Flying to Utah from Maryland has always been expensive and a hassle (no direct flights), so we rarely do it. In fact, the last time we flew to Utah was in 2020 because flights were cheap during the pandemic since so few people flying. Even then, we flew to Vegas and rented a car because it was so much cheaper than flying into Utah. But alas, when we were in Croatia with my cousin and his wife last month, they told us about a budget airline (Breeze) that had just started a non-stop route from Provo to DC and rates were only $79-$99 each way! Since Lacey has applied to both BYU and Utah State, we decided to take advantage of this awesome airline deal and do a quick weekend trip to Utah to tour the campuses of these schools.
We landed at 11am and my parents picked us up at the Provo airport (which was SO nice to fly into there instead of SLC!) and we headed straight to Raising Cane's to drop off Lacey to meet her HXP friend Liberty for lunch.
The three of us dined at nearby Guru's.
Then we made our way back to my parents house and enjoyed a nice visit with Aunt JoEllen and Gil who stopped by.
Then Reagan came over and she came with me, Dad and Lacey to Brick Oven Pizza (a Provo/BYU institution) to meet up with my dear friends Kim and Pete Day for a pre-game pizza dinner/hang-out.
And Cosmo stopped by!
Brick Oven is just 0.8 miles from the stadium, so we just left our car parked on the street by Brick Oven and walked to the stadium. We passed by the soccer stadium on the way and I stopped to get a pic of me showing off my shirt signed by Brecken Mozingo - my favorite BYU women's soccer player (who graduated last year). BYU played on this field just the night before in the NCAA playoffs and we watched it from home, so it was fun to walk by it the very next day.
Reagan and Lacey
We made it! We got there an hour early and enjoyed all the pre-game hype and festivities.
And it gave Lacey plenty of time to meet up with another HXP friend, Gabby!
Bundled up and ready to cheer on our Cougars!
The halftime show.
Check out this jam-packed stadium and sold out crowd. It was so fun!!!!!
Go Cougars!
The Cougars were 9-0 going into this game, so we were very excited to see them during this undefeated season. Unfortunately, we were there to see them experience their first loss (by just 4 points) instead of continue their streak, but it was still loads of fun and a highlight of the weekend!
CougarTails for days!!
The next morning, we drove two hours North to Logan so we could tour Utah State. This was my first time to Logan and I learned two things about the Logan Temple 1) my Great, great, great-grandpa (John Taylor) dedicated this temple and his son (my great, great-grandpa) was the first one sealed here. And 2) this is where my in-laws, Larry and Rita, were sealed.
Three generations of Mitchell ladies
Lacey getting her first glimpse of Utah State
The famed "A"
It's tradition to stand on top of this podium and kiss under a full moon at midnight.
This podium was built in 1916 and since then, this act has become something of an initiation ritual.
So, while it wasn't midnight under a full moon, Mom and Dad decided to partake!
Go Aggies!
Then we went to my brother's house in Layton, about an hour away from Utah State, and celebrated my nephew Eli's 15th birthday.
Sophie and Lacey enjoying the birthday goodies.
From there, we went back to Provo to visit with Seth and Cari.
And their cute boy Ben (Ella's bestie from the cruise last year).
And then drove past the renovation of the Provo temple (so crazy to see this after so many years of seeing the "old" temple here) before heading back to my parents house in Mapleton. Another jam-packed day!
The next morning, we headed back to BYU for our official campus tour. Lacey was presented with a BYU t-shirt and bag after the tour.
And then we went to the Museum of Art and I came across this beautiful painting by Brian Kershisnik entitled Burdens Seen and Unseen. It caught my eye because the plaque next to it stated it was on loan to the museum by Dan and Allyson Chard, who are my dear friends here in Maryland! They were in my ward for years. He was our Bishop, I served with Allyson in the RS Presidency and I taught seminary in their house. So I immediately texted her and sent her a picture of me next to her painting.
And then we had lunch with Ashley, my BYU-college roommate!
Lacey didn't eat at MOA because she was waiting to eat at In-n-Out with these two - her HXP group leader Sophie and another HXP friend Tessa. Lacey was in heaven with these two and this visit was another major highlight of the weekend! I had to peel her away (since my parents and I were trying to kill time since we were all sharing a car and were ready to go) after two hours. Lacey said they were still going strong and she could have easily stayed another two hours! But I'm so glad she got to see 4 different friends from HXP this weekend including her beloved group leader. And it was fun for me to meet them too! HXP is such a bonding experience, so it's so nice for them to be able to reunite.
Lynette and Grammy Net ("Hammy") by Maple Mountain next to their home.
One last pic before heading home bright and early the next morning.
We packed a TON into 2.5 days. So grateful for all the family and friends we were able to see as well as all we were able to see and do. I'm not sure what Lacey will end up choosing in terms of college, but she at least has a very good idea of what college life and the campuses are like out in Utah.
