Added photos from Chelsea's show

Here are four more!!

we could have been anything but ourselves

The last few days have been so wonderful. Eric and I had several days together.
The big event was Chelsea's mfa show at Claremont Graduate College. It was awesome and wonderful. She had rousing response from faculty, friends and relatives. Everyone helped with her reception. Brighton and Jordan did a whole lot of chopping and shredding to help with her reception of tacos and chips and guoc., etc. I helped man the kitchen, but we were all so proud and best of all, Chelsea was HAPPY!! She had friends even drive up from San Diego for that night as well as Ventura. It was a wonderful night!!
The afternoon of the show I went with Whit to have lunch with Heidi at Warner Brothers and that was really fun. Heidi took us over to the museum where all the Harry Potter memorabilia is and Batman. The sorting hat pronounced me in the House of Hufflepuff. So happy for Heidi!
We also heard all about Whit's amazing trip to New York where he went to see "Speed-the-Plow" and was able to have dinner with his idol, William H. Macy for three hours the next night. He is still flying!!!

Weston is better

Last week Weston went into the hospital - and for way too long. He is actually still there!!! It is so lousy to see him in pain or even listless and just waiting to get better. Tough time for the mom and dad too. One night Eric and I were able to give Doug and Stef a dinner break so they could go out with her visiting sister. I had gone up every night after work to see him and one night we watched some Winnie-the-Pooh. He fell asleep and I didn't dare move, so I ended up watch a whole lot of Winnie-the-Pooh. It's a day-to-day call and they are hoping to get to go home tomorrow on Saturday which will be close to a two-week endurance trek for them.

Stef's Candles

Since Eric was in town this last weekend we wanted to celebrate Stef's birthday a little bit and a little early. Thought I would try something different besides cake and so made a trifle with kiwi and raspberries. We had a Mexican lunch and then Stef blew out her candles. Fun to pull a chair up to the stove for Weston and have him help stir on the stove.
Doug and Jordan helped Eric load some furniture in a U-Haul to take back to PV and Stef, Brighton and I got to chat.
Nice Saturday - love Saturdays!!!

PV

Here's what Eric's new workplace looks like. And I keep shoveling snow!!

Mom's 94th

Mom celebrated her 94th birthday on January 20 and we had as big bash for her on Saturday night. I was equally thrilled to have Eric here for the weekend having started his new job in Rancho Palos Verdes we are now a bi-state couple.
We have 52 family members come to the church - it was loud. Played Bunco - tough to do in those acoustics - Whoa! Maurvene and Roy and Tami came the furthest from Idaho, but we had a really good turnout. Mom was so happy!!

Reflections

I've been somewhat nostalgic with thinking back over the big wedding and wanted to post a few of the pics - Finally!! The professional ones are now ready and they are so great so I will post some of those when I get them in the mail. Here'a few of the big day on November 25, 2008.

A NEW DAY

Okay - it's a new year and it's going to be a rough one. Pretty strange that due to a new job Eric and I begin the New Year living in different states. Boo! I am confident that it will be temporary and we will appreciate each other even more - if that is possible. It took two weeks to pack away all the Christmas stuff and get my house in order. Next goal - catch up the last few years of photos and move on to being better taking pictures and actually printing them and putting them in an album.
I will write more later - promise - but wanted to get my Santa Claus wallpaper off my blog at least.

WEDDING BELLS RING

Brighton and Jordan's wedding was so very wonderful. First there was the day at the Provo Temple when Brighton went for the first time. It was a peaceful and calm day and she did really well. That day relatives started arriving. Whit and Heidi came in first and it was the beginning of a great week. Chelsea flew in on Monday night in time for the dinner and Grant flew in the day of the wedding. We had some days of errands and tying up loose ends. On that Monday night we went to a fabulous Thai restaurant, "Pawit's Royal Thai Restaurant" in Salt Lake put on by the Phelps. There were about 50-60 close friends and family there and the atmosphere and food were great.
Then the wedding day - How Spectacular. Brighton looked gorgeous and all the family looked sharp. It was very crowded in the temple and Brother Groberg sealed them. A very special moment. Many of you may know that the movie, "The Other Side of Heaven" is his story. Then there was a long picture taking session. Thank you to all who hung around for that. Our family and Wendy and Megan Hull rested at Noah's in Draper and played a little pool and regrouped and had a little food.
Then for the Reception - how fabulous! We had such a marvelous outpouring of love and attendance - Wow - sorry to all those who came the second hour and missed the tarts!! Matt Stevens was an incredible MC. Let us discuss the Venue - I was thrilled with Le Jardin. There aren't any photos that do the gazillion twinkle lights, fountains, and chandeliers and greenery justice. Undescribable!!
The cake was great - not a crumb left and everyone danced. A picture to last forever - my mom and dad rocking out on the dance floor.
I sorely missed some of my dear friends who couldn't travel, but big hugs to all of you who came and joined us in this wonderful celebration. One of the top ten best days!!!!

FINAL FIVE DAYS

So we are five days away from the wedding and everyone starts arriving tomorrow. It seems we have been planning for a long time. I really hope everything goes smoothly! I only have a couple things left to do - get all the stuff for the
DVD copy and one thing with my dress. My list was so long a few days ago and now I am amazed that it's down to about 5 things!! Whew - here we go

Tricks & Birthday Treats

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So Whit turned 30 - AHHH - and Heidi turned 29 on November 2 - How did that happen? They went to D-land to celebrate Miz Heidi's and Heidi threw Whit a surprise party with smoke and mirrors. So sad I wasn't there.
This year for Halloween good ole' Lizzie Borden showed up once again and I took third prize in a spontaneous Utah County contest. I saw people going up the stairs to participate so I crashed it and won a prize!! Here are Brighton and Jordan going off to a party after spending dinner with us, Doug and Mooja (the beagle) and the folks. A photo of Whit and Heidi as Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett for this year.
We had fun handing out candy this year and eating pizza. Mooja was all over the neighborhood enjoying himself. He was good - didn't really bark but just loving the children. I guess we had probably between 150-175 tricksters this year.
Weston was in Indiana with Stef - here he is in his Ninja outfit - we missed him!!

BRIDE IN LA

Brighton and I flew to LA on Friday night and she had her Los Angeles Bridal Shower and it was perfect!! My great friend, Cathy Roberts, and Chelsea and Heidi worked together to give Brighton such a beautiful day. We got to see so many wonderful friends, and some we hadn't seen in so long. Many people drove a long way to get to the shower and the decor, food, games,- everything went flawlessly. Thank you everyone for making it so fab-u-lous!!

Game Starting

Okay - Go Dodger Blue - My boss is a Cubs fan - I hope we can stay friends - cause it's LA Time!!!!

COUGARS EAT BEAR!

WOW! I was really nervous going to the game today. But it was euphoria. When it became 28-0 we were flipping out. I kept putting my hands on my head in astonishment. And then at the half it was 42-0 - WHAT!!!! Although UCLA is my alma mater my blood is Blue - BYU Blue and Dodger Blue. For those of you who stayed under a rock today - BYU bludgeoned UCLA 59-0. Go Blue!!!

Still hope

So, the Dodgers are back in first place - there's still a little hope. However, tonight they started playing San Diego and are already behind 3-0. Not liking it. But the weekend was good when they swept the D-Backs. Right now I'm pretty much just doing stuff for the wedding - getting addresses, looking for a dress. trying to keep things going and on the move. We stayed home quite a bit this weekend and I'm actually still tired. Gearing up for the BYU vs. UCLA game this Saturday.

Family Vacation

San Diego was a lot of fun. First of all we watched the Dodgers beat the Phillies and we all got to sit together. Eric and I got on the Kiss Cam!! Ha!! I've always wanted to get on that at the Jazz game and there we were on the big ol'Diamond Vision and so we gave the stadium a show - none of that old people peck stuff!!
Went to the Zoo on Friday and that was way fun - especially the Panda Bears!! Love them. Our condo was on Mission Bay and we really enjoyed our bonfire and roasting s'mores one night under the stars. Spent a day at the beach and the water was so nice. Rented boogie boards - but many of us got sunburned (poor Heidi the worst). Weather was perfect and we also went to Sea World. It was a great trip!!

Chapter End

Well, this week was kind of a summing up. The week started with a terrific James Taylor concert with Whit and Heidi as a "finale" to their summer here in Utah. We really didn't get to see them all that much, they were so booked up with teaching and rehearsing and with the gas debaucle they had to stay almost all the time up in SLC, but we are grateful for the time we did have with them. They are a motivated and fun couple!!
Brighton hurt her back terriby on Tuesday and a couple days were helping her get into therapy and she is really doing very well. Chels was up for 48 hours (missed you Grant) and Chels, Brighton and I did get an afternoon together and we saw the wedding venue, visited Grandma and Chels met Stef, Weston and beagle "Mooja" and then she flew home - too fast.
Eric was away most of the week so I forget who he is - but he did get back for the final performance of "Twelfth Night" and now Whit and Heidi are on their way back to Burbank. BOO-HOO!!
Brighton's kitty, Lola, even left us today to go back with her Brighton.
Today Eric and Brighton and I got to go up to celebrate Doug's 30th birthday and we had a nice visit. Weston was super happy and Stef made some yummy desserts.
Next Chapter - Family Vacation in San Diego!!
We will miss Whit and Heidi - we got used to seeing them on a regular basis.

Engaged

Brighton and Jordan are now officially engaged. Jordan did a great job of proposing in North Carolina and it was very creative and thoughtful. We are excited for them and our new addition to the family!! The wedding will be NOVEMBER 25th!

Reverent Raccons

Somedays our CTR class goes well. Today we had Natalia, T.J. and Katelyn being really good Reverent Raccoons. On these days we remember how lucky we are to help teach the Gospel in Primary. Here they are with their Good Samaritan paper dolls!!

A good day

This has been a good day. Number one - it's Friday. Number two - Whit's old friends Ryan and Kristen Furst flew up from Agoura, CA to see his and Heidi's play. Number three - went to see Whit as Malvolio and Heidi as Viola in a "so very funny" production of a contemporary "Twelfth Night". Number Four - Brighton is officially engaged and Jordan proposed in a very quaint and special way. Number Five - next week Chelsea Paige is comin' to town - better watch out!!

Good day - Sunshine

A little while ago - Brighton and I went cake testing as shown and here is Heidi with her new short hair for the play - and she and Whit were GREAT!!