It's been twenty-five years

since Lonny graduated from BYU Law School. He appears to be pleased. (I just now noticed the date, 10 years previous to the OK City bombing and 10 years and a day previous to our first visit to OK.) We celebrated Lonny's achievement by going to graduation again. Justin's law school graduation. BYU's commencement was last Thursday at the Marriott Center. The place was jam packed. It was my fifth time to attend a BYU graduation and I have never seen the place so full. Even Danny Ainge's skills didn't draw such a crowd. Elder Todd Christofferson spoke and I loved it. We were sitting so we could read the teleprompter which was just too enticing not to follow along. He could read (not everyone could) but he also casually veered from the prepared remarks. Here we are after commencement.

The Law School graduation was Friday afternoon at the Provo Tabernacle. Judge Clifford Wallace from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals was the speaker. He was at the Ninth Circuit when Lonny clerked there 25 years ago. Everyone involved has aged. I also enjoyed listening to him. He had some good stories.

Justin with Dean Rasband.

It was mostly sunny in Provo except for this day when the wind was freezing cold. Can you see our teeth chattering in the photo? Lonny, Emily and I walked/ran the two blocks back to the condo because we were too cold to stand outside any longer.

Geoff and Eric missed out on the family picture. They hurried along they were so anxious to clean their apartments before they checked out later that evening.

Miranda's family also attended and then hosted a graduation party. We did a lot of celebrating in the four days Lonny and Emily were in UT. We made Emily miss school and fly to UT because it was her birthday.

She wanted to eat at Mayan Adventure. They seated us right by the water so not only could we see the divers but they got us wet. I mentioned to Eric to pay attention, surely his mission was depicted at The Mayan.

Then Geoff gave her his gift of sitting on her. Camryn was not injured during the making of this celebration.

And Happy Birthday on this very day to Justin. Twenty nine on the 29th! Odd, since Geoff was 22 on the 22nd this year.

My buddy Bryce

wanted to go to the Temple after I mentioned there were churches everywhere.

He thought the fountains were funny,

and the water was cold.

He likes going to the neighborhood park in his wagon,

and eating at McDonald's or at least playing with the toy dragon, and wearing his OSU hat.

I don't know why I don't have any pictures of Bryce playing catch or winding up with a pitch or perfecting a line drive because that's what we spent the last 2 weeks doing.

It's odd waking up now without Bryce in the room repeating "Grandma, I get up."

Dressed up.

I made a dress for Emily! It had been a long time. (Well, except for the dress I made a couple of months ago that she hasn't worn yet with the little incident of making a hole in the back while I was ironing the darn thing.) I am not sure what took me so long except why are patterns sizes so off from store-bought sizes? I started to make a skirt for Jenny last year. I used the size she always wears. When she tried it on I realized if she skipped lunch every day for a year she could wiggle into it. She also could have worn it to an anorexia intervention. It is so frustrating to sew sometimes.
And the dress for Emily was too big but at least she looked cute wearing it.

Even with her runway pose.

Behold, look in the hot tub. . .

Emily had her own private Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday. It took her awhile to find all of the plastic eggs hidden in the backyard. Almost as long as it took to find her Easter basket that morning. The sun was shining bright but obviously the heavens thought she should look in the hot tub.

Lucky for her that was not their location.

Rexbrrrrrrrrg

When we announced we were going to Rexburg for spring break, we had to explain that our nephew was getting married. Otherwise we appeared to just be insane.

But no joke, our super cute nephew Kasey, married a girl almost as adorable as him in the Rexburg Temple. The Temple president lives in her parent's ward and he did the sealing. He was so interesting and funny. I am glad we got to be there.

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood but the wind was freezing. Does the wind ever stop blowing on that hill?

Kurt's just glad he got the photo. I think Kelly is checking out the girl.

The cake was fake, but the top layer was funfetti. How fun is that?

We drove into town Wednesday afternoon from Jackson. There had been snow on the road so we took the car through the car wash. I look in to the window of the gas station and there is Karen McMaster who used to live in our ward. She sees me at the same time. What are the odds, to run into a friend I didn't think we would have time to see? We talk for a few minutes. She tells me she lives near Alex S. up by the Temple. I get back in the car and we decide to drive to the Temple to take a picture. On the way I am calling Alex to see if she can have dinner with us but she has a concert that night. We are almost to the Temple when I ask her where she lives. I tell her we are driving past her apartment building at that moment. She runs over to get her picture taken with Emily.

We have dinner that night with Colleen and Melissa. I have a picture of Colleen on my phone but none of Melissa. Why do I not have a picture of you Melissa? We spent the evening with Jana, Karl and Kelly. We were all staying at the same hotel. Thursday we run into Annalisa, one of my bestest friends from Jenks, at the hotel. She is also staying at the same hotel. I knew she would be, because we talk. Lonny and I went to the Temple which is just so beautiful. Lonny watched the BYU basketball game, we walked around campus, we dropped in to Porters. My friend Marcy, who I have known since I was five years old works there. We talked for awhile. I have only seen her twice in about 25 years so we had things to say.

That evening we attended the wedding dinner. We sat with our nephews, Kurt and Kelly and some of Kasey's friends. The food was delicious at the Manwaring Center. Who knew? We watched Kasey and Amber's video. Remember when Kasey enjoyed cheese and soda?


That night Colleen came to visit at the hotel and I introduced her to Karl and Jana. The next morning Jana and Karl and his relatives were eating breakfast at the hotel. And so was Annalisa, her son, Tyler and her mom. We introduced them all to each other. When I walked into the Temple later that day, the man at the desk looked familiar. I realize he is my friend Marcy's husband. I have only seen him in pictures. I introduce myself and ask him if he didn't have something to do with building the Temple. He said he was the general foreman, I think, and I am so impressed because seriously it is the most beautiful building. My brother-in-law Karl wants to know how I know everyone. That night at the reception, in walks Karen McMaster. So I see her again. Turns out she lives in Amber's parents ward. They are friends. I introduce her to Jana and Karl just to finally convince them I do know everyone. It is kind of odd that Karen is at my nephew's wedding because she is also coming to Geoff and Alayna's wedding. So I saw a lot of people that I know. It was awesome.

Camryn Townsend

We have a new granddaughter! Baby Camryn was born to Miranda and Justin yesterday. We are so excited to see her.

Home Sweet Home

We drove across the country during Spring Break last week. We were mildly concerned about the hazards of winter weather in those states that celebrate snow shoveling season like Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and Idaho. Turns out no problem, the blizzard was in OK and we were out of town.

We went to church with these two. I would keep them if I could. I love them.

We were near the Denver Temple so we stopped by.

We were near the Edwards as well, but Emily was sure her parents would be embarrassing (like that has ever happened). We missed you though. (next time.)

From CO we made our way to Jackson, Wyoming. Emily took snowboarding lessons,

while Lonny skied.

The resort was about 20 years past its heyday but the photo below was taken by the entrance to our room. So, can't complain too much, the commute was short. Ski School on the left, ski lift on the right.

Apparently all those really long skis from the seventies are still functional, they keep errant skiers out of your backyard.

Or maybe the elk from dropping their antlers at your backdoor. Although these sell for some big bucks so maybe you should let the big guys enter.

They have an elk preserve in Jackson. Emily tried on the antlers but they weren't that attractive.

We rode on a wagon, pulled by these horses

out to the elk.

There were a bunch. Can you say that about more than bananas?

The elk were like my children, turning their back when I got the camera out.

And fighting, when there was nothing else to do.

Then we found the bighorn sheep.

and then we left town.

To be continued.