Summertime Goals

This year, I've been trying to do some of the things I always say I'm going to do, but never actually do.  For example, I bought a new pair of back-up glasses, which I've been needing to do since, oh, let's see, college.  One of the things on the list was to take the kids to a demolition derby.

The demolition derby was my first trip to the Utah State Fair, which I felt bad about, until Jason told me he'd lived in Utah his whole life and never been to the fair.  So technically we did two things we really should have been meaning to do - 1) a demolition derby and 2) the state fair.  The parking situation was terrible, but after we survived that, we had a great time.  Everyone picked "their car" at the beginning of each round, which I'd highly recommend.  It really adds to the excitement.  It's crazy how quickly you can get attached to the little orange car - and how awful I was at picking winners.

Another thing on my summer list (which has been on the list for two years at least) we didn't get to until fall, but it was well worth the wait.  We made the hike up to Donut Falls on a perfect autumn day.

I'm not going to lie.  I don't love hiking (I swear the change in elevation triggers migraines) but for some reason I had it in my mind that we were going to hike Donut Falls.  (I think I saw it on Facebook.)  So we did.  And it was beautiful, and a good amount of challenging for me, and it was great to cross it off the list.

Yep, I'm wearing a Christmas shirt.  It was a very impromptu "come as you are" hike.  

The highlight was that the kids quickly recognized the trailhead as a spot where they took pictures with their Dad when they were little.  So we had fun trying to recreate one of my favorite old photos, which still sits on our fireplace mantle.  

It turned out cute.  Oh, and we did make it to the water falls.

Although apparently I was huffing and puffing and didn't take pictures.  

Oh well.  I'm definitely still counting it.

Quick Idaho Trip

When your sister has a starring role in an interactive murder mystery/high school reunion dinner theater, you call your best friends from high school at the last minute and invite them to drive a couple of hours to meet you for the show.  Unfortunately, Ashlee was in charge of the elementary school carnival that night -or so she says- but Sara was able to make herself available.

Which turned out especially great for me, because Sara (and Tay and everyone else besides me) caught on when we got there that the whole thing was set up like a high school reunion and that the lady taking tickets didn't ACTUALLY think she'd been in my science class 20 years ago.  Even better - Sara got to represent our table as a former cheerleader and I never ended up on stage.  Yay hurray!  Great job, Biz.  I really didn't see the ending coming. 

The next day, we ate donuts for breakfast, made chocolate chip cookies, had fried chicken for lunch, and then went to Bryce's flag football game (for the exercise).

It was a pretty quick trip - but also pretty great.

Downtown - Everything's Waiting for You

One Saturday in September, we met Taylor's family and my Dad downtown to celebrate Heather's birthday at the Cheesecake Factory, where I discovered how much I like their brunch menu.  So now I love their cheesecake AND actual meals there - life might never be the same.

Something else that's not the same as it used to be?

Waiting for the bus!

(Technically, we were waiting for Trax. But you get the idea.)

The renovation of the Salt Lake Temple is scheduled to begin soon.  I keep lamenting how few pictures there will be of Temple Square so people can remember "how it used to be."  Which I find to be hilarious.  Maybe you have to have worked on Temple Square during the cell phone era (or even been to one summer wedding) to realize just how many billions of pictures are taken there every day.  Trust me on this one.  My joke is funny and I will  keep saying it until someone appreciates it.. 

Something else I think is funny is how many people assume that this is a picture of Mickey and Dahlia meeting a General Authority (ahem - Elder Ballard - ahem) but really it was a random senior missionary and I just knew how uncomfortable the kids were in this moment and had to capture it.

Loving the view from the 10th floor of the Joseph Smith Building.

Also loving that we ran into Jason's brother Tyson and his family 

while we were downtown with my family.  

Ironically, they were there for a baptism photo shoot with their photographer - Jason's sister Megan.  

Photo shoot - on Temple Square - get it.

But so glad we got to snap this gem with cousins while we were there.

And finished off the day at City Creek so Mickey could get this picture with 

THE LOUIS VUITTON SIGN.  

Jason loves to annoy Mick by pronouncing it Louise Vuitton or (worse) Old Louie.  

Which is another thing that never gets old to me.  We're so funny!

New Life Motto

I can't even put into words how much I love this.  I need one for my house, my office, my car, and an extra just in case I think of somewhere else I want one.

Home Sweet Home - Seattle Edition

Labor Day Weekend, Dad and Biz and I made a quick trip to Seattle 

to see Patsy and Hal.

Of course, we had Ivar's.

And I made roast for Sunday dinner.

We did some of this.

(If you want to take a picture of Patsy, she has to not know you're doing it.

Good thing I'm sneaky like that.)

Also, why can I not get paid to stare at the ocean all my days? 

I'm very good at it.

We drove this promenade, but next time, I'll be needing a slow, ocean stroll at sunset.

Let's go back.

Her Daddy's Girl

If you look closely, you can almost see some similarities in these two. 

Family Camping

We decided to honor a Torgerson tradition with a family campout near Kamas before school started.  Jason and his brothers are starting to understand why their Dad said he liked taking them camping and fishing - but secretly preferred to go with his brothers and leave the kids at home.  It's way less work.

Marissa loved arranging wildflowers.

Mickey complained for weeks beforehand but - don't let him fool you - 

actually enjoyed being out of cell phone range around the campfire with everyone.

This may be the least flattering picture of me ever taken - but look - I caught a fish!  And yes, I had a fishing license.  And yes, Jason did 99% of the work, but it was on my line so I got to take the credit.  I don't know why everyone asks me that.

Dalli's fish - or Jason's other catch of the day.

I married well, what can I say???

Even though we forgot a spatula - his camping breakfasts can't be beat.

Rooney and I just stayed for one night but the Dad's and kids stayed for two.  

It worked out great - for me.  I really do love the great outdoors. In moderation.  But I also love coming home to take a shower and sleeping in my warm, cozy bed.

Hello Friends

It's been brought to my attention that people worry my health is bad when I'm ignoring my blog.  The truth is - I've taken on some extra writing responsibilities at work and I just haven't felt like spending any extra time at my computer. (I'm pretty good at Instagram, but blogging from my phone is a mystery to me.) But never fear. Life is good. I'm just busy doing my "happily married, full-time plus some job, two kids in junior high, trying to do it all but actually kind of lazy and I should really do more cooking and more ministering" thing. Maybe I'll do some catch-up posts this weekend. And maybe I won't. You never can tell.