Since my last post I've made 2 more trips to Utah.
You heard that right, my friends, TWO TRIPS. And I taught seminary in the middle.
Let's get caught up, shall we?
We drove back home to CO the Sunday following Shilo's proposal (6Aug), but not before stopping to see our girl Evie (and her dada and mama) before heading out.
Buh-bye, sweet baby!
The following Friday (11Aug) was Mar's first day of her junior year [EEEEK!]
in a new school [double EEEEK!]
Buh-bye, Mar... hello CVHS.
I think I was more stressed than she was.
She made it through the first day (and the weeks since) gracefully. She had tryouts for the school musical (Les Miserables) the second day of school, received call-backs for 3 main parts (Cosette, Fantine, and Eponine), and second call-backs for the part of Eponine. I was gone that whole week of school and tryouts, so Bill was the go-to parent. Sadly, Mar was not given the part (however she felt great about being in the top 4), but she was excited about knowing she would get a secondary soloist part. They handed out the supporting parts this week and Mar was given a mere 4-word part ("and in a bed") which she was told should be more spoken than sung, so you can bet we've had a few tears of disappointment shed (the "smallest solo part in the entire production," according to Mar).
Sometimes those life lessons stink.
Sometimes those life lessons stink.
I headed back to UT to help Britt out on Sunday (13Aug).
Hello, again.
Hello, again.
I loved being able to spend time with my new guy Ellis and his big sis Scarlett.
He got to meet his Great Grandpa G. and Great Grandma and Grandpa S. that night...
...and Uncle Jason.
We all enjoyed passing that precious (and easy-going) new baby around.
The rest of the week went by in a blur.
We enjoyed a picnic at the park on a perfect overcast day...
(I think Scarlett and I raced down the double slide at least 30 times.)
(Ellis loved the great outdoors and peacefully snoozed - or ate - for the 2 hours we were there.)
...had our favorite baby Evie over to play...
...had awesome Aunt Lo over for cuddles...
...made and enjoyed some yummy cookies provided by Britt and Austin's kind neighbor (along with dinner)...
...spent time snuggling a sweet sleeping baby...
...threw in some wedding planning (17Aug)...
...lunch out (I reward patience with a ginormous cookie haha - but it looks like Scarlett has my number, don't you think??)...
...madly worked on finishing Ellis' baby quilt while Great Grandpa G held the baby...
...played in the morning with my girl Scarlett until Ellis joined us in the fun...
(He's such a good sport!)
...took Ellis to his 2-week doctor's appointment (18Aug -- sorry, no pics)...
...made a quick trip to the "purple park"...
...took due date pics of Britt and Ellis (19Aug)...
...and had the fam over for Austin's amazing ribs.
Soooooooooo good!
On Sunday (20Aug), I made the long drive back to CO (buh-bye...), arriving around 4pm (oh, hello...), and promptly started to panic about teaching seminary for the first time the next day.
On Sunday (20Aug), I made the long drive back to CO (buh-bye...), arriving around 4pm (oh, hello...), and promptly started to panic about teaching seminary for the first time the next day.
Billy-my-hero went to the church with me to get things set up, then I prepared my lesson, and hit the hay... except I couldn't sleep. And thus we see... that I can survive meeting and teaching 18 sophomores after driving 8 hours the day prior and sleeping only 1 that evening. It may have been a little rough... there may have been some stone faces and the sound of crickets, but it came to pass.
The rest of the week went better, and I think I'm gonna like this gig.
Friday morning (27Aug), after seminary, Bill and I hopped back in the car to make the drive once again to UT.
Mauri had to stay home due to her work schedule, so the conversation in the car was quite varied and intense lively as Bill and I discussed many topics, several of which we agree-to-disagree on haha.
We were there for the third (and final) Billat wedding of the year. We drove straight to Provo to attend the reception (held the night before the wedding). We arrived a bit early, so decided to wait in the car for a few minutes, getting a front-window seat to their "first look" pictures... we kept asking if the photographer and videographer (Hailey) needed us to move our car, but they told us we were fine.
Okay, I'll keep the good, front-row-in-the-shade parking spot with a view.
Once Britt, Austin, and fam showed up, Scarlett had eyes only for Grandpa Billy.
It was a beautiful reception, and it was fun to see and catch up with some CO friends... in UT haha. Several were there attending Education Week, so that was perfect planning on Ashlyn's part!
Afterwards we went to grab a bite at Arby's, where, again, Grandpa was Scarlett's best friend.
The next morning Bill and I picked up Lex and Britt, and made the long drive south to the Payson Temple for Ashlyn and Newel's wedding. Shi met us there (she had done Ashlyn's makeup that morning AND she's currently homeless so living for a week or two at Kody's house in Spanish Fork). It was so great to have Bill join us this time, and I loved being in the temple with my beautiful daughters.
We love the Billat family!
These are probably my favorite pics of the day... the selfies.
They are such a cute couple.
Afterwards we attended a luncheon, then sent the newlyweds on their way.
(Buh-bye)
I couldn't resist snapping some pics of this adorable family, who joined us for the luncheon that day.
We tried and tried to get Evie to crack a smile, but that girl is a rock. She remained stoic for the pictures despite Grandpa Billy's best efforts (and Donald Duck voice)... until dada started whirling her around like a roller coaster. Ahhh... there's a {ever-so-brief-I-almost-didn't-catch-it} smile.
Bill and I stopped by Brian's grave for a while before stopping to visit with Grandma and Grandpa Syddall (and Tay, Nae, and Evie).
We grabbed some dinner, then Bill and I made the drive back to Bountiful to visit for a while with my parents before hitting the hay. Bright and early we were back in the car making the long drive home.
It was smooth and uneventful. We listened to Sunday-appropriate music, a few conference talks, a talk on CD, and we had a few more lively conversations. It was quite pleasant.
Hello, Castle Rock. We're back.
Until October haha.
The Billat family is stuck in UT, as flights to Houston have been cancelled for now. We are praying that they will return to find their home okay, and for all of those in the path of the storm.
