Early morning excitement...

Being awakened in the wee early hours of the morning to your son saying something like "Mom... the snake got out and I can't find it..." is not the typical way anyone would want to start the day. But for me this past week... that's exactly what happened. Scouring the room realizing the snake could be anywhere made me realize... where does a snake go when you've left the top off of his cage and he's ventured out for a little excitement? Rushing the kids off to the bus just in time to catch it before it drove away I returned to my big empty house. Just me and the snake. Great... just how I wanted to spend my day! Searching the internet was the first thing I did. Finding out that snakes will gravitate towards "warm" spots to curl up and sleep for up to 6 mos. before venturing out again. Six months???? Seriously??!!! Then the bookcase idea popped up on my screen. "Don't underestimate the climbing abilities of your snake" it read. Great... Now I'm going to have to worry about snakes dropping from the sky? So I grabbed a flashlight and walked carefully back into Kenny's room for a look in his bookcase. Thoughts of white fanged snakes lunging out at me kept me on edge until something told me to look down. A prompting was it? Surely it was just my imagination. Look down again came to my mind and when I did I couldn't believe my eyes! There it was slithering out of the closet making its way over to the bookcase. Two seconds earlier I would've missed him. Two seconds later and he would've been in the wall behind Kenny's electronics where we certainly wouldn't have found him for months! Acting quickly I threw a tshirt over his body and grabbed the back part of his tail. Lifted him up and placed him gently back into his cage. All without screaming my head off but holding my breath nonetheless as I grappled with the courage to do what any mom would've have done in this situation right? Locking the top of the cage back in place and checking it at least a dozen times, I sat quietly on the edge of Kenny's overturned bed and said a quiet humble prayer thanking Heavenly Father for the guidance I desperately needed. However insignificant it may have seemed to the rest of the world no one could've been more grateful for an answer to prayer...

Indo Board fun...

So my children weren't able to grow up near the ocean. In fact, they were born in the middle of the desert. But thanks to good friends of ours (Beverly and Keola) we have found the next best thing! This Indo Board is so fun and the kids love it! Kenny was so excited to get one for his birthday! I am amazed at how well they do on it! Jessica has even mastered the "hang ten"!

Kenny turning 12 years old...

There's nothing like a birthday in the middle of the week. You get to pick out what you want for dinner, you get to sluff on homework (okay not really), you get to open presents, and there is always a yummy dessert after singing! Kenny finally turned twelve and we are not quite sure where all the time has gone! We are quite hopeful that his teenage years will be just as fun as his formative years have been! Happy Birthday Kenny! We love you!

More pictures from Temple Square...

I was thrilled to find out that the Salt Lake Temple is open for a few hours on Monday mornings now! With Gen. Conf. occuring this weekend all the temples were closed on Saturday so being able to take in one more session before leaving was an unexpected surprise. After the session my parents and I toured Temple Square a bit. There is nothing like it!

Enjoying the temples and Temple Square gardens...

Living in the South we have found that temples are far and few between! The closest one to us is the Baton Rouge, LA temple that is 3 1/2 hours drive from our chapel. While in Utah I had the opportunity to visit four different temples and take in several sessions at two of them. Draper and Oquirrh temples do not have clothing rentals so I stuck to the ones that did. I also had the chance to tour Temple Square and take in some of the sights with my parents.

Visiting old WX friends...

During General Conference I couldn't resist showing up on the doorsteps of some old friends from our Woods Cross neighborhood! What a fun way to spend the afternoon! We visited and got caught up while eating yummy food and enjoying one anothers company! It felt like I had never left! And in honor of Lisa Nicole... Matt made this Lego block UTAH emblem just for her! (He is definitely NOT a BYU fan!)

Attending General Conference...

While in Utah I got to stand in line for General Conference. It was last minute and very impromptu. I didn't have any tickets but kept hoping I would get in. I met great people standing in line with me and had an awesome experience hearing the prophets and apostles speak! I am so grateful for my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.
While waiting in line for conference I also saw a sister serving from our home ward in the Temple Square mission! It was so great to see her and her new companion in action! It was also fun to return home and have something to show her family back home in our ward in Mobile!

More fun with the family...

I'd have to say the one thing I miss the most about living so far away is being with family! Jonny's son kept walking around asking "where's Kenny?" and his youngest son just walked around with a picture of Kenny and Jessica. I guess we know now who the favorites are!

San Diego, Temples, and Utah cousins...

One thing I like about my parents is their ability to be very free spirited and game for things like road trips to San Diego and late night buffets! Visiting the temple while I was in town was a highlight for me. Also being able to see my neices and nephews always makes a good trip better!

Old friends and The Freemont Street experience...

Finding long lost friends has got to be one of my favorite things to do! Being able to spend time with Sarah while in Las Vegas was a highlight of my trip! It has to have been at least a dozen years since we've seen each other! So fun to see you Sarah! Let's keep in touch!
Old town Las Vegas has always been one of my favorite spots to visit! No trip to Las vegas would be complete without a walk through Freemont street!

Visiting Las Vegas family and friends...

Visiting with friends while I was in Las Vegas was a fun part of the trip... that and eating my share of forbidden foods! Seeing an old high school classmate and watching 3D movies in a Las Vegas theater were a fun part of my visit! Not to mention the ice cream parlor trip with the ladies! Thank goodness for sugar free butter pecan!!!