Happy Birthday to.... well ME!

I had such a great birthday I had to write about it! On Tuesday Jarin came home early from work and arranged for my mom to come and babysit, changed all the other plans I had and thought of most everything so he could take me away for a little trip, just the two of us. He wanted it to be a surprise but when CarliAnn had a fever the whole day before he thought he better tell me, plus I found the credit card charge! I was shocked! All I could think of was

all that I had to do, life is so busy right now. Jarin went to so much trouble, I knew we would have fun and really needed the break!

First he took me to dinner at the Mexican restaurant I have been begging to go to Moriela's. It was excellent! We will be back there again! Then we drove up to Heber city and stayed at the Homestead! It was beautiful, flowers everywhere that filled the air with their scent, and a quiet peacefulness that can only be found outside our city limits!

We stayed there are relaxed, for once we got to sleep without the kids waking us up! In the morning we took our time, still in relax mode, and went for breakfast at Fanny's Grill on the grounds. Boy were we surprised when we ordered the cinnamon roll and a cranberry scone to share, the menu said it was big but wow!! For only $4.50 the cinnamon roll was 9 inches across and 3 inches high. The nuts were full sized walnuts!! Jarin cut us each a slice like you would from a cake and we took the rest home to show the kids!

After a great breakfast of Bread pudding french toast for me and Sausage eggs and potatoes for Jarin we made our way on to our next surprise, Jarin took me on the Heber Valley Train! We were supposed to ride to the next stop and go Horseback riding!! I was so excited! We didn't know what was about what was going to happen next though!

We boarded the train and enjoyed the scenery and listening to others on the train talk about what they saw, especially the kids. We arrived at the first stop, Soldiers Hollow, all of a sudden a cowboy (or really cowgirl we later found out) appeared on top of a hill with her gun raised shooting loudly. Then an old man also dressed as a cowboy with a bandanna on his face just like the girl, and a younger guy wearing full red long johns a gun holster on a belt and of course his bandanna, decided they were going to rob the train!! They were great, they kept shooting of their guns, and yelling for everyone to keep their hands up! They went through the whole train and finally came out with the "money box", they took it off the train and opened it up and found a stuffed animal duck!! LOL! The old cowboy complained loudly asking "who did this" then he told the train conductor that he should take the box and next time bring it back full of money! Then the two cowboys left the train again, making sure we all had our hands up he said "and I'll take these two as our hostages" and commanded us to go and get the wagon and bring it with us following them while the train left! A poor little girl around 5 yrs (I'm guessing) was crying through the whole thing!

This was how they took us off the train for our Horseback riding adventure! It was so fun, no one on the train knew they would take us, not even us. We were told to wear blue wristbands an by the cowboys having us keep our hands in the air they could pinpoint us easily. It also looked convincing since we were the only two to go and standing next to the door off the train!

After wards we went to catch the train on it's way back and as we waited we took a picture of it coming, then it passed us by, it didn't stop! They did stop a little further up the track and backed up to get us though, but for a minute were thinking it was going to be a long walk back!

We enjoyed the train again and the little girl who had cried with the gunshots and cowboys (they were just loud cap guns) kept looking at us after we boarded the train. She and her family had stayed on the train up to the Vivian park then back again. She at least was happier!

We drove home and made it there about 2:30 and soon after my friend Jenn came to take me out to dinner while Jarin watched all the kids 8 of them!

Jenn and I went out for Italian at Johnny Corino's and it was so good!! Especially to get out without the kids! The Chicken Mulano is a new favorite! I love our tradition of taking each other out for our birthdays! Oh and that she didn't make the waitress sing to me!

I have the best Hubby ever, he went to so much trouble, took time off work, rearranged both our schedules so he could surprise me and we could have some much needed time alone! I love that he is my best friend, and I love how he takes care of me. It is so amazing how love can keep growing even after 11 years! Thank you to my sweetie for such a wonderful birthday, and to everyone else who helped him pull it off! Our mom's for babysitting especially!

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