- BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S

This week at work we were discussing our favorite movies. One of my co-workers mentioned that she loves all of Audrey Hepburn's movies and that her favorite is Breakfast at Tiffany's. I said I'd never seen it. Everyone gasped. This morning she brought the movie to me and insisted that I watch it. Since Kurt was working a mid-shift tonight, his third this week, I put my jammies on and watched it. What a great movie. I'll need to watch this again when I don't have so many interruptions i.e. phone calls, etc.

- DUBAI - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Kurt has officially submitted his application this week for a job controlling traffic at Dubai International Airport. He's eligible to retire in April of next year and has been considering this move for quite sometime. It would be a 3 year assignment and an opportunity for us to see a little bit more of the world. I guess if he's selected we'll have to do a lot of praying to make sure this is where we're meant to go. Dubai is supposedly the safest city in the world, considering it's location and proximity to Iraq and Iran. From everything I read, it's an amazing place to live right now. I just don't know if I can be so far from my kids and grandchildren. I guess we'll see what happens.....

- THE LONG DRIVE

We weren't able to get on the road until after 3:00 on Sunday so we arrived home at about 1:30 this morning. We all had to be to work today so we took turns driving and sleeping. It seemed to take forever to get home - probably because we were exhausted from our week camping and Alyssa's trip to North Carolina.

We stopped at the Bonneville Salt Flats and I just had to get a picture of Kurt with the love of his life - SALT. We have a joke at our house that he puts salt on EVERYTHING, so it was only appropriate that we get a photo of him with the biggest salt lick in the world.....and YES, he really did lick the salt ;)

I'd never really seen the salt close up. I had no idea that it wasn't as fine as what comes out of our salt shaker. It looked like hail.

Salt for as far as the eye could see! Alyssa and I had to wash our shoes off after we walked in it. It stuck to everything!

Kurt, catching some Z's before he drove the last leg of our trip.

- JACK'S BLESSING DAY

Today Jack Gregory Carlson was blessed by his father. It was such a wonderful day. We had a houseful of family after church. We ate and visited and took turns holding sweet little Jack. I'm so glad we could be here!!

Jack, dressed in the little white outfit we bought yesterday. It was hard to find something small enough for him! He's using the blanket I made when Kelsey was blessed. Abbey was wrapped in it on her blessing day too. (It was much cooler when they were blessed).

Jack is such a sweet little baby! This may be the only time all weekend that he wasn't held by someone! It's hard to put him down, he's such a cuddly baby!

We had a feast! I'm so glad Angie married someone whose family loves food as much as we do!!

Greg and Angie Carlson with THREE kids! Oh my!

My mom and Vicki drove up for the blessing. It was so nice to see them. Scott was here too, but he moved in the photo and it's blurry! (You did that on purpose, didn't you Scott?)
L to R - Alyssa Casper, Angie Carlson, Tami Casper, Sheila Richens, Vicki Jeppsen

Kurt and his youngest brother Bruce. They look more and more alike every year.

Bruce and his boys - J.M., Peter and Michael.

Greg's family - from Green River, Heber City, Logan, Layton and Provo.

Angie's family. We missed having Tyler with us. Next time for sure!!!!!

Kelsey and Abbey waving goodbye when we left Utah.
This is our tradition.
It always makes me cry.

- UTAH SATURDAY

Today we spent the day playing with grandkids. We played Zingo, Princess Memory, puzzles, hide and seek, and we even got to watch Abbey "bathtize" her princess figurines in the bathtub! They showed us their latest gymnastic moves, sang Disney songs, and recited scriptures. I brought Kelsey a Dick and Jane reader, thinking she could use it learn to read. She picked it up and read it! I was speechless!

Alyssa gave me and Angie pedicures. We even have cute flowers on our toes!

While we were busy with the kids, Angie and Greg stole a quiet moment to themselves. I'm sure they don't get many of those these days!

At one point Abbey disappeared. We went in and found her asleep on Angie and Greg's bed. I guess we wore her out.

About a month ago, Kurt and I saw an episode of Diners, Drive-In's and Dives on the Food Network Channel featuring this restaurant in Roy, Utah -THE BURGER BAR. They were supposed to have amazing hamburgers. We took everyone there for lunch to find out if it was true. I've got to say, I ate the best hamburger of my life today! The milkshakes were delicious too! A new Utah tradition for us!

MY GIRLS
wearing the cute sweatshirts Alyssa bought last week in North Carolina.

Aunt Alyssa and Kelsey.

I always have to stop at Taipan Trading when I'm in Utah. Alyssa managed to find the one firefighter-related item in the entire store (and it's a big store). I'm pretty sure this photo was for Alax.

Abbey eating her favorite food - ick icks (fish sticks) with dippa dippa (ketchup or ranch).
She is so much fun!

- UTAH

We left California at 5:00 this morning. Alyssa was the first to doze off.

Kurt did most of the driving, as usual.

Looks like Utah has it's share of fires too. We were feeling right at home we drove into the valley and saw the smoke near Tooele.

Grandpa Casper meets Jack for the first time.
It's love at first sight!
Alyssa takes a turn. Jack's growing so fast and has changed so much since we saw him last month!

Grandpa telling stories and dispensing Smarties.

Dinner at San Francisco Sourdough Pizza in Layton. Yum!
Angie and Jack going for a walk in the yard.

Grandma looks a little tired?

Bingo time!


Abbey loves it when I blow bubbles with my gum. She waits patiently to pop each one.

Grandpa looks tired too?

Burping Jack. This kid can burp!

- WRIGHT'S LAKE - DAY 5