April Was a Busy Month!!

April began with spring break.  Last December Josh and Irina called to ask if we wanted to go with them and Jared and Stephanie to Zions over spring break.  We planned to rent a condo and spend a few days down there.

















In January, my niece, Brook got engaged and her wedding was the same time as our trip. I debated over going and it all my brothers and sisters were going.  In the end Jason and Jacob went to Zions

 and I went to Arizona for the wedding.

I arrived on Wednesday night and on Thursday we visited and sat around Kristina's pool.  Thursday afternoon Chris arrived and that night Erick and family came in.  We had dinner and enjoyed Thrifty's ice cream!  A blast from the past.

On Friday we began some of the last minute preparations like flowers etc.  Jessica, Emily, Erin and I went over to the Kristin's (aka "The Wedding Planner) house to do center pieces, boutonnieres, bride's maid's bouquets and Brook's bouquet.  Actually Kristin did most of the arranging and we assisted.

Pulling thorns off roses and splitting apart the baby's breath.

Apparently, while we were doing this Kristina and Heidi finished their errands and did this!



That evening we went over to where the groom, Max, and his family were staying for a wedding, get-to-know-you dinner.   His mom is so nice.

 After the dinner we went back to Kristina's to put together last minute things to take the next morning to decorate.

 Saturday morning it began in earnest!  A friend of Kristina and Shane's offered their beautiful backyard for the reception.  It already looked good, but about a month before they decided to do some updates--add a pergola, re-do the pool and put in a BBQ grill.  Everything came together but the grill.  The contractor who was supposed to do it (the Thursday before the wedding) didn't show up.  So the owner's of the house were working on it all day Friday, through the night and were finishing as we got there Saturday morning to decorate!

Friday morning

Saturday morning around 7 a.m.

Almost done!

Turned out great!!

They were so tired.










We began to put up lights, a back drop for people to look at when they came in, cloths and center pieces on the tables etc.  It took all morning and everyone helping!

Set up

Pallets that were painted white were attached together and then pictures were displayed on and in front of them.

Waiting for them to come out

Then came the wedding.  Brook and Max Bastian were married in the Gilbert, Arizona temple Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. 

The lovely bride and groom

After the wedding they took pictures and we went home for dinner before the reception.

  Dad's health hasn't been good, so while he was in AZ he had a scooter to get around.

Dad and Christian

Brook caught the bouquet!

The Safsten cousins

They had a sparkler send off that was so fun!!

Spring break ended and we got back to "normal" life and school.  But life didn't stay normal.  Dad's health has not been good since last July.  His heart (congestive heart failure) is not working right.  He didn't do well in Arizona and had a Dr. appt. the day after he got home.  They wanted him admitted that day. 

Heidi had taken them and drove them from their Day Break appt. up to the U of U hospital. That night we went up and Jason administered to him.  The purpose of the stay was to take down the water build up he had in his body.  His heart can't pump it out.

He was in the hospital from Wednesday - Saturday and he lost 30 lbs. of water!  Now that he is home he has a strict diet of very little sodium and no more than 8 cups of water a day.  If he doesn't stay with that regimen he would end back in the hospital and he doesn't want that.  It is a hard stage of life!

                                                                                                                                                                 

The next week, on Wednesday we had Randy, MarySue, Jenny and Karen over for Randy's birthday.  The lemon cake I made ended up looking like a blob, but it tasted good.

That Saturday, the 23rd, we had a bridal shower for Jenny down at Irina's house.  It was mainlhy family and a few of her friends.  Hannah had interviewed Jacob (Jenny is marrying a Jacob) asking questions about their courtship, what they thought of each other etc. It was fun to watch!

Jacob and Daniel made this during the shower

Enjoying the sunshine with a good book!

Now we're into May and all that the new month brings!