UTAH!

There are a few things I really miss about living in Utah. The first, of course, is family. The second would have to be fall and spring, we just don't get seasons in San Diego the way we do in Utah. I love the leaves, the colors on the mountains, the crisp feel of the air, and BYU football. All these things say fall to me, and this year I am glad I got to be a part of autumn in Utah. My dad was the honored founder at BYU Homecoming week, which is what brought us to Utah. Sam and I flew up on Sunday and celebrated an early 70th birthday for my mom. All seven of us, plus in town spouses, took her out to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building for dinner on Monday night. My mom hates when I say she's almost 70, but I think she should be proud. She looks awesome, if I look half that good when I am 70 I will be one happy woman. It was really nice going out to dinner with all of us to celebrate my mom. We all went around the table and told her what we love most about her. It was a bit emotional, I must say. The first of a very emotional week.

At the Joseph Smith Memorial Building

Tuesday we headed down to Provo for the devotional honoring my dad. I don't know what I expected, but I am sure I didn't expect it to be as difficult and emotional as it was. We walked into the Marriot Center through the tunnels we used so many times with my dad. We walked down on to the floor just as we had so many times with my dad. Only this time, he wasn't there with us. When we walked in the band was playing, I could picture my dad standing up there leading the band pretending he knew what he was doing. He loved to lead the band at games, he got a real kick out of it. I started crying pretty much right away and didn't stop. BYU was such a part of my life growing up, especially from sixth grade through my sophomore year at BYU while my dad was the President. I can't even count how many devotionals, firesides, luncheons, performances, games etc...I went to at BYU. It was our second home. I even had my 16th birthday party at the President's room and my wedding reception at the Art Museum. My dad loved BYU with a passion, and he passed that on to us. He is a part of BYU, and it's hard to be there and not have him there. They did an amazing film about him at the end of the devotional, we were all crying so hard. In part of it they even played his voice as part of a talk he gave at BYU, it was so hard to hear. I just miss him so much.

You can't see this very well, but it says Honoring the Life of President Rex E. Lee

The seven of us with Mom at the Marriot Center,we all look a little thrashed-there was a lot of crying going on

Wednesday Brett drove up with Jacob and Carter. We spent the night on Wednesday at Eric and Laurie's and entertained the kids at Kangaroo Zoo on Thursday. It was great to be able to talk to Laurie while the kids had fun. I am reminded all the time how lucky I am to have a sister in law who is also one of my best friends (plus she likes good teen trash TV, that's not easy to find!) I just love her! The kids have so much fun together, I love watching them.



Thursday night was the BYU spectacular. I remember being forced to go to these when I was younger. Watching all the BYU performing groups was not really my idea of a fun Friday night at 14. I appreciated it more this time, especially when they showed a movie clip of my dad singing some Spanish song with the Lamanite Generation in Germany. It was just so his personality. That is one of the things I loved most about my dad, he was a serious lawyer, arguing cases in the Supreme Court, but he was really just a small town boy with a good sense of humor who liked to have fun. The spectacular was hosted by Lavell Edwards, a good friend of my dads, and he added a lot of good commentary and memories of my dad. They showed the movie of my dad at the spectacular, bringing tears again. Brett opted out of the spectacular to attend a Timpview/Orem High football game with his brothers (imagine that). He sat on the Orem side (traitor) to support his nephew Morgan. He cheered for Morgan, but was still secretly glad when Timpview won (at least we know his loyalties are in the right place)!

Friday Nana took the kids to Cornbellies, a fall carnival at Thanksgiving Point, and then she took the whole family to Boondocks. It was a long day, but one of the kids favorite. What could be better than playing all day and night with cousins?

There is something so sweet to me about a seventeen year old boy playing with his five year old cousin. The older cousins had to drive the younger ones in the go carts at Boondocks. I just love cousins so much! We are lucky to have great ones on both sides!

Saturday morning we headed down to Provo again for the parade and game. I think it's every kids dream to get to be in a parade, my kids thought it was pretty cool. We weren't sure why anyone would want to get up early on a freezing cold Saturday to watch random people in floats, but apparently people did.

After the parade we had a few hours to spend with the Wimmers before the game. We hung out at Brett's dad's house, even though he and Pat are in London, and had pizza with everyone. Suzanne made cupcakes so we could celebrate Brian and Cameron's birthdays. Eric of course took the opportunity to put Jacob's face in the cake. It never ceases to be funny. Carter called Papa to tell him what Eric had done, and Papa said Eric would definitely be grounded. We love hanging with the Wimmer family, it's always all kinds of fun. Laurie took Sam for us so that we could enjoy the game with the older boys.

It was supposed to snow or rain and be freezing at the game, so we bundled the boys up in their snow clothes, and Brett and I wore thermals and big coats. We lucked out big time on the weather, it was perfect. It felt just how a football game should feel, cold but not unbearable. BYU won, which was great. Jacob was totally into the game, discussing plays with Brett and asking tons of questions. Our friend Jon asked if Brett had to wipe a tear of joy from his eyes as he enjoyed the game with Jacob. I would have to say yes, it brought Brett all kinds of joy. It was great to be at Lavell Edwards stadium with the boys to enjoy a football game. Oh how I miss going to the games, I wish we could make it to Provo more often during football season.

Here is what we woke up to at Eric and Laurie's on Sunday morning. Gratefully the snow decided to wait and come late Saturday night instead of during the game. The kids loved getting to see the snow before we headed home.

Sorry for the marathon post. It was such a fun, emotional and nostalgic week for me. It is one I will never forget, and I hope my kids will remember it too.