Me Mum Married

This weekend we celebrated me mum's wedding with all the usual craziness that is my family. 

Welcome to the family, Ray... and good luck.

Engagement Party

Me mum is getting married! Our family got together to get to know Ray and make sure that he knows what he's in for.

Weekend Update 7.2935

Little photo essay on my life.

Family party for the five birthdays that happen in three days in April. 

Our friend Dr Hilary Demske presented the pre-concert lecture and then Miss J and I got to see a great concert. I really love the symphony and the program doesn't really matter. 

Adult dinner for Mom's 70th birthday. It's always so fun to be with the sibs and sibs-in-law. We just love our mother!

With Meredith, the coolest ballet I've ever seen. Not pictured: Meredith's introduction to German food. 

The family that races together stays together - we even met with serendipitously with some cousins. Iron Will 10K at Camp Williams.

Dinner with friends at Eva's Boulangerie (yumo!) and Sweet Charity (ok) with Mer.

Favorite things party. Each person brought their favorite thing (times three) and exchanged it for some new favorite things. It was a total hit and so much fun!

Golden Spike at Promontory Point reenactment - it was pretty cool. Lots of people showed up, they spoke all the original speeches, even drove the spikes. 

 The Spiral Jetty - very close to Promontory - and it's art! Very, very cool art!

On a trip to Vegas, got to see the Mob Museum which was very cool. They have the wall from the St Valentine's Day Massacre, you can "try" a Tommy gun, and see the whole history of the Mob from Prohibition to today. 

The reason for the trip to Vegas - to see two of my favorite plays. Jersey Boys is totally fun and Once is totally lovely. 

So, what's new?

General Conference weekend was family and faith filled. Twice a year I combined the two things that mean the most to me. In between sessions we inducted the children into the world of the put-as-much-sweetness-on-a-crepe world that the rest of us know and love. After the sessions we ate raclette and just laughed and talked and played. 

I look forward every month to our Ladies Dinner Club where, in addition to a delicious Italian meal, we made our own vanilla. It was my first time ever buying alcohol - let's hope we didn't screw it up. 

Stake Women's Conference, Organ Loft for a silent film with Lisa, a walk in the park, babysitting Eve, and more walking with Jennica. I reflect often on the great and good people who just keep coming into my life. 

Enjoyed so much time with my family. When I am with them I am myself and I am happiest then. 

Did a little road-trippin' to the Happiest Place on Earth with Freddie. This is where I learned that caffeine actually does affect me (I didn't sleep but one hour one of the nights), that the character breakfast is totally worth it, and that you can see everything in two parks if you have people you can rely on to have stamina. I've only been on Small World once in my life because it is always out of commission when I go.. as it was during this trip. Some people really dug my Doctor Who shirt (it says "I heart heart DW") which was basically a test of who's in and who's not. 

Weekend Update 4.0

I've had a fun two weeks with lots of special Christmasy thing and good times with friends and family.

"What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family." Mother Teresa

I spend a lot of my down time on my bed in this position. This day was especially lovely because there was softly falling snow outside. It was one of those days where you are so thankful it's Saturday because you don't want to go anywhere. But I did get up and tried out my smoking man. It's a pretty entertaining German invention. Just put in a little pellet, light, and he smokes. That night I spent time with ward members, including the amazing Shannon. 

My mom hosts a big Christmas party every year. Santa comes even though this is his busy season - that's how big this party is. My family is the funnest and these are the photos to prove it. 

This past week the SLC airport was a winter wonderland and Milla was stuck in the area for the night. Christmas miracle! So we talked, watched Doctor Who, and that was about what we had time for. 

Splurged this year for the fancy Nutcracker at the Capitol Theater. Mom and I ate at Siegfried's (what's more Christmasy than German food?) before we enjoyed the gorgeous ballet. Who wants to see Sleeping Beauty with me in February?

Ended a great weekend here, which was probably the Christmasiest of all.
photo from here

K and B's Wedding!

Last weekend my lovely niece Kyrst married Brog in the SLC temple.

Family occasions are sacred and serious but we find plenty of time to goof off and be odd as we are. Here is a nice selection to make everyone jealous that their families are as fun as mine. :)

With my niece Liza

Heading to do some have some Sephora time between events. We're ready for the paparazzi. 

Ryan cannot not photo bomb.

Selfie with my sister

Ty with his fiancee Janie. She's fitting in very well.

Brother-of-the-bride Matt, just being Matt

Matt's Wedding!

My first-born nephew got married yesterday. Congrats! I have family photos of the event, and took exactly zero of the couple together (photo fail). Check out the other photos of the family.

Ahh, the groom! And how many photo bombs can you spot? Hint: there are three. 

With my brother Trev

With my sister Fred

With my nephew Tys

With nieces A and Lou

Don't hurt me because these are my brothers and they love me

My sis-in-law Cole

My nephew Gator with my bro T

Gator and the mother-of-the groom, Mar, and obviously me