Ryan's a Star!

Every year Ryan's company has a convention where their consultants gather to get new ideas and get excited about new products. As a programmer, Ryan doesn't get many chances to be a superstar, but this is a time that he gets to present his department's work for the people that are using (and selling) the software. His work this year included changes that consultants have been asking for  for a long, long time. His announcement brought the crowd to their feet:



My favorite comments on their facebook site said: "Ryan Harper, Director of Technology, HM, you now have a whole room full of BFF's!! Thank you so much for all of the studio enhancements coming our way!!"

and "I think we need to start a Ryan Harper fan club! He had no idea how just one specific change could cause a group of grown women to cry! Lynda said we would freak out and we did! Wow! What an exciting day!"

Ryan has groupies! Fun for him.

They also have a fancy banquet to end the convention, and they invited me to come along. It was a fun chance to dress up and get my hair done (by my ultra-talented friend Raylyn).

Doesn't the back of my head look cool? I should have her come over and do my hair more often!

The thing I loved best about the banquet was seeing how much Ryan is valued at work. His coworkers the consultants couldn't say enough good things about him, and it was fun for me to see that everyone else sees how great he is. Way to go Ry!

Twelve Years!

 Yesterday we celebrated being married for twelve years!

We spent a lovely evening at the Salt Lake Temple doing sealings and then ate some yummy dinner together.

A few weeks ago Olivia summed it all up for us. She looked at us both and said, "Mom, I'm so glad Dad married you!"

I was feeling pretty good that she recognized what a blessing I was to Ryan... and I started to agree when she spoke again after a brief pause....

"If he hadn't you would be sad and weeping somewhere because you'd be all alone."

Thanks, Ry, for preventing me from being sad and weepy all by myself. I love being married to you! We make a great team.

It's A Beautiful Day!

Last week Ryan and I went on a date--a real date--where we left our cute kids with my wonderful sister Erin and went somewhere all by ourselves for longer than 40 minutes.

Ryan used some of his long-time saved "play money" (that our kids think is like Monopoly Money, when it is actually our discretionary spending money that we each get in our budget) and bought tickets to see U2!!! In 2001 they came and Ryan wanted to go... Liv was a brand new baby and I wasn't going to leave her, so he went with his brother Tim. This time it was my turn to go with him (I think I waited long enough, no?)!

We sat behind the stage, but with the set-up we both thought we had great seats. They had video footage on the mammoth screen, the sound was great, and all of the band members (even Adam Clayton) came around and performed to us.

This I know:

• I like going on dates with Ryan. 
• U2 makes great music. 
• Bono is a performer and an ego-maniac. (Ryan reminds me that if you earn money like he does, you are allowed to be full of yourself.... while I agree with this, it was almost comical to watch Bono perform for the camera.... I must be getting old.)
• Even though it was the end of May, it was COLD.
• Speaking of getting old, by 10 pm I was checking my watch (not because I was bored... just because I was tired... and worried about my kiddos).
• We left a song or two early to beat the crowd and make the trek to our car, which I swear was parked 2 miles away. It was worth it.

We had such a great time... it was worth the 10 year wait!

Whenever I go to concerts I think about some of the others I have been to... and laugh a little with the changes in my musical interests... James Taylor, Sting, Harry Connick, Jr., Rush, and even Celine Dion and Michael Bolton (remember, Amy???).  My dream concert? Simon and Garfunkel, baby. I don't think they tour together anymore.

**What are some of your memorable concerts?
**Who would you LOVE to see in concert?