Family Vacation

Dad, Julie, and Dan had a choir tour to St. George in June. Mom and I decided to go with as "groupies". Since we were so close, we also decided to take a slight detour to California to witness Lauren perform the marriage of two of her friends, go to Catalina Island, and drag Lauren home to Utah with us. Our first stop was St. George and a concert at the St. George Tabernacle. I loved this sign - I understand being cautious on steep stairs -but why do you need to be cautious on historic stairs? The second concert was at the OC Tanner Ampitheater right outside Zion's. It was a beautiful setting, but SO windy. Julie and Dad had to stand at either side of the accompanist to hold her music down.

After a fun weekend in St. George it was on to the wedding in California. Deputy Lauren and the bride. Lauren did a fabulous job. Enjoying the sun and the food (they had a taco truck in the front yard doing the catering). Lauren doing her best karaoke after the wedding, and yes, by the end of the night someone had fallen into the pool, a window was broken, and the cops shut down the band. A pretty eventful night for a wedding with no alcohol! After the wedding it was off to Catalina, we are incredibly excited to be on the boat! Playing a new game, lay on mom and make her laugh. Walking out to the casino. Such a gorgeous day, such a gorgeous place! Saying goodbye to the house for another year. Do we really have to go back? (We did see some dolphins on the way back to the mainland) Once the boat gets moving it gets REALLY windy - I had the strap on my hat twisted around my hair so the hat wouldn't fly off my head. Mom and Julie guarding all our luggage while Dad went to pick up our car. We loaded up three cars with our luggage, and all of Lauren's stuff to take back to Utah. It was a little cramped for part of the ride. Luckily it was only for the ride from Lauren's house to the hotel, that was the most uncomfortable car ride I have had!! The rest of the way was SO much better. We finally made it home safe and sound, family, luggage, dog, and all!

Lauren's Graduation

In May our family flew to California for Lauren's graduation. After marathon thesis writing, Lauren was ready to be done with grad school. We went expecting sunshine and warm weather, and were disappointed with rain and cold! The sun finally came out for the graduation, but under the tent all we felt was the wind, and it was cold! There were SO many graduates, we were freezing, and Lauren was bored, so as soon as her name was called and she walked across the stage, we left (we're real classy like that). Everyone was crowding around the front so we couldn't get a good picture of her on stage, so here is our own version of her moving her tassel over. Lauren worked so hard for three years to get her master's and I am so proud of her accomplishment! I know it's almost a year late, but Congratulations Master Laur!! Now, remind me again why you had these GINORMOUS glasses in your car?

Lindsay's Wedding

April was a pretty crazy month. My roommate Lindsay got married at the end of the month. After spending most of the year either out of town for work or in New Mexico with her fiance, it was a little crazy trying to get everything ready for the wedding. It turned out really nice and it was fun to see friends from our old ward. There was a slight mishap towards the end of the evening. A couple of her nephews got away from whoever was supposed to be watching them and found their way into the bride's dressing room. As we were taking pictures after Lindsay threw the bouquet, they came crawling down the stairs COVERED in mascara and eyeliner! A few months after the wedding, Lindsay, her new husband, and her two new stepdaughters moved to Germany! I sure miss my roommate!