Road Traveled Too Long! Part 1

Well, we finally made it back! It kinda went a little like this over the past 17 days:

*Shocks went out in Vegas...must repair
*Rotator cuff injury for Suzanne was a nightmare...intense pain, could not lift babies!
*Okay, who ordered the winter weather? Nothing like watching a 4 year old catch snowflakes in his mouth for the first time.
*Note to self: must buy stock in the ibuprofen industry...love whoever invented it!
*9450 foot summit at Rabbit Ears Pass in Colorado...AWESOME! Never saw so much snow in my life and more started falling as we were going through. Did anyone tell the weather god it's the end of MAY??
* Notice DH has golf-ball sized lump on his face...bad-tooth abscessed...no whining from him...REALLY! Refer to ibuprofen comment above!
*Meet my nieces girls and visit with her hubby, see a happy, healthy, beautiful Candice.
*Get to see Wendy, Adam, and meet little James (what a cute, cuddly grandson I have!) FINALLY! Introduce Makenna to her awesome, beautiful big sister.
*Load my kids and grandkid on Uncle Herb and take TONS of pictures. He BBQ'd us some yummy steak too!
*Visit with Aunt Judy, Uncle Mike and David...Andrew ran his first official 1/2 mile fun run and loved it!
*Drive down US 89 in UT and encounter more of the fluffy white stuff...what the heck???

More details will follow over the next few days. I really wanted to share some of my favorite pictures so far...so here they are!

Andrew admiring the Welcome to Colorado sign
My handsome 4 year old experiencing unabashed joy in the snow!
I love pictures like this! My DH shares his warmth with our babies!
Rabbit Ears Pass in Colorado between Winter Park and Steamboat Springs
My beautiful niece, Candice, with my little Baby Mak!

I will share more in the days to follow, like watching James snuggle with Grandpa the first time, Wendy seeing Makenna and watching the two younger boys go NUTZ seeing she and Adam, witnessing hero-worship blossom in Andrew for his "cousin" David. Watching my children climb all over Uncle Herb and I think he really liked it!

Just thinking about....

What an incredible weekend! First of all on Saturday, I got to participate in the sustaining of a new Prophet and leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His name is Thomas S. Monson and he is an awesome man. I have always loved him...what an amazing transformation the mantle of "Prophet of the Lord" yields to those who bear it. It was like his voice became just a little deeper and he seemed to stand a little taller. To hear him speak for the first time as a sustained Prophet was a very spiritual experience. I could almost hear the prayers flowing to him to comfort him. What incredible shoes he has to fill, although I don't look at it that way. Each of the Presidents of the Church have had their own pair of shoes per se. It seems they have chores, callings if you will, to accomplish while they serve. I am so glad to be a witness of him as the Prophet and mouthpiece of our Heavenly Father. Frankly, I loved to hear him joke a bit in his closing address with Elder Ballard and then telling the story of his wife, Frances. Between he and President Hinckley, it is easier to imagine more of the characteristics that Joseph Smith must have had. I'm happy for my children and hope that President Monson will always have a warm place in their hearts as "their" prophet while they learn and grow in the Gospel. General Conference was a spiritual feast! Oh, and kudos to Elder Ballard for speaking on the importance of mothers! THAT was what I needed to hear! Prayer answered! If you want to look at the addresses that were given, they are usually posted in about a week. The website is http://www.lds.org/

Adam and ATC got home yesterday. I swear ATC got taller! They had an awesome trip together. I think they needed some father/son time.

Have to make one comment on Oprah's Big Give tonight...BIG round of applause to the judges for finally sending Rae/Rachael home!