SISTERS WEEKEND 2007

I've been meaning to write about my fabulous time in Utah, but have been waiting for the pictures. I forgot my camera and thought my sister Lisa would bring hers. Come to find out, she didn't bring hers because she just got a new one and didn't know how to work it and figured either me or Amy had one. Amy, my other sister, forgot her camera and thought me and Lisa would have one. So, in the end, we went to Rite Aid and bought disposable cameras! I can't believe we all forgot our camera, well, yes I can!

Let me set the scene. It was Thursday afternoon, two weeks ago when my friend, Margarita, came to my rescue. I had asked her to take me to the airport and then she volunteered to watch my kids also! Wow! I need more newly married (child-free) friends like her!!! So, she took me to the airport and dropped me off and took my kids to get dinner and then home. I was FREE!!! What a wonderful feeling! I was at the airport, all by myself, like a grown-up! After I checked in my luggage and undressed to go through security (not really, just seems like it), I was off to purchase magazines! I never buy magazines unless I fly somewhere and that is not very often! So I had a good read while I ate dinner. When I took the first couple bites of my sandwich I realized they were huge bites. Why do I take such big bites? Then I realized it's because I'm used to being in a rush, and getting a few bites before someone else needs something at dinner. So, I slowed down, took smaller bites, and enjoyed my magazine and aloneness! It was off to Denver first. That's where I met up with my awesome sister Lisa!!! We flew to Salt Lake on the same plane! We sure did have fun. In fact, I think the guy next to my sister was trying to tune us out, but that nazi stewardiss sure had a hard time. I guess we were her "problem" the whole time. Really, what is the big difference that my purse sticks out 6 inches from under the seat in front of me. If we crashed, is it really going to matter? Ok, enough on my high horse. We finally get into Salt Lake about 11pm and wait for Amy, my other sister, to pick us up! When she arrives, Sisters Weekend has officially begun!!!!

(me--youngest, Lisa--second oldest, and Amy--oldest)

We head out to Park City where we are staying in a friends cabin (thanks so much Petty family). By this time it's about 12:30am or so and it is dark up there. After going up and down the mountain, we find the cabin---boy is it nice! So we peak around at everything and finally settle down and get into our pj's and exchange gifts. We make (ok, i was lame and ran out of time) gifts for each other. Amy gave us our gifts--I got an Angel of Learning from Willow Tree. I loved it! Then, Lisa gave me a beautiful wooden bead bracelet. I have been looking for something like that, forever! My sisters are the best! After a really late night of talking and catching up, we put in a movie and drifted off! The next day, Friday, I got up kind of early. I guess I was giddy for being childless. I woke up my sisters and then I went back to sleep. After a short run, a lot of wheezing, and coughing, and realizing we should have run up the mountain at the beginning and not the end, we got ready for the day. First we stopped by some waffle house place, can I say that bacon is probably the best breakfast food out there, and then headed to the spa for a nice relaxing massage! Wow! I could have a 60 minute massage, everyday! From there, we went to our hotel. We got kind of jipted, so the lady gave us a room on the executive floor where we had access to the VIP lounge. I never knew they had anything like this! Whoo hoo for The Hilton in downtown Salt Lake! We headed to the lounge for some hor derv's, and then it was off to the Salt Lake Temple!

This was my first time in the Salt Lake temple. What a wonderful experience. Afterwards, we headed to The Garden in the J. Smith building. I forgot that Utah is not known for it's food. That was probably the worst stuff ever! Off to the hotel for a night! The next day we got up and watched conference then headed over to the conference center to enjoy conference in person!

After that, we went to see the Joseph Smith story. That was a very, very moving movie. I was bawling through most of it. I've read the story of the first vision and learned about it forever, but when I saw a visual of it, it was so real. I would highly recommend this to anyone!!! After (a good cry during the movie) we picked up some souveniers in the distribution center then headed over to the gateway to eat some asian food with my good friend, Jenny Black. It was so great to see her and catch up and eat some good food! I miss her so much. She's one of those people that you love to come over and your house is a mess and you don't care, and know she doesn't care, and you talk and let your kids go crazy together!! We had some good times! After dinner, we shopped for a short while then we said good-bye to my beautiful, pregnant, friend!

(jenny's the one on the left--doesn't look like she's hardly pregnant. i'm next to her, not pregnant, but looks like it here. i did't eat for awhile after i saw this. ok, it was like a couple hours, but you get my drift. man, i hate that pictures don't lie)

After some good times with Jenny, we headed back to the cabin in Park City! What a dream! There was about 4-5 inches of snow everywhere! I LOVE SNOW!!! We talked to Bryant, who lives at the cabin, for awhile, then headed to sleep. Sunday was a nice sleep in day (i'll read conference when i get it). We packed up, dropped Lisa off at Conference so she could catch the afternoon session. Amy and I headed to the Salt Lake cemetary to find my grandpa's grave. I haven't been there since he was buried there in July of 1988. It was something I really wanted to do. It made me feel closer to my dad for a short while (this was his dad's grave). Amy and I had some lunch then she dropped me off at the airport, and it was back to reality. All in all, I had a FABULOUS time. I had tons of fun, got some rest, and was ready to go back to my life. I highly recommend everyone having a sisters' weekend, and if you don't have a sister, call me--I'm up for it anytime!