a new tradition and photo overload

In April, we made good on a plan we've had in the works for years: Take each child to General Conference when they are 12 years old. Just mom and dad and one child. I don't know why it took so long to enact this plan, but I'm sure glad we were 4 years late.

Molly is now pushing 16, and she was the first benefactor. She was much more excited about the trip than she would have been at 12. She appreciated the effort. She listened. She took fastidious notes. She enjoyed the music and the sights much more than her younger self would have. So I'm thinking about bumping the age to at least 14 for the rest of the kids. That's called a parental prerogative. Sorry kids.

Molly and I flew to Salt Lake City on Friday afternoon. Rode the Trax public train (super easy for our first time) to our downtown hotel. Mark met us much later that night after he could get away from work. In the mean time, we shopped and ate and had a great time at City Creek shopping center, which was a quick walk from our hotel.

Mark's dad met us for lunch on Saturday. It was great to spend time with him.

Fortuitously, we stumbled upon the cast of Studio C. They were just finishing up an autograph event at Deseret Book. I'm sure they were annoyed that we wanted to keep them just a little longer for some photos, but they were gracious and accommodating. However (in the photo below) I'm pretty sure they were laughing at me and my failed attempts to play "Do you know?..." with Matt. Or maybe Mark said something funny. I don't remember. Probably the former.

Joseph Smith Memorial Building 

We watched one of the conference sessions in the Tabernacle on Temple Square. The benches were more uncomfortable than I remember from my last visit to conference 20 years ago. Hmmm....funny how that works.

Salt Lake is seriously so beautiful in the spring.

My sisters both live in Provo and they drove up to meet us for dinner and more shopping. The cousins had a braiding bonding moment with Molly. Their handiwork was fabulous, though there was some pulling and ripping involved in the removal of all these ponies.

Emily, Me, Abby and Golden

Sunday morning, we had tickets to be in the Conference Center. IT WAS INCREDIBLE. I cannot express how touching the music was! The Tabernacle Choir took my breath away and I could not look away when they sang. I was completely in the moment and it was so so good. My favorite song was a new arrangement of "Let Us All Press On." Cannot get enough of that song. Download it here.

I love this shot of Molly and Mark and the throngs of people pouring out of the conference center.

Lots of missionaries and lots of languages back at Temple Square.

Sunday afternoon we were back on a plane and heading home. Such a quick trip and so perfect! Many thanks to my mom and dad who stayed home with our other kids. They can never get enough of Nana and Papa! 

uncooperative

A few thoughts about our family reunion:

George does not do well on vacation. Ever. Maybe his sleep patterns are disrupted (yes). Maybe he is just a grumpy traveller (yes). Maybe he is not a people pleaser (yes). Hank seems to adjust to vacation with very little disruption to his, or our lives. 

Not comparing, just informing. We love them both, rest assured.

Due to several Utah fires, the sky had a strange red glow on the day we took these family shots on the front lawn. Bits of ash were falling everywhere.

It's really a small miracle that George sat for this shot with all the 2 year olds.

 Can you say "grumpy?" How about "organized chaos?"

 I wish we would have snapped a picture of all 5 sisters and the momma.

 Giant marshmallows make the best s'mores.

There were tons of wasps nesting in the sand at the old swingset, which was up the hill from the house a little bit. George would constantly try to steal away and feed his slide addiction. Sometimes I followed him and let him climb and play a bit, but I could only take the swarming wasps for so long. Surprisingly, no one was stung. My dad said they were the non-stinging type. What??
Here he is being escorted back from the swingset.

I don't know what was being discussed here (both above and below), but certainly something philosophical and meaningful.

My extended family is the coolest! Even George thinks so.

our kids think they are well-travelled because we go to Utah every summer

We were in Utah last month and loved {almost} every minute of it. 

The driving part, not so much.

Our adventures included ... Making a pit stop at Glen Canyon Dam.

Passing through Southern Utah.

Riding the Park City Alpine Slides.

Riding the merry-go-round with Nana.

Waiting in the 45 minute line for the roller coaster at Park City. Ugh.

Enjoying my newly-shorter hair. Five inches gone.

 

Playing with cousins at the family Reunion in Heber City, Utah

Waiting for shakes at Granny's Drive In: A MUST in Heber

Lunching at Sundance and sending the older kids on a hike with my siblings and parents while Hank and George took a nap.

Celebrating Grace's birthday at Bruges Waffles and Frites with lots of cousins. This was after we all went to see Brave. Wasn't really impressed with the movie. Loved the waffles, of course: A MUST in downtown SLC.

Choosing candles for the birthday cake, made by the birthday girl at Grandpa's house.

Holding the chickens, oh so gently, at Aunt Abby's house.

And all according to my phone.