I thought that since I am heading back to Utarrr tomorrow, that I better blog about our family vacation.... So that another week (ok, month, lets be honest) wouldn't go by before I got around to it. So, here we go!
We DROVE to Utah. Just like the pioneers did. But with air conditioning. And comfy seats. And paved roads. But honestly, by the time we got there, I felt like an honest to goodness pioneer. We are very much saving our pennies and flying out next time...... That Kearney, NE. to Evanston, WY streach of road is KILLER!!!
We rolled into Utah just in time to celebrate Kaitlyn's 13th birthday. The only thing she wanted to do was to go to Tony's Pizza and Farr's Ice Cream. We were so thrilled to be able to hang for a day or so with Suzy and Greg and their kids who were in town from CA. We had a party with all the Fifield aunts, uncles and cousins we could rustle up. We met over at Rod and Betti's new patio home to swim and have a cookout. We also got to meet our darling newest neice/cousin Oliv.
I honestly don't know why I didn't take more pics. I thought I did, but I guess I didn't...... Or maybe they are on Kaitlyn's phone. I forget.... I guess that's what happens when you wait a month to blog about a trip.....
We went hiking. To actual mountains. Which was glorious. I have seriously missed the mountains TERRIBLY!
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| Seriously? Illinois needs to pony up and buy some of these bad boys. |
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| Grandma Powell with 6 of the 8 grandkids. Why are my kids so goofy? Shelley's kids always look so perfectly posed and my kids look like doofuses! |
We also took advantage of being in Utah to take Blake to Music and the Spoken Word. I am not even exaggerating when I say that this kid is OBSESSED with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. We have 52 episodes of M&SW on our DVR as we speak ( I just looked).
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We walked in to the Conference Center and B says (screams) "THERE IS BROTHER LLOYD NEWELL!!!" But for some reason I cannot imagine, I didn't take a picture of Lloyd Newell, but here is a pic of B.....
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In all my years of knowing B, and I have known him a few, I have NEVER seen him so reverent in my life. We went to the taping on July 3rd when the choir was doing their patriotic themed broadcast. They sang Battle Hymn of the Republic which is B's favorite song! He didn't say one word after we sat down, except when they showed a pic of downtown Chicago in one of the picture montages and he leaned over and said "that's Chicago!" When we were waiting to leave the Conference Center, the usher came over and asked us to please clear the isle. We backed into the seats and then Elder Uchtdorf and his wife walked by! He came right up and shook B and K's hands (and my dad's)! It was FREAKIN AWESOME! Course, I didn't get a picture. I blame it on the uncontrollable tears that were streaming down my face. It was not pretty. Probably why he didn't shake my hand..... :)
My former boss, Randy Gailey, is a member of MoTab, so when I knew we were coming to UT for sure, I called him to ask about the choir being in town. This angel of a man arranged for my entire family to come down to a choir practice and meet some people.... He also sent B a copy of the Men of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir CD for B's birthday! B has been so excited to meet his "Friend Brother Gailey in the Choir" ever since! So we took the whole fam to SLC and went to the Thursday night practice (happened to be on my mom's b-day). We were met at the door and escorted to some primo seats. B was a celebrity! We were the "Blake Party"! haha! A few minutes into the practice we had our first visitor......
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| B with MR. MAC!! |
Mac Christensen heard about B and wanted to meet him! So he came up and introduced himself and told B he was the president of the choir. They chatted for a minute, and then Mr. Mac said "Blake, are you a Mormon?" And B said "Yes, I am!" and Mr. Mac took out his business card and handed it to B and said "Now when you are getting ready to go on your mission, I want you to call me. And if I am still alive, I will buy you a two-pant suit!" Is that not the cutest thing ever! What a sweet and gracious man! It was an absolute pleasure to have met him. And I will totally take him up on the suit! ;)
About half way through the practice Mack Wilberg, the choir director turned around and announced that we had a special visitor tonight at the practice. He said that 10 year old Blake Fifield from Illinois was in the audience and that he was a huge fan of the choir and that for his birthday he wanted to come to Utah to go to the choir broadcast and see his grandma and grandpa. Blake stood up and waved and bowed. Everyone in the room and the choir clapped for B and laughed when he bowed. That kid is so hilarious!
After the practice was over, Randy and Mack Wilberg came down to meet Blake. Mack Wilberg gave B a signed copy of the choirs newest CD, which he also had 3 of the organists sign for B. It was honestly the best part of the entire trip!
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| B with his buddy Brother Gailey |
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| Our fam with Brother Wilberg (and B's cd) |
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| Randy told some of the choir members about B and they were DYING to meet him, so we met them outside the Conference Center after the practice. The church is such a small world. The cute lady is actually a cousin of a lady in our ward here in Illinois!! They were kindred spirits for sure. Now we have lots of people we have to spot during General Conference! |
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| The CD B was given and Mr. Mac's card. Its still in my wallet. Not kidding when I say that I'm holding him to the suit! ;) |
Now, as much as I love Illinois (and I do, really really lots) there are things I truly miss about Utah. And here are a few..........
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| Temple Square (don't ask what the H I was doing in this pic....???) |
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| Farr's Ice Cream |
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| Fry Sauce!! |
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| Maddox Turkey Steaks. I couldn't wait to dig in. Not even long enough to get the camera out of my purse.... |
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| Maddox Rolls! |
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| The Maddox Sign. I think I miss you most of all, Scarecrow! I mean, Maddox!!! |
It was a fantabulous trip! I got to see a few friends, but mostly we just hung out with family!!! It's hard being so far away..... But one of these days, I'll post about the cute city we live in and brag about our fantastic friends, and you'll see why Illinois is quickly becoming home!!!
On the way home we stopped at the Winter Quarters Temple in Nebraska. They had a nice visitors center (with nice clean toilets). People who know me know how much I LOATE public bathrooms!!
And that's all I have to say about that!!! :)
