BYU

Nostalgia?
Ulterior motives?

I admit that choosing to stop in Utah was motivated by a combination of the two.

BYU is my alma mater and where I met my husband, and Utah is where my first two children were born. It was fun to share some sentimental sights with the kids. It would have been more fun if Tony had been there....since he actually shares those memories.

And, I would be thrilled to see any and/or all of my kids go to BYU. It's a big university, with a lot of great and diverse programs (since I'd bet $ none of them study the same subject).  Plus, they've got cousins who could be in school with them. And, it's such a deal for Tony and I - cost-wise.

Step 1: Create fond childhood memories of university.

Why am I the only person in my family who thinks sculpture gardens are fun?

Step 2: Breed familiarity. Taking a tour of campus.

We hung out in the fancy-smancy alumni building, waiting for our tour. You wouldn't believe how hard it was to keep them from ringing the brass bell you see behind Anthony's head.

I applied to BYU on a "sight unseen" basis and never took an official tour, so we all got to learn some fun new facts about the university.

For example: did you know that most foreign students at BYU are from Canada? 

Second largest group - South Korea. 

(Fact I chose not to share: when I was at BYU, my apartment had no air conditioning. Don't tell Sofia!)

...and we got to ride in a spacious golf cart.

Wheee!

Step : Bribe with t-shirts and ice cream....and in the future...tuition money.

We went to the creamery. 

It was no South Mountain, mind you. There was an appalling lack of baby cows.

Still, ice cream is pretty good.

Then, to top it all off, we dropped in on a college friend of mine who settled in Utah. 

Pretty literally "dropped in". I think I gave her maybe a half hour warning. 

My kids were a little shy and worried about hanging out with kids they didn't know....but they had a great time! (During which I totally forgot to take a single picture - like a nerd.) Still, lovely trip!