#8 Favorite Memory From Fall

#8 Getting to spend time with grandmas and grandpas.

I love my parents and my "2nd" parents (in-laws sounds so blah) and could not wait to spend some time with them during their visits for the baptism. I really enjoy Halloween and it was so much fun to have them join us in the trick or treating. We had yummy food and great conversation. After the baptism on Saturday, we had so much fun hanging out and watching the BYU and U of U football games together. I loved hearing my dad and Jay (one a big U of U and one a big BYU fan) discuss football - we have a very fun rivalry between our families and we all cheered for both teams on this day since they weren't playing each other! (o: What a fun night! It might sound funny, but it just doesn't get better than that. Hanging out with your most favorite people watching football and laughing and then both of the teams winning! Hooray!

The next day it was fun to go to church all together. Sarah got to sit on the stand for the first part of the meeting to be introduced as the newest member of the ward along with Erin, a cute girl in her primary class who was also baptized. Sarah LOVED this and felt so special. It was a nice testimony meeting and I was feeling so happy and grateful I shared my testimony that day. I am so blessed.

We went home after sacrament meeting so we could eat with Joe's* parents before their flight left. The girls had such a fun weekend with grandma and grandpa, they were very sad to see them go. A few little highlights and funny moments include Sarah giving grandma a personal piano concert and playing duets with her (grandma P. is a wonderful pianist). While she was playing one song, Sarah said a few measures in, "Now comes the juicy part!" Later that night, Sarah was doing a magic show for grandma and grandpa. She told grandma, "Grandpa's figured out all my tricks and that's a big bummer for me!"

My mom and dad got to stay for two more days of play before they had to go home. We filled our time with shopping. We spent an afternoon at "Let's Play" - an awesome toy store with lots of display toys, so Angela was entertained the whole time we were there. Dad got a little bored and his back was bugging him, so he parked in the book area on a chair and played with his cell phone. We got to hear his "Larry the Cable Guy" ring tones throughout the store as we shopped. (o: It was pretty funny. Later, Sarah got to buy a new bedspread with grandma for her birthday present. We ate ice-cream together an hour before dinner - it is fun doing things you would never do normally - we were living on the edge. Sarah picked Chevy's for her late birthday dinner with grandma and grandpa and even got serenaded while she wore a sombrero. She loved it.

The next day I was a little rebellious and had the girls take the afternoon off from school. (The day before we got a letter from to district sent out to everyone about the importance of not missing school except for excused absences - on the list of NOTs was "family outings" Well, in rare circumstances I happen to disagree. I happen to think family, especially grandparents that you don't get to see very often come first.) So we sluffed the afternoon and went on a "field trip" as Angela put it - to OMSI. Ironically, we ran into a friend and a group there from the girls school on an actual field trip there. (o:

We had a fabulous afternoon and spent many hours solving puzzles, trying experiments, watching an IMAX movie about ocean life and exploring the OMSI store. It was a wonderful afternoon together! That night we met up with Jayson and all went to Marie Calendar's for one last dinner before mom and dad had to go. As usual the conversation topics turned to when our next visit will be together. Hopefully soon! We love being with family and can't get enough visits!

Angela loved this big fan that blew cups up high in the air. Pure joy!
Looking at a tortoise in the life science area.

A funny shadow picture of Natalie and Angela being goofy.