Baby Shower

Hostesses Melissa and Cora

Beth explaining how a cat bit her several times on the hands and arms yesterday. (She is a pet groomer).

Tired, wounded, Beth, thanks for coming.

Beth's swollen, red, septic, achy hands.

Mother and Grandma

Hannah, Amy and Melissa

Appetizers: Spinach dip, pineapple, ice cream sundaes, lemon bread (not pictures, all eaten up).

Pastry Chef Cherry Cream Cheese Sweet Rolls

Melissa prepares a soothing foot bath for me (to help heal from my charlie horses/inflammation). AHHHhh!

Ice cream sundaes and making baby hair bows activity.

Self Portrait of me and my girls!

Mom and Me with her presents for our sweet little lady (coming soon?)

My sweet Sister-in-law, Melissa, hosted a baby shower for me because she explained "every baby should be celebrated." It was hard to have all the attention. Thank you, Mom, Melissa, Amy, and Beth for coming to support me and my little one. This is a busy time with Spring Break. I am still very touched by your love and support. (Are the tears from pregnancy?). Melissa and Amy brought ice cream toppings, Mom brought sweet rolls to share, Beth brought a picnic lunch for our children and me a huge cup of Melon frozen yogurt (divine!). We had fun talking, swapping baby girl clothes, making flower and ribbon hair accessories, talking, playing with Baby Cora and Callie, opening presents (pink hooded bath towel, baby bracelet, hair bow, pink shoes, and a nursing cover, Newborn outfit, soft blanket, etc.) and having "Girl Time" while the other ten children destroyed Melissa's home (upstairs and down) in the meanwhile. We missed Beth briefly while she visited Grandpa (a doctor) and got an antibiotic shot (have I mentioned what a miracle Rocephin is?) and some TLC. We were excited Beth will show us her new baby mare (nine days old)! **Post edit: Thank you dear family and online friends for your well wishes! (Wish you could have joined the celebration!). I appreciate YOU and your kindness.

Jazz Verses the Thunder

Mehmet Okur was signing autographs after warming up (his back turned to the other side). He is a very nice man!

I forgot my camera and so Joe used a Droid Phone to take the following pictures.

Deron Williams?

Mehmo takes a shot.

Craig Bolderjack, newscaster, gives us updates on the teams playing.

Pre-game show from Suite 44.

Jerry Sloan coming onto the practice floor.

"Mehmo" Mehmet Okur practicing before Tuesday night's game.

Tonight Joe and I were invited by the Les Olsen Company to a Jazz Event: Floor tickets, catered dinner, Suite 44 with refreshments to view the game. We met in a private room just off the main floor for appetizers, drinks, and special speakers. Jazz Spokesman, Steve Johnson introduced Kevin O' Connor GM of the Jazz who spoke to us about the game tonight and about upcoming events like recruiting and working with the Jerry Sloan and the Jazz. He quoted Jerry as saying, "It is easier to lose than to win!" "We want Oklahoma to feel that way tonight!" He went on to explain that tonight was an important championship game to determine the rank they would be entering the playoffs. (This is following the disappointing loss to the Laker's on Saturday in LA). They are second place currently. Each team they play will be a challenging team from here on out. The draft is coming up and NY gets the first pick. The Jazz will select nine names to draft. When asked whether he would opt for height or skill, his response was "Big guys beat little guys at checkers." He went on to explain that in this game, "if a big player is good=go big!" the exception was a player like Deron Williams. Andrei Kirilenko will probably be "out" due to a leg injury (MRI shows blood in the calf, docs won't let him play) for another couple of games. How long can the Jazz afford to let him heal, I wonder? Next, Craig Bolerjack (renowned for his 13 years on KSL "Sportsbeat Sunday" eleven years ago) came in and spoke to us about the "crazy five last game run." He coined the phrase, "if you've got'em--buckle up." The playoffs will happen after these five games. This would be a "Monster Game" as to importance in the playoffs. The other team's players to watch are two year player, Kevin Durant and one year player Russell Westbrook. Both are relatively "new" and showing a lot of promise. Bolerjack spoke a little of his wife and sons. He travels with the Jazz and after the game tonight they will board a chartered plane and fly to Houston to get ready for the game there tomorrow night. It can be a grueling schedule. On the way up to the fourth floor where we would eat dinner and watch the game from a suite, we had to take an elevator. Out of the elevator came Elder M. Russell Ballard. Joe, fast on his feet, said hello and touched his elbow as he smiled and passed us. The Jazz played the Oklahoma Thunder. It was a game in which the Jazz never took a huge lead and Oklahoma (with players massive in height) shot very well and made their baskets. We got photos (from LOC) of Deron Williams playing in Boston and Joe won four tickets to a Salt Lake Bee's Baseball game in a drawing. (He said he had a "feeling" he would win which is funny because as an actuary knowing the probability--he usually tells people "I never win.") Joe and I left when the clock had only three minutes left worried about the crowds, traffic, upcoming baby, and children (probably not asleep) an hour away. It was a good thing because we walked to the wrong parking and became quite disoriented. It took a little while to realize we were on the other block and get to our car. meanwhile, I hear we missed an intense finale with Durant getting a foul that wasn't called from the refs which might have won the Thunder the game. (To be fair, a couple of calls were made against the Jazz that were very unpopular. I remarked to Joe that being an NBA Ref would not be a low stress job.)

Easter Celebrations with Campbells

Aunt Annie and the Decadence!

A chilly night and grimace.

Eggs Galore!

Pre-hunt participants!

The Loot!

Enthusiastic Joe!

(Camera was not fat enough to get the landing of the jump!)

Susie's excited over the toys!

Pop Pop and Bekah

Cousins! Because two people fell in love! (Grammy and Pop Pop)

Anne hosted an elegant Easter Celebration for the Campbells tonight. It was fun to have Uncle Dave and finance Kelleen up from LA and Vegas with us. The children had a lot of fun playing with cousins: Katy, Jane, Lolly, Jackson, Mick, and Brock. Cousin Sydne came with her twins: Ethan and Kayson (and their first egg hunt). Anne spoiled us all with white chocolate lemon parfeits, Coconut Macaroons, White Chocolate Cookie Pops, Chocolate Cream Cookie Torte, Strawberry mini-cupcakes, Coconut Cupcakes, chocolates, etc. We enjoyed talking and romping with cousins...an excellent Easter!

Easter Afternoon at the Cabin

Jonathan and Susie find a cozy corner to listen.

We looked out the window and caught this: Jonathan out "ridin." Susie couldn't get up or chances are she would be on the back.

Grandma and Grandpa are fast basket finders! (H and R hid it on the back freezer under a white apron. Hannah remarked the place was "Easy, because they are old!"

For the afternoon session of Conference, we headed up to the cabin to visit Grandma and Grandpa Clayton and bring them a surprise Easter basket. Surprises inside included: hard boiled eggs, candy Gummi eggs, scented Easter turrets, Easter flag decoration, chick candles, a musical egg decoaration and stand, Hoppy Easter card, etc. Easter dinner was Chicken Alfredo Casserole, Green Beans, Raspberry Jello, and Razzelberry Pie and ice cream. Strong wind knocked over a playhouse and Joe got a kick out of the sign.

Easter Sunday

We woke up to more than six inches of Snow (with more in the prediction for Mon. and Tues.)! This morning we had a relaxed Easter Breakfast: tater tots, hard boiled eggs and pancakes with fruit syrups and orange juice. Hannah led the gang in General Conference Bingo (for Jelly Bellies), and we enjoyed being together. Jonathan arranged the eggs in the decorator with his Easter Bunny egg on top.