It's a Wedding!!!!!

What it is about Gibson's and the special events in their lives? We can't seem to do things quietly and calmly. We make cakes, send sonograms, proclaim the news as we walk in the door. Little did we know that Dana and Matt's move north would turn into something else entirely.

We expected to see Jeff and Melanie after we arrived at Rodney's Wednesday night. Although it was after 10, they were anxious to come over. We were sitting and talking about stuff when Jeff asked when I start school (Note here: This is my remembery of events. The details will be different from someone else, but the gist will be the same.) I told him August 5th and he wanted to know what I would be doing the weekend before. When I asked why he said that it had something to do with this and he pulled Melanie's hand forward. There's a beautiful engagement ring and they both wore big smiles.

We were all excited about the news. We're glad to have Melanie in the family. She and Jeff go well together. The bad part of this is that Marja was in the kitchen when this went down and had to hurry back to catch up on events.

So, the stage is set for another family get-together. The wedding will be August 1 in the Boise temple. There will be a reception in Boise after the wedding and one in Casa Grande August 8. Everyone is moving into high gear to take care of details. There won't be a long receiving line. There will be dancing. Jeff has requested a chocolate fountain at the Boise reception and a pit cook in Casa Grande. Melanie's colors are rose red and daisy yellow. We'll have more information as the day gets closer.

Melanie and Jeff talked with Grandad and Grandma Gibson on Skype Friday morning after their photography session. We were able to meet Melanie's parents Friday night. They were on their way to Park City and detoured to Provo so we could get together.

This is a good beginning to a summer of frentic activity. We'll have lots of things to do before August 1. We'll need to coordinate family travel and make plans for Boise. We are looking forward to this wedding.

I do have a few words for those of you who called while we were traveling north. It was a surprise to have you ask how the trip was going. I didn't know taking Dana and Matt to Provo was of such interest to their siblings. I'm sorry we took so long on the trip that you couldn't talk to us after we received the news, but it's only fair, since you knew the news before your parents.

The Real Reason we went to Provo

We are now "empty-nesters". Well, only temporarily. Dana and Matt are transplanted in beautiful, rainy, Utah valley and Dad and I are home.

We loaded up the car and drove up on Wednesday, June 17. As you can see, the car was really loaded. Trust me, the trunk was FULL. We had a good trip. The weather was cool. We stopped off at Lee's Ferry to pay homage, as Dad puts it, to those early ancestors who crossed the Colorado at that point.

Rain does have benefits. More than reviving thirsty plants. Why are rainbows so fun?

We arrived at Rodney & Marja's about 10:30 pm, tired, a little damp, but very glad to share Jeff and Melanie's news with them.

We parked Dana in Alpine Court Apts on Thursday. Took about 3 trips up the stairs to the third floor to get everything up to her room. No one was in, but they had left a note welcoming her.

Matt went to SLC with Jeff to catch the wedding of one of his companions in the SL temple.

Friday, I did grocery shopping for Dana while Dad and the boys had adventures in Spanish Fork and Springville. The shopping was fun. Macey's has all kinds of neat stuff. I'm talking food storage stuff, although the bath poof critters were cute. Dad found an old friend who works with rocks gone from his shop and Jeff couldn't find the printer he was assured was in Springville. The address was in the middle of an alfalfa field.

We got Matt's books and moved him into his room. Sorry, Dana took photos, I didn't, but if you've seen one cinderblock-walled dorm room, you've seen them all.

We met Melanie's parents Friday night as they stopped on their way to Park City. Then Saturday, Dad and I were headed south again. In the rain. We had fun along the way with a motorcycle "gang".

We spent about an hour in their company, either behind them or in the middle of them before we could pass them. This was between Hatch and Junction. This are not a lot of passing lanes through the canyons there. They were riding along about the speed limit. There was about 12-15 cycles, most carrying double riders. Got very frustrating.

We got home about 5:30, Arizona time, and were able to get unpacked and back into the groove.

There is one good thing to come out of this change. I am getting faster at texting. We had text sessions going with Matt and Dana on the way home, mostly checking of move-in questions. But Dana helped speed the day along.

About Kanab came a message, "Mom, how do you make no-bakes?" "Call your sisters."

Then Flagstaff, "Mom, how do you make no-bakes?" "I don't remember. We'll be home in 3 hours."

Then Phoenix. Low battery signal. "Are you home yet?" "1 hour. Low battery." "So? Tell Dad to put the pedal to the metal." "He's pedalling as fast as he can." "What. Dad's speeding?" "LOL" "No! I forbid you to use LOL."

Riggs Road. "Are you there yet?" "20 minutes. What is this? 'Are we there yet?'." "Sure!"

We laughed. It sure helped Dad and I stay awake and alert the last bit to home. She did finally get the recipe and the cookies turned out fine.

So Matt and Dana are spreading their wings and Dad and I are going to learn how to do things with just the two of us again. Life is good.

It's Emma's turn!

Same event. Different place and people. Same fun. Does that make you feel like you are interchangeable? Naw, you are all unique and we're glad it's that way. So . . . Ohio. Beautiful weekend. Nice temperatures and, as Dana says, "It's green!"

Dana and I flew into Columbus on Thursday evening and were able to spend the next three days with Katie & Michael and kids. We enjoyed playing with Jacob and Rachel. Had a good time at the zoo and really got a kick out of watching the menagerie that lives in their backyard. Sorry. When all you're used to seeing is lizards, occasional cats and birds, and the odd scorpion, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, and cardinals are very interesting.

Our trip to the zoo was fun, especially for Jacob and the boatride. He was so enthralled by the boats that he watched them more than the animals. I liked the aquarium and the clear sides that let you see all the fish.

One afternoon we played in the backyard, blew bubbles, watered the garden and other stuff.

The fun doubled Saturday evening when Peter and Kristy and family and the Simpson grandparents came in. Katelyn and Josh moved right in and all the cousins had fun playing together.

The blessing Sunday went off without a hitch. Emma was quiet during the whole thing and didn't protest until we took pictures. Sound familiar?

We had a great time, just visiting and talking about families, jobs and other stuff. It's amazing what kind of conversation you can have about someone's cell phone directory. Ask Dana about it.

One thing we girls decided was that we need a girl's day, night, or weekend (right, Janessa?). We just need to figure out when and where. We realize that may need to be postponed a bit until the babies are bigger and can be left with daddies, but put your thinking caps on and let's see what we can come up with.

A note to close with. I am just a little annoyed when the pilot of my airplane does a sales pitch over the intercom for a company credit card. It's bad enough that my knees are scrunched and it's a four hour flight. I just wish I had my caller ID so I could "Mo-o-o!" back.