BYU Women's Conference

 I convinced my mom and sisters to sign up for BYU Women's Conference with me this year. I haven't been in about 10 years and I've been wanting to start a tradition of going together every year! We had so so so much fun together! We attended classes, ate, shopped, ate, visited friends/family, ate, stayed up way too late every night and had a great time.

I flew to Utah on Wednesday night. I met my mom at the airport and then my sister Nicole picked us up. We headed straight to In N Out where we met my sister Teresa with two of her kids. I haven't had anything remotely close to a burger and fries in about 4 months so this was especially YUMMY to me.

 Afterwards we made a quick stop at the Sweet Tooth Fairy for cupcakes and then headed down to Provo to check into the dorms. It was cheap to stay in the dorms and honestly it was a blast. Transported me back in time almost 20 years to my freshman year at BYU.

Thursday morning the conference started. We were able to attend a variety of classes on parenting, marriage, various callings, spirituality, etc. It was so hard to choose which of the excellent classes to attend. I took pages and pages of notes and felt the spirit so strongly. There is something about being surrounded by 20,000 women with the same beliefs and values that is so uplifting and wonderful. I found myself in tears many times just overwhelmed by all the good women out there trying to raise their families and live their lives in righteousness.

We did a lot of shopping at the BYU bookstore where I spent a small fortune procuring hoodies for everyone in the family. I almost brought this home with me because I think it's hilarious. Wouldn't have fit in my suitcase though!

 After classes we hit cafe rio for some dinner and then got a shake at Iceberg (where have you been all my life?). Teresa headed home for the night but we went to a great concert put on by Deseret Book and BYU. It was amazing!  I'm sitting here trying to put into words everything I felt on this night but I can't do it justice. It was a moving and beautiful experience. Words fail me.

 Friday we attended more classes and I loved hearing from Elder Andersen and his wife at the closing session. So much goodness that I wish I could have bottled up and carried home with me. We met my BFF from high school, Camille, with her newest sweet baby for dinner. It was so fun to see each other even though we keep in pretty close contact.

After dinner and some delish Red Mango we went to see my aunt, uncle and a few cousins which was super fun! There are so many people to see in Utah and sadly never enough time to see them all. I found out my cousin is moving to Seattle to work this summer and I am excited to see him and "take care" of him!

Saturday morning we checked out of the dorms and went to the creamery to try to find some mint brownies to take home with us (I ate one every day I was in Utah!). We didn't find brownies but we did convince the manager to open the ice-cream counter for us so we could have it for breakfast. Two huge scoops for $2 was a little piece of heaven (if you can't tell we didn't exactly eat healthy during this trip - after months of being careful it was glorious!)

After ice-cream we blitzed and hit as many fun boutiques and shops as we could between Provo and Sandy. We met up for lunch with my sister, brother, his girlfriend (not pictured but we loved her), my niece Rachelle,  her husband Jon and baby Dalton at BlueLemon. You Utah peeps have got it made with amazing/cheap food and shopping. Jealous!!

Siblings!

We did a tiny bit more shopping before heading to the airport to fly home. I am so grateful that we were able to make this weekend happen. I really, really needed to take time out of my crazy life right now to have a break and refresh myself spiritually. I came home determined to be a better mother, wife, friend and Latter-Day Saint. We are already planning next year's conference weekend!

Big thanks to Allen for holding down the fort here at home. Emery started walking the morning after I left - of course - but Allen made sure to take lots of video and email them to me so it was almost like I was here! I missed my kids a ton and was happy to get home to them.

{PS all pictures are from my iPhone. While I LOVED not lugging a camera around with me all weekend I am definitely missing my high quality pictures!)