Happy Fall, Y'all.

Fall Break has come and gone.

Ahhhhh.... it was awesome.

(General Conference came first, which I LOVED, so hopefully I can find a few minutes to recap my favorite things about it in another post... soon!)

This may be a bit of a picture overload, but I just can't resist reliving the good stuff.

10.08.18

Bill, Mar and I attended Dear Evan Hansen.

Last year when we were finishing our basement, we had listened to the soundtrack over and over, and we were super excited to finally get to see it.

 We left with mixed reviews. 

Mar loved it, it was pretty much exactly what I had anticipated, and Bill had a hard time getting past the frequent usage of a particularly {f}oul word. I was a little surprised that it was used so many times (I think I counted 15), since it isn't used in any of the song lyrics (unlike Hamilton, which, btw, we listen to the clean version). It was used by only two of the characters - however, there were only 8 in the entire cast. **Let it be known, I am NOT trying to justify a proper context for the use of that particular word and others, because there isn't one, but I can also see the value in sharing a message about a serious issue facing youth today - suicide.

The talent, music, and majority of the content were thought-provoking and inspiring. It just had a good-size portion of dog poop, primarily due to the language. I wish musicals such as Dear Evan Hansen and Hamilton -- both of which have a great message/story and DON'T, in my opinion, require in any way {f}oul language to make it "current" or more interesting -- would schedule a CLEAN show for those of us who don't view profanity as acceptable.
I'm quite sure I'm not the only one. {I hope.}

10.10.18
Park City
Through one of Bill's work connections, we had the awesome opportunity to stay in a lovely home in Park City for the rest of our break. We were bummed that Lynnea and Evie felt under-the-weather and couldn't make the trip with us (Taylor was tying up busy season at work and couldn't get away), but the rest of the fam were able to make it up for all or part of the time we were there PLUS Grandmas and Grandpas.
It was such a fun time.

The memory that we'll probably be talking about years from now is the slimy, mildew-ish, smelly hot tub. Yes, we all hopped in the first night there. Britt did an online search about it (AFTER our hot-tubbing session), and informed us of the possible health issues an unsanitary hot tub could cause. 

The next morning someone went out to check the water and it was literally dirty and green. YUCK. We couldn't tell the night before because it was dark when we took the cover off. Lesson learned... check the hot tub when it's light outside haha.

Luckily, we survived. Bill emailed his contact, and we had a tech (not sure what to call him) out the next day... twice. He said that the guy who usually maintains that particular hot tub had been injured, and hadn't been to check it for several weeks. He made some adjustments (which apparently included so. much. chlorine.) and it was good to go for the rest of the time. There were a couple of cases of a rash the last evening we were there, but I think it was more from an over-abundance of chemicals than from the slimy, mildewy germ concoction from the first night. 

We all had fun trying the steam shower afterwards, too.

10.11.18

Austin could only stay the first night, then he had to fly to Seattle. Britt and the kids were leaving Friday afternoon to meet him there. Jason had work, but was planning to come afterwards one or two of the days. On THIS particular day, Jason received a job offer {in Alabama} that put him and his little family into motion. They scheduled to fly to Alabama on Friday to check things out. (Ellis and Emmett both experienced their first airplane ride ON THE SAME DAY... just flying in opposite directions.)

There was a lot of coming and going, but it was awesome to spend the time we did have... together.

We loved that Grandma and Grandpa Syddall could come stay with us for a couple of nights. Bill and I may or may not have stayed up until 2 and 3am playing games with them. 

(And we wonder why we are tired all of the time haha.)

We drove into town to check out this:

Thanks to Kody for sharing why it's special.

I heard a national news story JUST YESTERDAY about this guy and his art. And to think that I have personally beheld one of his pieces. Cool.

And since we were there, we took a little stroll through town.

In all those years I lived in Utah (19), I had only been IN Park City once. My memory is so vague about it (I think I was with one or more young women from my ward? -- or was it friends from work? or a date?... I think we had pizza... we walked through town... I knew I had been there before), that it was strange to feel brief moments of recollection cross my mind. The two times I actually remember going to Park City were for concerts as a youth/young adult - one with a couple of friends from work for a Tears for Fears concert, one with a date for a Beach Boys concert. I believe that they were both held in the same place (a grassy hill), and I don't remember going to town either time, but I could be wrong. Regardless, it was much more memorable this time haha.

(Post slime hot tubbing)

The game of the week was MEXICAN TRAIN.

Thanks Kody and Shi for introducing us all to it!

10.12.18

My mom and dad were able to join us on Friday.

I knew this was a hard day for them - the day J passed away three years ago.

I remember. 

They planned to drive up to Park City after spending a little time visiting J's grave.

They had also just returned that week from a fairly lengthy trip to Korea with Rob and Sookie, so I was SO happy they were up to hanging out with us.

The tender mercy of the day was that my niece Meredith lived 2 miles away from where we were staying, and she and Mar had planned to get together. She was bringing her baby, Francis, with her. My parents had not had the opportunity to meet Francis, and hadn't seen Meredith since she had her baby (not from lack of trying), so they were THRILLED to see them.

Sweet Francis has to be the BEST baby I have ever been around. She was so smiley and content the entire time they were visiting - at least a couple of hours. She let us all pass her around and hold and snuggle her. A true tender mercy for mi madre and mi padre, I'm telling you.

That evening those of us who were still in town had a yummy dinner at El Chubasco.

(Earlier that day I had trimmed some hair, and Shi decided to make the leap to bangs... they look great on her, don't you think?)

Grandpa Syddall was working at the temple this evening, so he joined us a little later.

10.13.18
This was our last morning in the house. Originally Bill and I had planned to drive home, but Mar pushed to stay in UT one more day.

(This is her "please can we stay one more day" face haha.)

So what did we do with our extra Fall Break day?

FRIGHTMARES.

I remember the last time I was at Lagoon.

No wonder I haven't been back.

I have never been to Frightmares, though, and I was super excited that Shi and Kody could come with us. It was a beautiful fall day (perfect temps during the day... but it got quite chilly once the sun went down). Many many people also thought it would be the perfect activity that day, as Lagoon was more crowded than I think I've EVER seen it. The lines were crazy long, but moved much quicker than Disney lines, so I couldn't complain too much. 

Except about the funnel cake line. THAT was ridiculous.

Rides I avoided: Rattlesnake Rapids (yes, people were going on a water ride in Oct), JetStar2, The Wild Mouse, and The Samurai. My favorite ride was Cannibal, so we endured the endless line twice.

So. Much. Fun.

These three did the final run of the night on The Wild Mouse. Shi and I just observed haha.

(I have to mention that this isn't The Wild Mouse of my youth, which was much much more rickety and jerky. Regardless of ride updates, I still have no desire to ride it.)

We drove home Sunday (10.14.18), and needed our Evie fix, so had Tay and Nae over for dinner Monday. We were thrown back into our rigorous Seminary schedule (I'm still tired), and the week flew by.

This past Sunday (10.21.18) we had Tay, Nae and Evie over for dinner again, and I snapped a few pics of this happy little face. I am such a blessed Gigi to have the opportunity to have spent some awesome family time with all of my beautiful grandchildren recently.
I love them all so much.