Monday, June 18, 2012

Utah trip part 2

My great grandmother had 6 sisters, there were 7 girls and just one little boy in that family and the little boy passed away before he was 2 years old.  So for the growing up part that was a house full of girls!  My mom has 3 sisters and no brothers so another house full of girls!  As far as my cousins go there are 7 girls and 4 boys.  So we really have a female dominated family!  :)  Each year, starting with my Grandma Allgood (I think! -it may have started with my great grandma but I am not sure) -the sisters in each family take a sister trip.  Always in the summer for 4 or so days.  So this year while I was home -the girl Allgood cousins took our first ever 'sister' trip.  We went up to Park City -just overnight because we didn't have much time.  We had SO MUCH FUN!!!!  I cannot even tell you.  We shopped and ate and laughed until we just couldn't take it anymore!  We didn't take many pictures -we were having too much fun to stop and take any!- but here are a few.  
Shopping!
 My cute sis-in-law Heather
Crazy runs in the family.  lol 
 My sis in law Heather, my sis Krissie, cousin Camille -you would NEVER guess her age!  She looks what 26? not even close!!!  front row cousin Jessica who is 6 months older than me exactly and we grew up more like sisters, and cousin Makaila -Jessica's sister and master planner of this trip!  THANKS MAK!  We stayed in the presidential suite at this hotel it was FANTASTIC!!!
 We played the game Quelf which is the best girls night game EVER!!!  Not sure what Mak is doing here except maybe getting ready to flip me off -she is the YW President in her ward!  LOL 
 I believe this is Heather reading us the poem that she wrote
we laughed so much! 
And drank diet coke and wore fancy scarves  and yelled out wrong answers like "BOSTON RED SOX!" right Jess?  lol
 this is Krissie who had to stand in the corner and say "Hey buddy, can you spare a dime?" over and over and over and over and over until her turn came around again.
 This is my mom's bridal shower.  She thought we were just going to dinner but we surprised her with a cake and some gifts.  It was great! 
ok back row Aunt ShaRee, Ricks sisters Jenny and Paula, my Aunt Deana, Aunt Colleen, Camille, Makaila, middle row Jessica, Heather, Krissie and me, front and center the bride herself Mom :) 
 the delish cake!
 these pics came a few days later when I was flying home but I didn't want to add them at the end of the wedding post which is up next.  
I left on a Sunday and I love this pic because you can see two churches 1 block apart and the parking lots are packed full. -Only in Utah :)
 My mountains.  How I miss them.

 What heaven looks like.  
Ok everyone!  Next up wedding post!!!  :)

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Utah trip part 1

In April I took a trip to Utah all by myself for my mom's WEDDING!  :)  Yay!  So happy for her.  More details on that in the Utah trip part three post.

The first "big event" was going to see a Jazz game!  Thanks to my big bro for getting us the tickets!!!  I went with my sis-in-law Heather and my sweet nephew Andre. 
 The night got more exciting when they announced that John Stockton was at the game!!
 After they showed him I became a little bit of a Stockton stalker and searched the arena until I found him.  He was just two sections over from us!  
 We had GREAT seats!!!  Row 17 yes please!! 
 Stockton again.  Hi Johnny!  :)  --these are only two of about 30 pics I took of this guy
Jazz win!!!   
The next day mom and I headed to the new City Creek Mall.  SO FANCY!  It is really an amazing place!
First stop Tiffany & Co. I had never been in one before!   
 You can see the Salt Lake Temple from the mall!  So cool!
 These fountains were designed by the same guys that built the fountains at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
The roof at the City Creek center is RETRACTABLE!  AMAZING open on the nice days and closed when it needs to be. 
 Me and my mama in front of a fountain, you can't really see the fountain but that's ok the pic is all about us :)
 I also got to see my good friend Kelly.  She lived in Maryland with me and had moved to Utah just 6 weeks earlier than my visit.  So fun to have dinner and "catch up"
 On Wednesday mom and I headed to BYU so I could see where HD will be at the next year of his life.  There is the famous Y on the mountain.
 HD's apartments are RIGHT ACROSS from the stadium.
 There they are!  He is SO excited to go there
 I also got to meet Sister Paxton.  Sister Paxton just happened to be on an airplane about 8 months ago with HD's high school english teacher.  They started talking about teaching and when Sister Paxton mentioned that she taught at BYU Doctor Young told her all about HD and how he really wanted to go there.  Sister Paxton gave her contact info to Dr. Young and told her if D got accepted that he should call her.  So he did!  She has been so sweet talking to him on the phone and she already invited him over for dinner and said he can do his laundry at her house or whatever else he needs. So nice to have someone right there who is willing to help if he needs it.  She was super sweet and the timing was perfect for us to meet up.  I hadn't really planned on meeting her until that day.  Lots of amazing things happened during our short time there that reassured me that Heavenly Father knows me and HD and that His hand has been in all of this.  I really felt so peaceful, I cannot explain it.  I KNOW that my Father in Heaven loves me!  
Ok, so far I am on a roll here blogging let's hope it continues!!!  :)  
Part's 2 and 3 of the Utah trip coming up! 

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Cherry Blossoms

Springtime is a gorgeous time in our Nations Capitol.  The Cherry Blossoms usually bloom right around spring break time for the kids but because we had such a mild winter they bloomed a bit earlier than usual so one fine Friday when it was 82 degrees in MARCH we took the kids out of school and spent the day in DC as a family.  I know I said in the previous post that I would catch up a few months at a time when I started looking at the cherry blossom pictures I realized they needed a post of their own!  Here they are.....

This was right after we came up out of the metro station
 A very cool "hollow" in this tree.  Haylee is obsessed with owls.
 Not cherry blossoms but a cheery smile ;)
 Around the tidal basin with the Jefferson Memorial in the background
The Jefferson Memorial 
 The Fab Five
us :)   
The tidal basin 
 typical
 Contemplating life
 Think she's got it all figured out!  
 a different view of the Jefferson Memorial
a gorgeous canopy of blossoms 
 taking a break
 me and my favorite son
gorgeous girl 
 Springtime is beautiful here!  So many flowers on the National Mall


 this is a "ruffled tulip"  I had never seen one before




Mr.Squirrel 
My little peanut 

 the daffodils 
 love the red tulips
 100 years since the cherry blossoms were given
Very cool to be there during the centennial celebration!