We took the younger two down to see Cade perform in the BYU Christmas concert this last weekend. On the drive down we stopped to get dinner in Sandy and saw this beautiful tree!!

On Saturday we took them around campus and regaled them with stories of when we were at BYU.

The building on the left is the HFAC-Harris Fine Arts Center where generations of Hymas and Wesel family members spent much of their time at BYU. They will be tearing it down soon and Cade’s concert was the last concert ever performed there.

On our tour of campus we stopped at the BYU bookstore and Rock showed the kids where he basically got arrested for shop lifting. It’s a good story-ask him about it sometime. He certainly looks the part of a criminal in this picture for sure. While in the library he told them about the time he kissed a girl (not me) in the stacks. They were begging him for stories the whole trip after those two.

After campus, Sarin took the kids to the aquarium for the behind the scenes tour. She knows everything about the aquarium now after working there for a year. While they were at the shark tank a special visitor dropped in to feed the fish.

Rock’s parents drove over from Colorado to see the concert and brought gifts with them!! This is a beautiful “old” 12 string Rock’s dad passed down to Rock and Levi. They’re super excited to play a duet with it.

They also brought us these fantastic antique books!

Before the concert we went to dinner at the Brick Oven for another trip down memory lane where Rock told the kids about the time we went on a double date there together but not with each other. Ironically enough, we went to the HFAC that night too to look at an art exhibit.

Then it was on to the concert. It was all the choirs and the BYU Philharmonic Orchestra. I wish that I didn’t need a tissue when going to these kinds of events but music about the Savior, music of this caliber and music with that many voices-ie REALLY BIG, moves me to tears. I can’t help it. I loved it. It was worth driving 10 hours to hear. I don’t know which was better; Cade’s excitement over the last song, or the last song itself. The First Noel is my favorite Christmas carol and the arrangement they sang was incredible. They blew the roof off. I’m so glad we got to hear it. I’m so grateful Cade has had this chance to make beautiful music with talented people.

Greeting his guests after the concert was fun for Cade, but not as cool as the guest he got to meet after Friday night’s concert! Thank you to the random mom that thought to snap a picture of this!

Sunday morning we attended St. Mark’s Episcopal church in downtown Salt Lake with Monica. It is the 2nd oldest church in SLC! The ornate wood and stained glass windows were beautiful! It was the 2nd Sunday of advent and such a beautiful service. I love seeing the similarities that exist in the different religions of the world-it is thrilling and fascinating. And wonderful to share in the joy and celebration of the Savior’s birth with fellow Christians.

We had a yummy breakfast with everyone and then headed home.

Awesome trip! Wore the kids out.

We had a few new happenings this Thanksgiving, only one of which was eating smoked turkey for the first time. But before I get to Thanksgiving; my trip to Utah.

I went down to Provo to see Cade’s concert and celebrate Sarin’s birthday. It was great to see them. Shopping at IKEA with my sisters is always fun and this time Cade came along. He didn’t find it as enjoyable as we did of course, but he got to eat twelve Swedish meatballs so he didn’t complain.

His concert was awesome! I love the choirs at BYU, they never disappoint.

Also in November I became one of the lucky few who have gone to a Dave Matthew’s concert with Rock. He has been to 5 total. I’m not a big fan, but I like a few of their songs and have lived with their music playing somewhere in my house or car for over 20 years now so it was fun to see them in person.

Thanksgiving

We had just my parents and sisters this Thanksgiving in addition to our family. Cade came home with the girls and Alli brought her boyfriend, Cameron, home as well. It was great to spend more time with him and get to know him better. And it is good to see my sister so happy. But the best part about him coming to Thanksgiving was that he is a Turkey Smoking Expert. He smokes the turkey for his family every year and when his mom found out he was coming here for the holiday she said, “Darn, I have to cook the turkey in the oven.” So we borrowed Derek’s smoker and Cam made us the best turkey we’ve ever had!!! It was crazy to watch him prep it. I’ve never seen someone spatchcock a Turkey and I honestly hope I never do again-it’s pretty gruesome. Think chiropractor meets surgeon.

He did a ton of work that day and to top it all off he did my least favorite part of Thanksgiving-cleaning the meat off the bones. Thank you, Cam, for the best tasting turkey ever.

Liberty and Rock were in charge of the pies this year and they did an awesome job. They started three days early! Apple, pumpkin, key lime and French silk. Rock really got into it.

And possibly my favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner was this little guy I picked up at the store. I forgot about him in the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving day, but luckily he tasted just as good on leftovers.

Liberty and Levi got to tag along to go see the Scentsy lights.

This year I’m grateful for smokers (that smoke turkeys.) 😉

Well, this year our Halloween Festivities included only two children. I guess back in 2007 it was only two children too, but growing is different than shrinking. It’s more fun.

So, for tradition’s sake, here’s the 2022 pumpkin patch.

Here’s Halloween. Libby and her cute friends were M & M’s.

Also in October was my 20th anniversary of being a mother and Rock’s of being a father. I couldn’t get him to smile nice for the camera.