Brooke is all Grown Up

My Big Fat Greek Weekend

  Greg and I went to the Salt Lake City Greek festival this weekend!!!  It is a four day event that happens every year.  It was our first time attending but wont be the last.  The event was held at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral located downtown.  A massive tent was set up adjacent to the cathedral and was packed with people enjoying Greek culture almost as much as Greg (see photo below).  

  Different groups preformed throughout the night.  These kids were the cutest by far.  During their dances people would throw stacks of dollar bills at them and start cheering.

 
The line to get food was over an hour long.  The line snaked back and forth; it felt like we were at Disneyland.  Greg even made the comment that he wished there was fast passes for the line.   It was well worth the wait though.  It gave me lots of time to people watch.  I found this priest texting on his iphone.  It made me laugh so I snapped a photo.

gyro and Greek stew

gyro and spinach pie

    The food was so good.  It was all homemade.  We ate baklava for dessert.  I love baklava.  I could eat it everyday.  Before we left we took a tour of the cathedral.  Greg said it reminded him of all the churches he would visit in Ukraine.  It was so ornate.  There were so many pictures painted on every wall.  I loved it.  I hope that one day Greg takes me to the Ukraine and shows me all the sites and places he talks so much about.  Maybe if we are already over there we can head down to Greece.  Oompa!!!!!!

Back in DC

  We came back from the Outer banks a day early so that we could spend some time with Mom and Dad Engstrom and Mae Mae Fe.  My family was visiting from California because we got to attend the sealing of my cousin, Jeremy, but not before we were pleasured with a catered breakfast by Chef Emily.     

 
 Megan had baby sitting duty, so after Greg and I got out of the sealing we headed over to the visitor center to find Megan.  We were greeted by the sister missionaries as we walked in.  I asked them if they had seen a girl that kind of looked like me/ Taylor Swift and they knew exactly who I was referring to.  We found Megan and said our good byes but not before talking some jumping pictures outside the DC temple.
  

Mae Mae Fe, Mom, Dad, Me, Greg
Megan seriously looks like T. Swift, I am right?

"Congratulations Jeremy on your wedding!!!!!!!"

   That night we went to a National's game with the Livingston family and David Gerard.  Third Eye Blind was giving a concert after the game.  Greg was never so happy.  He had a bunch of his buddies with him.  Greg knew almost every song and sang along.  He even danced to a few of the songs too.  Some of his dance moves included playing an air guitar/air drum set.  He was so cute!!!!!

The boys!

Third Eye Blind's stage is right behind me!

   Greg was not the only member of the family to sing and dance that night!  We all had such a fun time including the guy in the National's jersey standing behind Papa Jay. I hope he might one day stumble upon my blog to find his picture.
 

 
 The remainder of this blog post is dedicated to Grandma Livingston.  Greg's grandma recently moved to Virginia to be closer to Mama Melissa and Papa Jay.  Her health has not been the greatest lately and it was really important to us but especially to Greg to visit her.  Grandma Livingston has been so sweet to Greg and me.  She came all the way from Washington last year to attend our sealing.  It really meant a lot.  She loves milkshakes and throughout our Grandma Livingston photo shoot she always has her milkshake close by.
      

Daughter in law picture!  This is 3 generations before your very eyes.  

OBX

   Greg and I just returned last week from the Outer Banks, NC.  It was the first time I have ever been there but hopefully not the last.  It was so picturesque.  The entire island was covered with colorful beach houses with huge porches rapping around each level of the house.  We spent the entire week going to the beach and reading by the pool.  We ate great food and had a lot of family bonding time.  My favorite moment of the entire trip was playing Balderdash with the family.  I was laughing so hard.  

  Our first full day was spent going to church and then visiting Kitty Hawk!  Kitty Hawk is where the Wright Brothers had there first successful flight.  We visited a museum built to honor the Wright Brothers.  In the museum was a working replica of the plane the Wright Brothers flew.  Mama Melissa brought a kite for each one of us to fly.  Below is a picture of Greg with his!  

The entire family by the plane replica minus Megan, who couldn't get off work for the trip :(

If you squint your eyes you will see each of us holding our kites.

Mama Melissa with her kite!  Mama Melissa tried so hard all week long to get her kite to fly and finally  on our last day  it did!

   The rest of the week was spent at the beach mostly at the beach.  The family collected sea shells, Emily dug for mole crabs, Greg and Matthew went boogie boarding, we played bocce ball, a sand creature was made, sand castles were built, and we all jumped waves.

  Emily got her hair wrapped and it made her look even cuter than she was before, if that is even possible.

   Greg was really into sea fishing.  He would wake up before the rest of the family and run down to the beach to fish before the beaches became too crowded.  He caught so many fish.  It made up for all the times we have gone fishing in Utah and never caught any thing.  Not only would Greg go fishing in the morning but he would also go night fishing.  He really wanted to caught a shark but never did.  He did catch a crab though!
     

Please notice not only Greg's fish but the shirt he found for $5 at a local shop.  If he can't see it super well, it is a shark riding a surf board.  Greg has always been a classy dresser.!

Night fishing with the fam!  

  It was such a great trip.  Thank you so much Papa Jay and Mama Melissa for making it happen.  It was so much fun to be together with the Livingston family.  I married into the best family.  We only wish Megan could have been with us!

A picture of the sand dunes by the beach!

   On our way home Greg and I stopped in historical Williamsburg.  As most of you know, I LOVE history and was enjoying walking the old streets.  Greg and I visited a church that has been in operation since 1715. The shops all had people dressed in colonial clothing and spoke with accents; I was in heaven.  If anyone has the opportunity to go visit the Outer Banks or Williamsburg, I give it two thumbs up!  

Do These People Look Familiar?

  Greg and I had the opportunity to go down to St. George to hear President and Sister Gardner's Homecoming talk.  It was an experience that brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart.  I love my mission and at times feel so far removed from it, but today I felt like I was back in Montana walking the streets.  President Gardner said in his talk that you can't really describe what your mission means to another person because they didn't experience all that you did.  I know that's true.  People don't understand why I love Montana so much, but I do and that's enough.    

Elder Unga and me!

Sister Buchanan and me!

Sister Call and me!

Me, President Gardner, Sister Gardner, and Greg!

Greg driving home from St. George!

 President Gardner had a get-together after his homecoming.  At the get-together he saw Greg before he saw me.  I could tell President Gardner didn't know who Greg was but was racking his brain wondering if he was was one of his missionaries.  It was funny.  President and Sister Gardner loved meeting Greg.  I will forever be grateful for meeting President and Sister Gardner.  They have touched my heart and made me want to be better.  

  I wasn't the only one that had a mission reunion this weekend.  On Saturday Greg and I were privileged to have dinner with two elders from his mission including his trainee, Sassy Rassy!  We ate dinner at our favorite place to eat in Cedar City, Sonny Boys.

Sassy Rassy, Jake Hulet, and Greg!

Life Lately

Riding bikes.

Sunday dinners.

Baseball games.

Checking to see if I have hat hair.  By the look on Greg's face, I think I might.  

Driving to get to a temple session on time.   No time for a quick stop.  

Cousin's wedding!

Anniversary dinner!!!

This is what one year of marriage looks like!

Red Pine Lake Hike.

Lacrosse games.

Return of the Lax Mormon.

Painting.

Getting ready for church.