Go Utes!

We have season basketball tickets at the UofU, but only 2 of them which means that our kids rarely get a chance to go to the games. We bought a few extra tickets the other night, though, so we took the whole family. You'd have thought we'd scored Superbowl tickets or something! They were just a tiny bit excited. The little girls dressed in their cheerleading outfits and we headed to the bookstore for more Ute gear. Dinner at Training Table (cheese fries -- oh baby!) and a winning game and you've got some good times.

It's great to be 2

Noelle Grace (or Ellee Gwace, as she calls herself) is the heart of our family right now. She has everyone wrapped around her little fingers, each of her siblings especially. She knows how to charm them to get what she wants: they carry her around the house, make her breakfast, get her binky for her, read her books.... She's as cuddly and loving as I could ever want in a child. These are some of my favorite recent pictures of her:Trying to play the Nintendo DS like her older siblings.

That's lipstick that she found in my purse. Lovely.Major blackmail picture someday.I adore this stage. She melts me.

How well do you know your hubby?

I've posted info about me. Now let's try Mike. You tell me, babe ... did I get it right?

1. He's sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen?
Either Utah Football or Lost (he's only just discovered the show).

2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad?
Ranch

3. What's one food he doesn't like?
stuffing

4. You go out to eat and have a drink. What does he order?
raspberry lemonade

5. Where did he go to high school?
Olympus High

6. What size shoe does he wear?
9.5-10

7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be?
signed UofU footballs or helmets

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich?
cheese and pickle -- no joke

9. What would he eat every day if he could?
roast beef and mashed potatoes

10. What is his favorite cereal?
Reese's Peanut Butter Puffs

11. What would he never wear?
BYU clothing

12. What is his favorite sports team?
He's a hardcore University of Utah fan. That was true even during his short stint at BYU.

13. Who did he vote for?
Obama -- my mother still thinks he's evil because of it.

14. Who is his best friend?
Handsome Rob

15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn't do?
pick at him (dry skin or whatever)

16. What is his heritage?
I know they were Mormon pioneers but that's as far back as I know.

17. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind of cake?
Chocolate cake using Grandma White's recipe

18. Did he play sports in high school?
Football & basketball -- he can still tell you scores and stats about most of those games.

19. What could he spend hours doing?
Listen to and call in to sports talk radio.

20. What is a unique talent he has?
He's a great speaker. He can pull a talk or church lesson out of his hat without any preparation.

All About Me

Between Facebook and this blog, I find I'm duplicating things. But since this blog will be printed and bound at the end of the year for posterity, bear with me ...

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Just the misty dawn that morning. aaawwww ....
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? So lame ... just a few minutes ago while watching the High School Musical 3 cast farewells. They were all crying, saying how sad that last day of shooting was ... and I teared up. I admit it.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? If I take my time, I like my writing fine. The sloppy stuff isn't so nice.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? turkey
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? 4 -- I'm way out numbered.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Absolutely!
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM? No -- never, never.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No way. I'd consider sky diving, though. I trust the parachute more than the rubberband, I guess.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? I could live on cold cereal so just about anything. I'm liking Special K Fruit & Yogurt at the moment, tho.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? no
12. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? pink peppermint/candy cane
13. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? The size of their thighs (please see #7)
14. RED or PINK? Red
15. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? As if I'd tell...
16. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Grandpa White -- the man was awesome.
17. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST? I never forward lists so I doubt anyone will reply.
18. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? brown pants, no shoes
19. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? music from my blog
20. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? red
21. FAVORITE SMELL? baking bread
22. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Mike
23. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH? Ummmm ... (My husband is rolling in the floor laughing at this question.)
24. HAIR COLOR? auburn
25. EYE COLOR? blue-green-grey
26. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Not since Lasik.
27. FAVORITE FOOD? Oh wow .. where do I start? I love seafood, potato chips, chocolate covered strawberries, pumpkin soup, candy, warm bread & rolls ...
28. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? I'm still creeped out by The Sixth Sense, which in most people's book is not that scary, so I'll stick with happy endings.
29. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Australia
30. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? white
31. SUMMER OR WINTER? Spring & Fall, preferably
32. HUGS OR KISSES? Depends on who's giving them.
33. FAVORITE DESSERT? I had some awesome Bananas Foster the other night, so right now that's at the top of my list.
34. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Three cups of Tea
35. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? nothing
36. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? A recorded episode of Lost
37. FAVORITE SOUND(S)? my kids laughing
38. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles I guess, but neither really.
39. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Paris
40. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I can tie a cherry stem in a knot with my tongue.
41. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Murray, UT
42. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER? He was dating my sister. We're a close family. :)
43. IS THE CUP HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY? Is it Diet Coke or the nasty colonoscopy prep stuff? Totally depends.
44. IF YOU COULD SIT DOWN TO DINNER WITH FIVE PEOPLE WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE? I should probably say Oprah or the Dalai Lama, but truthfully I'd rather have my 4 kids and Mike. And a personal chef who made dinner for us. That would be heaven.

Mmmmmm.....

It's all about cookie dough at our house. We make chocolate chip cookies often -- eat our fair share of dough first and then feel sick by the time the cookies are out of the oven. Good times! One of Haley's friends was over the other day when we made cookies and when I handed her a spoonful of dough, her eyes got wide and she said, "My mom never lets me eat the dough!" Well, sweetie, you know where to come for the good stuff.

Things I love about my honey:

* He makes me feel beautiful, even first thing in the morning with bedhead.

* I love that he loves to talk to me ... he tells me all about his day, how he's feeling, what he needs from me, how he appreciates me ... He admits he's kind of a girl that way :) but I love it.

* He gives me the freedom to be who I want to be, even if that changes frequently.

* The man is an incredible gift giver. I love that.

* He often says things with double (sometimes slightly naughty) meanings and then feigns innocence when I call him on it. I pretend to be annoyed but it cracks me up.

* He seeks people out and is genuinely interested in them.

* He makes me laugh daily. Life is fun because of him.

* He has a gift of speaking, which makes him a great talk-giver in church and a good attorney in the courtroom.

* He is genuinely concerned about my happiness, and frequently does what he can to make my life better.

* He works very hard so I can stay home with our babies and sees the importance in my being there.

* He has balance in his life ... he works hard but he also creates time and opportunity to be with me and our family.

Happy Valentine's, babe. Marrying you was the best decision I've ever made.

Nothing says Valentine's like ....

ROCK BAND, baby!

Reunited

I love Facebook for many reasons, but lately especially because of how it has reunited me with high school friends. I'm sorry to admit that I have kept in touch only sporadically with just a few high school people. The past few months have been so fun, though, as more and more of us are on Facebook and have gotten re-acquainted.

I met up last night with some of the girls from Murray High Class of 1990 for dinner. It was so fun to see those familiar faces walk into the restaurant and see how much and how little has changed for each of us. Some of us are moms, some are working professionals, some have travelled and lived all over the world, some have started their own businesses .... How great to see where the years have brought us.

Crissy -- we hooked back up a few months ago and have had a great time talking and hanging out some. We weren't close friends in high school but I do remember really liking her even then. And now we have the exact same highlight-aided hair color. Bonus.Kim -- I have many memories with Kim and they make me smile even now. We were in choir together, we roomed in Hawaii together, we were both on the Academic Decathalon team (major nerds, Kim and me! We didn't take the team very seriously but we had a great time on the trip.) ... I was so happy to see her. She's as funny, sarcastic and witty as I remember. And she makes killer cupcakes.Tanya & Kristy -- We were all in Madrigals together, which provided plenty of memories from senior year right there. Being in Madrigals was definitely a highlight of my high school experience.

Suzy,

Kelli & Mindie,

and Mendi ... all great girls. I loved hearing about their lives now and catching up.

Most of us went to a late movie afterward, which made for a very late night and a sluggish morning today. But so worth it. Good times, girls! And only a year until our 20 year reunion. Wow - we're old. I'm just saying ...

Mike and Rob's Victorious Voyage

By Special Guest-Blogger Mike

Throughout history, there have only been a few journeys that could truly be called “epic.” Odysseus’ ill-fated odyssey from Troy would make the list, as would Israel’s miraculous exodus from Egypt. The pilgrimage to Canterbury spawned from the mind of Geoffrey Chaucer would also have to make the list. So, too, would the phonebooth-aided adventure of Ted “Theodore” Logan and Bill S. Preston, Esquire.

If I may be so bold, I suggest that a new epic journey should be added to the list. It's the 2009 journey of two friends to the Sugar Bowl. I know it's an obscure tale, but a very important one ... to me.

Since the first week of December, full-time rocket scientist and avid Ute fan Rob Gonzalez (or as the ladies like to call him “Handsome Rob”) had been trying to convince me to go to the 2009 Sugar Bowl between Utah and Alabama. Every day for three weeks, Rob called me with the same message:

“Dude! This will be a game for the ages! When you and I are 80 years old, we will be telling our grandchildren about this game. We have to go!”

Finally, two days before the game, I gave in. Rob was right. I knew it, he knew it, and I knew that he knew that I knew it. We also knew that we would have to leave immediately to make it to the game on time. But first, I had to get permission from my darling and understanding wife, Misty. "No problem," I thought. "I'm a professional smooth talker." So I approached Misty. Our conversation went something like this:

Mike: “Honey, Rob and I just decided to drive to New Orleans to watch the Sugar Bowl. We leave in 29 minutes.”

Misty: “Great. Do you know how to get to New Orleans?”

Mike: “Uh…”

Misty: “Where are you going to stay?”

Mike: “Well…uh…we thought…”

Misty: "Do you know how long it takes to drive there?"

Mike: "Approximately....uh ..."

Misty: “Do you even have tickets to the game?”

Mike: “Uh..........well now that you put it that way...we, uh....O.C. Tanner is having a jewelry sale this month.”

Misty: “Good boy. Have fun. Don’t get into trouble.”

Yes! It had taken all of my cunning and wit, but I had permission to go. My only concern was that I was pretty sure Misty was going to be worried about me. We have known each other since I was 18 years old. One of us has grown up a lot since then. One of us is still prone to taking off on a 32 hour road trip with no planning or foresight. If I really wanted to close the deal, I would have to show her how mature I had become. I would have to say something to alleviate any of her anxiety.

"Thanks honey!" I said while giving her a big hug. "This road trip is going to be great. It’ll just be me and Handsome Rob spending New Years Eve on the Las Vegas Strip and New Years Day in New Orleans on Bourbon Street. What trouble could we possibly get into?"

Next to “Yes, as a matter of fact, those jeans do make your butt look big,” that may have been the dumbest thing a married man has ever said to his wife. But notwithstanding my strategic blunder, Misty encouraged me to go. That woman rocks!

An hour later, Handsome Rob and I jumped into my car and started driving South, which we understood was the general direction of New Orleans. Here is an hour by hour breakdown of what happened next:

*New Years Eve: 2:00 p.m. Left for New Orleans. From Bountiful to Draper we both scream "Dude! Road Trip!" every five minutes.

*2:45 p.m. I'm not sure what happened. It may have been Rob's overuse of the word "Dude." It may be been the fact that we had already gotten lost in Utah County looking for a gas station. Or, maybe it was just the general suckiness emanating from Provo to which Rob and I were acutely sensitive. In any event, our enthusiasm for making the 32 hour drive lasted approximately 45 minutes. We decided to fly at least part of the way. So, we used our cell phones to book a flight from Las Vegas to Baton Rouge. That decision saved us approximately 48 hours of driving round trip...and probably our sanity.

*4:47 p.m. Now that our transportation was handled, we turned our attention to lodging. Where could we stay in Vegas on New Years Eve with only a few hours notice? We called an accountant friend of ours whose firm owns a condo near the Strip (doesn't everyone's accountant own a condo near the Strip?). So that part was easy. Finding lodging near New Orleans, which was already bursting at the seams for New Years and the Sugar Bowl, was an entirely different story. In the best traditions of the holiday season, we were told again and again that there was no room in the Inns. At last, a generous inn-keeper at the Baton Rouge Airport Hilton agreed to let us in.

*5:07 p.m. We pass "Ute" Exit on I-15. Rob and I were pretty sure this was a sign of good things to come.

*11:59 p.m. Called Misty and told her I was safe and behaving myself. I could tell by how long it took her to wake up that she had been really worried about me.

New Years Day: 8:30 a.m. We flew from Vegas to Atlanta and (after a three hour layover) back to Baton Rouge. We landed in Baton Rouge at 11:01 p.m. on New Years Day, less than 18 hours before kickoff.

*11:15 p.m. Now that we were so close to New Orleans, we had just one last minor detail to resolve...Tickets to the game itself. I used my cell phone to go to ksl.com and, somewhere near the lovely chemical plant town of Geismar, Louisiana, we found someone who would sell us two great tickets on the donor level. Sweet!

*January 2, 2009 (game day) 10:36 a.m. With tickets in hand and decked out in our best Utah gear, we headed into New Orleans.

*12:42 p.m. Our first stop was Bourbon street which, I explained to Misty, was the cultural and educational part of our trip.

The delightful merchants of Bourbon Street still use the barter system as a means of commerce and exchange. You would be amazed what you can buy from someone if you just give them a little shiny strand of beads like the ones I have around my neck. ;)

*2:19 p.m. New Orleans was packed with seventy thousand Alabama fans. They were a proud bunch. They knew they had a big time program and most of them could barely hide their contempt for having to play a team like "little 'ole Utah."

*3:27 p.m. Rob and I pass the Bourbon Cowboy Bar and are surrounded by a gang of Bama fans. "All you alls' boys are just too small to hang with us," one Alabama fan slurred in my face. "Yup, this game is going to be just like another David and Goliath," he told me smugly. "Uh...you do realize how David and Goliath ended?" I asked him. I came to the conclusion that Alabama fans don't read the Bible much.

*3:45 p.m. Stopped in to the world famous Cafe Beignet for some yummy beignets.

Beignets might be the world's most perfect food. Hot, gooey, scones covered with powdered sugar. Rob and I decided that eating powered sugar before the Sugar Bowl is a good sign so we ordered a few more...anything to help the team.

* 1/2/09: 5:45 p.m. We headed over to the Marriott hotel, which we found out was the headquarters for Utah's team and fans. It was crazy. We were there with a few thousand Ute fans to cheer on the team as they loaded up on the buses.

Coach Whittingham and the team looked very intense...much more so than you might expect for a bowl game. It is clear the team was here on business.

*6:30 p.m. Like most Ute fans, we got to the game 90 minutes before kickoff. The Alabama fans were still on Bourbon Street. Before long, a lone Alabama player wandered out on the field. Well, he was kind of a player...he was the kicker. Kickers are really invisible in football. Unless you are Louis Sakoda, most people don't even know the kicker's name.

This kicker never knew what hit him. As he entered the field the fifteen thousand Ute fans errupted in a chorus of boo's and jeers. It may have been the first time in the history of organized football that a kicker received any attention, let alone boo's. I mean, really, who boo's a kicker? We watched his every kick during warm-ups and cheered everytime he missed. Before long, it was clear that we got into his head. He had two kicks miss off the goal-posts during warmups and missed two of his three field goals during the game.

*6:31 p.m. Uh oh. My Mom called me and asked me what I wanted her to bring to the Sugar Bowl party I was hosting at my house. I knew I had forgotten to tell someone the party was cancelled. Sorry about that, Mom.

*8:15 p.m. Somebody please pinch me (and no, not the way they do it on Bourbon Street). Utah scored touchdowns on its first three possessions of the game and went up 21-0 before Alabama knew what hit them! Seventy thousand Alabama fans sit dejectedly in their seats.

*9:32 p.m. Somewhere, sitting in the Alabama section, an overalls-wearing Bama fan was looking up the story of David and Goliath in his Bible.

*11:00 p.m. The Utes dominated Bama 31-17 to finish the season 13-0. It is the greatest game in Ute history.

This is Rob and me celebrating in front of the final scoreboard. All those empty seats you see used to be Alabama fans.*11:41 p.m. Ute fans filled the streets of New Orleans. Rob said it felt like we were marching in to take over the French Quarter. The sidewalks were littered with Alabama fans, who were bowing in submission to Ute Nation. Awesome.

*11.46 p.m. While making our assault on the French Quarter, I got a voicemail from my seven year old daughter, Haley. She chanted: "Hey you, Alabama! Hey you, Alabama! We just beat the heck out of you. Rammer, jammer, yellow hammer, you stink Alabama!" It was her version of the cheer Alabama fans typically use to taunt teams that they beat. I love that girl.

*January 3, 2009: 12:16 a.m. We made it back to the Marriott and the whole hotel was rockin'. People were shouting and laughing. Players were hugging each other and their families. We were awash in Utephoria. *2:59 a.m. After the post game celebration, Rob and I made it back to Baton Rouge at about 3:00 a.m., which was just in time for a wake-up call to catch our flight back to Vegas. At the airport, LSU fans cheered as we walked through security. An 80 year old woman hugged me and said, "I hate Alabama." The same thing happened during our layover in Memphis. All of America loved the Runnin' Utes that day.

*11:04 a.m. We arrived in Vegas and started our drive back to Bountiful.

*2:30 p.m. Having slept a total of four hours in the last three days, I started to drift asleep at the wheel somewhere around Cedar City.

*2:31 p.m. Rob introduced me to a little drink he called Red Bull. I hadn't had any soda in nearly two years. Wow. Despite the taste of crushed, liquified smartees, I have to admit that Mikey likes the Red Bull. With my new, chemically enhanced reflexes, I safely drove home at about 100 miles per hour.

*8:00 p.m Arrived at home sweet home. Safe and sound.

*8:01. I decided now is a good time to call every BYU fan I know and ask them how BYU did in the Vegas Bowl.

I have to admit that Handsome Rob was right. When I am 80, I will be telling my grandkids about this trip. Who knows? Maybe they'll even make a movie about it. If they do, I think they should get Bruce Willis to play me and Mario Lopez to play Handsome Rob.

Go Utes!

Rock off

Our church schedule just switched to the afternoon, which is the dreaded time for all parents of toddlers ... smack in the middle of naptime. No amount of books, toys or treats will keep a 2 year old happy when they are already 2 hours past their nap. Elle does just fine for the first couple of hours of church but by Sacrament meeting, she's on the verge of meltdown. So we've resorted to having one of us take her home during that last hour to put her down. Of course, there's always a bit of a disagreement as to who should be the one to take her home. Discussions usually go something like this:

"I know you really want to hear so-and-so speak, so I'll take her home."
"Wow, that's so thoughtful of you, but that's o.k. I'll let you stay since I know you really need that extra spiritual boost."
"No really, I'll let you stay."

In the end, Mike and I handle this in the most mature, grown-up way possible ... we "rock off." We play rock-paper-scissors to determine the winner (I'll let you all decide what the winner gets to do). :)

Give Elle a few more months and her nap schedule will adjust so we'll all end up staying the full 3 hours. In the meantime, though, Mike and I will continue to rock off. May the best man/woman win.

99 things .. what have you done?

Highlighted are the things I have already done...

1. Started your own blog 2. Slept under the stars 3. Played in a band 4. Visited Hawaii 5. Watched a meteor shower 6. Given more than you can afford to charity 7. Been to Disneyland 8. Climbed a mountain 9. Held a praying mantis 10. Sang a solo 11. Bungee jumped 12. Visited Paris 13. Watched a lightning storm at sea 14. Taught yourself an art from scratch 15. Adopted a child 16. Had food poisoning 17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty 18. Grown your own vegetables19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France20. Slept on an overnight train 21. Had a pillow fight 22. Hitch hiked23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill 24. Built a snow fort 25. Held a lamb 26. Gone skinny dipping 27. Run a Marathon 28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice 29. Seen a total eclipse 30. Watched a sunrise or sunset 31. Hit a home run 32. Been on a cruise 33. Seen Niagara Falls in person 34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors 35. Seen an Amish community 36. Taught yourself a new language 37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied 38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person 39. Gone rock climbing40. Seen Michelangelo's David 41. Sung karaoke 42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt 43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant 44. Visited Africa 45. Walked on a beach by moonlight 46. Been transported in an ambulance 47. Had your portrait painted 48. Gone deep sea fishing 49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person 50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris 51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling 52. Kissed in the rain 53. Played in the mud 54. Gone to a drive-in theater 55. Been in a movie 56. Visited the Great Wall of China 57. Started a business 58. Taken a martial arts class 59. Visited Russia 60. Served at a soup kitchen 61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies 62. Gone whale watching 63. Got flowers for no reason 64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma 65. Gone sky diving 66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp 67. Bounced a check 68. Flown in a helicopter 69. Saved a favorite childhood toy 70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial 71. Eaten Caviar 72. Pieced a quilt 73. Stood in Times Square 74. Toured the Everglades 75. Been fired from a job 76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London 77. Broken a bone 78. Been on a speeding motorcycle 79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person 80. Published a book 81. Visited the Vatican 82. Bought a brand new car 83. Walked in Jerusalem 84. Had your picture in the newspaper 85. Read the entire Bible 86. Visited the White House 87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating 88. Had chickenpox 89. Saved someone's life 90. Sat on a jury 91. Met someone famous 92. Joined a book club 93. Lost a loved one 94. Had a baby 95. Seen the Alamo in person 96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake 97. Been involved in a law suit 98. Owned a cell phone 99. Been stung by a bee

Things I'd still love to do: 19, 28, 38, 40, 49, 65, 81, 83 (let's sum it up with travel!)
Things I never plan to do: 27 -- no desire whatsoever (a 5K will be plenty)

All in one day

Saturday was a cool day, because of fun happenings and reconnecting with cool people. Here's the play-by-play:

* My "twin," Amy, was here over the weekend for her sister's wedding, so we had her 5 kids over to play during the temple ceremony. Our kids only just met each other this past summer and were instant friends. They were all ecstatic to see their "cousins" again and played everything from computer games to hide-and-go-seek all over the house. It's been cool for me to get to know Amy's kids and see her personality in them. We haven't lived near each other since college but we keep in close contact so I've heard all about them over the years (and vice versa).

* Mike took Christian to the UofU basketball game in the afternoon, and unfortunately had to leave about 5 minutes before the game ended. They missed the Ute's last second shot, over the back of the rim, to win the game. They missed it for a good reason, though, because ...

* Our niece/cousin Sydney was baptized. What a great family! Ali said the prayer, Maddie gave an amazing talk, and big brother Spencer baptized her. Seeing him there with Syd in the font was moving. The girls sang a beautiful one-of-a-kind arrangement (if you know Erin, you'll understand) which totally made me cry. Just a great, spiritual experience. Then we joined the extended Blakes and most of the Farleys at the house to catch up with everyone. We love the Blakes.

* From there, Mike and I joined 3 other couples at Rob & Meggan's for Rob's birthday dinner. (Mike and Rob share their passion for all things UofU, which has made for some fun times over the years.) Meggan is a great cook so we had amazing food ... from baked brie and stuffed mushrooms for appetizers to melt-in-your-mouth chicken, pasta and cheesy cauliflower. And warm bread from Granato's. Heavenly, truly. We had an interesting discussion over dinner about guns (let's just say I had no idea how many people are packing heat on a daily basis) and now we're planning a trip to the shooting range. I want to shoot up a paper silhouette like an FBI agent in training, ya know? (Mike just laughs at me.) We had to leave the birthday festivities before Rock Band began, unfortunately, but we were headed for more good times at ....

* The wedding reception of Amy's sister, Lisa, and her new hubby, Lee. Very cool couple -- hip, artsy, funny, clever ... Lisa wore a t-length Audrey Hepburn-style dress and looked so great. Their reception was in a funky building downtown and had a very cool feature ... a photo booth. It was the hit of the night. Everyone had their pictures taken and 2 photo strips were printed -- one to keep and one to paste in a book where you could write a note to the couple. (I fully plan to rent that photo booth for a party or something someday - seriously!) We spent the rest of the evening talking to Amy & Brad and her family. Good times!

Great day.