a la Harry Potter's Hedwig.  Gorgeous creature, and I think having it cross my path must mean some sort of good luck.

And now, I'm off to bed, for I am running on about 2 hours of not-so-great-sleep in the past two days.  My down comforter (to which I am allergic) beckons.

Good night!