Butchart Gardens

Butchart Gardens was a highlight for me while we were visiting British Columbia. Not only did I get to see amazing floral and fauna, I got to do it with my awesome parents. It was a dreamy day to frolic in the Queen of Heart's garden. I was just waiting for the cards to come out with their spears. No luck, but we fortunately had Alice as our companion.

My mom in her element

My favorite sassy photo of Sedona not looking very Alice-like.

Even tiny birds perched on little girls' fingers. It was just that enchanted!

Japanese Garden, Axel's favorite

Romance at the sunken garden

It is a must-see garden, and arguably the most beautiful one in the world. If you visit, you must bring an Alice of your own. I enjoyed this one so much I brought her home with me.

Seattle's Best

Axel has always wanted a home in British Columbia, and yet, he had never actually been there. As soon as we decided to go to Utah, he couldn't help but book a ticket for the Northwest so he could actualize his dreams. My great friend Karen happens to live in Seattle so we planned a trip to Vancouver Island via Seattle. One of the main reasons Axel loves this area is that we went to visit Karen and Steve in September 2001. We fished on the Puget Sound, visited Friday Harbor and slept on a boat while admiring the phosphorescence in the ocean. Magical.

Luckily, Karen and Steve still live in the Northwest and it was so fantastic visiting and catching up with them. Karen drove us all over to explore the Seattle sites with her 6 year old triplets and her 9 year old daughter. I was sad we didn't have all of our kids with us. We knew they would be too preoccupied with the cousin fun back in Utah and Axel's family was willing to watch them while we were gone (bless them!), so we decided to only take Sedona. I am not sure our logic in taking Sedona, but it might just be that she is a great travel companion.

We explored Seattle in a big way.

1. Went to the S.A.M (Seattle Art Museum) and was pleasantly surprised.

Outside of SAM with our clan. While walking through the market we were asked if we were Mormon from a complete stranger. I am not sure what gave it away the 5 young kids, or the one man with his two wives.

My favorite Rothco

Axel's expression in reaction to Pollock's expression.

The American art exhibit was my favorite. The contrasts of dark and light were mesmerizing.

I think the most surprising exhibit for Axel and me was the British Columbian native art. The totem poles were massive and the facial expressions were freak-hey.

2. Visited the Farmer's Market an saw a place where fish fly.

Axel's one wish was that we would eat plenty of seafood while in Seattle. Karen made all of his dreams come true when she took us to the best fish place in the market. Not only did you get salmon, you also got a show. Huge fish flew in the air and the guys running the show were young, cute and comical.

More cherries please. I believe I ate an entire tree's yield of Rainier cherries. By the end of my trip to the US, my body was begging me to not eat one more cherry.

3. Visited the Space Needle and had no desire to go on top.

...but we did get loads of photos of cute kids in front of the landmark.

4. Ate the maximum amount of seafood our stomachs could handle.

I avoid throwing up at all costs, but I was almost tempted to force myself immediately after this meal just so I could do it all over again.

5. Cherished every second I had with Karen.

Karen and I were college roommates and have remained close friends ever since. She is an amazing woman and I am so happy to know her and call her friend. We have always been there for each other during the highs (babies, marriage, etc.) and the lows (brain tumor, triplets, etc). If I collected all my emails to Karen, it would be a full, complete journal. She has always been an amazing friend for book recommendations, workout advice, funny stories that are way too embarrassing to tell anyone close by, and pure honesty.

If I wasn't leaving for Africa tomorrow, I would be tempted to put up a before (college years) and after (as in now) photo. I just saved you from being blinded by the white skin, over bleached hair, and puffy bangs. You can thank me later.

It would be great to find at house up that way simply because I would be closer to Karen during the summers. But, even if we don't, we have proven distance and time doesn't change us much. In fact, we have only improved with time. Some friends just stick. For me, Karen is one of them. Thanks for the fun, Karen! It was such a blast!

More hunting in Manti

Axel's family has some strong roots in Manti. That is where he would go as a young child to visit his grandparents and go hunting. Whenever he had a bad day at work, I do believe Manti was his happy place for a mental respite. That is why I think everyone enjoyed simply watching Axel in Manti. Of the 13 years we have been together, this was the strongest glimpse of my husband's childhood. He was a kid in a candy store. I mean a big one, with tons of acreage and unlimited spending money.

After 4 years of being away from the US, Axel finally planned his Manti hunting trip. The hunting gods were smiling upon Axel during his Manti excursion because within no time at all, Axel caught 3 gopher snakes, which was quite impressive. However, what I found much more interesting was the reaction of all the Bromley progeny. No one--I repeat-- not one child (of which there were 17) was scared of the snakes. In fact, the children were actively fighting to see who could hold the snake the longest.

Gopher snakes were not the only prize of the trip. Axel's brother also shot a jack rabbit. (For what purpose, my female brain can not understand). I am told that was also a big deal, because it happened swiftly and with one shot. 'Good job', I said, and went back to eating my licorice in the van.

Asa was quickly turned on to the idea of hunting. So much so that he decided he would mark his territory.

"Let all man, child, and infant know (like my father declared many years ago): I will be back!"

The Great Utah Outdoors

I am not sure why I am painfully slow at keeping up with this summer blog. I do believe that the crappy Middle Eastern heat has halted my brain a bit. The minute I got off the plane in Doha my motivation level plummeted. Arriving in Qatar, during summer, in the middle of Ramadan was a bad idea. Bad.

Our time in Utah was blissful on many levels, but two of my favorites were the following:

First is that we got to experience summer in the mountains. Not even breaking a sweat. Without the a/c full blast in our car or home. Inhaling the fresh air. Seeing green. Oxygen.

Asa (the cautious one) climbing trees at 3 years old.

Roasting pork infused marshmallows. Let me tell you, the pork is the secret ingredient. No marshmallow roasts like a good, old white pig puff.

Impromptu water fight brought on by my daughter. She is not shy, reserved or insecure. She went for the tall, strong teenage boys first and almost took on all the older cousins single-handedly.

Number two reason for bliss was all the cousin love. There was SO much love to have. All the kids had a friend and someone to hang with. The conversations and the activities never stopped. It was constant chatter and motion.

The most loved of all the cousins were the one year old twins. When Sedona realized Anna had two babies she observed, 'You have two babies! We don't even have one!' She has been disappointed with her dolls and stuffed piggy ever since.

Asa had only spent 10 days of his life in America since he was born. This was the first time he returned. The experience was way more foreign to him than ever attending a Hindu ceremony or hearing the call to prayer. He also couldn't figure out where his Maria was. No one feeds me when I say I am hungry? What kind of place is this?

Sharing family love outside was divine. It was pure, fresh, oxygenated nectar for the soul.