Arc de Triomphe & Champs-Elysees

Notre Dame

Versailles

Viva la France

It's been way too long since I updated my blog. So sorry! To say that I have been busy would be an understatement, but the absolute truth. The months of April and May were consumed by the Draper Temple Celebration. The youth in our temple district learned dances and songs to celebrate the Draper Temple dedication. We practiced 2-3 times per week for 2 months. It was a lot of work, but it was totally worth it when they performed at the Conference Center on May 29th.

The next day, May 30th, I left for a 12 day business trip to France and Germany. This photo was taken, surprisingly enough, with my blackberry. Pretty good quality considering that it's only a blackberry! I watched the sunset sitting on a curb opposite the Eiffel Tower, it was pretty amazing. I had 10 days of meetings and 2 days to explore. I packed a lot into 2 days including~ Notre Dame, Versailles, St. Sulpice, The Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Champs Elysee, and the Eiffel Tower. It was a whirlwind, but it was fun. I only spent 2 days in Germany. I flew into Nuremburg and drove past the location of the Nuremburg war trials and the Nuremburg rallies. That was the extent of my sightseeing there. All in all it was a great trip but I would love to go back sometime soon for a vacation.

This is a busy summer with youth conference, girl's camp, and family coming into town, but I will do my best to be better about posting! I will upload more photos from my trip to Paris soon. Hope you are all having a wonderful summer so far!

Stuck at O'Hare....

This has been such a crazy month, I haven't had time to update my blog, until tonight. I am stuck at the Chicago O'Hare airport hoping to catch a flight tomorrow morning after I missed my connection from Raleigh, NC. I have been traveling a ton for work lately, and as we all know, this is one of the many joys of traveling in the winter. Weather delays. Only, interestingly enough, when I landed in Chicago 4 hours late the weather was perfectly clear (still is). Which prompts me to ask...is this alleged weather delay a ruse to avoid putting me up in a hotel? YES.

I usually enjoy hanging out in airports, but not overnight. The last time I pulled an all-nighter in an airport was during law school, which was 10 years ago. In fact, I spent three nights in the Cleveland airport. That was exciting. NOT. I am much grumpier now, not as enthralled by the excitement. Luckily I have my bag because I carried on my luggage so at least I can brush my teeth tonight. Enough of my complaining.

The past month has been fairly uneventful. On February 5th I edged one year closer to the dreaded 40. Where did the last 37 years go? I can't believe how time has flown--it's scary. My oldest nephew turned 17 two days ago. Also scary since I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday. Funny story there. My brother-in-law was in Hong Kong for an interview or business trip, I don't quite remember. Heather, Michelle and I were all living in Provo going to school at BYU. Michelle and Colin were renting the basement apartment, Jon and Heather were renting upstairs, and I was living in Stratford 305. Heather goes into labor 4 weeks early. Michelle and I show up at the hospital and Heather needs someone to accompany her into labor and delivery for an emergency c-section. Michelle drew the short straw there. I went to Smiths for film. Imagine that, film. Can you even buy film anymore? By the time I returned from Smiths, Zachary Lange Hoopes had made his triumphant, albeit untimely entrance into this world and was immediately placed in the newborn ICU. He spent a few weeks there and the rest is history. Here's a picture of Zach today. He's a great big brother to his 4 younger siblings, especially the twins, Jonathan and Warner, they love him. Happy 17th Zach!

Winter Can be Wonderful!

Oh to be a child again and to actually enjoy Winter! We have had a lot of "commuter specials" this Winter, and I find myself already looking forward to Spring, until I see this photo of my niece Taylor and her twin brothers Jonathan and Warner having so much fun in the snow sledding. I remember enjoying Winter like this--sledding, ice skating, building snowmen. Just one more reminder of why being a kid is so much fun, less worry and hassle associated with winter driving, heating bills, frozen pipes, etc... Look at the joy on their rosy red faces! I love it.

Crazy Cousins

Get a load of this motley crew! Acting out the nativity is a Christmas Eve tradition, and it's always an adventure. I was glad to be in Connecticut to see it this year. These munchkins are so much fun and they did a great job!