What's On My Happy List?

My Birthday Weekend...

I am divulging one of the best kept secrets in downtown Salt Lake...it's a little hole in the wall called Bruges Waffles and Frites. It's located just north of Pioneer Park and before you hit the Gateway. If you blink you'll pass it by. It was a first time visit for me and I'm telling you, I think I've found myself a new favorite eating spot!  

The Belguim Liege Waffles are to die for!

One of the tastiest things I've ever put in my mouth. ever. 

{And I would know, because theres been a lot of good food put in that mouth of mine!}  

You are talking about waffles stuffed with Belgian chocolate, or with a Belgian delicacy called speculoos, which is a crunchy filling/spread that we were practically begging, who I presume was the owner, if there was ANYPLACE in the city that we could purchase some. THAT GOOD. OR take your pick of fresh fruit as a topping along with the creme fraiche. {I hear a chorus of angels singing folks.} That stuff is heavenly!

{Kate went right for that creme!}

My sweet girlfriends who treated me to breakfast... 

Later that night the Mr. and I went to the funkiest Mexican Bistro called Fridas located in Salt Lake City’s downtown warehouse district...not your typical restaurant location but it came highly recommended, so we thought we'd give it a try. We loved it!

Yummy Yummy Mexican food with a gourmet'ish flare...

citrus glazed, slow roasted pork with chipotle mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus...

I had a chilled fruit summer soup with jicama, orange and pineapple along with fresh watermelon, figs, panela cheese and chicory frisee with dijon dressing...

Our appetizer was blue corn crusted calamari ...

We then went to the Capitol Theatre to see the Broadway Musical...Mary Poppins! I've been dy'in to see this! for weeks...

On Saturday the family headed to Grandma and Grandpa's Villa at Zermatt Resort in Midway.....

Once there. Worth it. But my gosh. Packing makes me grumpy. Such a major production for just an over nighter! My little Brie, however, is obsessed with packing. She loves it and wants to do it days and days prior to leaving. Cracks me up!  I should have her start packing for all of us...

We had a little forced family fun.

We played miniature golf....or tried to anyway...Kate was sorta in the middle of things....

She took over my ball and club and wanted to try her hand at it.

A little help from daddy....

but she liked her way of doing it better....

chill'in poolside....

After night swimming, we went back to our room and me and at least three of the kids, in our swimsuits, climbed in the jetted tub {it was pretty darn crowded in there} Before we finally figured out how the jets worked, we were in for a surprise...as we had water shooting out everywhere!

Guess who slept in between Mommy and Daddy?

Brie and I enjoyed playing this card game together. It's one of our favorites and the only way, in my opinion, to play Monopoly...

Riding the carousel... 

Kate wasn't too hip on the idea but warmed up enough for two rides...

She turned 18 months old on Sunday...she's not a baby anymore!

How we absentmindedly left her blanket and bottle {her baby and baa baa respectively} at the carousel site and headed home without it I'll never know.  Especially when this was the scene walking to the carousel. We were well on our way in the canyon when we realized we had left it and had to turn back around. We could replace the bottle but not THAT blanket. She loves that thing!  It's been a part of her ever since we snuggled in it in the hospital bed the day she was born.

Overall it was such a delightful weekend...

We got home and went to a neighborhood gathering where we officially celebrated the end of summer making s'mores over a fire pit while the kids ran around playing night games. The perfect summer scene in my book.  Threw in a stop at grandma and grandpas to visit family as well....

Just a few other things that made the happy list this weekend...

*My man coming home early from work on my birthday with a surprise.

*Getting the email announcement on my birthday day that IL DIVO is coming out with their new CD in November. Of course I knew that already but getting the official announcement on my big day made it even more exciting..like it was my b-day gift from them. HA!

*driving through Midway twice and experiencing a glimpse of Swiss Day's from the car. Holy Moly tons of booths and hoards of people. And I was glad I wasn't in the middle of it. Not a crowd lover, expect on two occasions...{I really should hold a contest to see who can guess what those two times are.}  

*our jaunt into Heber for shakes {and onion rings} at Granny's Drive In ..Not only is it Yummo! but it brings back the memories growing up when we'd stop there when we were staying at the Homestead.

*Labor Day yard work and Kyleigh falling in the window well...so dang funny!

*Just the feeling that Fall is around the corner, {makes me want to squeal} It is my favorite time of the year! I love the summer for the fact that my kids are home and we are less scheduled but it really is my least favorite season. I'm such a whiny butt when it comes to the heat. The sooner the heat leaves the better. Good riddance I say.

*All the birthday wishes I received from friends and family via cards, little gifts, phone calls, texts, emails, face book posts, along with 3 up and coming birthday lunches to look forward to... I feel loved. Thank you!

*my friend's unique birthday gift to me on the afternoon of my birthday...costume jewelry {a weakness} shopping right in her garage. It deserves a post of its own.

*Watching the BYU' s season opener {been looking forward to this for months} against Ole Miss. It wasn't a pretty win but it counts as a W! And we'll take it!

*and one of my favorite moments of this weekend.... is when my brother called to tell me Sunday night that he is giving me two of his tickets to the BYU home game against Utah on Sept. 17th! for free. I was over the moon! Literally! You have no idea what this means to me. I've been looking and looking for days on KSL.com for some decently priced tickets to this game. It is the only home game this season that I'm dy'in to go to.  Come hell or high water I have to be there! Since they are going for such outrageous prices, I was prepared to have to pay an arm and a leg to get some. My brother, who has season tickets, realized he can't go because of a church obligation. The thing that kills me is that we talked about how he would appreciate a much needed diversion on this particular day because it marks the 2nd anniversary of his wife's passing. Being at the game would help. I know he wants to be there at the game and I wish he could be, but he's choosing church over football and giving me his tickets. What a guy! He's such a good example and I love him so much.