PARALLEL UNIVERSES

Today we went separate ways....  Scott and I spent time celebrating Mom and Dad DeGooyer's 50th Wedding Anniversary.  Kotten Kandy and Fig Newton babysat, toured Temple Square, went shopping and ate Thai Food with their cousin, Davis.  So this post is about two different stories today.
DAUGHTER UNIVERSE:
I asked Fig Newton to take pictures for me - since I wouldn't be with them in all their fun activities today.  I told her it was her "job."  She sweetly complied!  And she is a great photographer.
First: They toured temple square.

This picture of the Salt Lake City Temple looks professional!

Way to go, Fig Newton!

The flowers are always lovely at Temple Square!

And, of course, they got to see the famous Christus statue!

Kotten Kandy was excited to show Fig Newton the sights....

I adore this picture on the temple steps of Fig Newton!

Then: They went shopping.

Look at the joy on their sweet faces!

Fig Newton looking over Salt Lake City....

Kotten Kandy at the fountains at City Creek Mall.

Somehow they found Chocolate Covered Cheesecake!

YUM!!!  But they didn't save any for us....

Love this girl!

And I love this girl too!

I joke that these two girls look exactly like sisters because of their glasses....

Finally: Cousin Davis took them to eat "authentic" Thai food.  Fig Newton was even able to speak Thai to their servers!

The Thai Food was WONDERFUL, according to reports from these two girls!

Mango and Sticky Rice is apparently a huge treat!

Sah wat dee!

Sah wat dee!

OUR UNIVERSE:  These two got married 50 years ago today!  They are an inspiration to Scott and I and we hope to emulate them in many ways (including longevity in marriage!)

These are two of our heroes!

We love you, mom and dad!

Happy 50th!

Lunch with these great people at Zupas.

These two love to laugh!

That's part of what has kept them together for 50 years!

Kotten Kandy said it best when she said,

"Thank you for getting married 50 years ago, so I could be born!"

All 5 of these kids think the same thing!

Scott wanted a Selfie at the temple that started his parent's eternal marriage!

Ooops.  He did it again!

And yet, another Selfie Fail...

But we enjoyed dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory.

I LOVE this crazy family!  They are mine!  And because of choices made 50 years ago, they are eternally mine!  Thank you, Mom and Dad for the legacy!

COURAGE

Last night my father taught us a Family Home Evening about courage.  It really hit home for me because of our current situation.  He spoke about the mothers of the stripling warriors.  He talked about how the stripling warriors weren't the only ones who displayed courage.  He pointed out that not once in the scriptures does it mention that their mothers begged their sons not to go to war....  And he spoke about the courage it must have taken for them to send their sons away.  Today I had to leave Key Lime Pie behind as she begins a new adventure in her life.  It took great courage (for both of us) as we said goodbye.  We cried.  But we knew it was for the best.  I love this eldest daughter of mine!  I'm pretty sure she'll conquer whatever trials and adventures that come her way....

College Girl!

"Courage is not simply one of the virtues,

but the form of every virtue at the testing point." - C.S, Lewis

After the many tears, we drove away.  Kotten Kandy and Fig Newton continued our silly tradition of running to the Utah border from the Colorado border.  They didn't have on the best shoes for running, but they had fun!

Running... Running... Running for the border!

Kotten Kandy and Fig Newton

Then after about a 4 hour drive... we made it to the home of Sodalicious!  Kotten Kandy was super excited for this treat!  This was definitely one of the highlights of this trip for her.  Silly girl!  Fig Newton enjoyed the yummy drinks too!  And Scott attempted ANOTHER selfie!

Kotten Kandy loves the title of her drink:  Your Mom Extra Dirty

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THE GRAND MESA

I grew up only an hour away from the largest flat-top mountain in the entire world.  It has always been one of my favorite places to visit.  It is beautiful!  The forest, lakes and reservoirs are amazing!  And spending a day there is always inspiring and fun!
We got to go up to the mountain with my parents, sister and her family.  It was sooooooooooo much fun!  And we took TONS of pictures....  So...

All of us!

Our little family!

Hiking with Grandpa

BFF Cousins!

Shortbread and Key Lime Pie

These three are so goofy!

Kotten Kandy, Fig Newton and Shaved Ice

This young buck wasn't scared of us at all...  Doesn't he know it's hunting season?

We only shot him with our cameras....

These two women are two of my best friends!

I'm blessed to be related to them!

GJ and I got hand-crafted dulcimers from our father for our birthday.

They are absolutely beautiful!

In true "sisterly love" fashion, we argued over whose dulcimer was the best!

I LOVE it!  Thanks, dad!

Grandpa and Grandma Mil with their Kentucky grandkids!

We love Grandpa and Grandma Mil!

For my birthday, Grandpa and Grandma took us to dinner at the Lodge.

YUMMMMMMM!

Scott's Philly cheese steak sandwich was HUGE!

Aren't my nieces gorgeous?!

And my beautiful daughter....

The next two days are going to be really difficult saying goodbye....

This girl is so pretty too!

Another Selfie Fail....

These two may not look alike, but they are already sisters forever!

Fig Newton and Kotten Kandy

More hiking....

What a fun day it was on the Grand Mesa!

GOODBYES, TEMPLE AND A CAR

We are in Colorado.  Before we left, we had to say goodbye to family....  This one was REALLY hard!  Key Lime Pie was sooooo sad to say farewell to these wonderful friends/brothers and sisters!

Juice and Key Lime Pie

She was truly excited that he gave her a hug....

Juice isn't a hugger.....

Nuts cried when he hugged Key Lime Pie.

He is a sensitive, sweet kid!

Marmalade felt like she was loosing a sister!

And Key Lime Pie felt the same way!

There is absolutely nothing better than hugs from Apple Pie!

He gives the best hugs and kept hugging Key Lime Pie - thinking he could keep her in Kentucky.

Jelly Bean was in denial about his "girlfriend" leaving him.

They are such buddies!

Key Lime Pie hopes Raisin won't forget her. 

We won't let Raisin forget....

Saying goodbye to her second mother made for lots of tears!

I may call Amy my BFF, but Key Lime Pie calls her the same thing!

After driving all night for 17 hours, we finally made it to Berthoud, Colorado to see our dear friends, the Melansons!  We are soooooooooo sad they left KY, but glad that we can see them on the way to visit my family.

I love my Jan Melanson!!!

My girls love her too!

We also got to tour the Ft. Collins Temple with Jan.  It was absolutely gorgeous!  We all enjoyed the reverent spirit there.

Our family of five at the Ft. Collins Temple open house.

Because of a "house" like this one, we are an eternal family!

And eating hoagies with Jan and Dave was also a nice break in our trip.  A few short hours later, we were back on the road.  And 6 hours later we got to see Mil and Grandpa Mac!  Fig Newton immediately loved her American grandparents!  And Key Lime Pie felt truly loved as her own room was prepared for her.  And Kotten Kandy just loves being with her family!  An exciting moment was when Key Lime Pie got to see her new/old car!  She is trying to decide what to name it but is excited about it all the same!

Does this picture "speak" responsibility?!

Come back tomorrow for another edition of our Colorado adventure...