A Buddy BBQ

When I'm home, I have to catch up with my buddies from high school. I just gotta.

This time, Casey hosted a BBQ for us all, and we brought drinks and side dishes.

The man on the grill

After pumping some iron, it's time for a competition

These guys are some of my best friends, and I can't wait to be back in SLC and see them often!

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The G-Child's Baptism

Eight years old is a big milestone for LDS kids, because they've reached the age of baptism.

Lucky for me, I was able to extend my Utah vacation an extra couple days to be able to attend his service and witness him taking this step. Yes, I'm a very proud uncle.

Proud son and papa

The siblings

Back at their house, Adam and Lindsey hosted an ice cream reception for family and friends.

Quite the spread of toppings

The happy boy

Proud grandpas

Grammy and Nana Betts

The Smyth brothers

Can't wait for the next family baptisms!

Just don't hurry and grow up too fast, nieces.

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The Sandy Singles Summer Party

Apparently the LDS singles scene is alive and thriving in Salt Lake City.

Yes, I was as shocked as you are.

My friend Mark (from the 2010 LDS singles cruise) and his roommate hosted a large gathering for LDS singles in SLC, and I was lucky enough to get the invite and actually happen to be in town.

Mark was a great host, and his house is gorgeous

I saw lots of old friends, including a good-sized DC crew, and met some new friends, too.

Good to make a new triathlon friend

DC was definitely representing

Just chilling with Rick Buck, the Mormon Bachelor

Fun running into (much younger) high school friends

Maybe I'll survive living back in Salt Lake...
But I still want Emily to hurry up and get out here with me after the move.

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Flashback Friday: Utah Commercials

It's been a while since I did a Flashback Friday, but yesterday I was inspired.

Being back in Utah, I saw a commercial for Primary Children's Medical Center, and it ended with the old "Hold on to Dear Life" jingle from my childhood. Thank goodness for YouTube and people uploading old commercials, because I thought of another Utah commercial to go with that one.

Don't Waste Utah

Hold on to Dear Life

They're maybe kinda downers, but isn't the 'Don't Waste Utah' production value classic?

And didn't you want to be this guy when you were a kid?

Because I did.

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How to Make an Uncle Melt

I had such a cute experience last night with my nieces, sweetened even more this morning by a quick text from my sister-in-law.

After dinner and playing basketball with the G-child and Adam (plus the girls), the little ones had reached sleepytime. I was lucky enough to get to read them a bedtime story, then I tucked them into bed. Breezy let me give her a kiss and responded with "I love you" after I said it first. Zonks hid under her covers to avoid a kiss and didn't say anything.

Thanks, Adam & Linds, for letting me have that special moment while I'm home on vacation.

And when I got this text message today from Linds, I melted.

Hey! [Breezy] woke up this morning and started crying because she "lost uncle Aaron." My reply... he went back to Grammy's. [Zonks'] response, and this was a doozy, "He should remain (yes... she used this word) with us."

Breezy, you'll never lose me. Zonks, hopefully someday I can accept your offer, and see you, your sister, and brother a lot more often.

I sure do love being an uncle, especially to the G-child, Breezy, and Zonks.

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Flashback Friday: Marin, Aaron, and Caryn

Just a quick flashback today.

I don't remember what grade of elementary it was, but I was put in a class with two girls named Caryn and Marin, and I thought it was so cool that our names rhymed but all had vastly different spellings.

While we didn't hang out all the time, we stayed friends all through school.

Seminary graduation, 1999

Next time we see each other, we'll have to get a picture so we can compare with the one above.

Did any of you readers have rhyming-name friends back in the school days?

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