Drowning

Webster's definition of DROWN:  to die by being underwater too long and unable to breathe.

I haven't posted in a while.  And although I have a LOT of things I want to post, I don't see a post coming in the foreseeable future.  Figuratively speaking I am drowning.  So until I get a moment to come up for air, this blog will be the the victim of my inability to breathe.

Peter Pan and Growing Up

Not the best quality pic, but a screen shot of
of Disney's Peter Pan, taken of the TV while Luke
and I watched.

My 11-year-old, Luke, had to read Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie for his 6th grade English class.  I was really only semi-aware of this fact.  (Thankfully, Luke is a kid who just "takes care of business" as far as school work.)  Then one unusual weekend night, when only he and I were home.  He came into my bedroom where I was sitting in the recliner watching some mindless show on TV and messing with my phone and said he wanted to watch a movie.  "OK," I mumbled. 

Then he asked, "Where's Peter Pan?"  We own all the Disney movies, but seldom do my kids watch them on a regular basis anymore.  He then announced that he wanted to watch Peter Pan and compare it to the book.  He wisely stated, "The Disney version is a lot different from the book."  I found him the movie and went back to wasting time. 

He then asked, "Mom, can I watch it in your room?" 

I thought that was strange.  I said, "I think you'd enjoy it more downstairs on the big screen with the surround sound." (This was one of the FEW times when he would have no competition for the best TV in the house.) 

 

He then said, "Well, do you want to watch it WITH me?"  I still didn't take the hint.  But after he got it all "set up" (complete with pillows, blankets, and snacks) and again invited me, I realized that my big, tough, 11-year-old football-playing boy wanted to watch a movie (An animated Disney movie no-less) with his mother, so there I sat with him, while he shared his hot Cheetos and hot tamales (quite generous for someone who loves them as much as he does) and gave me a "play by play" on the differences between the book and the movie.  After the treats ran out, he snuggled up to me and began to play with my hair.  (When he was a baby he would play with my hair while he sucked his thumb.  The thumb-sucking is gone, but occasionally, he still fingers my hair.)  And I relished every minute of it.  Coincidentally,  (or maybe not) Peter Pan's whole goal is to "never grow up."  So there I sat next to my "baby," who is no longer a "baby", listening to Peter Pan say "I'll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up! Not me!” And wishing that my "baby" might never grow up  (or at least grow up MUCH slower than he is.)  But for those few moments (77 minutes to be exact) I got to enjoy the fantasy of Neverland where my baby will always be my baby....

and.....if you remember.....all Peter Pan really wanted after all was a mother.

 

I really hate that this is the SECOND time I am posting this unattractive picture of me on this blog, but it shows exactly how Luke loved to finger my hair while sucking his thumb.  (*And, disclaimer-I really DID read my kids good-quality literature-I actually HATE books like the one I'm reading here.  You know those books based on kids pop-culture.  But unfortunately we own some and the kids liked them, and of course that's what I happened to be reading when this pic was snapped.)

The College Coed Shuffle and other odds and ends

For some reason, BYU student approved housing has different move-in/move-out dates, which often leave apartment-moving students "homeless" for a few days between the dates they have to be out of their current locations and the dates when they can move into their new locations.  (When Analise was a Freshman, we went to Provo and moved all her stuff into our Suburban and lived with her and our family in a hotel for a few days until she could get into her new apartment.)  We've put things in storage, stacked bins in our home, and moved LOTS of stuff.  This last week, we moved Analise and Kaylee out of their current apartment.  Kaylee was able to get into her fall apartment, but Analise had another week before she was able to move into hers.  So we moved BOTH of them into Kaylee's apartment where Analise then stayed during the week (since she had work) and Kaylee came home to Logandale. (Thus Analise was living in Kaylee's apartment for a week.)  For a family that never "moves" (We've been in our current home for almost 20 years) we sure do a lot of moving.

Kaylee moving in with Analise for Spring/Summer 2013 (Kaylee's is the blue bed-Analise's the pink.) 

Analise moving into her new fall 2013 place

Suburban "storage unit. "
Analise's "stuff" between Winter 2011 and Spring 2011 terms

Setting up Kaylee's bed in new Fall 2013 Apartment.  (Soooo glad I don't live in apartments anymore)
This brick-riser set up looks a bit sketchy.  Hopefully, Kaylee doesn't crash down in the night :)

In other news:  Made a trip to our Kolob cabin which we have owned since 2003.  It's only the 2nd time I've ever been there, and I've never spent the night-trips are mostly to "work on things" although Kent did take the scouts there for an overnighter...once.  So I don't know why I was a bit nostalgic about this trip in which we were meeting with a realtor about selling it.  I know the investment would be better spent on our kids' college tuitions, but it's such a cute little place, and smelled sooo nice-all piney.

Kolob Cabin August 2013

School starts tomorrow.  I'm starting 1st grade again.  (I feel like I've already done it 7x-once myself and once with each kids-but this time I'm starting as the teacher.)

Kay Age 6 First day of First grade (my first time :) Fall 1973. 
I'm really rocking the beaded purse and the short skirt.  (Both were actually "very cool" back in the day.  Because I know my kids will look at this and say WHAT. WERE. YOU. WEARING?! ) I don't know if my selected outfit for my first day of teaching first grade can rival this.
 Also note the gift in my hand-each year as a summer came to an end, Corinne and I would get together and make back-to-school gifts for our new teachers-I think this one might have been a "puffed" picture-made by cutting out an image from wrapping paper, pasting it onto  nice background, and then raising or "puffing" up selected parts of the picture by cutting out duplicates of those parts and pasting them on top of small kernals unpopped popcorn or dried beans which were glued  on top of those selected parts on the original picture.  I'm sure Mrs. Howard treasured it. 

Football is underway-scrimmages in Cedar City and Vegas yesterday for Trent and Luke.

Luke and Trent after last year's 8th grade championship game
Trent's team won.  Kent was the coach and Luke served as waterboy.
November 2012

We went to the St. George Temple and did sealings.  I love being in the temple, and loved being there with Kent uniting families for eternity. 

St. George Temple
May 27, 1989 Our Wedding Day
Yep this is pre-photo-shop days.  This was done with a film camera, and Kent really did jump that high. 
The photographer wanted him to throw his arms in the air, but he wouldn't. Trying to even get him to jump took a lot of persuasion.  (This photo was taken where the visitor's center now stands.)

The Little Things

A framed embroidered sampler hangs in my bedroom stating, "Enjoy the little things in life...for one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things."  It seems like there have been a lot of "big things" in my life lately:  lots of "big" needs within the ward (where I serve as RS pres.), lots of "big" needs within my family (the kids at home needing time and attention preparing for school and sports, the kids who have "left the nest" needing support in work, school, and "stepping into adulthood" decisions), and lots of "big" needs professionally (as I prepare to start teaching 1st grade-something I've never done before.) At times it seems overwhelming trying to meet all these needs, and I feel like I'm just barely "holding it together," doing only a mediocre job at best in any one of these areas. 

So last week, as I drove Luke to football, just me and him, and I listened to him rattle on about tackling drills, cleats, and football plays, I was grateful for the realization that for that one small moment,  my life was "perfect."  It was a "little thing," a little moment of perfect bliss, a small oasis in a life of big, complicated things.  For a few minutes, I was not worried about finances, work, and the myriad of needs of those in my family and in my ward.  Instead I relished in listening to this 11-year-old boy in grass stained practice pants explain the intricacies of 6th-grade football plays.

I remember when driving my kids to sports practices seemed like a huge "chore," but when compared to trying to help my young adult off-spring deal with really "big" things (broken cars, rent, housing, majors, careers, jobs, college class schedules, relationships, friends, etc.) and most of the time (OK ALL of the time) feeling totally and completely inadequate and second-guessing all my endeavors in this area, driving my youngest to practice was a refreshing task that I could do "perfectly."  Yep, I may not know how to advise my kids on choosing a major (and even if I should-after all it's their lives), but I DO know how to drive a car, and I CAN successfully deliver my offspring to practice. So maybe by the time my youngest is in college I will be able to "perfectly" handle all of his needs as a young adult, but my older kids will have to "muddle through" with me as I try to do my best.  After all, motherhood is on-the-job training. 

Luke gets instruction from the coach before heading into the game.  Football season 2012

A Musical Addendum

On the same Sunday that Tony and Caleb Morganti spoke in Logandale 5th ward, Kent and Lynae also performed a special musical number, a piano/organ duet of "If You Could Hie to Kolob."  It was beautiful!  (And no, this was NOT recorded on Sunday-Kent doesn't wear a hat and polo to church :) And yes, the only way I could get it to upload was through youtube, so after viewing, you'll get a lot of youtube viewing "options" sorry :(

 

Visitors from "The Land Down Under"

Tony Morganti and his son Caleb visited us last week.  They came all the way from Perth Australia, and spent an entire week with our family.  We felt privileged to have them spend almost a third of their US vacation in Logandale.  (We think Logandale is a pretty great place, but we admit it is not a US tourist attraction, and visiting in July....well....we let's just say Logandale has its better months.) Kent baptized Tony 28 years ago while serving as a missionary in Perth.  Tony has kept in touch with us through the years, and has actually come to the states several times. Check out some of the fun things we did with the Morgantis during their week in Logandale:  (Shown here in no particular order.)

Epic Game of Disney Monopoly.  (The game will never be the same without Tony (aka-the devil :) )  And yes, spoonfuls of peanut butter were necessary nourishment during the long and intense game.

Lake Mead

Luke and Tony tubing at Lake Mead (Trip also involved skiing and wakeboarding)

Visit to the Las Vegas Strip-Luke and "Bumblebee"  (Ironically, I call Luke my "baby bumblebee" :)

Caleb and Tony spoke in our ward (L-5).  (And it was AMAZING!) The Askeroths came to hear them speak and meet the Morgantis.  The Morgantis susequently ate dinner at the Askeroth's later in the week, leaving a "secret visitor" delivered all the way from Australia.  (You'll have to ask the Askeroths how a hide-and-seek game of  a 1" picture of a certain grade-school teacher came to be a family tradition in their home and how this picture made its way half way around the world and back again.) 

Visiting the "Pawn Stars" shop in Las Vegas



Volcano at the Mirage (Yes we DID watch it erupt-this is just before that)

Waiting to watch the water show at the Bellagio in Vegas

Fireworks  (We bought them and set them off)

Tony was tempted:  "Slot machines in the GROCERY STORE?!"

Shooting clay pigeons

4-wheeler riding  (Tony and Caleb also went for a rhino ride with Bishop Evans)

River Rafting down the Sevier River with Kay's side of the family

A Visit From the Land Down Under-The Back Story

28 years ago, Elder Kent Barlow entered the mission field.  He left the cold, snowy Salt Lake City International Airport, and after an almost 30 hour flight arrived in hot, balmy Australia.  After only being in the Perth Australia mission for a few short weeks, Elder Barlow and his companion, Elder Smith, tracted out Tony Morganti.  Elder Barlow's journal records, "We tracted out a guy last Saturday named Tony.  He's about 24, into accounting, and seems very bright.  We taught him a 1st and got a return appointment.  We think he could be promising."  Tony Morganti turned out to be much more than "promising."  Tony was baptized, served a mission in Canada, returned, married in the temple, raised a beautiful family, and continues to serve faithfully in the church.  Tony has kept in touch with Kent over the years, visiting the states on several occasions and calling us every year at Christmas time.  His friendship has been a bright light in Kent's and our family's lives. 

Elder Smith, Tony, Elder Barlow on Tony's baptism day. 1985 (Tony gave Elder Smith and Elder Barlow the carnations-Elder Barlow's is still taped inside his missionary journal.)

Fast forward to just a few short months ago, when Elder Ty Askeroth from Logandale was called to serve in the Australia, Perth Mission.  Ty is friends with our daughters and came over to visit with Kent about Perth prior to entering the mission field.  In passing, we mentioned that maybe he would run into Tony Morganti while serving in Perth, but Perth is a large area, and the chances were slim.  Imagine our surprise, when Tony (at that time "Bishop Morganti" serving as his ward's Bishop) called us to report that he had a new missionary assigned to his ward.  Tony had asked this new missionary where he was from, and the missionary replied, "Las Vegas."  Later, Tony felt impressed to ask again, and this time the missionary answered, "Well, really I'm from a small town outside of Las Vegas called Logandale."  Tony got a big grin on his face and asked this new Elder Askeroth if he knew Kent Barlow.  And wa-la, an instant connection, friendship, and tender mercy for Elder Askeroth on his very first Sunday in Australia!

Bishop Morganti and Elder Askeroth 2012

Last week, Tony and his son Caleb came to visit us.  We had fun... constant, unrelenting fun, but we also renewed a friendship; a friendship that both Kent and Tony feel very well may have been formed prior to their lives here on earth.   It was great to spend time with Tony and get to know him and his son Caleb a bit better. 

July 2013 visit from Tony and Caleb:  Left to right: Kay, Kent, Luke, Tony, Caleb (in front), Trent, Lynae

A post regarding their visit will follow.  But for now that's the "back story" regarding our visitors from "The Land Down Under."

Yikes!

I'm becoming one of those people who doesn't post in over a month!  What's that all about?! All my readers (all 3 of them) will quit reading if I never post.  Well, I have a LOT to write about.  However, we've had houseguests, vacations, camps, etc. etc. You know...unrelenting, exhausting FUN!  And... well, this "Yikes" post will have to do until I can really write something of interest.  In the meantime, here's a sneak preview of what we've been up to the last month  (Ok, in reality it may not be a "preview" if I never get around to blogging about it :)

Luke wakeboarding

Kent and Kay-Vegas at night

Lynae and Kay-Twin Creeks at Fish Lake

50 years!

50 years ago today, Mike and Ann Hardy were married in the Salt Lake Temple

Happy GOLDEN wedding anniversary to the best parents in the world!

(Slide show compliments of Kent)

Choose Your Love; Love Your Choice

Today is flag day.  It is also the 77th wedding anniversary of my Grandma and Grandpa Monson.  Hanging on the wall in my grandma's kitchen as long as I can remember was a small framed cross-stitch that read, "Choose Your Love; Love Your Choice."   My grandparents did just that.  Happy Anniversary Grandma and Grandpa.  Thank you for setting a wonderful example of what a happy marriage should be.  I miss you every day.


Raymond Tracy Monson and Elese Hayes Monson on their wedding day.  June 14, 1936

 

Two of my favorite

Two of my favorite people share a birthday.  Happy 48th to my hubby Kent, and happy 79th to my daddy.

Sharing a birthday. Circa 1993. 
(That's my baby "leesie" with Uncle Steve in the background)

It All Started With a Fish Tank-or-How I Fell Off the Wagon

If you know anything about me, you know I have a small (well, maybe small is not the right adjective) cleaning addiction.  (See this post) Usually, the busy-ness of my life keeps this cleaning addiction at bay.  And the fact that I am working full time has really helped.  (Although in my opinion the cleanliness of my house has suffered.)  However, today, I kinda "fell off the wagon."

My friend Anjie and I were out for an early-morning run, and we saw a yard sale.  We stopped.  (Ya, we're "those" kind of runners-not too serious).  I seldom-ok I don't think I have EVER purchased anything at a yard sale.  However, strangely enough this yard sale had a large collection of 2 1/2 to 5 gallon fish tanks.  They were just two dollars each, complete with electric filters, lights, rocks etc..  Since I am going to be teaching 1st grade next year (a story for another post), I thought I might venture to have fish in the classroom.  (I'm not much of a "classroom pet" person, but fish don't seem too scary, and if I hate the whole thing-I'd only be out $2.)  When I got home I grabbed my wallet and headed back.  I ended up purchasing a 5 gallon tank which had some hard water marks on it.  I brought it home and immediately filled it with vinegar water to soak.  Then I remembered a Pinterest recipe for cleaning hard water using Dawn detergent and vinegar.  I actually bought both a while back excited to try this.  So I looked it up and began making the concoction to use on the lid of the fish tank.  However, while on Pinterest I also found a home recipe for cleaning the grime off  wooden cabinets, and then since I was going to be home all day, I additionally decided to set my oven for self-cleaning.  Long story short:  I have been happily scrubbing my wooden kitchen cabinets, oven racks, and everything in my house that has hard water marks  (sinks, tubs, and yes, of course the fish tank) for the last 5 hours.  My oven should "beep" any minute and then when it cools I can finish cleaning that.  I have enjoyed myself immensely, my cabinets look AMAZING, and all the fixtures in my house are sparkly....AND one thing about this addiction: I actually FEEL BETTER about life when I succumb to it. 

But, I've determined I should NOT EVER search "home cleaning solutions" on Pinterest unless I have a LOT of time which can be devoted to cleaning.

"What My Mother Means to Me" by Luke

"What My Mother Means to Me" by Luke Barlow-age 11
(5th grade school writing assignment)

What my mom means to me is....Hmmmm. Got it. No. Yes. She is gifted , awesome, and she spends time with me.

First, she is gifted.  She can make me happy when I'm sad.  She takes me to Wally's, which means a lot to me because I like food.

Furthermore, she spends time with me.  That says a lot.  She doesn't do what she wants to do like painting her nails.  She takes me to basketball and football games.

Lastly, she is awesome.  I mean everyone wants an awesome mom.  Besides the ones that want to grow up and be terrorists so they can say they had a bad mom.  She doesn't care where we eat when I pick.  That's why she's awesome. 

That's what my mom means to me.  SHE RULES!!!!!!!

*Now who wouldn't want an essay like this written about her?  Happy Mother's Day to me :)

Boston-the next best thing

Like the rest of the country, I was shocked and saddened by the bombings at the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 15th.  I have run a few marathons, and though I was quite certain I would not have been coming in at the time of the bombings, I may have had friends there waiting for me to come in.  The thought was/is a bit scary.  However, even more frightening was the fact that I was signed up to run the Salt Lake City Marathon which would be occurring only 5 days after the Boston bombings (on April 20th). And to make this endeavor even a bit more scary, two of my daughters would be running it with me.  (Lynae was set to run the full marathon with me, and Analise was signed up to run the half, which started with the full and ran the same course as the full till mile 8 at which point the courses separated.)

However, the whole experience turned out to be awesome.  Since I am pretty sure I will never qualify for Boston  (My fastest marathon time is 4:20-ish, and last time I checked based on my age, I'd need to shave about an hour off that time to qualify...yeah-that is not happening), running this marathon (the first full marathon in the US after the Boston bombings) turned out to be the next best thing.  The race was dedicated to the Boston runners, and we got to sign a huge banner at the packet pick up to be sent to the Boston Race director.  They gave us blue and gold (The signature color of the Boston Marathon) ribbons for our shoes and "Run Now" Boston bracelets printed with the date of the Boston Marathon.  They played "Sweet Caroline,"  ( A Boston sporting event tradition) at the start of the marathon, and they even had pacers in the race set to come in at the exact time of the bombings at which time they had a moment of silence.  So even though, I didn't (and probably never will) get to run the Boston Marathon, I got to do the next best thing.

Lynae, Analise, and Kay-"Remembering Boston" banner at packet pick-up

Signing the banner

Awesome headbands that the girls made me buy at packet pick-up. Can you read them?

Well-stocked fanny pack.  The girls teased me about being "more prepared than an Eagle Scout" but they were happy to let me carry their phones, eat my snacks, and take an Advil as needed.  (Don't moms ALWAYS have to be prepared with their children's needed-items?  And yes, moms ALWAYS get to carry EVERYTHING-even if they are running 26.2 miles in a rainstorm!)



Waiting in the car for the race to start. Thanks Kaylee for being our driver, but we wish you would have run with us.  (Note the bread and peanut butter on the seat between Analise and Lynae-we were carb-loading up until the last minute. If you look close you'll also notice an empty pizza box in the motel room picture above :)

In the rain at the start line.  The headbands turned out to be quite useful.  We tucked the hoods of our 99-cent ponchoes under the headbands to keep our heads dry.  But we still got quite soggy after running for several hours in a rainstorm.

Over 4,000 runners!  Start line

1/2 marathon finisher-Analise

Lynae comes down the homestretch finishing her first full marathon!

I finished the full 26.2 too-unfortunately I don't look as cute as my girls, but I am smiling!

Finishers!

Wet, muddy shoes, Bostons ribbons and bracelets.
WE DID IT!

Cha-ching!!!

I've been a parent for 22+ years, and sometimes (ok almost ALL the time) it is a pretty thankless job, but this week I got the following text from my 19-year-old college freshman:

"Just got out of my human development class where we talked about parenting and I think almost everything we talked about for a GOOD parent were things you and dad have always done for us.  Thanks for being such a good mom!"

Cha-ching!!! Major pay-off!! I think I have a new "favorite-ever" text! 

Thanks for making my day Kaylee!

Really??!!

A few weeks ago I got an e-mail from the school nurse.  It was a mass e-mail sent out to all families of school children.  It stated that there had been a lot of pink-eye, strep throat, and mono circulating through the valley schools.  I already knew this and had been diligent in washing and sanitizing my hands multiple times daily while at school.  I was taking massive doses of vitamin C and Airborne.  I was getting plenty of sleep and drinking gallons of water.  I was winning!  I was NOT sick!  I had avoided the "plague."  Then last Saturday evening (on the eve of Spring break, when I would have a week off from daily exposure to the germ-fest that is public school), I felt the beginnings of a sore throat!  WHAT??!!  I upped the rigor of my prevention plan, taking even more vitamin C and drinking more water and napping.  I refused to be sick for my spring break trip to Provo.  And even if I was (I'm not admitting anything) I took enough Advil, Tylenol, and Daytime Cold Medicine to be in complete and total denial and have a wonderful time accomplishing my Provo "bucket list."  By Thursday, when I returned home and scaled back on the meds, I had a nice hacking cough which settled in my chest.  I slept sitting up sucking on cough drops.  By yesterday, Friday, I was sure that my sickness was on its way out.  (Only a slight sore throat and slight lingering sinus issues and headache).  However, this morning I woke up with my left eye sealed shut!!  REALLY???!!!  Where are these germs coming from??!! I haven't been to school in 6 days, and I'm just NOW getting pink eye??!!  No one else in my family has it.  So now I'm changing my contacts, washing towels, and sheets, and hoping that maybe I can get into urgent care today.  (I tried to get in on Monday before leaving for Provo, but it was an hour wait, so I just self-treated and hoped my illness was not antibiotic-requiring strep.) 

*Note: I did have an eye-doctor tell me once that all "pink-eye" medicine was was Neosporin in a drop-form.  He said to just rub Neosporin over your infected eyes like you would eye-make-up remover, for the same effect as prescription conjunctivitis meds.  I've already started that.  Happy Easter!

In other news, and quite ironically, I recently read 2 Nephi 31.  I'm usually pretty faithful about reading my scriptures-OK so I'm super faithful, I really NEVER miss.  But it is harder when schedules are crazy, like with spring break.  So the other night, as I was getting ready for bed, I realized that I had not read my scriptures.  I picked up the Book of Mormon that was in the bathroom, and just opened it.  (I know-how cliche-but still, at least I was reading).  I happened to open to 2 Nephi 31, one of the last chapters in 2 Nephi, and some of Nephi's last words.  (I'm always a bit sad when I get to the end of a particular prophet's writings in the scriptures; it's like I'm saying goodbye.) For some reason, while I stood reading this chapter quickly in the bathroom before bed, verse 20 really struck me.  This verse and its predecessor, verse 19 are quite "famous" (meaning they are quoted often) as making the point that we must endure to the end.  I knew this.  I had read it before.  I know that I must endure, that I must feast upon the words of Christ, that I must have charity, but what really hit me this time were the words "having a perfect brightness of hope."  I don't think I've ever given these words or this phrase that much thought.  But for the last few days these words ("a perfect brightness of hope") have been playing over and over in my head.  It's not just enough for me to endure and try to be good.  I have to do so with  hope, and not just with a "shred" or "particle" of hope, but with a "perfect brightness" of hope.  Wow!  That's a huge challenge for me.  Perfect! Part of "enduring to the end," is to do so with optimism, perfect optimism, despite my circumstances (like a sore throat or pink-eye) and the attitudes of those around me.  (Sometimes it seems sooo difficult to maintain a positive attitude when I am bombarded with the frustrations and irritation of those around me.)  But in the end, I have the agency to CHOOSE a "perfect brightness of hope,"  and thanks to the power and gift of the atonement, I know that I CAN do it.  So here's to a future of a "perfect brightness of hope!"

Provo Bucket List

We go to Provo a lot.  We have 2 daughters going to school there.  We take them.  We move them.  We help them buy books, find apartments, and grocery shop.  We have a lot of fun in Provo, but most the time our "fun" revolves around the needs of our BYU students.  So this year, during spring break, Kent and I decided to take a road trip to Provo to do some things WE wanted to do.  (Our daughters had school and work and were busy with their own lives, but joined us for some of our "bucket list" items.)  Our bucket list included:

*Hike the "Y"      
This one was my item-I had never done this-I know-how DID I graduate from BYU without hiking the "Y?!"  My guilt only increased two summers ago, when, as part of a family reunion scavenger hunt in Salt Lake we "hiked" the "U."  (Although "hiked" may be the wrong word-you can basically drive to the "U".  Hmmm....is there some hidden meaning in the fact that the "U" is so easy to get to, but the "Y" requires quite a bit of effort.  Just sayin...)

*Eat curry at the Bombay House
This item was Kent's.  Every time we go to Provo, and we drive by the Bombay House, he wants to eat there.  The curry was great, and our waiter was an Indian from India complete with a full beard, mustache, turban, and the name "Lucky,"  really-it was on his name tag!

*Attend a session at the Provo temple
It's so convenient that they have sessions every 20 minutes.  Can't wait till the new Provo temple is done.  The Provo tabernacle is being converted to a temple.  The whole thing is up on stilts right now while they build a basement underneath.  It's pretty awesome!

*Take pics at our daughters' apartments
Both our daughters live in apartments that I lived in while at BYU.  Kaylee lives in Heritage Halls-Young Hall to be exact.  She lives with Mady, who is the daughter of my freshman year roommate Corinne-How cool is that?!  Analise lives in Chatham on 9th East.  I lived there spring term 1988.  I was looking for a place to stay for spring term that year, and a young man by the name of Kent Barlow suggested that I move into Chatham where he lived.  I was interested in this boy, and decided that it would either be a very good move or a very bad one-depending on how things went with Mr. Barlow.  I finally decided that even if it turned out to be bad, it would only be for the 8 weeks of spring term, and I could endure anything for 8 weeks.  25 years and 6 kids later-I'd say it turned out to be a GRAND idea :)

Other fun things we did in Provo, not necessarily on the list:  Eat at Molly's-Yum!  Saw the Rembrandt exhibit at the BYU Museum of Art, Easter shopping, dinner at Red Lobster (Someday I AM going to save room for the delicious looking chocolate-filled dessert cookie they have there.) and sleeping, exercising, and relaxing at the Marriott.  Happy Spring break to us.  (For more info on the rest of our spring break activities see this post from last year-it was basically a "ditto" this year.  AND I uploaded some of this year's spring break activities photos to facebook-pretty amazing for me since I never post pics on fb)

Kay, Analise, and Kaylee ready to hike the "Y"

Kay and Kent ready to hike the "Y"
 (Not sure how excited Kent is about this bucket-list item.  To be fair, even though neither of us ever HIKED the "Y,"  we did four-wheel all over and around "Y" mountain in Kent's black Ford Ranger while we were dating.)

The Barlows at the top-gotta love Analise's sweatshirt-At least I wore a BYU shirt for the occasion :)

The girls at the top of the "Y"

At the Bombay House-Kent is much happier about this bucket-list item

Kaylee and Kay- Young Hall

Analise and Kay-Chatham on 9th East

Provo Temple
The best I could do-I got an eye-roll for even wanting a picture.  Forget about asking a complete stranger to take a picture with Kent and me IN it.  (Although I'm sure a nice missionary would have obliged right?)

New Provo temple aka old Provo tabernacle on stilts
For more photos and also cool updates on the building process, see this site
http://newtempleinprovo.blogspot.com/2013_01_01_archive.html