I feel like I've been gone so long that I don't know what to say!

Two trips. That's what I've done. Thursday June 25th to Tuesday June 30: Family reunion in Provo. Man, I hate recounting stuff that most people don't care to hear play by play. SO...

Roadtrip - AWESOME. 3 sisters, one brother, straight through both ways (minus the brother on the return trip). I loved.

Baby blessing - AWESOME. My littlest brother blessed his first baby. Perhaps you remember the pix I put up of Miriam. We are in love. Plus she looks like me as a baby. It was very special. I mean, I LOVE that girl. And her parents.

Almost sister-in-law: AWESOME. We didn't get much time to visit, but who cares. It's easy to see how neat she is, and she is perfect for my brother. There will be time later to get to know her better, so that makes me feel less panicky. I know, panicky is weird. But I like to be close to the ol' fam. In case you haven't noticed my two sisters and uncle and cousins in the ward.

Extended family - really neat. I learned all about a branch of the family that I really didn't know anything about. My dad's mom's fam has some really cool history, and I loved meeting his cousins and their kids. Plus, all of Dad's siblings (eight kids in the family) were together for the first time in, like, 25 years. It was really neat. Much food and socializing. Of course, the masses and masses of socializing were difficult for me, but once I got there I had a great time.

Provo - Okay, this part is crappy. That is the worst place on earth. And the vortex of horror is BYU campus. And the reunion took place on campus. I damn near had a breakdown. Okay, I had a breakdown. Listen, that is the place and the time of my life that I had the worst time, felt the very worst about myself, and have the very worst memories of. It was really hard to be there. I was pretty sick in the stomach. HOWEVER, I have awesome sisters who stood by me and were very encouraging and complimentary (and hated on Provo in a show of solidarity). And by the end, those feelings were resolved. I came out on the other side. I still don't care for that place. At all. At all all all. But I am not a jellified mess, and it isn't the black underworld any longer. So, the Lord is amazing, because that really is a miracle. I could go back there and be just fine.

NEXT TRIP

Thursday July 2 to Sunday July 5. Andy and I had what Leslie calls a "love trip" for our 10th anniversary. We've never gone away together since we've had kids. We went to a resort and spa in Bastrop (near Austin). It was Hyatt Lone Pine something. Everything about it was ridiculously fabulous. We had a few folks up in the church today tell us we were glowing. Well, yeah! We had the most fun! I will now brag on it:

This place is all about the Texas experience. The whole place was decorated with Texas history. I love that stuff. There was a great pool with a lazy river (everyone know what that is?) and a slide and a beach area and an adult pool and a bar and, well, it goes on. We spent some time out there, you can bet. The waiters refill your drinks and you can order food that is brought to you right there in your lounge chair! I know I sound crazy, but I felt rich and famous. There are these green water bottles you can buy (which we were actually given by the people who told us to go to this resort), and you get FREE REFILLS wherever you go in the resort. FREE DRINKS ALL WEEKEND! AND free s'mores at night. Here are the two drawbacks: Pepsi, not Coke (uh, what in thuh?!), and no free internet. Alright, back to the grand time. We went horseback riding, watched a couple of movies, did I mention the pool? And then: I went to the spa!! It was fan-freakin'-tastic! Fan-FREAKING-tastic! Officially, I had the "botanical purification ritual." Whatever - that amounts to me cramming in as much stuff as possible for one price. You know, cuz you can have facials, mani-pedis, massages, etc. So, mine was a body scrub followed by a volcanic body mask. Then I was wrapped in all sorts of sheets and towels and plastic (cozy, not claustrophobic). Then my feet were rubbed for a hundred years. Then, I showered off all the goop and got a massage with moisturizing lotion! Ta da! Perfect! My skin was so soft and smelled so good (and apparently detoxed by the geranium essence they used). I didn't want to go back to the pool and ruin it. But, I couldn't resist. Did I mention there was a slide?

This place was full of families. Kids everywhere. It made me miss my babies. The place is perfect for families and reunions and whatnot. There was even a bride and groom checking in. They must all be loaded. We are really lucky to have gotten this special trip. Ahhh, amour!

That's it. Andy and I aren't picture takers, but we tried. If I ever get them, I'll post them. Don't hold your breath.

Oh wait! I fell asleep during my footrub in the spa, and I woke myself up with my own snoring. Very classy.