…made up a little family dance:
Ate our traditional conference cinnamon rolls…except we didn’t make them this time, brought some that had been in the freezer since last Christmas…not quite the same appeal but hey, tradition rules 😉
Lu and I got to ride her beloved ferris wheel:
We enjoyed the beach:
It was during this dinner out that we finally got the news that Max had done it: He had slipped that ring on Abby’s finger. And this picture popped up on our group text:
One of my favorite memories from the week was huddling around my phone on FaceTime with those two, their excitement electric, telling us all the details.
Love.
We went to Disneyland one day.
The big kids stayed late, and Lucy sweet-talked all the adults into playing some scum:
Ha! Lucy sure has some great supporters.
Took and adult bike-ride one morning:
We had those few days in California and then Dave headed back for work while the girls and I made the trek to Utah to meet up with these two other kids we love:
We hadn’t seen them since they got engaged so we were all so excited, but it was pouring rain, hard to find parking, Lucy was yowling trying to maneuver the puddles and the rain in the dark despite (or maybe because of) all the help we were trying to give. But those guys had hot cookies waiting for us and we were pretty excited to see them for a little before Max had to get some sleep for early-morning volleyball the next day.
From there we headed through leaves and glory to visit three colleges.
Then Grace and I took a tour of Utah Valley University (UVU).
Pretty impressed with that place!
After that we went to a career fair at BYU, and within about 15 minutes ran into four people we know and love:
From there we made the long drive up to visit Dave’s parents and two nephews up in Rexburg, Idaho:
One with these nephews showing us the way:
And one in this golf cart with an actual official tour guide:
…amidst all this beauty.
…a pretty profound experience what I wrote about back HERE.
More driving and oooo’ing and ahhhhh’ing at all the beauty of the earth:
Until we arrived in Logan where we went to dinner at this tasty place I fell in love with.
(I know that’s not the most important thing, or very picturesque, but it was good enough to add to this post and I really am trying to be selective in the pictures. My mouth is watering thinking of it.)
Meanwhile Dave was back home at a company golf thing and sent this:
Yowzas.
We saw our own beauty-views the next morning at our Utah State University tour.
It never hurts to have your fellow-senior-cousin come join in the second part of the tour and think maybe he’ll go there too…
…nor does it hurt to find out all about “true Aggie night” Ha! That is a pretty funny tradition that happened to be happening that night.
Ok, and the ice cream didn’t hurt the experience either:
My parents went here, and got engaged in that “A” tower behind us, so it was fun to be together there with my sister Saren and think of those parents of ours traipsing around the same campus.
Then we watched our cousin on the other side in his football game along with Nana and Papa and other cousins:
Grace ran into some HEFY friends and was so excited about that.
And then…on our last night…we had a sleepover/dance party with this crew:
Played cards until late, and then dance party until even later:
(My parents were out of town and missed all the hoopla…missed you M&D!)
Loved watching this group together…missed Elle though!!
Here are some out-takes of our morning:
We tried to go wedding shopping at a place that was all stuffy and didn’t let you try on wedding dresses without a stylist and an appointment…but we still had fun looking.
And then…we came home.
To be reunited with our David…and our dog.
It was quite a week!
Just a question, but I am curious as to why Arizona State University hasn't been a choice? Or perhaps since its right there in Phoenix you just haven't put it on your blog? I am a fan of ASU, but I do like all of Graces other choices as well. That will be a tough decision!!!!! Being from Idaho we hear a lot about the Utah schools and BYU-I.
Also, another nosy question for you. Did any of your teenagers want to go back east to college like you and your sisters did? If Elle did, I have to say Hawaii seems to suit her completely!
Happy Fall-
Jamie
I'm from TX, so I could be wrong. But I think ASU has a reputation as a "party school".
Sorry for some reason these comments didn't come through on my email so I'm late to respond We've actually heard great things about ASU, especially the honors program, but we encourage our kids to go out of state for college. We feel like living away from home is such a great way to learn, even though it makes me miss them so terribly!
Elle did apply for Boston University just to appease me (since I went there), but it didn't speak to her at all. I would so love for someone to get back East!
I found it odd you are redoing Grace’s room when she is looking at out of state schools. I mean I can see getting new bedding but the wall changes seem a bit ambitious.
Good question. Grace and Claire are actually trying to figure out how to spiff up that room together since when Grace leaves Claire will move in. Both were just a little "done" with that bold wallpaper and thought it would be fun to mix it up.
just wondering.. you seemed to visit every school in the state, including uvu (which is usually the school people go to when they don't go to byu) but not the university of utah. I know you are byu lovers, but do you hate utah that much that you would not consider that school?
The University of Utah is a great school! Just not one Grace is considering since it's more of a commuter school. Less than 15% of the students who go there live on campus and I think Grace is one who will thrive much better if there's a bigger on-campus student community. Utah State is also more appealing to us because Grace qualifies for in-state tuition since there's a "legacy scholarship" she qualifies for (my parents both graduated from there).
Awesome! Thanks for clarifying. She definitely should find time to check it out because I thought of it as the same way and had more fun on that campus in one semester at the u, than my 2 years at byu combined. They also have the largest institute and biggest budget for students and always did fun things.
This post made me smile bc for years and years I've thought that the way you describe your Grace reminds me so much of my son who is her age (plus the same hobbies – tennis, skiing, etc!). I wasn't surprised she loved Utah State bc that is the tour that stole his heart too. He's set on going there after mission. Tons of sharp, fun kids from Provo are headed there so they can have the "away" college experience. He's had so many older friends love it – I'm sure she will too! Now if my heart can even bare to let him leave the nest…good luck letting that cute girl go. PS – I often see our arizona relatives in your pictures…seems like such a great place to raise a family.