tuesday ramblings...

Last week I attended the first of a sweet line of bridal showers for Laura.Check out the food! Her neighborhood & church congregation put on this shower & it was delightful.
Brian was pretty thrilled about the griddle. But seriously, isn't she the cutest thing ever?!

Last week this picture was in my inbox along with the heel clicking photo. I love it. Missionary Jack eating a fresh mango. He says the fruit is amazing & he is loving it. It's still super hot there (nearly 100 degrees with nearly 100% humidity- aaargh!) so he was over the top excited to see temple square covered in snow during General Conference. When he tells people there how cold it is in Utah they are stunned. They always ask him- "How do you survive it?" Hey- I'm wondering the same thing.

On my way to the U of U last week for Hailey's doctor's appointment (she hasn't had a seizure in nearly 3 months!!!) we saw all of these daffodils by the Salt Lake library. She kindly got this picture for me- I always want to take pictures of things while I'm driving- but ya- I don't want to die. There are several places in the city with hundreds of daffodils. It does my heart good. I love daffodils- LOVE them. They are for sure my favorite flowers. They are strong- they can stand up through rough, changing weather. They are bright & cheery & bring hope.

Hope that spring is coming. Hope that life goes on after a hard winter.

Yes- I love daffodils.

he saw mary poppins on Broadway two years ago- I guess it made an impression?

This was in my inbox this week! Missionary jack at the beach... with an umbrella. It seems he was on a P-day (prep day), walking past the beach and one of the other missionaries had an umbrella (for shade)- which started some heel clicking competitions.

Pretty Sweet huh!?

the grass is always greener on the other side?

Do you ever have one of those days/weeks where you've bit off more than you can chew? When your plate is too full? When the flood gates open & you can't stop the wave?

There is so much going on at our house & in my head... my mind can hardly take it all in.

A wedding (this is the easiest thing... ya that's how great Laura is!)

MOther of the groom dress-- ah, hell.

Meeting with the wedding dinner planner lady.

A baby shower.

I'm teaching a class.

I'm teaching another class.

Trent has a birthday part to go to & no ride home because-

I forgot to pick up something I can only get downtown so I have to go down again.

Urgent RX to drop off & pick up.

a quilt to make~ maybe next week?

Husband is always working late.

Spring is here (I think/hope) and the yard is a mess.

WEll~

I did get fertilizer down...

so our grass should be green.

cooking girls

There is a lot of cooking/baking that goes on in this house.

the increasing size of my rear end & these pictures...

are proof!

Last Saturday Chloe made bread all by herself!

I wasn't even home- isn't this beautiful!!

My new favorite coconut cake.

French Bread

key lime cupcakes

and from a while back...

onion rings.

the girls were experimenting with making onion rings at home.

What's cooking at your house?

spring break...?

Even though we stayed home

we had a great spring break!

We spent a lot of time at home, sleeping in, watching movies, playing with friends... it was glorious. I sewed a lot & loved having my girls & trent home.

We went to see

this movie

with friends

Which I LOVED!

I laughed & laughed & lucky for me wende came too-- we both laughed together & managed to embarrass our kids- just a little.

It rained & rained & rained some more~

until it started snowing...

It snowed for three days straight.

It didn't really add up or stick to the roads, but it was enough to make me think that maybe Utah is not the state for me?

I'm needing some sun.

Of course in no time it will be extremely HOT... so I'm not complaining, no not at all.

while charlie was here

while charlie was here... we went to the children's museum

and made music

and played

and made more music

and made tunnels

some to crawl threw!

We wrote with chalk

and uncle trent was there-

aunt hailey too.

Uncle Brian & I had a serious chat in the news room.

Then we went outside & Charlie ran to the helicopter.

we pretended to fly

and wave goodbye to mom & dad with aunt chloe.

Charlie wanted to be the pilot

and push the buttons!

It was super fun!!

Later we ate mini cupcakes from

So Cupcake in Sugar House!

they were

SO GOOd

time flies... kind of?

1. Yesterday was a big day. 2. we hit the ONE YEAR MARK 3. aka: hump day... to be exact. 4. Yep, missionary jack left - 5. one. year. ago. yesterday 6. *sigh* 7. It feels like 10 years 8. It feels like 1 week 9. all at the same time? 10. I miss him terribly 11. BUt I have such happy thoughts of him being a missionary. 12. yesterday I pulled out of the dryer~ 13. one of his favorite t-shirts~ 14. and started to cry. 15. Brian wears some of his clothes... but I haven't seen him wear this particular t-shirt? I'm not sure how it got into the dryer? 16. Missionary Jack is a trainer now & doing well & loving it. 17. His emails are so fun to read! 18. I wish all of you could read them. 19. today 20. Brett's parents drove home 21. and I don't have to work 22. and it is still spring break! 23. 5 weeks from yesterday... 24. is Brian & Laura's wedding!!!! 25. last night Brian took me to see their apartment. 26. It's darling 27. 100% nicer than our first apartment. 28. it's just one town over from our town 29. nice 30. it's amazing what can happen in just one year.

That is why everyday is important. I hope you have a GREat day today.

We went to Ikea & these are the best pictures I got?

Yesterday morning we all jumped out of bed, quickly got dressed & ran down to Ikea.

I cannot believe how bad.... really bad folks... the pictures I took were. I don't know if it was the morning rush- or the fact it's going to snow again? But- I was seriously off my game. You would NEver know we had a GREAT time.

I don't know what's up with Trent these days-- but he is getting all mature on us. It's AWESOME. We had tickets to the afternoon session of conference this past weekend (no photos) he was an angel & loved it. Now we are going to Ikea? HE WAS PERFECT. again. I guess he is growing up? I love it.

Laura had never been to Ikea. Brian & she are working on putting together their first apartment so us girls & I- KNEW she had to go there. Because we love her so much, we wanted to go too. We shopped & dreamed & for some reason every single time I go to Ikea I think I need my kitchen remodeled? Hmm? After Ikea we ran to the mall & bought Brian his wedding suit. Oh boy- he looks mighty fine in that suit. How exciting, my boy in a wedding suit. Crazy. Lunch at Ikea is definitely my favorite. Trent here - wouldn't smile. But I'm telling you- he was having fun!!! really? truly? don't you believe me?

my favorite weekend

Spring Conference weekend is really the best weekend of the Year.

Fall conference weekend is a close second... but spring... gotta love it!

We have a lot of traditions for conference weekend.

On Saturday morning I usually make a big breakfast to get everyone up & happy (this year buttermilk pancakes, eggs & bacon with fresh strawberries & bananas) then we break to get dressed quick- come back to the family room- get comfy... but not too comfy-

Then Conference begins at 10:00 AM sharp.

Saturday was warm & overcast, but Sunday we woke up to 2" of snow, which melted- then it started raining & hailing up more of the white stuff.

Spring in Utah is a fickle thing.

The younger kids in our house are always building something.

This time trent got out his legos & I came up with the idea of putting them on a blanket. Okay- it's taken me 24 years to figure out that noisy legos & blocks etc. can be quieted & easily picked up if put on a blanket. Better late than never.

The girls took notes for seminary.

and guess what!?

Grandma & Grandpa Messer are here!

We love having company for Conference!

Aren't they cute

There are five sessions to conference

But Saturday morning always ends up being my favorite.

I'm not sure if it's because it's the session I hear the most? but it is always my favorite & this year was no exception.

Not my best photo.

But still- here I am enjoying conference.

What a great weekend.

I have much more to write & say...

but it's spring break.

we are super busy & having a great time!

My favorite conference talk... that's a hard one...

but it's here!