Conference wrap-up (it's worth the wait!)

* My sincere apologies to Will and Nate, both of whom I'm sure have been checking my blog every day, looking for this post.

So, we had all sorts of fun last weekend in Utah. We left Thursday morning and drove to Sam and Terri's house where I promptly handed all responsibility of my children over to Terri. She managed to play with the boys AND cook a yummy dinner - proving to Chuck that it can be done, so there go my excuses. Did I mention the homemade cinnamon rolls?

The ball must've been out on Will, since Clyde's throwing it back in . . . Terri and Clyde heading back downstairs after a marathon jumping-on-the-bed session. Clyde would sign 'Terri' and 'jump' then point to the bed - so cute. Will scored some quality time with his aunt, too!

Friday afternoon we left the little napping boys with my mom (thanks Mama!) and Sam, Terri, Chuck, and I gallavanted around Orem and Provo. We shared two yummy caramel apples, unsuccessfully attempted to visit Chuck's sister Amanda (and I think scared her roommate a bit in the process) and Terri and I got our wedding rings cleaned! Yay, they came out SO shiny and pretty and sparkly. This was really special to me because it was five years ago this weekend that Chuck and I got engaged!

Friday evening it was over to the fabulous hospitality of the Smith family for the Semi-annual Smith-Braden-Izatt-Hugo General Conference Weekend Extravaganza. I love how close our families are; we had fun this weekend imagining how crazy our future gatherings will get as our families expand!
Clyde loved playing their piano, although I doubt he'll ever play as well as Ben

All the guys humored me and lined up for a picture after Priesthood session: Chuck, Ben, Nate, Will, and Reed. We had a blast playing Scum, even though Chuck beat us all soundly (after he insisted on hearing the rules fifteen times - "Question: What if . . . " "Question: What about . . ."). A round had just ended when Chuck went to take this picture, so he told us to pretend to play, so Heidi exasperatedly grabbed a handful of cards; I almost died laughing at the expression on her face.

Mom and Nate are political junkies and kept showing each other funny SNL clips. Nate's a freshman in college and we were SO glad he was able to come home for Conference weekend (even if he and Will did mock my blog frequently!)

As always, Gloria's cooking was delicious; Courtney can also handle herself very well in the kitchen! Court and Heidi made yummy pumpkin chocolate chip cookies on Saturday afternoon and since Will missed out on them, he and Heidi made some different pumpkin cookies on Sunday.

Heidi and baby Will

Will and baby Will snuggled on the Love Sac watching Conference; baby Will is very tactile.

We usually have a big, yummy dinner after the afternoon session of Conference on Sunday and then pack up for home. As dinner was winding down and we were enjoying Heidi and Will's yummy cookies, Nate indicated that he would like to say something. He was so serious, so I really thought he was going to deliver a heartfelt speech about the importance of family and friends and traditions. Instead, he whipped out an AWESOME trophy and (pretty heartfelt-edly) gave props to my sweet husband for all of his help prepping for Courtney and Ben's wedding reception this summer! (In my defense, Nate is a debate/drama star, so his initially seriousness was pretty realistic). The trophy is a guy with a basketball (I think that's because Chuck powerwashed their basketball court) and in black pen on duct tape, it reads: Chuck Izatt MVP 2008. Pretty cool, eh?

Posing with the trophy, which now has a home on the bookcase in our living room.

Last but not least, General Conference itself was such a welcome reminder of what we need to be doing and how much our Heavenly Father cares about each of us. One of my favorite talks was from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland on Saturday afternoon, 'The Ministry of Angels'. At one point he said: "My beloved brothers and sisters, I testify of angels, both the heavenly and the mortal kind. In doing so I am testifying that God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face. “[N]or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man [or woman or child] upon the face thereof to be saved.” [Moroni 7:36] On occasions, global or personal, we may feel we are distanced from God, shut out from heaven, lost, alone in dark and dreary places. Often enough that distress can be of our own making, but even then the Father of us all is watching and assisting. And always there are those angels who come and go all around us, seen and unseen, known and unknown, mortal and immortal." How uplifting and needed - the reassurance that our loving Heavenly Father 'never leaves us alone'.

Can't wait 'til April! (although we better see you guys again in the meantime . . . )