That is One Good Looking Son of a Gun

.....is what my dad would say to himself in the mirror every morning after getting ready for the day. I learned this from my mom after his death and it does not surprise me!
          This time of year always makes me reflect. I have so many fond memories of the holidays with my family. The wood fire going in the fireplace, a fold up table close to it with a 1000 piece puzzle on top, my mom's breakfast casserole, using my dad's huge socks for a stocking, writing to Santa on post-it notes and getting answers back even into my teenage years, opening presents and laughing on those floral couches in the living room.  Such a simple time that I sometimes wish I could go back and visit.
          I feel much more emotion this month. This random day means a lot more to me now than it ever has. I try not to think about this day, 5 years ago, very much because it's just too hard a memory. I'm sure my dad would rather me be happy and think of better times. I've been profoundly changed by the trials in my life but this one especially. I have a deeper belief in my family being together forever and that there is life beyond this mortal existence. I have often felt my dad's presence in my life watching over me.
         There is a song and video on lds.org that has the song Families Can Be Together Forever and Elder Henry B. Eyring talking as well. He speaks of our families and how you can find the greatest joys and the greatest sorrows in family relationships.  That statement really speaks to my heart. It makes me realize that my pain is not mine alone but that others have experienced it. The Savior has experienced it. And His spirit can comfort me.
         Even if you don't believe in what I believe, I think anyone could gleam an important message from this video, be inspired from it or just listen to the sweet music.

Our Trip to NOLA

At the beginning of December, Chad and I visited New Orleans. Chad was invited to a big pharmacy ASHP meeting so I got to tag along with him. He came in the day before I did and hung out with his friend Ben from work.  I read all over that you have to go down Bourbon Street. When I talked to him the next day, he told me that he doesn't think I want to go down Bourbon Street.  I was curious so asked why. Apparently, he and Ben had gone down there and it was pretty scandalous. Nice. But really, what do expect of a city that you get a plastic bead necklaces thrown at you if you flash someone? A lot like the Vegas strip condensed into a very small street.  Needless to say, the night I came in, the group we were with wanted to go to a restaurant on said street but luckily it was at the start where there was no scandal to be found.  So I guess I walked 20 yards onto Bourbon Street, restaurant was packed, turned around and found somewhere else to eat.  As seen below.

Holy everything fried fried food! I could only handle that for one night! Wasn't horrible but wasn't amazing. Mulates was fun because it had a live band and there was this old couple two stepping on their dance floor.

We stayed at the Hilton Riverside. You could walk out and see the Muddy Mississippi River and sometimes hear the ship's horns. It was pretty huge. I sat out there one day when Chad was busy and read a book. Without Kels around it was nice just to relax for a while.

This was the VA's poster at the conference center. This day, they were trying to recruit pharmacy residents to their program. So they would talk and answer questions. They had tons of applications this year.  While Chad was doing his recruiting,  I walked around the city a little bit. I didn't feel as safe here as I did in D.C. It's funny because I went all over D.C. on the subway and everything. New Orleans is just not my kind of town.

Eventually, we did get out of the city and took a tour to a plantation called Oak Alley with Ben and Art. This is Ben below with me. We were freezing! The first days we were there was overcast but in the 70's. Then a cold front came through and it was windy and 50's. Bbuurrrr. The bus driver that took us over to Oak Alley told us every bit of info about New Orleans that we could handle! But it was entertaining. The gentlemen who did the tour inside the plantation house had this great accent and was fun to listen to. When we left, I told him thank you and shook his hand and he said "Thank you, Baby." Probably the only time someone has called me 'baby' and I haven't been offended. He was lucky he had a cool accent and was older:)

 

You can't take any pics inside but look how beautiful the front yard is. The oak trees are just magnificent and they intertwined at the top. It was gorgeous!

A gas burning lamp. There were a few all over. We both thought these were really neat. I think they had some gas burning lamps in London but I'm not sure.

 

One night, we went out with all the pharmacy people from the VA and we ordered charbroiled oysters. They were awesome! I saw what a raw oysters looked like and definitely passed on those suckers. I'm usually up to try anything but not those boogers. Yuck! The last night we went out for a lobster dinner at The Star where I had bought a Groupon.  It was pretty good but I think the oysters where the best things we tried! I don't think I'll go back to New Orleans but it was fun to check out. 

Temple Square

We visited Temple Square at the end of November to see all the lights. The perfect time to go is right when they turn the lights on around 5pm because there is hardly anyone there. We parked by the conference center and walked to the Joseph Smith Memorial building to eat dinner at the Nauvoo Cafe. Chad got the pot pie and it was seriously awesome! My sandwich was only so so.

Would not smile for the camera but wanted me to keep taking pics. Grumpy gus.

The Nativity.

We also went inside the visitors center and watched an old school church video about the birth of Christ. I'm kind of excited to see what new church videos come out in the future with that big set they made in Southern Utah. 

Halloween Visits

Kels and I visited Grandma Brown and Daddy at work on Halloween. We're behind a bit:) Sorry no pics of Dad's visit.

Back to August

Since it's starting to cool here in Utah, I thought I would reminisce about much warmer times. Kelli and I had been talking about taking a girls trip ever since Kels and I visited her at the beginning of August in Boise.  Sorry. No pics of that event. We decided to ask my friend Rocky if he could hook us up with a deal to Hotel Park City since he works there. He totally did and put us up in one of the cottages! It was probably the nicest place I've ever stayed at! King sized bed. Hot tub on the deck. Huge rain shower in the bathroom. Two fireplaces. Plus, it was just beautiful all around. Kelli went up for two nights and I came on the second. Our sister-in-law came up to hang out on the second night too. Of course we had to go to the outlets and shop. We also ate at Kneaders and got some yummy treats from there.

Stuffing our faces:) What else are you supposed to do on a girls trip?

The third attempt at a timed pic. Haha. You should see the other ones.

Just gorgeous accommodations! This is the view from our deck. I would love to see it all filled with snow. I bet it is even prettier!

Modeling the awesome pool and main building. You know you're at a posh hotel when the seats you lay out on are padded.

It was so much fun! Thanks for the good time ladies!

Heritage Park! AGAIN!

We went with The Allen's to Heritage Park again. Or we bummed our way to Heritage Park with the Allen's year long pass. Love to do anything fun that is free! It was trick or treat days there so I dressed up Kelsie in her Pirate Princess costume!

The Allen Kids

 

The Johnson's also came along. Here's Soren and the gang throwing bean bags.

Wondering if she should participate. Hmmm....nope!

Gardner Village with the Lunt's

My sister Kelli invited Kels and I to Gardner Village with the other BYU Wives of Husbands in Master Programs:) It's a tight knit group those Provians.  Around October, they put up a bunch of Witches and you do a scavenger hunt to find them all! It was a lot of fun as you can tell by Kelsie's face throughout the following pictures. Hey. At least she is consistent.

The cute Lunt's!

Almost a smile. Maybe a smirk.