As if I don't have enough to do...: November 2011

11/29/11

Lights at Temple Square

I don't know if we have ever taken Simon downtown to see the lights during the Christmas season before. Part of the nature of being the caboose child. Parents are worn down and tired from high-effort outings with the older children that they kind of stop doing them the last time around. However, last night was relatively warm (for late November) and none of us had anything going on so we made a go of it. I remember in years past it being FREEZING and when we would go into the visitor's center to see the Christus status, it would be wall to wall people. Not so this year. Perfect crowds. Totally nice night. We stopped at Starbucks and got hot chocolates for everyone so that we would be warm on the inside as well as out. We went downstairs in the visitor's center for the first time in a lot of years and they have really changed things. I was looking for the old Family Home Evening movie theater with the animatronic kid sitting up in the tree. Anyone remember that one? Used to be my favorite. I did notice there were considerably less lights inside temple square than in years past, but more in between the JS Memorial building. Totally lovely night.

11/17/11

Another Day, Another Dance

Wait - didn't he just go to Homecoming? Seems like high school dances happen quite frequently when your son has a girlfriend. I guess he's making up for not going to any when he was a sophomore and not 16 yet. Fall Ball (girls choice) is this Saturday and Alyssa asked him just 2 nights ago. The poster says "you would make my day picture perfect if you would go to Fall Ball with me". She framed two pictures of them together and had every picture they have ever taken together printed.

He answered her with a giant fortune cookie that said "In 3 days time, you will have a thrilling adventure. Yes - I will go to Fall Ball with you!" He's done the fortune cookie before but with a different date so we figured it was okay. Zach asked me to a dance our senior year with the giant fortune cookie so I'm kind of fond of it.

11/15/11

I've been sucked into another social networking site called Pinterest which can best be described as a digital bulletin board of all the cool things you find on the internet. I argue with myself that it is a good time suck because I get ideas for cooking and crafting and decorating. But really, it's arguable how worthy it is of my time. I've only made a handful of the recipes I see there, and a few holiday crafts. Here is a quote I found that completely sums up Pinterest makes me feel...

11/12/11

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Richins

My in-laws are fond of weddings in November. Last year at this time it was Melissa and Nick Larkin, and my mother and father-in-law's anniversary is on November 15th. Today it was Zach's sister Audrey's turn. She became Mrs. Josh (Ju) Richins. The wedding was held at Starks Funeral Parlor where she and several of my in-laws have worked for a few years. They have a beautiful new chapel that was a great place for an intimate ceremony, and her bosses (Jason and Shayneh Starks) were so generous to host the after-party as well. And to make the deal sweeter for us, Audrey and Josh just moved into our neighborhood so we will be seeing lots more of them and their cute kids. This is not a first marriage for either of them, so today's marriage created a family of 6 combining the two families (Audrey and Mikayla, and Josh's three kids - Riley, Connor and Dyson).

I love this guy, even if he doesn't smile very much for pictures :)

Not all the grandkids here, but pretty darn close! It's near impossible to keep them all in one place long enough to snap a picture. Oh - and Melissa is obviously not a grandkid, but she is about to deliver the newest Sharples grandchild!