Our Fab Girls Retreat

In brief, our girls weekend was a complete success. We all met together in Salt Lake, stayed a couple of nights and had a blast. We hit IKEA, the mall, Barnes and Noble, and went to listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing on Sunday morning.

Now for the specifics. I won't bore you with the daily grind of it, but just the funny highlights. The very best part was the fun banter between all of us girls (this includes my mom, in case you were wondering). We all have very similar senses of humor and it's fun to tease everyone else. My little sisters are so funny I can't get over it.

It was also good to go shopping with others who don't mind the browsing and to not have to worry about a toddler and all that comes with him. Mostly it was just great to get to spend time with them.

Listening the MO-Tab is always a wonderful experience. Talk about something that is joyous and triumphant. I don't know how anyone can hear them and not get tears in their eyes and feel their heart bursting in their chest. At the very end, the organist finished up with a rockin' postlude on the organ. When I say "rockin" I mean that he made that organ sing. It was like morning breaking. It reminded me of hearing the organ played at Notre Dame in Paris. Something that pierces you to your very core. Many people don't like organ music, but if they hear it played by a master in a great tabernacle or cathedral, they WILL change their mind.

The weekend went by much too fast. I definitely hope that it becomes an annual tradition. Here's a few good pictures of my gorgeous sisters and mother.

Lauren looking completely gorgeous



Kiki, can't believe you're growing up so fast!



Bronwyn, who looks incredible in this picture by the way.



Sara, sweet Sara, always has a nice smile to share.



Mom, whose beautifulness started it all.

Too early this morning

Dusty has been gone for work quite a few nights now, (including last week too), and last night he finally made it home to see us for a few hours. It's always a little anti-climatic for me when he arrives because I look forward to seeing him all day long and when he gets home I am usually in the middle of bathing Tyson or cleaning up dinner. yada yada yada. So, he takes a shower, wraps up any work-related stuff, gets his jammies on. That's not too exciting you know. Not the big bang celebration I suppose I'm planning in my mind. In fact, it's usually pretty late by the time we get around to really talking to each other.
I'm a big quality time girl; it is in fact my "love language", for any of you who knows what that means or even cares, :) Oh all right, I'll tell you.
It means that I need to just be with him, talking, giving and receiving complete attention. It doesn't really matter what we are doing. As long as it's together. So, sometimes it's hard for me to share him with other obligations. Especially if I haven't seen him very much. I am getting better with sharing him though, I think. (not that I am some kind of controlling, freakish person who wants him around every second of my life)...although that would be fun....

Anywho, that's not what this story is about..... I just wanted to express that I appreciate and enjoy the talking and sharing more than anything else.

So, Dusty is up early this morning to head back out of town. He's pretty quiet during the process and usually just kisses me goodbye before he leaves, but since he's been gone so long he started to talk to me. I'm still half-asleep at this point, kind of mumbling my answers into the darkness.

Dusty: "I'm leaving Jess, I love you".

Me: "Love you too"

Dusty: "I think you're a good mom"

Me: "thanks"

Dusty: "and a good wife"

Me "thanks"

Dusty: "and a good housekeeper"

Me: "thanks" (I know, how original, but I couldn't really say "you too". You know? Plus, I wasn't doing my best thinking at this point.)

(side note; housekeeper? That conjures up pictures in my head that doesn't seem to be me exactly, but I was too tired to tease him about it. It's the thought that counts and I knew what he meant.

Dusty: "thanks for everything you do"

Me: "no problem"

Dusty: "bye"

Me: I'm not sure what I said in reply, but I was smiling to myself.

Even though all of these random nice things came early this morning when I was barely coherent enough to understand them, I am grateful that he took the time to tell me. We don't hear things like this enough in our lives and there's never a more perfect time to tell someone than when he told me. I really miss talking to him when he's not around and so even though he's not reading this right now, I just wanted to say that:

"Dusty, I think you're a great dad, and a great husband, and a good housekeeper as well."

Love you Dusty, hope you have a good day at work.
P.S. I'm making you strawberry jam to say thanks.

Good times.

We've had some fun, busy moments these past few days. Dusty's parents came down to visit us. Tyson absolutely loved it. He was such a good natured boy with them, just wanting to play constantly. He would wake up in the morning and head right for the stairs to go down and be with them. We had a good time watching conference, playing games, driving around town, and traveling. On Monday, we went to Zion Nat'l Park for some warmth and exercise. There are some really beautiful walks that are perfect to stroll along with toddlers. On Monday, we traveled to St. George for some shopping. Dusty and Richard came home early with Tyson so that Kathi and I could get our groove on in the stores. I think we spent 2 hours in Taipan Trading alone. It was fun to browse around with someone who loves to shop as much as I do. We're so glad they decided to come stay with us. We get few visitors, not counting the random-sister visits from Sara and Lauren. All of Dusty's family is pretty spread out. Most of mine just aren't grown up yet :) Here's a few highlights of the Zion trip.