a day with the stocksdales

todays adventures in utah consisted of a day with the delightful stocksdale family... we became family to brandon whilst he was serving his mission in perth, many moons ago and we have kept in touch through it all, so it was a given that i needed to see him and his cute little family while on my travels. he picked madeline and i up early in the morning, then took us to his house where we met his sweet wife sarah and adorable little girl elizabeth (ellie) before heading out to show us some of the local sights.

first up we went to byu, because let's be honest, what's a trip to utah without seeing byu... that place is huge - and amazing, and everything american colleges are made out to be... with huge stores on campus, cafes (yes i know australian universities have them too, but this was different) and it was just super cool. i was well impressed,,, especially so when after 10 (or maybe even more) minutes of looking, at a mountain covered in white snow, i finally managed to make out the white concrete y. check!

we did a drive by of the provo temple, also a must see, seeing as it's the one my brothers went through prior to serving their missions in italy all those years ago ♥

and a longer stop off at the provo city centre temple... that place is amazing!!! oh my word. built from the old tabernacle after it was destroyed by fire... it was a sight to behold - and even more beautiful in the snow!

a m a z i n g !

♥

we also went for a stroll (not a hike, thank goodness as i still can barely breathe here and i think i would have died!) out to a lovely frozen over waterfall called bridal veil falls in the provo mountains. it was gorgeous and i loved it! 

especially the rushing river to one side which i had to drag maddie back from numerous times. no fear that child i swear it!

up the top right of the falls there are ruins from what was originally a restaurant (was struck by lightning and burned down years ago), which could be accessed by a cable car, i'm so sad it's not there anymore, it looked amazing! 

what a view. i am so madly in love with utah!

stocks and miss ellie

and sarah with madeline ♥

and me with the stocksdales! at long long last ♥

we also went up the road that leads to the sundance resort where the sundance film festival is held each year. that was awesome. we went as far up as we could... which equated to as far as the road had been plowed haha. the snow on the trees and the snow falling and the mountains and the view... i am obsessed with this place!

snow taller than me thanks to the plows! 

this all looks like something out of a fairytale... i don't know how i am going to leave. 

another picture perfect view!

we spent the evening recalling tales from years ago and laughing our heads off at things that have changed... and things that never will. how grateful i am for friends that become family... and for friendship that you can pick up again after so many years apart ♥

best. day. ever!

today was seriously the best day ever! we woke up to see snow falling gently at our little basement window and i knew right then it was going to be an amazing day. with great restraint we only went outside for a few minutes, because we had something important to do... today was the day we were going to go and surprise my friend lisa reese, who had absolutely no idea we were even in america, let alone here in utah. it was so worth it. after checking in with her husband to make sure she was home (who also had no idea about this until last night, as i had been keeping it top secret with the help of her twin sister michelle) lisa (grinceri, who i'm staying with, yes i can see this is going to be confusing while i am here) drove us to her house, where we knocked on the door and waited. five years after we last saw each other, here i was ready with one of the best suprises ever. sure enough it was the best. she screamed, grabbed maddie, hugged me for dear life - and i cried. it was like something out of a dream and i am so glad that we made it happen. it had been far far too long that we had been apart and it was the sweetest reunion.

as the snow started again and lisa got her kids sorted (while probably still reeling from the shock) we madeline and i went out into the park area behind the reeses backyard to enjoy ourselves. i am so in love with snow that it's not even funny. the cold factor doesn't bother me in the slightest, i am so happy to be out in the open as it falls and makes everything white. it makes everything so quiet too and watching it fall is just so magical.

madeline in the snow. her christmases have truly all come at once. she seriously screamed this morning when she realised it was snowing outside and there was snow all over the ground.

ohhhhhhhh bliss.

lisa and i were mad opshopping partners in australia, so obviously a trip to deseret industries (or the d.i. as they call it here) was a must. it was the best day ever. pushing our carts around with our kids, catching up on the last five years - and really just being together. i can hardly believe we are in the same place!

andi and ella ♥

best picture ever on the best day ever. how happy i am to be opshopping overseas with one of my dearest friends!

lisa and i. reunited at long long last!

i am documenting this moment, purely because i know lisa will see this one day and laugh her head off. we stopped at hot dog on a stick after opshopping, cause lisa had a craving for it. she said and i quote "you can't get much more american than this." oh brandon laughed his head off later when we told him we had been there and told her that she ought to be ashamed of herself for taking me there! 

we also spent (wasted?) a few hours in the local target, so i could have my first u.s. target experience. it was great. i'm sold on it.

what a day. nothing in this world could ever possibly be better than doing nothing with your best friends. lisa i love you madly and i am so glad we have been reunited, this time in your home town. ♥