That afternoon, we picked up Anna and Trae from the airport, and the girls headed to the bachelorette party! We went to a yurt in East Canyon where we canoed, played games, ate BBQ in a cup, chatted, wore matching PJs, learned a dance, talked about the bride, giggled, laughed, and literally had the best time ever. East Canyon was so beautiful — I can’t believe I grew up in Utah my whole life and had never been there! Let me just say, having Jansen and her baby there was the life of the party! They are the besssst!
The wedding festivities continued the next day with Heather making her own wedding “cake,” well, brownie, with the help of Anna and Trae, whose family recipe it was! Sarah, Anna, and I attempted to make the bouquets but kept getting the stink-eye from one of Heather’s aunties, who told us we were doing it wrong. I finally left it up to her to handle. In the meantime, we washed and chopped all the fruit for the brownie cake. Now that’s more my thing! 
The next morning, Heather wasn’t getting sealed until 3 p.m., which allowed us to sleep in and have a really lazy morning. I wish we had done more, but we were so tired! We got to the temple right on time. Heather’s sealing was incredible. The sealer was Oliver’s mission president, and he shared a message written by President Stevenson to Heather and one from Oliver’s other mission president. It was so tender. Having a personal connection to the sealer made it even more special. It was also so sweet watching Heather’s and Oliver’s parents they were smiling so big and looked so beautiful. You could tell they put a lot of thought into what they were going to wear, and it was just so tender to see. Everyone looked radiant in the sealing room. It had been almost two years since I was last in the temple, and it felt so good to be back! After that, it was full-on wedding mode.
We took pictures outside the Taylorsville Temple. The mountains were so beautiful right out front, I just wish the highway wasn’t there! There was some tension with one of Heather’s aunties who was driving Jansen and me crazy. Jansen was ready to go off on her! At one point, the bridesmaids’ flowers were nowhere to be found, and although we offered to go back to the house and look, Auntie kept telling us no. Nonetheless, we got them there and took the pictures. Heather looked stunning! As Jansen said all morning, “Booty popping, body snatched!” she looked GOOD! Her reception was in a greenhouse. I don’t remember the name or where it was. Funny how I grew up in Utah my whole life, but forget the names of cities I once knew so well.
Anyway, our job was to set the tables, and somehow we were short on 30 plates! Oliver’s brother ran to the nearest grocery store to grab some. Not the same pretty plates Heather envisioned, but hey, people could eat! We all danced our way into the reception hall with a dance we learned from Jansen to the song Work It. We looked goooood! We had the best Mediterranean food and danced the night away. Heather and Oliver decorated their wedding cake (I mean brownie that was to die for) while music played it was darling. There were sweet speeches, lots of laughter, and so many happy tears.
Ava and I loved chatting with Anna Toh she’s the sweetest person ever! We’re so sad she lives in Australia. They are the best!
My Utah adventure continued with a hike with Trae and Anna. We hoped to find a waterfall but took the wrong trail that’s okay, because we got to see some beautiful houses and enjoy the mountain air. Afterward, I took Trae and Anna out for kolaches and Swig a must in Utah! That afternoon, I had lunch with Grayson during his break at Swig. He works with all ladies and loooooves it. I enjoyed watching him take people’s orders. He’s so grown up I kept thinking that the whole time I was chatting with him!
That evening, I went and cheered Callie on at a cross-country race. It was so fun being back at a high school meet. I love cross country so much it brought back all the memories. My last season of high school cross country was ten years ago! Where did the time even go? The race was on a golf course, so Vickie and I were running as fast as we could to cheer at as many spots as possible. It was so fun seeing Callie and Gloria side by side just like Vickie and me! Callie ran her best time ever, and I was so proud and happy for her. I know that feeling it’s such a high you can’t describe. I’m so glad I was able to see her race.
The rest of my Utah trip was all about family time. My mom and I shopped in Midway, which has become quite the tourist town! We went to the Ballerina Farm it was packed with Utah moms out for girls’ night. We got cute matching bracelets that actually fit our baby wrists (hard to come by!), sampled the best oil and bread from Beljar, and even lucked out with a huge free scoop of ice cream. BEST DAY!We watched football, played pickleball, and cheered Romney on at his mountain bike race at Soldier Hollow her boys are wild! My voice was completely gone from cheering at Gavin’s race on Sunday, Callie’s on Thursday, and Romney’s on Saturday. I just can’t help but be loud when I cheer!
The rest of the weekend was filled with shopping at the outlets, Sunday services, and family dinner. Callie put on K-Pop Demon Hunters I’m glad I saw it, and I totally get the hype of the music, but I’m not sure I followed the storyline! Anyway, it was a full, busy weekend. Every time I go to Utah, it feels a little less familiar and a little more foreign. It’s been about eight years since I lived there, so maybe that’s why or maybe it’s a reminder that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. Utah doesn’t feel the same as it used to, but it’s always good to see my parents and siblings. I love seeing all the wonderful things they’re doing.
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