Tuesday Top 10 - Top 10 Places I've Been With Stefanie

10) Hoover Dam - Remarkable and awe-inspiring. And big.

9) Orlando, FL - This is the back patio of the home we stayed in with friends from graduate school while visiting Orlando. Nice of them to throw that perimeter fence up to keep the gators out of the pool. Universal Studios, Sea World, Gatorland, and a nice break from school..but I think I lost a solid 10 lbs sweating from the humidity.

8) Kortrijk, Belgium - Great European feel to the city, with old castle turrets mixed with downtown shops. We stopped over for a drink, sitting outside the cafe to take in some beach volleyball on the city centre court.

7) Las Vegas, NV - It isn't my thing to fund the next big casino construction project but one benefit to having your in-laws live in Mesquite is you aren't too far from Vegas and all of its attractions.

6) Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous - You park your car in a parking garage, certain that when you return either the car or at least two of its windows will be missing. Then you walk down an old city alley full of old dumpsters and trash that should be in the dumpsters. I know, how could such a paradise only make #6 on this list, right? But then you walk into the restaurant and the aroma lends immediately to the overriding thought of, "How in the world do I get all that goodness in me...right NOW?!" If the smell didn't tip you off to your presence in BBQ heaven, how about the fact that they bring you your very own pitcher of Dr. Pepper? None of this small glass and refill charade. Order the BBQ chicken nachos, a full slap of dry rub ribs, and a side of beans.

That, my friends, is what you call a plate of finger-licking, artery-fortifying goodness.

5) Picayune MS - We visited Picayune while living in Memphis, while my sister and her husband lived there. Absolutely loved the house they lived in, the area it was in, and how close it was to the Gulf coast. Their covered patio overlooking the green back yard fenced in by a pond and Forrest was beautiful. Also loved the gator bites with crawfish dip we ate in nearby New Orleans. Would happily make Picayune a regular vacation spot if that home was still in the family.

4) Wimbledon - Stefanie and I visited Centre Court at Wimbledon with my sister Diane during our England trip. One of my all-time favorite sports venues and one that I never really thought I'd get to see in person. Walking the grounds was kind of surreal, as was eating actual strawberries and cream at Wimbledon.

3) Lavell Edwards Stadium - So I'm going to guess that if Stefanie were to compile a similar list that LES might not make it in the top 10, let alone the top 3. But while we were attending school I don't think we missed a home game. Our typical routine was to arrive early, buy a pizza, and sit and watch warm-ups in the perfect setting for college football on a Saturday afternoon. If you could get some dry rub ribs at the stadium we might as well change the name to City of Enoch.

2) 162 Broadway, Peterborough, England -This was my grandparent's home in England. After having visited twice, I'm beyond thankful for the opportunity to do so. I'm also grateful Stefanie got to go with me the 2nd time.

This was the cottage in the back of my granddad's home where Stefanie and I stayed during our time in Peterborough. I flew Stefanie over the Atlantic for a dream vacation in Europe and we ended up staying in a small cottage without a real bed, limited power, and no shower/bath. (Yes, we got to shower, we just had to go to the main house to do it) But we loved it...right, Stef? You loved it?

1) Salt Lake Temple - Happy Anniversary, Stef.

Beautiful Blue Day

'"Foster wonderful family traditions...In doing so, we can create a bit of heaven right here on earth within individual families." - Ezra Taft Benson

I'm pretty sure Pres. Benson had something like the above picture in his mind when he talked about heaven on earth.

We had a great Saturday with the girls down in Utah County. We attended the final spring football practice at BYU, and afterward the fans were allowed down on the field so the kids could run around and get a chance to take pictures with the players and coaches. Afton and Mya loved playing on the grass field; as soon as Mya was put down she took off and didn't look back. I'd catch up to her, she'd turn around, and then walk the other way until we stopped her again.

This is Afton with Kyle Van Noy, a freshman linebacker for the Cougars. As we walked around the field where the players were I kept asking if she wanted to give anyone five or get a picture with them. She would get timid and quickly walk the other direction. But for some reason when she saw VanNoy she wanted to get a pic with him. She walked right up to the 6'4", 230 lb padded up player, but once he picked her up she got pretty bashful.

After the practice we did some shopping and stopped at Coneys for ice cream. Afton loved sharing the vanilla and chocolate cones we got, while Mya puttered around the shop getting oohs and aahs in her cute BYU shirt.

We ate dinner at Pantrucas, a Chilean restaurant in Provo (resturant review to follow in another entry). And then we wrapped up the day attending the men's volleyball match on campus and visiting Legacy Hall, which contains all of the individual and team honors the different sports programs at BYU have won.

This is a video of Afton during the Cougar Fight Song after BYU won the volleyball match. That is her favorite bear, called "Brand New Bear", that she got long enough ago that it really isn't brand new.

This is another video from another volleyball match last month. It is funny to watch all the people in the background notice Afton at different times, then they tap someone on the shoulder and point, and eventually she's got almost everyone is in the camera shot watching her.

I won't take all the credit, but talk about raising your kids right... :)

Heaven on earth indeed.