Conference Weekend Fall ‘09

It was so nice to have Jared watch Conference with us this Saturday.  I think this is the second Conference since we got married that Jared has been off of work to enjoy it with me.  I was also overjoyed to find out that we can watch conference on this random infomercial channel that I’ve never spent any time thinking about.  Though all of the talks were wonderful and interesting, of all the talks on Saturday morning, I’d have to say Elder Bednar’s was my favorite.  It was totally how I feel about families and the influence parents have on their children.  Christian was really good this session because I had given him and Jared bingo sheets that my friend Sherrada had given me.  It was awesome to watch him listen and get excited over words that were spoken on his card.

After the morning session we hopped in the car and headed to Mesa to visit my friend Sherrada’s family at her parent’s home.  They had a beautiful spread there with snack things like veggies, fruits, cheeses, meats, crackers, meatballs,…etc.   Then we all watched conference together.  I thought it was really neat that Christian could see that other families watch conference too.  I remember being young and having all of the neighborhood kids knock on the door and want to play during conference.  I seriously thought we were the only family in the ward who watched conference…they never even reminded us or asked us about watching conference in primary.  Though it’s good for kids to recognize that their family has different values than some other families I think it’s good for kids to see that they have similarities with others.

After the afternoon session we had a little Birthday Party for Damien Sherrada’s sister Kalei’s little boy.  It was very cute because they let him pray for the pizza and in his prayer he said a lot of things of thanks that Christian could come to his party.  I thought it so sweet.

Here’s Damien blowing out his candles.  My favorite part of this video is that he gives his little sister Jordan a love after he finishes!

Here’s Damien showing his (soon-to-be) age.   

Christian enjoying his cupcake

Lydia acting distressed after getting all sticky  

Jordan stripped down to eat blue frosting 

Damien eating his cupcake (he swirls the frosting off with his finger first and then eats the cake last) 

After the Party the Men got ready to go to the Priesthood session and us Girls and the kids got ready to go to Ladies Night Out at Deseret Book.  Christian was a little concerned that he had to go with the girls but then I told him that when he’s older he can go with dad to Priesthood sessions.

Here’s a picture of the boys at Ladies Night Out

I was surprised that we were still within the first 100 women when we got there because there were sooo many women there.  It was crazy!  We ended up over by the children’s books and read books to our kids.  It was a little frustrating because a lot of moms just would leave their children over by the children’s books and go talk with their friends or wander around the store.  All these kids were surrounding me and leaning on me trying to look at the book I was reading.  Christian must have felt a little possessive of me because he decided to sit in my lap and he never sits in my lap lately.  I felt a little bit like Mary Poppins or something like that.  I really don’t mind kids I know crowding me but I really do like my space when it comes to other people’s children that are allowed to roam free.

Right before the end I got in line with Sherrada  and we picked up our door prize for being in the first 100 women.  I never went in Salt Lake to Ladies Night Out but it was really fun to go with the girls.  I’m glad they invited me! 

My door prize

For the Sunday sessions we stayed home.  My body started aching horribly in my joints and I knew I was coming down with a bug.  It was nice to just relax at home as a family and listen to conference.  I was so proud of myself for not falling asleep once during either session but I did take a nap in-between so maybe that’s why I didn’t fall asleep.  I am so thankful to have a living prophet and apostles that guide our church with wisdom and a testimony of Jesus Christ.  Elder Holland’s talk was particularly striking to me, it was so powerful.

I loved conference weekend!