My Visit to Utah!

From April 28 - May 2 I visited Utah for my good friend Rita's wedding! While I was there I also got to visit lots of friends and family that I haven't seen in a long time!Right after I arrived to SLC, Camille and I went to lunch with Aunt Gayela and Angela! Angela didn't tell Gayela who they were meeting, just that it was a "surprise guest." It was so nice to see them! I haven't seen Angela since her wedding, which was 7 years ago, and it has probably been just as long since I've seen Aunt Gayela too! (Pictures to come!)

After lunch, we headed south to Provo where I was reunited with Rita! I got to meet her parents (who only speak Hindi) and got to see her fiancee again. We did some last minute wedding shopping--shoes and jewelry for the bridesmaids.

For dinner, we had a girls' night. It was a pseudo bachelorette party, except not, because all we did was eat. But it was good to meet all of her soon-to-be sister-in-laws.Thursday, I hung out with Adam. We did lunch, and then headed to BYU. While he was getting more assignments from the professor he works for, I visited the BYU Museum of Art :) I have just barely recommited myself to my art, so it was really nice to have the inspiration of others' work.

A nice serving of ColdStone ice cream later, Adam and I headed to "Indian Night," which true to Polynesian culture, started nearly 2 hours later than planned. Rita's dilectable curry is well worth the wait though! MMMMmmm... SO good!

At Indian Night, I got to see Lillie again, who I knew at BYUH with Rita, and I got to meet the other bridesmaids! Carrie and Maggie were lots of fun and we all hit it off really well!

After eating way too much good food, and capped off with yet more ice cream, we headed off to do Henna! At Indian weddings, it is tradition to decorate your hands with Henna. I'm not sure of the cultural or historicalsignificance, but if you're curious, I'm sure Wikipedia or Google has the answers you're looking for!

Thursday night, as well as Henna, we also altered our dresses and glued flowers onto our shoes. Yes, it was the night before the wedding. It's okay, everything worked out just fine :)Late that night, we headed off on a long drive to north of SLC, and almost hit a deer! It was a near-miss, but we survived! Good thing we were very actively conversing about past BYUH commrades, or we may not have been alert enough to avoid it!

Last-minute wedding preparations for the bridesmaids almost caused us to be late to the SLC, but we arrived just after the bride and groom emerged from the Sealing Room. They were married!! AHHH!! They're married!!

Lots and lots of pictures inside, and then we headed outside. In short, thin, short-sleeved dressed, and flip-flops...

we headed outside in 30 degree weather. It. was. freezing. Luckily, they were done taking pictures of the bridesmaids after not too long and we headed indoors!

Luncheon time! More good food, and yes, more ice cream! I ate so much food... Oh man. But it was really good! Thanks to Adam and his good soul,

I was able to visit Uncle Tom and his family straight after the luncheon! They took us out to Outback Stakehouse, which was really yummy. And because it was Adam's birthday a few days later, guess what? They gave him a free scoop of ice cream!

Another long late night drive, and this time I could hardly stay awake. Good thing I wasn't the one driving! Lillie was kind enough to let me stay at her apartment, and she even let me sleep in her bed! I slept in late, and then headed to Zupa's for my favorite sandwhich and soup where we met up with Cat and her hubby of a month, Michael.

Reception time! We showed up a little bit later than it was planned to start, but no worries! It started 2 hours later than planned, and there was lots of time for socializing before the festivities really began! I got to catch up with Cat and goof around with the other bridesmaids. Thanks to Adam for taking some pictures for me!

After the reception, I said farewell to Rita, Lillie, and Cat for who knows how long... and then met up with Alex, who I hadn't seen for 3 years! Alex, her mom and I went to dinner and got to catch up on everything. It was so good to see them! Staying at her mom's house was like coming home :)

Alex and I had a little sleepover and barely managed to stay up until 1am before falling asleep. Here's to growing up! Sacrament meeting at her mom's ward, and then back to the airport!