The Pearl Awards

So, Ron and I were invited to the Pearl Awards this year because two of the bands that he is in were nominated for multiple awards. Joshua Creek and the Nashville Tribute Band. This is a really interesting awards show, because it's kind of more like a popularity contest. Still, it's still fun to see people we don't see often and listen to some really great music.

This year, Nashville Tribute Band was the only act on the program. They were awesome, as usual. Even Alex Boye' was dancing in the aisles! The funny part about the whole thing is that Ron and Jason were on the front page of the Daily Universe. Ron said he never made it on the cover during college, but did as an alumni! If you'd like to read about it, and see the pictures, click here:

http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/70245/8425

And for posterity's sake, Ron and Jason are making sure that everyone knows they don't have any cavities. :)

The Way Pavers

I have two seriously awesome sisters. They have both done some amazing things for me over the years (including a few choice events that I worked through during therapy), and since it was Carolyn's 50th birthday last week, I thought I would tell you a little about them. First of all, they both know how very much I love them.

We have a very unique relationship...my sisters and I.(me?) We are all 5 years apart, and I don't remember much about when Cathy lived at home. She moved to college when I was just 7. For being so many years apart, we are all very close. Our children love each other (I think), and we really love to spend time together. Each year we have a "sister's trip" where we leave home and go somewhere fun so we can do things like go to Target and Walmart together,overdose on HGTV and check out every quilt store within a 50 mile radius of where we are at the moment. We buy material for projects we don't finish, but we have just in case (following the brethren's admonition to have a year's supply) there is a fabric emergency of some kind. Like some people take photographs...my sisters and I buy projects and fabric to remind us of our time together and every so often we take them out of the closet/drawer to pet and to remember where we were when we bought it, and where we went to lunch after we were shopping. :)

Anyway....Cathy, the eldest, aka "The Original Way Paver" is constantly telling Carolyn and I that the only reason that we have it so easy in life is because she came before us, and paved the way. Without her there, our lives would have been SO much harder. I mean, she did teenagers and weddings without her own personal W.P. That's right, people...she is the consummate W.P.

So, automatically, since Cathy is the original Way Paver,(hereafter referred to as W.P.) then of course, Carolyn is the next one. Note: not the "middle" W.P. or even worse, the "second" W.P., but the "next" W.P. So, if I have had two WP's before me, then my life ought to be disgustingly easy and worry free, right?? You'd think so.

Really, I love my sisters and admire them so much. They are both awesome women, and we love so many of the same things. Before I came into the picture, Carolyn was the youngest. Doted on by a 5-year old sister, Carolyn had it pretty good, I imagine. She was like Cathy's little doll. Cathy has always been the Chief Mother W.P. (seriously, ask her if you don't believe me.) I'm just glad Cathy was there to pave the way for Carolyn to know how to be a big sister. lol

I was going through some pictures from slides that my Dad, with Carolyn's help, put onto CD's last year, and I've had the best time looking at all these old photos.
As I've looked at some of my baby pictures, it's obvious to me that when I came along I must have really cramped her style. In these photos, she seems to have always had a little bit of an impish grin on her face all the time. The picture below was a Halloween that I remember. I wanted that sucker SSSOOOO bad. I never got one. Imagine that, a whole bag of candy, and I whined because I didn't have a sucker like hers. Go figure.

But, just read Carolyn's body language in the photo. "Honestly, Dad, hurry up and take the picture! My peeps are waiting and I gotta ditch the short witch!!"



My first birthday. I love how the girls are crowding around me and once again posing for a picture.
Cathy: "Look at mommy, Cal!! Look at the camera!! It's your birthday!! What a big girl!!"
Carolyn: (thinks to self)...."let's see....if I bend it back this way, then everyone will just think she fell down or something! I have got to get ahold of this situation, and if it means hurting her...so be it!! I will NOT give up my position in this house!!!! She must always learn who is boss!!!" Okay, so maybe that wasn't what she was thinking. You never know, though.



This last picture is with the girls at Christmas when I was maybe 18 months old?? Not sure. They got Troll dolls. I didn't. Enough said. (Please, for my benefit, notice the smug look on Carolyn's face as she holds the Troll doll just out of my reach! And then, please notice Cathy's unfortunate choice in eye wear.)




All jesting aside, I love my sisters so much. They would do anything for me. They have done so much for me. They love me unconditionally. They have taught me so many things. They are SO generous with their time and talents. The have both offered me life changing advice...some of which I have taken. ;) They are great, virtuous women who have strong, unwavering testimonies of the gospel, and they are doing an amazing job of carrying on our family's legacy. I'm just SO lucky to have 2 such amazing W.P.'s at my disposal when I need them...and when I don't.

To be honest....I'm really glad I'm not Chief W.P. I would really stink at it.