Memorial Day in Panguitch: 2009

Every year during Memorial Day weekend, the Konolds (my mom's family) make the annual "Death Trek" to Panguitch, Utah. It's not called that because it's hard. We camp at a KOA with real bathrooms and showers and just generally hang out. But we go to see our dead people. Otherwise, why would we go to Panguitch? There isn't much there. This was Ben's first time coming since it snowed last year and we canceled it.
We arrived on a drizzly Friday night and only Crystal and Aaron (my cousin and her husband) were there yet. We built a smoky fire and hung out until my mom and dad showed up with my niece and nephew at about 11 pm. Everyone else came in the morning.
We slept surprisingly well since we were able to shove our futon mattress into the backseat of the car.
Saturday we enjoyed lots and lots of rain. Then it rained some more. On Sunday we scrubbed up and went to one of the local wards for Sacrament meeting. Then we drove out to Red Canyon, which is by Bryce Canyon, and walked around. It truly is amazing how beautiful the creations of God are! Panguitch really is a lovely place, if small.
On Monday we headed out to the cemetary to clean the graves of my great-grandparents (Maxine and James Ercil Henrie), my grandpa (Rudy Konold), and my sisters (Sierra and Cheyenne). It is always fun to see the littlest additions to the family helping out. Here is my niece Miriam helping my mom water the flowers at my sisters' graves.

We always take a family picture afterwards . This year Daniel, Megan, and Andrew couldn't come because of work, but we have been so blessed by the recent additions to the Brown clan (namely Ben, Kim, and not-yet-born-babies Eleanor and ?(Daniel and Megan are expecting their third in October)).
This is our family there just two years ago, right before Ben and I started dating, and while Jonathan was still on his mission. My goodness how things have changed (plus we got t-shirts this year thanks to Uncle David and Aunt Karen).
After doing our cemetery duty, we went to Henrie's Drive In and then to the park for a little nap and some volleyball.

I always enjoy spending time with any part of my family, including my new Lewis side. I am so thankful for the restoration of the gospel because it not only provided me with the knowledge that my family can be forever, but the priesthood power to make it happen as well. Though we are generally quirky and crazy and loud, I love my family and I can't imagine heaven without them. God be thanked for the glorious gift of his Son that makes the plan of happiness possible!
And I just liked this picture of Ben, so I end with that. He's pretty celestial husband material!

A New Belly Picture

I'm officially at 30 weeks now, so we took another belly picture. The other night Ben was trying to get Pie to "play" with him (kick so he could feel it), and he put his mouth up to my belly and said, very authoritatively, "Pie, this is your father. Please kick me in the head." It was great. For those who may be unaware, we have no intention of actually naming our daughter Pie, it's just what we call her in-utero, and have since we found out I was pregnant (we plan on naming her Eleanor Lee Lewis).
We had our appointment yesterday and the Dr. Dewey, our OBGYN, said that we couldn't ask for a better pregnancy, that it was beautiful. That is extremely comforting after nights like Tuesday when I wake up at 4 am because my back and hips hurt and then can't fall back asleep for another hour because of all the kicking and jostling in my belly. I'm okay with it as long as she comes out happy and healthy, which seems to be the case so far, given all the action.

Jonathan and Kim's Wedding

The day after Ben's graduation my brother Jonathan was sealed to Kimberli Lingard in the Draper Utah Temple. It was a wonderful day (though my feet really hated my shoes!).

Kim is an awesome woman who fits in wonderfully to our family. I must say, my brothers have done an amazing job providing me with sisters. But, according to Daniel, Brown men marry up. I think I did too, but the point is, this is a great family.

And in true Brown fashion, we had entirely too much fun a the wedding reception.

Apparently the Lingard's were wary of having dancing at the reception. They didn't think there would be enough people to make it worthwhile. Clearly they have never seen the Brown/Konold clans get down!

All in all, it was a wonderful night, and then we got to do it all over again the next weekend in Pahrump. I just had to include this picture because I love it. This is my nephew Jacob getting the famous double-whammy from my parents.

Ben Learns to Count

The past two weekends have been pretty busy for us. Busy but wonderful! So here is the lowdown on Ben's Graduation from Brigham Young University!

April 25-Ben's commencement. This was the really BIG ceremony where both Elder Nelson and President Uchtdorf spoke and we could barely see Ben sitting hundreds of people away in his cap and gown, blending it with the sea of blue. But it was great.


Apr 26-Convocation. This is the smaller ceremony for just the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. Ben's grandfather Glenn Lewis and his wife Jean came because Ben provided the "entertainment" for convocation. In other words, he was asked to sing and he did a fantastic job, performing "Go the Distance." We were all pretty darn proud of him. He graduated Magma Cum Laude (in the top 5% of BYU's graduating class this year) with TWO bachelor's degrees; Mathematics and Mathematics Education. What a hard working smarty pants!

Now, if only we can find a job...