General Conference Weekend

I love general conference! I always have, even as a kid. Although, my reasons for liking it back then was because I could typically sleep in, got to sit in the cultural hall/chapel & watch all the talks on a big projected screen and didn't have to go to class. That was way back in the day before the sessions were broadcast or available at home. Then when my family moved to Utah in 2002 I went to my first actual conference in person. I thought it was so cool! Utahn's get spoiled, used to all of the close Mormon amenities that you'd expect to find in the biggest LDS state... But since I grew up in Washington state I watched that general conference with such open eyes, soaking in every detail and talk given. Now... can I tell you anything that was said in it? Nope. I know President Hinckley spoke though haha. 

This conference weekend I wanted to get some of that newness back. Some of that eyes-wide-open vibe. So instead of half listening to the Sunday broadcasts of conference while I played on my phone or looked at Pinterest, I made myself sit down and genuinely watch them; my phone open to type down notes & anything that popped into my mind as important. 

The weekend started out with Micah and I going up to Midway to his parents' cabin and staying the night with his parents. It was SO fun to get out of the valley and up to Midway. I love it up there. Such a peaceful escape. And the cabin sits on 24 acres of the Russell's property, backed by a state park so they are very much secluded and removed from the bustle of everyday life. It's the anti-zombie compound haha. ;)

It's so beautiful up there I had to snap a quick pic of all of us. 

And another.  ;)

We took Zoey & our friend's dog Kota up with us (we're puppy sitting for them) and they seriously could not have been happier. 

Their morning cuddles on my bed before I started packing up for our trip. 

Zoey & Kota after running around for like 20 minutes straight. Yes, Kota's eyes shoot lasers. 

Couldn't be happier. 

Zo waiting to pounce on Kota. 

Micah and I left Olive with Dianne to go on a run... To keep my half marathon training in line. We ran 7 miles! Gah! I think once I can run for 5 miles straight I should be able to finish the 13.1 miles and not die. But it was tough!

An hour and a half, 7 miles. Gah! I was exhausted at the end but super proud of myself. Micah and I kept the average mile pace to 12:44 which isn't terribly fast, but we kept running for a really good portion.

Zoey tripped me up, little stinker... She got spooked by a garbage can... Totally tripped me and I scraped my shin. Ugh. Thankfully I had a jacket with thumbie holes so my palms were protected. :/ still sucked. 

I ran 5 miles last week, twice. My goal is to run whatever the mileage, faster the second time by at least 1 minute. I beat my time by 2 minutes! So Saturday was a "kick my butt" day so that on Monday when I run 6.5 miles it will be easier since I didn't die doing 7 miles. That's the theory at least hahaha. We'll see.  ;)

Saturday afternoon we drove home. I loved getting to see such a beautiful drive down the canyon in the daylight. It's such a fun drive. 

The pups were exhausted. 

Micah had priesthood conference with the guys that night, so I went to dinner & a movie with my mom & sister. It's a tradition to go out while the guys are busy and hang out & spoil ourselves. We met up at The District and had a quick dinner at Snappy Service (yumm burgers) before our show Austenland. 

Sooooo good! Seriously, it was the best chick flick movie I've seen in forever. 

It's kinda interesting.. A year ago, when I went out to dinner with my mom & sister to Chili's (for priesthood conference) I seriously ate sooooooo much! Like I had a hollow leg. I found out 2 days later that I was pregnant with miss Olive haha. 

Sunday morning we went over to my patents' house for ebleskivers. Ebleskivers are these yummy little pancake balls that you can put powdered sugar or syrup on and they're amazing. My family has this gross tradition to try and eat as many ebleskivers as possible... Micah proudly holds the record of 34! That's on top of having strawberries, bacon, sausage, hot chocolate, orange juice, etc. Blech! The most I have handled was 18... Which is tons! So much dough in your stomach. My brother Mark was tied with my brother-in-law Dan for the record -- 33 -- but last conference Micah beat him. Poor Dan had to get his appendix removed after one year... No joke!! Micah's appendix is still kickin it though. For now haha. 

No one even competed for the record on Sunday though.  :P

Liveraci (newest nickname courtesy of me) playing with my brother Johnny. 

And getting super annoyed with my brother Mark. 

She sacked out on my dad's lap.  :)

After the morning session of conference Micah and I went back home & watched the second session on our couch with the pups sleeping on the floor and Olive getting kisses from Micah.

Best weekend with family ever. 

xoxo Mandi