Seminary begins... and a quick weekend wedding trip.

Seminary has begun. And I am so so tired.
I spent the week prior getting things ready for our class.
I tabbed the Study Journals... and LOVED how they turned out.

I spent a morning helping two other teachers tab journals for their classes, too. Then it took me the remainder of the day to get my own done...

...and to compile, assemble, and label packets. Hopefully our students will utilize them well!

Seminary started on Wednesday, Aug. 15th. Bill taught the first week (I made the schedule haha), but we needed a substitute on Friday so we could attend Cheyenne's wedding in Salt Lake that day. We left for SLC after Seminary on Thursday.


We had an amazing opportunity to stay in a condo in City Creek... 19th floor... for free. We couldn't pass it up. It was perfectly located -- we could just walk to the wedding Friday morning.

Thursday evening we walked around downtown, went to see one of the Meet the Mormon movies, and hunted down a drug store so I could purchase a toothbrush. I had left mine - charging - at home.

When we returned to the condo, Shilo texted that she was in City Creek, too, with Mic and Haven (all who were spending the night with Cheyenne at a hotel, but were waiting for her to get done with a dinner with Richard's fam). It was fun to hang out for a bit and chat with them.

On Friday morning, we decided to hit a couple more of the Meet the Mormons shows before heading to the temple for Chey and Richard's wedding.

When we got to the temple waiting room, we found Doreen and Dakota. The Salt Lake Temple has started doing THE COOLEST THING. They have a dressing room off of the waiting room so an unendowed mother can help her daughter put on her wedding dress. I was so glad that Doreen could participate in that way. It has to be so hard to not attend the wedding of your daughter.

 It is so sweet that these Parker, CO girls are all still so close. They are awesome.

 Cheyenne's family.
It's awesome that they have great relationships with each other... it wasn't always so.

After the wedding, we met up with Shi, Lex and Emmett, Britt, Austin, Scarlett, and Ellis at the condo (seriously making good use of it... it was SO AMAZING), and had some lunch.

Then we made our way out to Bountiful for the ring ceremony and reception. Jason and Kody joined us there.

Grandma and Grandpa G. joined us too. So fun that they could come!

Bill and I got up at 4:45am the next morning to make the long trip back for the CO Open House that evening at 5pm.

I know... we're crazy.

But everyone made it there, and Tay, Nae, and Evie were able to come congratulate the happy couple.

I helped with the Open House by making about 80 mini bundt cakes. I had baked them the week prior, then popped them in the freezer. Lynnea so kindly took them out of the freezer Saturday morning, so they were defrosted and ready to... frost (haha) when we got home. I was happy that they tasted yummy AND that I could help in a small way. There was a lot of other food, too... I just didn't snap a picture of it.

Speaking of pics, my phone camera must have been inadvertently switched to a different setting, as all my pictures are narrow and LONG. Gotta fix that.

Little Billy and Evie at the Open House.

It was a privilege and a blessing to participate in the wedding festivities. We love Cheyenne and her family. And she found a great guy. We wish them all the best!

And now, already, we are another week down with Seminary (I taught this week), and I'm still so so tired. I hope things will balance out... soon!

YW High Adventure, a Bridal Shower, and a Baptism.

This is gonna be quick.

I, along with much of the run-of-the-mill-everyday-mom-type bloggers, am having a hard time keeping on top of posting (does anyone blog anymore??) AND keeping up with the latest and greatest social media apps. Marco Polo is my newest attempt at keeping up with the times, and the jury is still out on whether I think it's worth another icon on my phone and space in my brain. It's been fun for the few days I've used it... mainly to check in with the fam. Mar suggested it because she's not allowed to have Snapchat, but I'm not so sure Marco Polo is much better... keeping on top of my teen's screentime is killing me. I'm ready to return to the pre-smartphone era.

On to my pictorial, because we all know I'm not gonna have anything to say about any of it hahaha.

July 18-20

YW High Adventure Activity

We have some awesome YW leaders. Enough said.

Boating and water activities at Chatfield Reservoir on Wednesday.

Overnight at a condo in Granby, CO that evening.

Overnight hike to Crater Lake Thursday to Friday.

Bill was one of the lucky dads asked to accompany the group.

Mar invited Cass to come with her.

They returned safe and sound, but not without some blisters. I was told it was the hardest hike any of the girls had done, but that they handled the difficulty with grit and positive attitudes. You go, girls.

July 28

Chey's Bridal Shower + a Baptism

Cheyenne was able to make a quick trip to CO for a shower. I was in charge of invites and food, and I didn't even snap a picture of the waffle bar set-up. Darn it.

Chey's sister Aubree flew in from San Diego to help her celebrate... and it was even her Birthday. Happy Birthday, Aubree!

Mar's friend Addy had stayed overnight at our house, and she graciously came and helped Mar make waffles that morning.

We are getting so excited for Cheyenne and her guy Richard... the wedding is coming up fast!

After the shower Mar and Addy headed to Fort Collins for Addy's Senior pictures, and Tay and Nae invited Bill and me to Crave.

 

And I wonder why I can't lose a few pounds haha. Waffles and a Crave burger aren't helping.

That evening we attended the baptism of Bri.

Remember when we had the Elders and our friends, the Gouberts, over for Easter dinner?
Reminder HERE.

Well, Bri, the non-member friend who came with the Gouberts, who had accepted a Book of Mormon that evening, GOT BAPTIZED.

 How awesome is that?

Donuts were served for refreshments (we used the cute donut holders from Lo's reception).
I may have had one (or two).

I know, I know. Saying I can't lose weight is definitely fake news.

 I keep thinking "next week."
Next week we are back to the rigors of a school schedule and SEMINARY. Unfortunately, those anxiety-producing factors tend to make me want to eat, not exercise.
I'm hoping to get on a nice, regular eating/exercising/studying schedule... soon.