We woke up at 5am this morning at Allen's place so we could get back in time for my 20-year high school reunion haha! Priorities, right?! We're doing it though and it's definitely not as bad as it seemed it would be on paper when we arrived at this date and had to do this.
The kids have sure gotten creative with their entertainment!
I needed to get back to our place right at 3pm so I would have time to shower and get ready, drive to Idaho Falls and get to the event center early to make sure everything was ready. Our GPS showed we would be a little earlier than that inspite of some road construction. So naturally we ended up at the square ice cream shop to finish our 3-week adventure on the road in style. We are all ready to be home but I'm already missing getting to experience more sites with my family. It's been an incredible 3 weeks! We have all learned so much and strengthened our relationships with each other. I have loved every second of it.
Elise enjoying the window rolled down and feeling the breeze in her hair. She has been a champ.
We're here! I did it, phew! I got ready incredibly fast, dropped our 3-week luggage into the house, said bye to the kids and off Ez and I went. I volunteered for this 4 years ago. It's been hanging over my head all those years, just knowing I was in charge of such a big production. Being involved with the stake youth program, I have realized just how simple planning events actually is because we do it all the time, so that has helped. But I had no template, nothing to follow or guide me along. And I really hoped people would show up. I advertised like crazy, did throw back Thursdays on facebook and reminded over and over this was coming up. The numbers slowly trickled in when people began buying their tickets. The event center was so good to work with and handled everything so smoothly. I had Stephanie decorate, bless her. I got her a crew since I wouldn't be there to help. Sara Sanders, Mark Asper and Allyson Adair were all on my committee as well. We had zoom calls every once in a while and chatted lots on messenger. It's been a long time coming, so I'm glad it's finally here and I'm very grateful we made the effort to come. It would've been so easy to extend our trip an extra day and not worry about this but after planning it, I realized just how much I did want to come and see old friends. I think I would've always regretted not going.
Mark was our MC for the night and was perfect! I did not want to handle the microphone at all and he stepped up to the task. He was fun, entertaining, planned some great games and really helped organize the night so it flowed nicely without too much of anything. Having a committee of people with different experiences, knowledge and gifts helps SO much!! I loved showing up and immediately recognizing friends. All the memories and friendships came flooding back. I was worried people would be kind of cold toward one another and it would be weird and awkward. Not.at.all. The whole feeling was warm and welcoming. All clicks were gone and I could talk to anyone haha. Although some of my friends aren't in the church anymore, I was amazed at how much love I felt for everyone there. It really was a gift Heavenly Father blessed me with that night--to see them all as children of God.
This game was a contest to see who looked the most like themselves as they did in high school haha. Lateesha won!
Jaimee and Steph battling it out for Family Feud 2004 style.
Jaimee gave the funniest answer with a little dance. We really did have the greatest group of friends :)
Putting the golf ball to win something...
Shortest relationship vs longest relationship dating game. Sam Hancock and Tyson Koster. Just seeing Sam there and talking with him was so good. He's had many struggles, has left the church and done things that aren't in alignment with our values--however, none of that mattered! I had a glimpse of how Jesus feels about each of us. To love and be so happy to see someone you grew up with since elementary. It really was such an oddly, beautiful night.
Bummer our "4" fell down, but here we are! The class of 2004. We had a great showing and I'm so glad my girl group showed up. Man, it sure feels like forever ago....but then not at the same time.
I couldn't have asked for better friends :) Jaimee and Mallary came all the way from back East for this. So cool of them.
Friends forever.
It's funny how I had forgotten just how tall Jaimee is! She's a professional ballroom dancer with her husband, Travis in New Jersey. Lateesha lives in Bluffdale, UT with their 3 kids and is a dental hygienist, Mallary has been divorced and is remarried to a guy and they live in Maryland, Kelly and Steph both live here in town with their families and we get together every now and then which is fun.
We stayed until 10pm! We were there five hours!! We had appetizers and chatted in the lobby for an hour from 5-6pm, then moved into the dining hall where we ate dinner and Mark had a bunch of games for everyone to play. We had a raffle drawing at the end and the last prize was a free mini fridge that I won!! I'm so glad to have this over now, whew.
We came home to this. This sums up just how awesome our kids are :)
