The Big 3-0!

Today my wonderful hubby turned 30! He is taking it really well. I, for one, am not ready to turn 30. But I guess Shad is ready for this step. Two kids, a JD law degree, and a house in the works... seems like a good time to turn 30! Plus, with his profession people like to have "older/more experienced" lawyers, so it helps that he can now claim to be out of his twenties! Even if he may act in his teens! (Just kidding...well, kinda.) 

To celebrate this milestone, we decided to go big. A few months ago I gave Shad a few options of what he would like to do for his big birthday. We knew we wanted to take a trip, and we knew we wanted it to be kid free. It came down to Disneyland, where we spent our honeymoon. Or a trip to Provo for a BYU home game. After looking first at Disneyland, and seeing that it would cost us $400 to spend TWO DAYS in the park. We nixed that idea, and went for a BYU game. Something we both enjoy just a much! 

We decided to make it a long weekend, Thursday through Sunday. It was the longest I have ever spent away from the boys, and the only time I've ever left Nathan. Saying goodbye was hard. I tried hard to hold back the tears in the airport, and on the plane ride down there; and I couldn't stop thinking about them. Luckily after a few phone calls home that first day and hearing that boys were not only in good hands, but having a blast with grandma... I got over it and enjoyed my time away from the kiddos for the remainder of the trip and look at the bright side... 

...Complete freedom! No nap schedule to stick to, no diaper bags to carry around, or car seats to drag around. Or feeding schedules! If we wanted to walk around town and then stop to see a movie we could and did! (Twice!) 

So Thursday we arrived in SLC, and got our rental car. We decided to go cheap and small. But we were super surprised to see that we were assigned a Volkswagen Beetle! I'm not sure why I thought it was so funny to cruise around in that thing, but it was fun to drive around in. Certainly not a practical family car. I'm sad I didn't get a picture of our sweet ride. 

Upon arrival, we decided to hit one of our favorite Utah lunch places and walk around downtown before heading out to see friends. Shad met up with an old mission pal, while I joined up with my best friend, Kambria to chat, shop, and chat some more! There's really nothing like catching up with old friends. Especially best friends. Later Shad rejoined us, with Kambria's husband, for a delicious dinner together. I'm excited that I only have to wait until Christmas to see them again. I miss her. 

Friday was BYU game day! Shad decided he wanted to go down for the BYU vs. Utah State game... sure to be a good game, and a good rivalry. We made a whole BYU day of it! We headed to Provo to eat at our favorite places, shop at the BYU bookstore, walk around campus, check out our old History Department, eat at the BYU Creamery on Ninth, and reminisce about our dating days. We even fit in a trip to the dollar movie! Then we met up with some more friends for some tailgating before the game! Whoop!

We were pretty bad at taking pictures on this trip. I had forgotten my camera battery charger, and didn't have a full charge on the battery. We were nervous the entire trip that our camera would not hold out. So these pics are a mixture of cell phone pictures and camera pics. Here is me at the tailgate: 

Game time. Not the most exciting game ever. However, nothing beats being back at Lavell Edwards stadium. Seriously. So much fun to be back in that atmosphere. And a BYU win, even if its only a 6-3 score, is a win! 

Love this stadium, and those new screens are AWESOME. 

Shad's mom is a big BYU fan as well, so she joined us. As well as Shad's sister Jessica, her daughter, and husband. 

One happy birthday boy!

This picture is hard to tell, but we really did have great seats. I had never sat in the west stands before!

Another bonus to going down to Utah was getting to stay and spend time with family. We stayed with one of Shad's sisters house, and they gave us the royal treatment while we stayed there! Saturday morning we spent hanging with family. And sleeping in. Because with an 8 month old, I'm pretty sure I haven't a full nights sleep in over a year! So we took full advantage of sleeping in! 

Shad also picked the Utah State game because, it was also during conference weekend. So we were able to get tickets for the Saturday afternoon session. Shad's sister, her husband Chad, and Shad's mom were also able to join us for Conference. We made our way downtown (crowded!) and finally made it to the conference center just in time to get into our seats. 

The new Panoramic picture setting on the iPhone takes pretty neat pics!

  

It's always neat to be at the conference center to hear those talks in person and feel the spirit that is there. To me, the most special part was being able to sustain our Prophet and Apostles in person. It was just a very powerful moment to me. 

Jessica and Chad

Saturday night we headed back down to Provo to meet up with more family for Shad's birthday dinner. He picked a personal favorite, Brick Oven! Oh that Root Beer, its so yummy.

My adorable niece Caydence feeding her momma! Love that girl! Just 10 days older than Owen. (She definitely made it hard some days trying not to miss my Owen!) 

Her "cheese" often came out as a grimace! 

Just a very SMALL portion of the McOmber clan. 

The only direct flight we could find on Sunday was at 6 PM, so we had all day Sunday to spend more time with family and listening to conference. And just relax on our last day free of kiddos. Near the end of the day Shad and I were getting antsy to get back home to the boys. So it didn't seem quite fair that our plane ended up being DELAYED by almost two hours. Arriving well after both boys bedtime. (Even though we convinced Grandma to keep Owen up late for us... we were dying to see at least one of them!) 

Overall, the trip was a success. Shad already has plans to make the trek back down to Provo again sometime to watch our beloved Cougars again. I'm game!

Today, on his actual birthday, Shad unfortunately had to go into work. The boys and I surprised him at work with lunch and pumpkin pie. His traditional birthday dessert. His office and co-workers gladly devoured the pie and wished Shad a happy birthday. Shad was able to get off at a pretty reasonable time, so that us, my parents, and the Fischers, our dear friends, could go out for a birthday dinner at Red Robin! Where Shad received his free birthday burger, and a free dessert, after having to endure that slightly embarrassing Red Robin birthday song!

Here's to a new decade of adventures together! I love you, Shad! Aren't 30's supposed to be the greatest time of life?! If so, bring it on!