One Year Older...

So, here I am again playing catch up...again...

September 26th marked another birthday for me...38. And I have the best friends and family! And I know I have the best daughter in the whole world! I woke up to my darling daughter and my equally as darling sister singing "Happy Birthday" and they had made me breakfast in bed. I have to admit I was a little teary...I know-SHOCKING! When I realized that Hannah is to conspire with her Aunt, set her alarm, and get out of the house without me knowing, well, I was a little emotional. I will also admit I'm not that easily surprised...especially with just the two of us. But it was the best surprise ever! Thanks Jennie! You rock! Thanks for helping her! While we were eating, I told Jennie that it reminded me of my birthday about 18 or so years ago. She was about Hannah's age and she came to spend the weekend with me at my apartment in the avenues in Salt Lake. While I was in the shower, she decorated my very tiny studio and made me breakfast then too. She said she remembered how scared she was that night. She heard things "popping" in the middle of the night. She thought it was gunfire. LOL! It was actually my friends decorating the hallway of the apartment house with balloons to surprise me in the morning! I have a picture of that year...I will post it later.

It was Hannah's idea to make the face...too funny!

Once our bellies were full, Hannah left for school and then the party began! My sister, Jennie, had arranged for us all to get pedicures. Super fun! Thanks again Jen-Jen! My mom had never had one before! Then we picked up Aunt Jenn & Nicole (Cole) and headed to Park City. Each year, we all get together for a Girls' Weekend. No kids...well, maybe one or two little ones. And lucky me, it generally falls on or close to my birthday. After a wild & crazy evening, we go shopping the next morning, then head down to Women's Conference. I didn't get much shopping in this year though. I needed to be at the conference center early to sing, so my trip was cut a little short. I'm not complaining though. It was fabulous. I'm sad it's over. I won't linger much on it again, but it was soooo great! Here are a few photos from the "wild & crazy" weekend.

LJM was the lucky little one that got to come this year.

Our masterpieces...I will say, my sisters need to live a little. It was like pulling teeth to get "some" of them to put a little fun on their toes. Man, were they BORING! Mine are the best, of course. I am proud of Mom's too!

Jenn & Cole didn't want to leave a car at the Park-n-Ride so here we are picking them up....thanks Uncle Jim for driving them out!

Mom gave us all facials...

We wear Jennie out...

Aunt Jenn...

Jayson's wife, Christy...

Jess scrapbooking...

Cole just bought a house...LOL!

Jodi doing whatever it is she does...I swear!

What would a Park City morning be without seeing a balloon...

Us...

Jennie, Cole, Jenn, Mom (Juanita), Jodi, Christy, Me, Jess

At one point, Jess, Jodi, Jennie and I were left behind in the condo. The others had gone to check a few things out. While they were gone, Jodi & I became interested in what each other had on each others iPods. After a few minutes, I hear, "Um, who has Hanson on their iPod!" Yes, that would be me. Anyway, we decided to make up a "dance" to MMMBop and "surprise" everyone else when they came back. Why? Who knows? And if any of you know our children, you will know were they get this "makin' up" stuff! Anyway, here is MMMBop.

As Sisters In Zion

I have the opportunity to sing in a women's choir that will perform this Saturday, September 27th, during the General Relief Society Meeting. I won't be able to accurately describe how much this experience has impacted me. BUT, it has been life changing! Every Sunday night for the last 6 weeks, 363 other women and myself meet to practice and rehearse. But, not just to practice. To share, to learn, to grow. I want to share a few of the things that I have found particularly important (at least for me) in this journey. Our choir director is an amazing, incredible person! Her name is Merrilee Webb, and if you ever have the opportunity to work with her, DON'T pass it up! I'm pleading! You will BE different! I promise! She shares her talents and her testimony with and energy that is absolutely amazing! The very first rehearsal, she wanted us to understand the power of connecting. Connecting with someone....someone whom we may never meet, but that may see ME singing and will feel of my love and my testimony. We are wearing white shirts with black skirts. Julie Beck, General Relief Society President, explained that wherever they are travelling in the world, and are blessed to hear choirs, themembers of those choirs are in white shirts. No matter the economic status or living situation, somehow members were able to find a white shirt; even if it meant turning a t-shirt inside out. We are singing 4 songs. The music will not be translated into different languages;the meeting will, but not the songs. So the songs that we are singing are songs that have been translated into every different hymn book. If the sisters don't speak English, they will at least recognize the music. We were asked to add to a room, just by being there, not take or detract. We learned that "you are enough." We shared experiences. We shared "ha". We were challenged to "learn the healer's art". Maybe we learned "the healers art". We were taught "I am the precious adornment worn around the neck of my ancestors." I have always loved music. But I have been reminded of the power of music; of how much music can really and truly teach us. I know I will never be able to generate the kind of feeling and transformation that I have experienced in this post. I am writing this, mostly, for my own sake. Knowing that this experience will end on Saturday, in front of 20,000 people, is very emotional-even now, I have a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. Just know that I have had a WONDERFUL experience! And know that I have changed.

"The opportunity of a lifetime lies within the lifetime of the opportunity."

Last week we had a dress rehearsal at the Conference Center. Our families were invited to come up and watch. Hannah was with Brad, but my friend, Emily, had her family there. Thanks to Wes for taking the pictures. (Center section, third row, fourth from the right)

Horses & Burrows & Camels...Oh, My!

Jodi called and wanted to know if I could watch SRS for her. "Sure, I'll call Jess and see if MCM can come over and play too." She could. So we decided to go on a walk to see the horses & camel. We had a great time! Later that day, I said to mom that I didn't feel like I got anything accomplished. She reminded me that I accomplished the most important thing that day. How true! (Now I know how Jessica feels every day!)

M wanted her picture taken by this sign. So I took it.

I had the hardest time getting them to "pose" in the sunflowers...

We brought celery for the camel, but we couldn't get close enough to him. We decided to feed the horses the celery. They don't like celery.

Enough said.

Max, the camel.

The burrow and the cows.

Flowers for Grandma and Grandpa.

State Fair 2008

Waaaay back on the 10th of September, Hannah & I, along with some friends, went up to the state fair. We really do love the fair. One memory I have from my youth...this is really random...I "played" one of those fortune telling booths. I discovered that my ideal mate is/was...drum roll please...Rick Springfield. Hmmm...I wonder if he is still single.
Anyway, one of the reasons we go each year is because we are involved with 4-H. This year Hannah (along with other family members and friends) had a few things on display. Way to go 4-Hers! (And I didn't even get any pictures of her things on display! You can see them in our County Fair post here.) We also love to go see the animals. We went with some friends, Shelly & her daughter, Ada. Ada loves horses. We specifically planned our trip this year so that we could go see the Draft Horse Pull. We didn't stay for the whole show, but it was fun & interesting while we stayed. Hannah couldn't wait to see the bunnies, and I wanted to see the goats. And the big attraction this year? Big Al, a giant alligator. I don't know if he was "giant" (or real, for that matter), but it was worth it for a buck. We saw the butter sculpture...always a hit. And we sat a watched a magician for a little bit...some great tricks, some not so great! Lol. Not a lot of riding rides...at $4 a pop, it didn't seem, well, it was a rip-off! The big roller coaster slide was great though! A nice carnie called out to us and let the girls play a basketball game & gave them a stuffed animal anyway. And I was sooo looking forward to a Navajo Taco-9 dollars made it a little less appealing. Shelly & I split one. All in all, another fabulous state fair. And Shelly even "received" a speeding ticket on the way home! (Couldn't resist!)

Farmer Ada...love the fingers-out-of-the-neck look.

Milkin' the cow...they did pretty good!

These horses were soo BIG!

Wilbur!

That's Some Pig!

More Hangin' in the Hammock

I have been informed by a mother or two that Hannah's friends are actually "following" our blog-probably to catch a glimpse of themselves. I'm glad. So, girls, this is for you!