Summer Love and Summer Adventures

 We made the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca...I mean Utah...and had a grand time. Alan and Kristina were sealed in the Bountiful temple after nine years of dating. Aaron set them up on their first date. We met Kristina while serving in a YSA bishopric. They decided to get married during the mini-reunion that Aaron and I planned for the Dennis family. Their wedding day was so lovely and simple and delightful. They were so happy, and we were all so happy for them. A small, quiet wedding day...it's the way to go. Have a big party later but just let the day itself be simple and genuinely enjoyable, not the most social most stressful day of your entire life, spent running around like a chicken with your head cut off. Do you think I can convince Annie?

After the sealing we went up to Mueller Park, a childhood favorite of Aaron's. We picked up Costa Vida on the way to the park. It went really smoothly except for the part where we almost tipped the whole cart going over the curb to the parking lot. The juices from the meat spilled but nothing else. And a strategically placed napkin prevented it from dripping into the trunk of John and Julie's car. The food was delicious! And Julie made a gorgeous/delicious cake for the lovely couple. We sat and chatted and then the kids played in the creek. Just like the good old days. There was even homemade root beer. 

The next day we went to church in the ward Aaron grew up in. Julie is the RS president, and she is running it like a pro. After church we had lunch and prepped dinner and also prepped our PowerPoint presentations for our PowerPoint Party! Then we went back to the church and gave our presentations. We had topics ranging from investing to frisbee physics to cataract surgery to electricity to flowers, costume-making, composers, family history, favorite scriptures, sourdough bread-making, fractals, and OCD. It was a good time! Scotty and Jaden watched the little kids who didn't want to sit still that long. And Grandpa's presentation blew a fuse!

We went home for dinner and had more chatting and kids running around. It was a short and sweet reunion, made awesome by the long-awaited sealing of our two favorite daters. 

After the wedding, Aaron went home to Texas. He had to keep working now so we can go to Taiwan later. The kids and I stayed with my parents and sister. We went to the "Inside a Temple" tour at the new visitors' center. And went on a long walk in a rainstorm with my dad. And went to the Museum of Utah and the Church History Museum. We also did baptisms at the Taylorsville temple. And played mini-golf with the Olveras. And had lunch with Abbie and Emily and a chat with Cousin Heather. And swam in the pool with Cousin Holly and her kids. My kids talked to a senior missionary who told them all about his interesting life learning Arabic and traveling the world. At the end of the week, we attended the Sandberg Family Reunion which is now a simple, one-evening event. Didn't take many pictures there, but we had more delicious pulled pork and chatted and played games. It was nice to see some cousins and remind my kids of their great aunts and uncles.

We went to church with my parents and attended the "break the fast" with the senior missionaries in the Headquarters Mission. I ate a casserole with potato chips on it--seemed very Utah appropriate. And we chatted with the senior missionaries who were all so friendly and kind. 

At the end of the week, we were excited to get home to this guy!

Aaron and I celebrated our 18th anniversary! Our marriage has reached adulthood. We had a week without the kids while they went to FSY and got a taste of empty-nesterhood. It was a little lonely but mostly good. We've invested in each other over the years. So we still know and (mostly) like each other. And I was motivated to keep investing in our relationship because those empty-nester years are coming up quick!