CA to UT and UT to CA

This past week I went to Utah to met up with a friend for Education week, I decided to go a couple of days early to spend them with Carrie (my sis-in-law) and her family. Although Carrie and I talk often, I very rarely get to see her and the kids (and her husband, Corey's brother Darcy) so I thought that I better take the opportunity. Carrie, the girls and I had a blast shopping around SLC on sat for the afternoon and evening after landing. We then spent a nice Sunday at church and then a lunch/dinner at some friends of theirs. It was great to see family that you just don't see that often.

Darcy (Corey's Brother)

Carrie (I took the pic on the sly, she didn't want me to take one of her)

Jensen and Easton

Presley


Talia

Carrie was also kind enough this week to shuttle me around and rescue us in the dorms when we froze the first night. It sure was great to see her and the family.

While I was in Utah visiting, Corey's mom and sisters came to stay with the kids. It was the kids last week of summer and they loved every minute of it with grandma and their aunts. From what I can gather they played and snacked and colored and read books and played and snacked and colored and read books. (my kids favorite things to do)

Education Week

WOW what a week!! Kristin and I try to get together every other summer or so, just us girls... no husbands, no kids, no worries. This year we met in UT for education week. It was like we were young kids again attending EFY, staying in the dorms, staying up WAAAAYYY to late, nonstop chatting and just plan having a good time.

The classes we attended were fantastic. We got to attend classes that ranged from scripture studies, parenting, relationships and communications, a happier and healthier you, house cleaning and food storage, down to youth dating. (the youth classes that I attended were subjects that I had a fireside coming up on and were a great source. If you ever get the chance to hear John L Hilton III speak I would go and encourage all youth to go, He was GREAT!!) No matter what class you were in they all started with a prayer and tied into the gospel. Some of the classes were good reminders of what you should be doing, while others really gave insights that made me think and learn. Now I just got to figure out how to apply all that was learned in a real life setting. (Corey teases me that they'll give me a couple of weeks and then it will be back to normal. At least that is how it was with his mom when they were young... all the new ideas and techniques only lasted a short while.)

The trip home was definitely interesting. Kris and I were to fly to Phoenix together and then go our ways. Well after fully boarding the planing and sitting for almost an hour, they decided to cancel the flight due to the fire extinguisher not being full. So we disemboarded the plan and started making new arrangements for our flight home (along with the other 130 passengers). I actually ended up with a direct flight that left just an hour later and actually got me home 8 mins before I was suppose to be. Kris didn't fare so well, it took her a few more hours and a late night arrival.

Kris and I realized at the airport as we are parting ways to find a new way home that not once had we taken a picture of us together. So this is the one and only pic from that week with us.

Hooray for school breaks!

It gives us time to squeeze in some fun with LaShay and the girls. LaShay just finished a grueling 10wk semester in the nursing program and only has 2wks before she starts again. So, What does that mean.... TIME TO PARTY!!! We have loved all the time that we have been able to spend with them. We feel a little out of touch when she is in school and love being able to see them almost every day.

Campout Hanks Style

We were suppose to be at Pismo this weekend with my family and the Lenzingers, but couldn't make it. So we thought that due to that fact that we were unable to go to the beach and we will miss our Ward Family Camp next weekend, but due to Corey working out of town and Me flying out early on sat. We thought that we would do a camp out anyways. We had fun cooking over the bbq our smores and then sleeping out under the stars with the kids. The girls loved it and had a blast sleeping outside.

MaCayela's First Loose Tooth

Corey and MaC have been watching You Tube videos all day trying to decide how to pull MaC's first tooth. Here is what they came up with.

WiCKeD!!

YEA!!!! We finally made it to Los Angeles to see Wicked. We spent the weekend with Jared and Diana Lenzinger for some fun with no kids. We thoroughly enjoyed the show and company. It really is nice to have some friends that are lots of fun and you can enjoy time away with. And as for the show... I would tell you all that if you even thought of going you should just GO!!! it was fantastic.

We then spent Saturday morning taking in a session at the LA temple. We also enjoyed lunch at some restaurant that I can't remember the name of, but Jared was so excited and talked about it ALL the way there on Friday and then again on Saturday. So of course we appeased him... (that and he was driving so what other choice did we have) and had a great time. Speaking of driving WOOOOWW! Jared sure is the person you want driving in an area like LA when you have lots of "DA's" around, just be sure that it is his car and not yours he is driving. hehe ;-)