Flashback Friday

I wasn't really certain what I wanted to do for Flashback Friday today so I hit my picture bins. I passed through some memorable moments...when Scot first said, "I love you." (too personal), my summer at BYU (too much drama), a trip to General Conference with some HS friends (I look fat in every picture, not posting those), MCC Institute (again, I must have been going through an ugly phase) when I stumbled upon this gem. I immediately remembered so many things from this day that I decided this was the picture to post about.

I think this is one of the first pictures of Scot & I dating. It was a test of sorts I'm sure. Taking him to the lake with Jared, Jono & Steve -- my friends in the picture are all the other guys, not the girls (although we've all married the person we're with in the picture and are thus friends) -- Jared with Becca on the left & Steve with Kara on the right...and Jono just along for the ride.

The background is Jared & Steve have been friends since they were born, literally they were born across the street from each other. Jono came into the picture in Junior High (I think) and I rolled along in High School. I first met Steve my sophomore year -- we had several classes together & I remember talking to him in my classes, he was super impressed with my basketball knowledge, I'm sure & heck, no offense to Steve, I was just happy to have someone to talk to. Although I don't think I could have found anyone better to talk to than Steve -- he is one of the few guys I know that can "girl talk." We'd just moved to Mesa & saying I was thrown to the wolves when I started high school at Mountain View is putting it mildly...it was a rough couple of years. I don't ever remember "meeting" Jared & Jono in particular, but did know who they were, we just didn't really hang out until our senior year.

Fast forward to our senior year of high school & I'd finally felt like I'd found my niche at Mountain View. Jared's family was building a house in my ward so he & I became much better friends & thus, I became better friends with Steve (he & Jared are kind of a package deal). We graduate high school & a lot of our girlfriends went away to school. I stayed here & for a couple of months until Steve left on his mission it seems I only hung out with Jared & Steve. Although now that I think about it Jared left for a semester at Ricks as well, but he must have been home all the time (which is really not surprising) because I remember him being here more than he could have logically been.

Jared & Steve both go on their missions, although again, Jared was home more than he was on his mission! I swear he came home 2 or 3 times for medical stuff, so it was almost as if he never left! I remember going to a friend's wedding with him & hanging out with him at his brother's house in Provo -- all while he was supposedly serving his mission. Classic Jared style.

So they both get home from their missions & our friendships return to their usual routines. Steve went up to Ricks, I was at ASU & Jared was at MCC. I am thinking this picture must have been about May or June in 2003. Steve brought Kara home to "meet the parents" and of course Jared & I took it upon ourselves to form our own opinion of her & what better way than by going to the lake!

I was at the beginning of dating Scot & Jared at the beginning of dating Becca. Neither of us were too serious at this point. Jared & I were still having our weekly lunches together where we'd discuss our relationships & oddly enough he & I had made a bet about him kissing Becca & me kissing Scot & who could make it happen first. Of course Jared (being the guy) didn't hesitate to take Becca out that night & kiss her. I lost & I don't think I ever paid up!

So back to the lake...for those of you who don't know Jared; he is the lake man. Their are rules & procedures that must be followed, one of which is that everyone must get in the water. Kara broke this rule & in Jared's mind this ruled her out of being marriage material for Steve (I'm happy to say that we all really like Kara despite this initial faux pas!). I was happy to see that Steve & Jared approved of Scot's wake boarding skills on this trip, but disappointed that they did not approve of his lack of sports, specifically Suns, knowledge...this was definitely a stumbling block for them.

If you'll notice in the picture Scot is wearing a shirt that has been a point of contention among us all these years (seriously to this day). Scot & Becca had met several times before this trip & Scot loved hanging out with Becca. He'd always comment about how sweet she was, etc. So he shows up to go to the lake with MY friends in the offending shirt. I'm mortified, but figure Steve & Jared have never really been classified has fashionistas, so I'll have to let it slide. When we get to Jared's and Scot & I walk into the kitchen Becca is there to greet us with this comment, "Hey Scot, did you forget the sleeves on your shirt?" I was thrilled! Only Becca could make such a comment in her sweet giggly way that would get the point across without being rude. Mind you, Scot is still beating to his own drum in regards to this shirt! One day it may just go missing...

Another great moment on this lake trip happened when we were wiping the boat down after pulling it out of the water. Steve, Jared, Jono & I knew the drill & immediately got to work. Steve & I were wiping one side, while Kara was on the other side. Jared was in the car & Jono was cleaning out the cabin of the boat. I'm wiping away when I hear Steve calling to Kara, "Brittney!" I stopped cold. Did he just say, "Brittney?" As in Brittney "Dream Woman" Jones his eternal high school crush? Did he just say, "Brittney?" I was speechless. Yes. Me. Was speechless. First gawking at Steve wondering what to do now. Averting my eyes & acting as though nothing happened, stifling my ever growing giggles, while wondering...Is Kara aware of Steve's undying crush? Does she know that Steve meant to say Kara. At the exact moment I thought I would burst from baffled confusion Jono pops up from the boat cabin & quips, "I heard that!" That was it. I dropped my cover & bust out laughing. Thankfully Kara was oh so gracious & let Steve off the hook without a hitch, but he'll never live it down. ever.

The best thing I like about this picture is that we're all still friends. Thank heavens all our spouses like each other & I feel like this is where it all began. We don't see or talk frequently, as life has taken us in all directions, but we always pick up right where we left off!