So Good, So Good, So Good

When I was in 6th grade my brother Paul said to me "Scott, Dude, all I can say is enjoy recess while you can cause next year you wont have it and you will be like...dang! I wished I had played more at recess." (Or at least that is how I remember him saying it). That concept seems to have followed me my whole life. I was told to enjoy high school, my mission, college, single life etc. while they last cause when they are gone... The most recent version that Courtney and I hear goes as follows "Oh my gosh you guys just take advantage of the time you have without kids, because once you have kids everything changes." So to all you people who have told us this...I can say with a high degree of certainty that this summer we have heeded your council. In the name of not having the longest blog posting ever, I have broken our summer into several posts. They are as follows: President and sister Jacobsen return - Saltoev (pronounced sal-to-ev) Lotoja's shorter but stronger brother -Beach week – Courtie’s B-day - Martha's Vineyard - Boston. Feel free to nibble and read one post at a time, feast and gorge yourself on all the posts at once, sample by glancing at the posts but mostly the pictures (a very popular choice), or even fast and not read any of them. Pick your poison.

Boston -

After the Vineyard we spent a jam-packed day and a half in Boston. We did a little sight seeing - Quincy market, the freedom trail, Harvard. But most importantly we saw the Red Sox play and we saw Radiohead in concert. If I were to make up a list of the top 10 things I want to see before I die the top three of that list would include a red sox game at Fenway and seeing Radiohead in concert. AND WE DID THEM BOTH IN A DAY AND A HALF! The Red Sox game was unreal. If you haven't been to Fenway...GO! It is such an amazing park, it is chuck full of history and character from the OLD wood slat seating to singing "Sweet Caroline" in the middle of the 8th inning. Before the game we got a couple of Fenway franks and enjoyed the atmosphere of being surrounded by the most fanatical of fans. The game it self was one for the ages. The Sox played the Texas Rangers, so we got to see Josh Hamilton play, which was awesome (if you haven't heard his story you need to google him or something he is amazing). David Ortiz hit 2; 3-run home runs in the first inning! The place was going NUTS! However, even though the score was 10-0 for the Sox after one inning it turned out to be a barnburner. The rangers came back to take the lead in the 6th inning 15-14. Until Kevin Youkilis (YOUUUUUUUUUUK!) crushed a 3 run homer over the green monster to take the lead back in the bottom of the eighth. From there Jonathan Paplebon took over and that was the game. Final Score 19-17 Boston. Classic!

The World Series banners that hand outside of Fenway


Courtie and I Pregame


The view from our seats


Papi rounding the bases after the first of his two homers.


Youuuuuuk! That is the swing that sealed the game.

Papelbon showing the Rangers the international sign for Game Over!

Scoreboard! it was a crazy game


Courtie and I Post Game




Radiohead was far and away the best show I have ever been to. Thom Yorke's White-tastic trance dancing was awesome, but all humor aside they put on one heck-uv-ah show. They played two encores and I was never bored. WOW!

Thom Yorke - it may look painful but it sounds awesome


Yorke Displaying his white-tastic trance dance


Johnny Greenwood


An Awesome Green wood and Yorke Duet


Radiohead!

From there, we slept in the car for a couple of hours while we waited for the parking lot to clear, drove to Boston, hopped on a plane a wah-la we were back in SLC. What a trip.

Martha's Vineyard -

Martha's Vineyard - Three summers of Courtney's life were spent on Martha's Vineyard as a nanny for the Pertile family. Needless to say she developed a lifelong friendship with the Pertile family. This was her first trip back to "the Vineyard" since before her mission. It was a great trip. The Pertile's put us up in their home and were the best hosts anyone could ask for. The Vineyard is gorgeous. The center of the island is thick green forest dotted with lakes, while the edges are perfect sand beaches. I rented a bike while I was there and was able to ride all the way around the island. It was easily the prettiest bike ride I have ever been on. We spent our days sight seeing in the Pertile's jeep, taste testing lobster ice cream (yuck), window-shopping, and playing around with the kids. We got to watch the future Rafael Nadal and Rodger Federer (a.k.a. Jake and Grant Pertile), and Martin Sexton also happened to be playing at this awesome little bar on the vineyard so we got to see him, which was an unexpected bonus. I got to swim in the Atlantic Ocean for the first time in my life. It was great to see such a beautiful part of the world, and a place that I know means so much and hold so many fond memories for Courtney.

Courtie enjoying the windblown look in the jeep


The red cliffs of Aquinah. This beach was sooooo pretty. Unfortunatly if you venture far enough down you find out that nudists also think it is pretty.


Courtie and i at South beach. A really drunk lady took this picture so we are impressed that it turned out OK.


Martin sexton put on great show


The Gayhead light house.

After a gnarly bite of lobster ice cream we enjoyed a delicious serving of blueberry

Sarah Pertile savoring an ice cream cone.

Courtie's B-Day

Courtney turned 25 (finally old enough to rent a car!). My parents had us over for dinner and the Parkers invited everyone over for desert. Courtney was showered with gifts and deserving praise from friends and family. I will just add that i love her, i am proud of all she manages to do, and i could not be happier to be married to such a wonderful woman.

Courtie by the Ben and Allison Jacobsen kids who were more than glad to help her open presents.


Courtney and our niece Sarah in their stylish bow decor.

Beach Week -

Every year the Parker family travels to Ventura California to spend a week reading great books, soaking up the sun, swimming in the ocean, playing bacci ball, football, whiffle ball, golf, and eating phenomenal food. This has been a Parker tradition for over 19 years and I consider myself lucky to have married into a family with such a great tradition.


Beach Week is not just he Parkers. It the families of Jared Parker 3 of his closest friends (the Hyde's, the Pew's and the Bryan's). So all in all we have a pretty big group (55 and counting).


Our niece Sophie (a.k.a. Ashley's Clone) and me chillin' on beach. She is enjoying a classic beach week treat...a cow cookie from The Royal Bakery


I had plenty of time to read


The 1st presidency of beach week G2..Courtney, Will Hyde and Tracie Bryan.

Saltoev (pronounced sal-to-ev) Lotoja's shorter but stronger brother -

My brother Ben, Jared Madsen and I biked 105 miles from Salt Lake to my families cabin just outside of evanston. It was brutal. we traveled up big cottonwood canyon, over Guardsman's pass to park city. From park city to Kamas and finished it all of with a grueling ride up and over mirror lake pass. I am eternally grateful for my two riding partners that allowed me to draft behind them for a good majority of the ride. However, i am even more grateful for my stunning wife who was kind and patient enough to drive the support car for us. Having her there with our food and water aver couple hours made all the difference. We also got to spend an evening up at the cabin, which was a blast. We played a few hearty rounds of the dice game, and otherwise just relaxed and enjoyed the scenery and company.


Ben and I at refueling at the top of Mirror Lake Pass


SLC is at 4330 feet....so it was a long climb.


Courtney took this picture as she followed us in the car to the finish line.


My dad and our nephew max trying to catch a fish in the pond.

President and Sister Jacobsen Return -

After 3 years of wonderful service in the England Manchester Mission, my parents made it home. And for the first time in our marriage Courtney has in-laws that live in the same country as us. It has been great to have them home!