Utah - June 2026

We made our annual pilgrimage to Utah. Normally we go the end of July, but since there is no Colorado reunion this year, we went in June to participate in some family activities. Gone are the days where we used to stay for a month. Now we just stay for a week.

We went to stake conference in the morning and then David dropped us off at the airport. He couldn't come with us because he got promoted at work and they haven't backfilled his job yet.

We had a 4-hour layover in Chicago. I like flying through ORD. We could have left later and had a shorter layover, but we always like to go for the earlier flights just in case.

Plenty of time for popcorn.

We made the flight and got to Salt Lake just before 11:00 p.m. Grandad is always such a good sport to pick us up.

The next day Baylie was able to spend some time with Kaitlyn in her newlywed apartment.

She is very happy.

Tuesday we went shopping to Trader Joe's and Costco. 

Asher came over with his parents to mow the lawn.

When the yard work was finished, we sat around and talked. I cherish family time like this because we don't get much of it.

Erik, Asher, Jalen, Dad, Mom, Shanelle

Grandad gave Jalen some work to do so he could earn money for priesthood camp. They sanded down and repainted the BYU rocking chairs.

Baylie helped Grammy week the flower beds.

I'm grateful my kids have a good relationship with my parents.

I sat around and did nothing.

Dad has welding projects all over the yard and house. They're so cute.

He even made me a dragon.

We went to BYU so we could find all of Baylie's classes and her dorm.

In front of the library

With the Y in the background

The famous Y sculpture

Of course we made a trip to the BYU bookstore. 

With Cosmo

Jalen made a killing on basketball and football jerseys! He was very excited with his purchases.

The bookstore is so cool. It's ridiculously expensive, but there's usually a clearance rack.

Me and my buddy Sitake.

Most of Baylie's classes are in the music building. This will be her music improvisation class. She will have a teacher who also taught David.

Lobby of the music building.

This will be Baylie's dorm at Heritage Halls - building 2. It's convenient because it's close to the Creamery where she'll work and the music building where she has most of her classes.

Back side of the building with their creamery ice cream.

I bought cheese curds.

We also bought soft drinks. Utah is unmatched when it comes to soft drink options.

We found a place to buy empanadas and alfajores to eat during the Argentina World Cup game.

I helped dad make sourdough. His turned out much softer than mine. I'm going to try Tiffani's recipe when we get home to see if my starter will make it this soft too.

I went to the state liquor store for vodka because in Utah you can only buy hard liquor at a state store - not at Costco or Total Wine like in South Carolina. I prepared the medicine jars for dad and we'll let them sit for 60 days.

We went for dinner at JDawgs. I'm not a big hot dog fan, but these were delicious! And the fries were fantastic. They even had a gluten free bun for Baylie.

Thursday Riley came over with strawberry fleece jackets for the three graduates that Dianne had made for them. They were so excited to get them.

Baylie, Clara, Lauryn

That night was the Strawberry Days Rodeo. It's such a great rodeo and I love it whenever we get to go. It's usually a family affair, which makes it even more fun. 

Front: Di, Riley, Bailey, Lily, Jayden, Molly, friend
Back: Camden, Clara, Jalen, Grandad, Grammy, me

Back: Dave, Tiff, Lauryn, Baylie, Asher
Front: Grammy, Grandad, Jalen

Patriotic Bea

Back: Ashley, Will, Simon
Front: Molly, Rosie, Jayden, Di, Bea, Bailey, Riley

friend, Leah, Kolton, Cameron

Scott's family joins the crowd

Dave, Tiffani, Rowan

Front (l-r): Molly, Rosie, Jayden, Di, Bailey, Riley, Hailey
Back: Clara, Jalen, Ashley, Will, Tyler

Grammy & Grandad with their strawberries and cream

So yummy!!

Bea and Simon

Gingham check girls - me, Di, Hailey

Friday morning I got up super early with Grandad to take him to the temple to work his shift. Then I went home and got Jalen and we went and got Asher. We then met the girls, Tiff, and Grammy back at the temple. Grandad arranged to work in the baptistry at the same time we were there. Jalen and Asher baptized each other and the girls. It was so neat to be there as a family and there was a beautiful spirit. I love these moments.

Asher, Jalen, Baylie, Lauryn, Clara

Clara!!

After the temple, they took Baylie's dorm stuff to Tiffani's rental home to store it until fall and they got the twin's stuff from the house so they can move into the dorm. Girls have lots of stuff!

Afterwards the girls and Asher went to BYU to find where all the girls' classes will be. And of course made a trip to the Creamery. 

Jalen and Kristin came back to the house to watch the USA play Australia in the World Cup. The U.S. won! They will for sure advance to the next round. Now we just have to see if they will go in first or second place. (Updated: they're going in first.)

Saturday morning was the Strawberry Days parade. Nothing quite like a small town parade! This parade still throws out TONS of candy. My brother Erik and his wife Shanelle always have a church breakfast in their front yard since it's on the parade route.  

Grammy & Grandad

Lauryn, Clara, Baylie, Jalen, Asher

We went back to Erik and Shanelle's for a hamburger dinner before heading up to Heber Canyon for a special family activity.

Cameron, Grammy, Camden, Lauryn, Clara, Baylie, Grandad Jalen

Shanelle, Asher, Tiffani

Shanelle had planned for us to all go to The Walk With Christ in honor of Grammy & Grandad's 60th anniversary, which will be on July 20. Most of the family was able to go. It was an incredibly powerful experience. We all wore headphones so it was a very personal experience. I cried through the whole thing.

Grammy & Grandad

Tiffani, Cameron, Clara, Baylie, Jalen, Asher, Camden, Kolton, Lauryn
Me, Dianne, Clark
Lily

Waiting in line

Beautiful mountains

Starting the walk.

After the walk.

Camden, Kolton, Erik, Baylie, Cameron, Jaylen, Tiffani, Clara, Clark, Asher, Dianne
Shanelle, Lauryn, Lily, Grammy, Grandad, Me

Jalen and Baylie also had moving experiences on the walk. Like me, they both cried. Even though it was an individual experience, I'm grateful I got to share it with so many members of my family. I love my family so much. 

We had originally planned to go straight to the airport after the walk and catch a red eye flight. However, the walk took longer than expected. We decided to go back to Provo so we could watch Grandad open his Father's Day presents. We got a couple of hours of sleep and then Dave and Tiff drove us to the airport for a 5:10 a.m. flight.

We made it to Chicago and had 45 minutes to make a quick connection. The gate agent was super kind because the flight was full in coach. He could have denied us boarding, but he let me rebook the kids in first class at the last minute. They got to fly first class and I flew in coach so we all made it home by 2:30.

We were able to celebrate Father's Day with David.

We were all SOOO tired! It was a perfect visit, we made all of our flights, and it's always good to come home.