Conference Weekend

We flew up to Utah for the weekend to go to General Conference- it was a great time. Whitney came with us, Dan was already there for ground school so Chels flew up from Arizona, and Lizzy came up from Provo. The only one missing was Mandy, but with the baby almost here she had to miss it- we really missed her!! There's so much to tell about it, so I'll just post today about going to conference. We only had 3 tickets to the Sunday morning session so Lizzy was going to stand in line to see if she could get in. We left the hotel at 7:15 worried that she wouldn't get in- TRAXS never came so we walked all the way from The Grand to the Conference Center- IN HEELS! Lynn went to the door with her while Whit and I were still walking and the nice guy he talked to let us have one more ticket. It was a good thing because there were no extra tickets anywhere- someone told us people had been scalping tickets for money at Temple Square on Saturday! It was wonderful to be there when President Hinkley walked in and everyone stood in total silence. He seemed so healthy and his talk had some great points. I loved Elder Pace's talk and the sister from Primary gave such a sweet talk that I really related to. We sat right by our stake president and one of his counselors and our old Laurel advisor who moved to Iowa was there so that was fun. When we left the conference center I thought we would see more protesters but there were only a few. I loved when I saw that lining both sides of the sidewalk as you enter Temple Square young adults had lined up and were singing hymns to keep your focus off what people were shouting and to help you keep the spirit from the meeting. I would love to start the tradition of going to conference as a family every other year or maybe taking the grandchildren when they turn 8- we'll have to work on that.

Man, What a Week!!

Okay, so I hate to complain cause everybody has a crazy life, but sometimes you just have to sit back and say "Why us?!" So for your enjoyment and amusement, and because I need some enjoyment and amusement and I figure if Lynn's sister Connie sees these pictures Blake is dead, I am posting these pictures of the 3 rooms our guests have been staying in. Now those of you who know me well will understand how hard it has been for me to just close the doors and not go in and make beds and clean the rooms up, but I have done it. The guys have had fun and on Wednesday the Laurels came over to tie blankets and boy, were they excited to see 6 young men here from Utah. In fact tonight they all went to the beach for a bonfire and are on the way here to get in the spa. So, tomorrow they leave, I'll fumigate the rooms, and life will get back to normal!

More Wedding Plans!

Just a quick post before I leave for the office- Lynn was awarded three jobs yesterday- two in Arizona, one in Colorado- and is bidding I think three more this week, so everything is hurry, hurry! These pictures are from last week when we went to the caterers to taste food. I know it looks like Whit and Ryan are drinking wine, but it's a great sangria nonalcoholic punch. The food was really good and keeping with the Tommy Bahama theme they decided on island chicken, tri-tip with bbq sauce, Mediterranean grilled vegetables, and garlic mashed potatoes. We are having assorted fruits and vegetables along with a bunch of different tray passed hors douerves(sp?). We all really like the caterer Andy and he seems to understand us which is quite a miracle! Ryan's mom Karen was there but I didn't get any pictures of them with her. Today Whit and I are meeting a lighting guy at the arborteum so we can over what we want where. I met with the dress maker on Saturday so the bridesmaid dresses are going- they are hopefully going to be very cute and summery- they are a pretty apple green with cap sleeve, fitted top, full skirt and a satin sash. The invitations are all ordered, flowers started, cake finished, all in all I think we're pretty on top of stuff. So I hope that Chelsea, Mandy, Aunt Debbie, Aunt Marcia, and my friend Karen are all a little less anxious that I'm not getting organized- I even have lists and a whole book dedicated to the wedding! Gotta go and yes, the boys are all still here!

Our Crazy Life!

So life has been out of control as usual! Lynn seems to be doing okay- he flew up to the bay area on Tuesday and I think he's been struggling to feel 100% since then. He's still coughing and wheezing and exhausted, but hopefully he can get a little more rest this week. The stores got finished and everyone survived- BARELY!!

Lindsey flew home Thursday with her roommate Michele- she told her teachers her dad was really sick and she felt that she needed to go home to see him. I kept wondering today how she explained to her teachers today her sunglass tan, but I'm sure she had a great story. Whit and Ryan spent the weekent here to so it was pretty fun to have them all around. I bought Lindsey and Whitney a cookbook about cupcakes for Christmas so the two of them decided to make their dad some- Ultimate Crumb and Butterscotch Banana. It was cute to see the two of them working away together and the finished products were really good.

We dropped them off at the airport about 6 on Sunday night and arrived home just in time to meet Lynn's nephew Blake from Utah who was waiting at our gate with 5 (yes 5) of his friends to spend the week with us. The house is bursting at the seams, will share more later. I'm getting a little panicked everytime I open my blog and see those countdowns on the top of my page-EEK!!

My New Shoes!

When I was up in Utah Lindsey and I went shopping (what a surprise!) and I bought these shoes. I love wearing them- the other day I wore them and was looking down as I was walking watching them and I almost tripped! Then when I got in the car the other night to go somewhere with Lynn I was so busy admiring them I forgot to do my safety belt! I'm worried that I've become obsessed with them

TWISTIES AND TURNIES

Thanks Mandy for the great countdowns- I have to admit it's made me a little stressed though when I see how quick everythings going to be happening!

This is Whitney and her friend Sydney watching TV last night, they've been friends since they met in elementary school in 6th grade. They've been through LOTS and LOTS of adventures together and it's been so fun since Whit has been home from school that we get to see Sydney more. They used to spend hours in the pool planning productions they would do for Jon called "Twisties and Turnies". When Jon and Mandy started dating they were both 12 and I think they had little crushes on him. I think he just enjoyed having little sisters to tease! It was so sweet to me last night when I went downstairs and they were cuddled on the couch together, eating peanut butter M & M's- it made me sad too cause I relized how soon Whitney will be marrying Ryan and won't be in the bedroom around the corner from ours! It's really starting to sink in for Lynn that his baby is leaving- he said yesterday as sad as he is that she's getting married he'd been even sadder if Ryan wasn't in her life. It's what you hope for, pray for, and work for with your children- that they grow and mature and find someone to share their lives with, but I have to tell you that there are nights we wish we could open her bedroom door and see our little girl with her pixie haircut tucked into bed!

An Even WORSE Sunday!

So, after I kept telling Lynn to buck up and that his temperature would eventually go down, it started to go up an hour after taking three tylenol. So when it reached 102.8 and his chest was making very strange noises- kinda like an alien- we decided it might be a good idea to take him to the er. Of course by then it was 11 at night so you know what the hospital was like- crazy!! They got him right in and took a chest x-ray and of course it was pneumonia. It kinda reminded me of when I didn't take Whitney to the hospital when she broke her arm cause I thought she could shake it off- okay, that might have been a bad mom moment but she never lets me forget it. Anyways, they gave him a breathing treatment and when that didn't work they put him on a continuous treatment with a face mask. Was I worried about how he was doing? No, all I could think about was that I didn't have my camara and what a great picture it would have made on my blog. Does that make me a bad wife? So after a few hours we got to leave, stop at the all night pharmacy at 3 in the morning- kinda scary- for his 5 prescriptions, and get him home in bed. He's doing much better and next time I'll listen better when he says he thinks he's dying.