Adventures in Bennionland

We heard of REI’s Passport to Adventure program through one of the blogs we read. The program is designed to get family spending more time out of doors. Kids keep track of their adventures in a journal and submit them REI. REI then sends a reward for the activity. This year the boys got a fantastic hiking tool that combines binoculars, a compass, a magnifying glass, and a mirror.

Eric took up the challenge and planned out hikes all through the summer. The first one, pictured here, was up a local canyon that follows a train route. Walker, of course, loved it! Every twenty to thirty minutes a train would run by adding to the excitement of the trip.

The boys always took their journals, water and their cameras. Eric encouraged them to take lots of pictures and make notes in their journals. They loved it!

Eric mentioned earlier that I was joining him for his business trip in San Francisco – and what a treat it has been! I arrived on Wednesday via Oakland. Many of you know that I am a fairly routine person so it was thrilling (in a good way) to be in discovery mode. I took the B.A.R.T for the first time and met Eric at Montgomery Street. Our hotel happens to be right next to the TransAmerica tower and bordering both the Financial District and Chinatown.

Being here brings back a lot of memories since Eric and I, eight years and a couple of months ago, spent our honeymoon here. From our window I can see the park where Eric played Chinese Chess with the locals and the restaurant we ate at in Chinatown.

I spent almost two hours sitting at the window – Eric caught me deep in thought (or listening to This American Life):

I woke up at 7:00am and got to watch the Financial world get moving. So many people – so many directions. Only made me wish I could ask each person to stop and tell me about themselves for a minute!

What a treat to be here and to be celebrating Eric’s job. Eight years ago I would never have guessed where our road would take us or that we’d be back here in a situation like this.

We are about to head out to explore the city. Tomorrow Eric works 1/2 day and then we get the rest of the day, Saturday and part of Sunday to be un-obvious tourists!!

Before I go I just wanted to publicly thank you all for the birthday wishes, treats, calls, emails, texts, Facebook entires, etc that I received. What a way to feel loved. Thank you!

More posts to come…maybe when we get home though!

All aboard…!

The boys and I took a trip to Union Station it was our first time to the famed Station and we had a blast. We packed a lunch and ate it in the court yard with the Koi Fish Fountain/Pond. Then we explored every nook and crannie of the station. Below are pictures I took with my blackberry (I forgot to grab our camera on the way out).

Enjoy!