Alumni Basketball Tournament

Hanna came home for a week for the U.S. Thanksgiving break. We didn't even really end up having a Thanksgiving meal because we had other things each night she was here.
Hanna did get to play in the Cardston High School Alumni Basketball Tournament.  Her team also played against the current Varsity Girls Basketball team. Hanna was determined that her team beat the varsity team, and they did - as classy as they looked in their old fashioned uniforms, along with Coach Jeff Johnson,

Melissa Carter, Tenly Schaffer, Morgan Gibb, Madison Barfuss, Erica Smith, Coach Jeff Johnson
Hanna, Madison Leishman, Madison Leishman, Katelyn Pierson, Brooke Nish

Hailey & Jeff Get Hitched

Since it is the year of weddings, we got to go to Utah again, this time for Hailey Bennett who got married to Jeff Sundwall.

Austin wasn't able to come with us this time, so Lucy, Carly and I headed south on a road trip. We drove to Idaho Falls the first night, and then we went through Logan to pick up Hanna. 

I made Lucy and Carly hike these stairs with me because Austin and I used to stop on our way from Logan to Idaho Falls to hike these stairs for fun. (Lucy likes to make goofy faces in pictures - it's not that she didn't want to come with us:)

We were excited to see this college kid. We kind of miss her. And I made her take a picture in front of her K-2 door (because you know how I love Old Farm since I also lived there a few years ago).

You know college life has changed Hanna when I asked her if she wanted to drive to Cedar Hills, and she said yes. Before her college days, there is no way she would have wanted to be the driver through Salt Lake. But she's all grown up now.

What do you do when you have a couple hours before the wedding family dinner, you go shopping at the outlet mall. We actually found some awesome deals - which they picked out for their own Christmas presents - but at least we know they will like it and it will fit. Did you know how much I love shopping? I really do. Especially in the USA.

Carly got to stay at the Bennetts for the kid party while we went to the family dinner. It was a fancy affair - and so great. They had salmon and fancy stuff for dinner. Nathan and Carson did a funny speech where they said they checked Hailey's suitcase that she was taking on her honeymoon, and they were telling her she wouldn't need those things - like red high heels, a hatchet, a stuffed animal, Lola, the For Strength of Youth pamphlet. It was funny. Then Jeff's mom had written a play/musical telling Jeff and Hailey's story. Jeff's family are amazing singers. They are so talented. Jeff and Hailey also sang a song together - that's how they met through being in a school play together.

We stayed at Rachelle's house that night. She hosted a mini Waite family Thanksgiving dinner/lunch. We were all there - except Julie's family is on a cruise and the Bennetts were at their beauty appointments. It was a fun and delicious meal. 

Then off to the temple. They got married in the Provo City Temple. The temple was originally a tabernacle, but now it is a temple. Jeff's grandpa was the sealer. There were so many people packed into the sealing room. It is a beautiful temple, and a temple marriage is the right thing!

This is Roger and Barbara Stommel. They lived next to our family on Taylorview Lane. Their daughter, Christina, was all of our best friend. Roger would come knock on our back door and ask us if we had any cookies. And we usually did. It was so fun to see them after all these years.

Hailey is such a beautiful bride. Her reception was beautiful and amazing and so many people came - the line was so long all night. The worst part - Hailey got sick during the reception and ran out and threw up several times. Lola had been sick the week before with the flu. Hailey was tough and she would come back out for a few minutes and then leave again. They were cutting the cake, and Jeff went to feed her a piece and she started gagging and turned and ran off. Poor girl. Luckily she recovered quickly and wasn't sick her whole honeymoon.

We stayed and went to church with Rachelle on Sunday. Then we went back to Logan and stayed with Steve and Karma Albiston. We waited for Hanna to go to her classes and work on Monday and then we brought her home with us for Thanksgiving break.

This Mira Thatcher. I saw her while we were shopping in Logan. I worked with her on campus right after I got married until after Jill was born in the Board of Trustees office in Old Main. I haven't seen her for a lot of years. She was such a good friend and example to me.

Aggie Ice Cream - a must

I love Logan.

You Were Right...

There is something a bit satisfying as a parent when your kids say or imply - you were right....

Hanna said to Austin - I should have listened to you. I wish I hadn't had a steady boyfriend in high school. I should have broken up with him before he left on his mission. You were right...

I asked Jill how much she made from her summer job (working for an app developer) so I could estimate her taxes, and she said she is making more working at the restaurant than she did all summer, and she only works two days a week. She said that wasn't her best life decision. So she didn't actually say "you were right," but Austin and I both tried to convince her to go with her other summer job options.

This morning Carly said, "Mom, I think I want to start taking violin lessons again after Christmas." I didn't want her to quit, but she assured me that she didn't need to since she was in band at school. I told her she had to still practice the violin once a week even without lessons. She has only pulled it out about 3 times in the last 5 months.  She also meant, you were right...

Rising Star - Hanna Nunn

Since Hanna was the high school team roping provincial champion, she got invited to compete in the Rising Stars rodeo during the Canada Finals Rodeo. She had to miss school and made her first solo voyage from Utah to Canada. The last hour the roads were terrible, and I was very worried about her, but she conquered and made it home safely.

The next day we drove to Red Deer, and they had a couple workshops and a group photo for the contestants. Monica Wilson got us some tickets for the CFR night performance. It was fun to be there, and most of all fun to be with Hanna.

Hanna's team roping partner, Talia Powelson, brought a horse for her to use. They got to be part of an awesome opening show as part of the rodeo. Then when it was their turn to team rope, Talia caught a front leg, so they were a no time.