Beware: monster post

So much has happened in the last month that I am just going to Monster Post and get it over with. Just be patient.
We'll start with my cousin Heidi's reception:

Matthew, Aunt Teri, Steve, Mandi, Bryce, Heidi, David, and Ed.

It was great to see Heidi. I think it has been at least 5 years if not more. She seems very happy, and I wish her all the best for their future together.


Rachel's first day of preschool was on September 2. She was so excited to go. So excited that she even let me blow-dry her hair. Doesn't she look so beautiful? Miss Tiffany is her pre-school teacher, and Rachel LOVES Miss Tiffany. I think it also helps that our neighbor, Havana is in her class, too. Once Rachel realizes that it's preschool day, she asks about a zillion times if it's time to go yet.


Thursday, September 4th was Danny and Jenny's wedding rehersal dinner, and boy does her family know how to throw a party! We had a yummy dinner, and then got down to business with the rehersing. The above picture is all of us standing in line practicing. I felt very honored that we got to be first. That sure was a lot of responsibility to set the timing for the whole processional. I also felt obligated to document every second of it, since I couldn't really take very many pictures of the actual ceremony.

I would classify John as a "Master Griller." As you can tell, he takes it very seriously.




You'll notice that all present are DRY at this time.




All that standing was just too much for Amanda. She had to take a break.

After we had done our pratice, we hung out on the patio chatting. I turned around at one point just in time to see two sets of legs...and shoes diving into the pool. I guess the pool has a pretty severe drop off, and Austin got too close and couldn't touch. So Mike and Tristan (Danny's friend) both jumped in to save him.


To their credit, they both had cell phones and wallets still on their persons while in the pool.




Then, of course the wedding on Friday, September 5. We had such a great time. All the girls went up to Layton to get our hair and makeup done. It was a big party in the bathroom. Rachel especially loved it. Amanda was even sweet enough to paint her fingernails and toenails. Then we all got dressed and headed to have our pictures taken at the Victorian. I think we got some great shots. Then off to the point for the ceremony. The Point was beautiful, and thankfully there was a cloud over the sun so the girls did not get blinded. Then dinner (the food was SO good) and dancing. I especially loved watching Rachel and Austin. Rachel danced harder and more than anyone...I would venture to say even more than Jenny. Austin was a little stinker. We tried to get him to dance with me, or even Kyra, or some other girls that were so cute, but he said he already had his dance partner - Jenny.

Rachel and Daddy

Rachel and Grandpa Kevin


Sunday, September 7: Black family dinner. Always a fun time getting together with brothers and sisters and cousins. I just had to capture a picture of the Pong basement, and the boys all playing each other.


September 12-13: Time out for Women in Logan. Amie, Becca, Mandi and Megan went up to Logan to a conference (kind of like Education week, or EFY for adults). It was really great. We had a speaker the first night that referenced "down is up and up is down" one too many times, and so that was a fun running joke for the rest of our time up there. Kenneth Cope sang some songs.
Jenny Oaks Baker played her violin. She is amazing.
We stayed up talking until 2 in the morning. It was a fun bonding time. I hope we can do more girls' nights in the future.
More Kenneth Cope. He has some really beautiful songs. One thing he said that really touched me was that if we had any idea of our potential, and how our Father in Heaven looks at us, we would treat ourselves and all those around us differently. It would be life changing for everyone.


Sunday, September 14: Mitchell's first Court of Honor. He got his Boy Scout Badge. There was a beautiful Falcon that flew the awards up to the front for the boys awards.







Saturday, September 20: I attended a graveside service for baby David Stanley Smith. He was stillborn on Friday morning after his umbilical cord was pinched. The ceremony was beautiful. And hopefully comforting to Amanda and Kevin. Kevin's dad reminded us that we have learned that these precious souls join us to gain a body and are too pure to remain in this wicked world. It is heartbreaking, but also a comfort to know that Kevin and Amanda will get to raise this spirit in the millenium, and all will be restored. I feel honored and privileged to know Kevin and Amanda and know that their faith will carry them through this trial in their lives.