1 - Katie and Brian's Wedding – it was very beautiful. Friday morning, after thanksgiving, Anthony and I went to the house to help prepare. I sewed some buttons on Katie’s dress while Anthony helped decorate the arch. Then Loretta and I put together some corsages. I’m always amazed at Anthony’s mom’s ability to create beautiful things. She knew just how to put the rose and the greenery together to make it look so nice. I was carefully taking mental notes – I want to learn to do that. Brian's Mom and friend came over for the wedding. They are from Scotland and it was such a treat to visit with them and learn about life in Scotland.
2 - Dinner at the Lion House and Temple Square Lights. Again - so beautiful. Loretta created such a nice atmosphere. We had Scottish tunes in the background. Beautiful purple napkins and votives filled with purple-tinted water and flowers. And the Lion house rolls. Amazing! After dinner we met up with the Watkins clan and went to temple square. There is such a peaceful spirit on temple square. I held Carter in my arms as we walked around, and he could not take his eyes off the templle. I would switch him from hip to hip and turn him around and he’d still just stare up at the temple. Mom and Dad made the observation that he is very ‘quick to observe’. Anthony’s mom said that he was a very observant boy as well. Carter is a lot like Anthony in many ways.
3 - The Drive - It is an 8 hour drive to Salt Lake City and back - and the kids were so good! I would give Carter a book, or the Friend Magazine – and he would sit there for 20 minutes looking at the pictures. The only tough part was the last hour of driving when Carter was just done and the screaming began. There was also a point when Carter wanted a movie and only one of them could watch a movie on the laptop at a time. And so I told Allison that she could watch after Carter was done - and she just cheerfully said 'OK!' No whining, no complaining - just a cheerful 'OK'! (Yes that is a novelty in our family! :) )
4 – Loretta’s birthday party. We went to Sizzler for lunch and then had a party that night. Allison sat on Grandma’s lap while we watched a movie Andrew put together of her life. It was so nice! Allison was the commentator throughout the movie shouting – ‘Look that’s my Daddy!’ or ‘Hey, that’s me!’. We then played bingo with boards all about Loretta, and had cake and ice cream. Later that night the siblings played a ‘memory game’ recalling various memories from growing up.
5 – Having Thanksgiving dinner in Carrie and Dan’s apartment in Wymount in Provo Utah. We set up 3 tables together and had a delicious spread. Allison made little turkey place cards for each family member. Carrie and Dan were so kind to let us invade their apartment and were so hospitable. I'm afraid we weren't the most docile (hmm - that may not be the right word) of guests. Carter woke up crying every single night - I hope we didn't scare them about parenthood. He's usually a pretty good sleeper . . . well maybe that's me being optimistic.
6 – Tanner treating us to breakfast and dinner at the Cannon Center (I think that is what it is called). It's the food court where Tanner eats on campus. All you can eat . . . steak and chicken cordon blue – we were living the high-life!
7 – Dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Erickson at Olive Garden. It was good to visit and enjoy some good food. Salad, breaksticks, and the Tour of Italy. Yum! I took Allison to the bathroom during dinner and she was singing up a storm. The lady in the other stall commented on what a happy girl she is.
8 – Games at the condo. We visited and played The Big Taboo.
9 – We walked up to bridal falls. It was so beautiful. Tanner and Dad tried to hike partway up – but finally came to their senses and carefully climbed down before they fell to their death. We taught Allison how to play ‘pooh-sticks’ on the bridge.
10– Doing ‘Cinescopes’ with Mom. Her book group this month did this book . . . we all listed our 10 favorite movies and then discovered our inner ‘hero’ profile. I was a ‘chosen adventurer’. Anthony was a ‘loyal warrior’.
11 – Wet Shoes at Trafalga. We went black light bowling at a local bowling place. Dad won by one point. We split into two groups and Allison was playing with the first group. Anthony suddenly turned around and there was Allison tromping through the water pit in the middle of the course – retrieving her lost ball – shoes and all. I took off her soaking shoes and socks and we finished the round before finding some moon boots in the car to put on her for the rest of the day. Silly girl!
12 – Dance Revolution. What a riot! Watching Mom and Dad dance to What a Wonderful World remix. Classic! Carrie and I weren’t too bad ourselves but I think the champion’s hat has to go to Tanner and Dan. They are quite the dancers! I wish I would have taken some pictures :)
13 – Carter and the hacky sack. We discovered that this is the perfect toy for Carter right now. He loves balls and loves to throw balls – and a hacky sack is soft and easy to catch.
14 - Thanksgiving day games at Carrie and Dan's church. We went into the nursery room where there were lots of toys for the kids and enjoyed an afternoon of 'Would You Rather' and 'Luck of the Draw'. It was so perfect - the kids played peacefully while we were able to enjoy the games.
15 – Twilight and the Stuffed Devil Tragedy. Thursday night we went to the movies. Hal, Holly, Dan, Carrie, and I went to Twilight (which was wonderful! I loved it!). While Mom, Anthony, Tanner, and Allison went to Bolt. This was the first time Allison had been to a movie theater and she was so excited. She gave the ticket guy her tickets and grabbed the 3D glasses. She wore the 3D glasses and wouldn’t let go of her ticket all through the previews. After the movie someone came by with a stuffed devil someone had left – and asked Allison if she wanted it. Anthony, sensing a teaching moment, told Allison that the stuffed orange devil wasn’t hers and they needed to take it to the lost and found. Allison lost it. It was after 9:00 at night. They spent $3.00 trying to win another one for her – but to no avail. Luckily she fell asleep in the car.
16 – Doin' the Number Dance - Mom and Dad took the kids to The Pie Pizzeria . . . I wasn’t there for this - but this is the story. They were listening to some groovin’ tunes and Tanner was showing Allison how to dance by putting one finger on each hand up in the air and moving them up and down. Allison started to dance and then she stopped, looked at her fingers, put two fingers up and started to groove with two fingers. Then she stopped, put 3 fingers up and grooved again. She couldn’t quite figure out four – so she just went to 5. Too funny!
17 – Hal taking Allison’s order at Leatherby’s ice cream shop, after she was so sad that I ordered for her. It instantly cheered her up.
18 – Allison so excited anytime we re-met with the family members. She’d yell “Grandma!” in the parking lot – after we had just been separated for 2 minutes and run and give everyone hugs.
19 - Tanner, Dan, and Anthony sitting on the couch tackling Tanner's calculus homework. I could almost see the brain wheels churning!
20 - Spirit of God rewind. We were singing the closing hymn in sacrament meeting at Carrie and Dan's ward . . . and just as we were starting the 3rd verse Allison starts whimpering. I asked what was wrong and she said that she missed the first 2 verses. She wanted the congregation to rewind so she could sing. I told her that she could just sing with us where we were - and so as I pointed to the words in the hymnbook - she sang through her tears, crying in between words. It was oddly cute :).
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