Sunday, Zach came to me with a strange request.  “Kate, can I go to the Grand Canyon with my friends?”

And that’s exactly what happened.  He was to leave Tuesday after work.  No plan.  No hotel reservation.  Just three guys…and an automobile.  Zach’s friends were is Las Vegas already and he was told if he could get to Vegas, they would pick him up.

So, to spend as much time with him as I possibly could before he left, we decided to go to dinner and movie on Monday night for Family Night.

We ate at our favorite sushi joint and saw a movie at the Broadway Theater.

[The Don Juan really is my favorite roll of A L L time!]

Tuesday I said goodbye to Zach.  His flight left right after work and I wouldn’t see him before I got home from work.  Even though we weren’t together, this counts as a 50 Days list item.  #3 – Go on a road trip!

 So, thankfully, my girl friends came to my rescue.  We went out to eat Tuesday night – along with Alison, here from New York.  We dined at the Red Iguana.

[Alison is not pictured because she is ALWAYS late.  No exaggeration.]

We did get one photo of Alison, but it is a not-so-candid one of myself.

Yes, her hair is back to pink.  And yes…that’s a shark tooth necklace.

We stayed until 11:30 pm.  We were basically forced to leave because nobody was really left in the restaurant.  I love my girl friends, and sometimes I feel like no amount of time is enough with them.

Meanwhile…Zach made it safe to Las Vegas.  Also, my favorite detail – Zach was picked up from the airport in this…

Turns out one of his road trip buddies, Adam, “borrowed” this RV.  It’s literally the largest thing I’ve ever seen.  They also drove it down the Las Vegas strip.

The rest of the night, you can imagine for yourself.  Three guys in Vegas…boys will be boys.

The next morning was the holiday.  I went to the Fotheringham family BBQ in Magna with my parents, all my aunts and uncles, cousins, and other extended family members.  The food was delicious and the company was great.  I left a little early, when the giant water fight started.

[My grandmother is the sweetest.  And her shirt is bad A.]

Then, I was off to the Henderson family BBQ in Sandy.  It is held every year at Zach’s uncle’s house.  I bummed a ride with Lori and Travis and their darling kiddies.

Zach’s aunt Wendy really knows how to throw a party.  We jumped on the tramp, I had my first hamburger of the summer season, and I got to hang with Will while the girls went crazy around the yard with their cousins.

Meanwhile…Zach, Adam, and Clay made it to the Grand Canyon.

Zach also had his first experience with a rattlesnake…

I don’t mean to complain…because a holiday is a holiday, but it was hard to go back to work the next day.  Luckily, I ended up going to lunch with my old college roommate, Allison!

Friday after work, I drove up to Bear Lake with my brother and my mom.  The rest of our family was already there at our cabin, waiting for us.  We had a fun group!  I love our cabin at Bear Lake, and I got to cross off an item for myslef #5- Bear Lake trip!

The next morning, we woke up and had a giant breakfast – every meal is giant when you are with family on vacation.

Techincally it was breakfast and a show, because suddenly my mother and Aunt Patty decided to relive their high school drill team days and bust out a routine.

We spent the rest of the day lounging, taking turns on the boat, and making crafts.

I still can’t go swimming because of my incision on my back, which was totally lame, but my family was so fun to be with over the weekend!  Such a great distraction from Zach being gone.

Speaking of distractions…these two were a riot.  Possibly too volatile together.  The goggle gansters…

Just in case you were wondering, while we were eating our dinner at the cabin, Zach was eating his dinner…at Medieval Times.  Something he has wanted to do for years.  You could call it a life-long dream of his.

He also called ahead and asked if he could be a volunteer and joust.  Unfortunately, he didn’t get called down…be he did get to eat chicken with his hands.

Saturday night my dad and I made the drive home from Bear Lake, we both had to be back Sunday for our meetings.  It was so nice to spend some time alone with him, he still is one of my very best friends.

Sunday, after church, I got to pick up Zach from the airport!  I loved spending a lazy Sunday with him back home.  He even got me a gift as a surprise from Topshop in Vegas!  Pretty much the most thoughtful husband ever.  The six days he was gone seemed like forever, and I am really glad to have him home.

And that sums up our holiday week.  Adventure, freedom, and a lake.  And a rattlesnake.