We were so excited for Matthew and family to get here last week and it was our last week on the first floor at the library, so a lot going on. We also had several "planning" meetings for the Hosting Zone Christmas party on the 18th that we are in charge of--good thing I have some good helpers. I am NOT a detail person and know I would never have thought of so many of the things we discussed. It was very quiet in the library--just a really busy time for people. I think there may have been more people on the 2nd and 3rd floors than on ours. There were several groups scheduled and I remember people telling me last summer that in the winter there are more serious researchers and fewer tourists.
Matt and Meg arrived about 5:45 Thursday evening, the 10th. We got off work 30 minutes early. It was really cold and blowing pretty hard. We were glad we had the car at the library. I went in to luggage pickup and there they were! Mason came running with arms outstretched, "Grammy! Grammy!" Of course that was music to my ears. They came bearing packages of Zummos for Robert. He was thrilled. Our freezer is full!
Friday they went to Antelope Island and Mason saw LOTS of bison. He was a happy boy. We went to the library and we all met up that evening. They planned to go to the temple that evening, but thought there was an 8:00 session and there wasn't. So they knew they'd have to make it on Saturday. They had gone to the store that day and they got a gingerbread house for me to decorate with Mason while they were gone. I ended up mostly watching--that detailed decorating stuff isn't one of my strong suits I've discovered over the years, but Mason and Meghan did a great job. She told him he didn't have to follow the picture for the roof, he could do what he saw in his mind. He did and it turned out fine! He ate some of the candy, but most of it went on the house!
I wish I wasn't quite so "follow the directions." I think that's what Sherry Fry used to refer to as my "schoolteacher" mentality and I'm sure she was correct. I got out the ski clothes we had gotten for Mason. He doesn't like clothes to begin with and he had a conniption fit over having to put on that many layers of clothes. The ski bib and jacket fit him fine. They had brought boots that Michael and Kathy had given them, so he was outfitted. They also had a hat and gloves for him.
Saturday we didn't have to go in early to clean because it was our last day on the first floor. They moved out more things every day all week. It made us all pretty sad, even though I guess some part of each of us knew it would have to happen. I don't think I really thought about it. The "O" room had been closed all week, then they started taking down pictures, posters, the cartoons in the entry way then computers, the desks, the chairs. Every day as we came in there was another section of something gone. They even took down the Christmas tree they had put up about the middle of November. Everything looked so empty and bare.
When Matt and Meghan tried to dress Mason for his ski trip he had a royal fit. The poor boy just hates all those layers of clothes! I knew they were all getting worn out, but they said they would have a good day because if he wouldn't ski or go to the lesson, he'd go to the day care area and they would ski. They had a plan. That was the way it went. He couldn't stand the ski bib and couldn't stand the boots in the skis. So they went to Plan B and everything was fine. He had fun playing, they enjoyed skiing, all was well.
They went to the temple that evening. I got out the Lightning McQueen puzzle I had gotten at DI and Mason loved it. He and I put it together the first time and he put it together several times after that. He's great at puzzles. I was never much of a puzzle-person and don't think I did them with the kids as much as I should have. I'm glad the next generation has improved on my parenting skills. I guess we each have our strong points.
When M & M got back they called from the back gate. They hadn't taken the key. I went down to let them in, thinking they were at the back door. I had to prop the door open to go to the gate and when we got back, someone had closed it! A senior missionary asked, "Where's your key?" I said, "Upstairs!" I had on my housedress, slippers and coat, M & M were dressed for the temple, but he said, "You can't prop the door open and leave it. You're supposed to have a key" and he turned around and left us there! I couldn't believe it. We had to call Robert, he had to get dressed and bring Mason with him and come let us in1 That was quite the experience.
Sunday morning M & M and I were going to the Tabernacle Choir broadcast. Robert was staying here with Mason. They told me to go on ahead and they'd find me. I told them, "Front, center" and went on. They got there, but never found me. It was the 4500th broadcast and the choir, orchestra and bells all performed. It was great. They did the Hallelujah Chorus--so beautiful. We found each other at the end.
Robert fixed us eggs, hash browns, bacon and toast for brunch--yummy. Just as we were ready to head out to walk to church, Mason fell asleep. So Meghan stayed home with him and Matt walked with us to the JSMB. He and Robert went to Priesthood meeting in the beautiful room where you look out the window at the temple. Matt left during Sunday School to get Meghan and Mason. We went into Sacrament meeting, knowing it would be packed--our new apostle, Elder Renland and his wife were speaking! We had all the young elders, too. I couldn't believe Sister Hopkins had been asked to speak--what a scary experience! She did fine, spoke on faith, but had to have been nervous. He told a very touching story about his mission pres. who had left his wife and she had carried on for 29 years, serving faithfully in the temple and maybe on another mission. As he was being called and set apart as an Apostle, the thought kept coming to him, "Call Sister Brown." So he did. Her ex-husband's 2nd wife had eventually kicked him out. He was alone, in very poor health, and came to her. She arranged for him to go into a home and cared for him. Pres. Renland went to see him and gave him a blessing, telling him to let go, there were people waiting for him and looking forward to seeing him on the other side. Early the next morning he received a call that the man had passed away peacefully. He said, "You probably wonder what a new apostle thinks about as he is being called. I was being directed to seek out the one, to serve, to bring comfort, just as we all are if we are doing the Savior's work."
At 5:00 Richard and Carolyn and Judy and Lucky came for dinner. We had fixed Mexican cornbread, green salad and Death by Chocolate for dessert. Matt had only been around Richard a couple of times and had never met Judy. My kids don't know this side of my family at all. Richard told him, "I want to tell you a story about your grandpa." I'd never told my kids much about my dad, either. Richard has these great memories of my dad. He was about 8 or 9 when my parents got married. They moved to Henderson from San Francisco in an Army jeep. My dad took him fishing, out on the boat, horseback riding--all wonderful things to a young boy. Richard told Matt about an old prospector who came into the station once a month when he came into town to get supplies. The guy wanted my dad to bring the boys to his place on the river to pan for gold, so they saddled up the horses, went up the river, camped out and panned for gold. What a great adventure! it's too bad that Richard and I have such different memories of my dad. By the time I was old enough to remember things, my dad worked all the time. He always had a boat and I remember some good times on the lake, but mostly I remember him working. I'm so glad Richard has those memories and shared them with Matthew.
We really had a good time together. We all ended up telling stories of one thing or another. Richard and Judy were funny because they remember things differently--there again, she is 5 years younger than he is and that does make a difference. We ate, we told stories, we talked, we listened, we laughed. Judy and Carolyn came bearing gifts. Carolyn had neat books for us--a collection of Christmas stories, recipes, songs and lovely pictures. Judy had made Richard a wooden truck painted like one he'd had, with a tree in the back and made me a wooden nativity. It's perfect--small, unbreakable and such a sweet reminder of our evening together. Mason was enthralled with Judy--he likes pretty girls! We got a good picture with all of us--Meghan set her camera, then hopped in the picture. A great evening.
Sunday night a big storm came in. It really snowed. We woke up Monday to a winter wonderland. It was beautiful! Robert and I decided not to walk to the devotional at the JSMB because we don't go to work the rest of the month until 1:00 and wanted to be here with the kids. We were all in awe of the scene out of our glass doors. It kept snowing!
It was piling up on the cars parked behind us even though it's covered parking, because it doesn't come straight down! It swirls and it goes sideways, we just don't know anything about all of this.
Robert went with M & M out back to help Mason build a snowman.
He'd made a nose of tinfoil and took candy for the eyes. They had plowed the driveway so there was a pile they could use. Mason loved it and I was happy to stay in my snug apt. At 12:30 we walked to the library and went up to the third floor to work. But about 3:00 our zone leader got a call that we were closing at 3:30, so they started sending people home. There was another storm coming in and DOT was asking businesses to send people home early if possible to help the afternoon commute. So businesses complied and we heard on the news later that about 3:30 the freeways started backing up--it just happened an hour earlier than usual!
We met M & M on temple square. We went in the north visitor's center and showed Mason the Christus statue, took pictures and visited with others there. We walked over to the reflecting pool, met up with 3 ladies taking pictures and Mason joined them! He doesn't want to take a picture with us, but he jumps in with them and is all smiles! That kid! It was still snowing. Every limb of every tree had a topping of snow. The statues tended to look like coneheads, which was pretty funny, but mostly it's just so beautiful.
Matthew had arranged for all of us to meet one of his missionary companions in Bountiful at The Mandarin. I had hoped to take them there to dinner; it's such good food. But I was a little uneasy with the snow. Robert drove carefully and we made it just fine. I remember Matthew talking about Elder Looke (pronounced Luke) and he is a funny guy. His wife is very nice and he has two darling kids. They had a good visit and the food was excellent. We nearly closed the place down! We were the next to last to leave.
Tuesday is our PDay and we had plans to go to Thanksgiving Point, but with another storm that came in Monday night, none of us wanted to chance a morning drive on an icy freeway. They decided to take Mason to the Children's Museum here close by. We dropped them off there and did our usual Tuesday errands--cleaners, WalMart, DI, post office. I got Destiney's package in the mail. Then we picked them up. Mason had loved the Discovery Center. He built with Legos, watched balls come down the plastic pipe chutes, climbed on the climbing wall--just fun little guy things. By then it was 3:00 and we were all starving. I had suggested a drive up to Park City because it had stopped snowing and the roads were all clear, but we were hungry and Robert likes ChuckARama, so we went for good ol' comfort food--it's always good there we think. We all left full and satisfied. We decided to stay closer to home and drove up to the This is the Place Monument. It's at the mouth of the canyon, so a great place to overlook the city. We were there as all the lights came on in the city and it was a beautiful place for pictures. Then M & M wanted to take pictures at night on Temple Square, so we dropped them off and came home. They got some great pictures. Meghan had gotten a new fancy lens for her camera, so she gets great shots and then comes home and edits them on the computer and they're really wonderful.
When they got home they packed. It didn't seem possible that our week was gone. They didn't do everything they had planned, but they loved the snow and we so enjoyed being together. We had talked when my family was here about a family get-together in the spring or early summer. I'd really like a "cousin reunion" like we had a few years ago. M & M said they would come back for it if we get it planned and Meghan had told me that earlier, so I really hope we can do it. We took them to the airport at 7:30 for their 9:30 flight. Then we came home and did laundry and got ready to go to the library at 1:00.
Now they have our first floor partitioned off so that when people come in there's the small exit desk and two people to greet and say goodbye. We have to go up to the 3rd floor, take the freight elevator back down to the first floor, come across the whole room to the little room where our lockers are, put up our things, then take the freight elevator back up to the third floor to go to work! Honestly, it's a royal pain, but I guess we'll get it all figured out and get used to it. We had mission conference at 2:00 in the Church Office Building, so we had to gather up and get over there. I was so tired I dozed off. Sister Tate spoke and then a double men's quartet, then the Tate grandchildren sang and then Pres. Tate spoke. The musical numbers were great and it was fun to see their grandchildren. Robert stopped on the way back to arrange for the parking pass for Sunday. I went on back because I was on the phone at 3:00.
When we got home, I tried to watch the early news, but fell asleep. Robert did, too, but when he woke up he vacuumed and mopped and cleaned the kitchen. We made up our bed with clean sheets and I went to bed! I was pretty well worthless.
