.: Stopping to smell the roses and feed the soul :)

Conference weekend ranks right up there with Christmas for me. There is no better combination than fun family time and inspired counsel. Mom and Dad arrived the Sunday before Conference and we tried to squeeze in as much time as possible with them in between their visits with adoring fans and meetings :).

Sunday was their first chance to meet Eden and Mom held her almost the entire day. It was precious.

I think Dad's favorite part of that first day with Eden was when she spit up on his suit during Sunday School :). I'm pretty sure I heard him whisper under his breath, "If she were in my will I'd disinherit her." (One of Grandma Hazel's famous one-liners) We had a great gourmet dinner by Kevin and lots of fun playing Pictionary and just being together.

Monday night they came over for Family Home Evening and Ryn was almost jumping out of her skin the whole day she was so excited. She had written every one's names on sheets of paper to mark where they would sit and those papers were in place (covering the living room floor and unable to be moved even an inch on pain of death) from about 10 am until 6:30 pm when we actually started. We loved having them and Grandma and Grandpa Linkous with us for our lesson on reverence, but especially for the rousing game of duck, duck, goose. Elle runs every time, no matter what.

Thursday and Friday were spent shopping and making the food for Eden and Teairsa's blessing gathering. Lots of taco soup and chocolate chip cookies. It was so fun on Friday when we actually got to meet Teairsa for the first time. She looks like a beautiful, tiny doll. Perfect features that are teeny except for her huge, gorgeous eyes. The difference in size between her and Eden is pretty funny to see, especially since they're only 2 weeks apart in age. At their 2 month check ups, Teairsa weighed in at 8lbs 8oz and Eden was up to 12lbs 14oz. Check out those thighs!

We gave them a bath together where you'll probably be able to get a clearer comparison, but I'm waiting for Mark to email me that pic/video :) (hint, hint) No matter what their difference in size, though, we know they will have a blast together as cousins.

The weekend was spent in typical conference fashion with fabulous sessions,

playing games and talking as late as possible (sorry, Dad) at the hotel,

and enjoying the beauty of Temple Square as we meet between sessions to eat and talk about what we each felt about the messages. For the last few years, we've moved away from the restaurant meals and we now get box lunches from the church office building. It saves a lot of time and also gave us the liberty to have Sunday's lunch outside since the weather finally started to feel like spring :).

It was so fun to see Jess, Bridgette, Ashley, Haze, Darrell, Joy, Mark, Aup and

Emily all weekend!

Sunday evening was spent sharing Eden and Teairsa's blessings with our extended families and good friends at the Rose Shop. Special thanks to Kelly, Becky, Jake, Cindy, Jess, Bridge, Haze and Ash, the Lehnardts, Hunts, Trevor and Heather, and Jody's family for making the effort to come! It was beautiful and wonderful to have so many people we love there to welcome these 2 angels to the world and to know they will have such great examples to look to in all things. Here are a few pictures my friend Michelle took and I'll do another post later with more. Those cute boys holding Eden in the last one are 2 of Michelle's stripling warriors :)

So it was a very full weekend! Luckily we had Monday to hang out with Jody, Dan, Anna, Josh and Zack...

...and Carma even had the day off from work so she could teach everyone to sew, and even grab a granddaughter dance!

We were thrilled to have a few more days with Mom and Dad before they had to leave, as well. so we had them over for FHE again Monday (Ryn gave a great lesson on the meaning of Easter) and then Tuesday we inaugurated the bee tea party set we gave Mom. It was hilarious!

Once we'd cleaned up the mess...I mean, tea party :)...we went for a walk on Temple Square with Mom. It was simply beautiful and wonderful to spend such a day with my sweet mom and angel girls. "I often go walking...