On January 27th, our beloved Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley passed away. We were at the Saez's house for John and Zachary's birthday when someone called the house and gave us the news. We turned the TV on right away and there it was, breaking news: The Passing of President Hinckley. Tears started going down my checks. I was really sad. My friend Jorgelina was planning to leave on January 31st but after hearing the news she changed her ticket so that she could be here for President Hinckley's funeral. Mac said that he would stay with the kids at home so that I could go to the funeral with Jorgelina. Today was the funeral and Jorgelina and I got up at 4:30 a.m. to get ready so we could get to Salt Lake early enough to get tickets for the funeral. Johana (Jorgelina's friend who lives in Salt Lake) got there before we did to get in line at 6:00 a.m. to wait until we got there. We got there at 7:00 a.m. We went to where Johana was and she left because she had to go to work. What a great friend you are Johana!
El 27 de Enero, fallecio nuestro amado Profeta Gordon B. Hinckley. Nosotros estabamos en la casa de los Saez por el cumpleaños de John y Zachary cuando alguien llamo por telefono y nos dio la noticia. Prendimos la television y ahi estaba. Noticias de ultimo momento: Fallecimiento del Presidente Hinckley. Lagrimas comenzaron a caer por mis mejillas. Me puso re triste. Mi amiga Jorgelina se estaba volviendo a Argentina el 31 de Enero pero despues de escuchar la noticia cambio su pasaje para que pudiera estar aca para el funeral. Mac dijo que el se quedaria en casa cuidando a los chicos para que Jorgelina y yo pudieramos ir al funeral. Hoy fue el funeral y Jorgelina y yo nos levantamos a las 4:30 de la mañana para alistarnos para que pudieramos llegar a Salt Lake lo suficientemente temprano para conseguir tickets para el funeral. Johana (la amiga de Jorgelina que vive en Salt Lake) llego ahi antes que nosotras para ponerse en la fila a las 6:00 de la mañana para esperar a que nosotras llegaramos. Llegamos ahi a las 7:00 de la mañana. Fuimos a donde estaba Johana y ella se fue porque tenia que ir a trabajar. Que buena amiga que sos Johana!
Jorgelina and I waiting in line to get tickets. We were really close to the beginning of the line.
Jorgelina y yo esperando en la fila para los tickets. Estabamos re cerca del comienzo de la fila.
After waiting outside for 20 minutes they put us inside of the Tabernacle to wait until it was time to go inside the Conference Center because it was too cold outside. When it was time to go to the Conference Center they gave us the tickets and then we walk to the Conference Center.
Despues de haber estado esperando afuera por 20 minutos, nos pusieron adentro del Tabernaculo para que esperaramos hasta que sea la hora de entrar al Centro de Conferencia porque hacia mucho frio afuera. Cuando llego la hora de entrar al Centro de Conferencia, nos dieron los tickets y nos fuimos al Centro de Conferencia.
Here we are inside of the Conference Center waiting for the funeral to start.
Aqui estamos adentro del Centro de Conferencia esperando a que empieze el funeal.
Jorgelina and I outside the Conference Center after the funeral was over.
Jorgelina y yo afuera del Centro de Conferencia despues de que termino el funeral.
Now I have to tell you a story about this last picture. When Jorgelina and I got to the funeral I parked behind the Conference Center where you can only park for 2 hours from 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. The reason I did that was because the line where Johana was holding a place for us was moving and I was afraid that I wouldn't make it in time to take advantage of such a great place at the front of the line, and then have to go to the end of the line. Once we got inside the Conference Center, however, I started to worry about the car and where it was parked. I was afraid that it would be towed away. On top of that I was also worried because I didn't know where else I could park it. At this time it was almost 10:00 a.m. which meant my 2 hour parking window was almost over. If I left the funeral to find a new parking spot I thought there would be a chance that I wouldn't be able to find a spot in time to make it back for the funeral. I told Jorgelina that I didn't know how but I was going to find a new parking spot. I left the Conference Center and ran [up hill] to my car [don't forget that I'm pregnant]. There were a lot of police officers outside and I asked them what would happen if I left the car where it was and they said that the towing company would take it away so I got in my car and I thought...."where the heck am I going to park now?" I turned the car on and I was literally praying that I would find a place to park. I drove into a neighborhood behind the Conference Center, but of course there are "no parking / only for residents" signs everywhere . Then I thought.. "I'm just going to park and knock on the house and ask for permission to park". I saw an old man who was getting home from a bike ride. I guess I just had a desperate look on my face because he started coming towards my car. I rolled down the window and he ask me if I was going to the funeral and I said "yes". He said that I could park the car there on the street if I wanted. I of course said "yes". He then asked me if I was going to come to get the car right after the funeral and I said that I was, so he told me I could park in his driveway and so I did. I thanked the man and walked the 2 blocks to the Conference Center. When the funeral ended, Jorgelina and I walked to get the car. When I got there I knocked on the man's house to offer to pay him for letting me park in his driveway but he didn't want to accept my money. I thanked him again and we left. I call this man the good Samaritan. Whoever you are, THANK YOU again.
Ahora tengo que decirles la historia acerca de esta ultima foto. Cuando Jorgelina y yo llegamos al funeral, estacione atras del Centro de Conferencia donde solo se puede estacionar por 2 horas desde las 8:00 am a las 6:00 pm. La razon porque estacione ahi fue porque la fila donde Johana nos estaba manteniendo los lugares se estaba moviendo y tenia miedo de no llegar a tiempo a donde estaba ella y despues me tuviera que ir al final de la fila. Una vez que ya estabamos adentro del Centro de Conferencia me empeze a preocupar por el coche y donde estaba estacionado. Tenia miedo de que me llevaran el coche. Pero ensima de eso tambien estaba preocupada porque no sabia donde ir a estacionarlo. En este momento ya eran casi las 10:00 de la mañana que queria decir que mis 2 horas ya se estaban cumpliendo. Si me hiba para tratar de encontrar un estacionamiento habia probabilidades de que no llegara a tiempo para estar en el funeral. Le dije a Jorgelina que no sabia como pero que hiba a encotrar otro lugar para estacionar. Me fui del Centro de Conferencia y corri hacia arriba que va la calle a mi coche (no se olviden que estoy embarazada). Habian un monton de policias afuera y les pregunte que pasaria si dejaba mi coche donde estaba y me dijeron que la compania que se fija en los coche por el horario se lo llevaria. Asi que me subi al coche y pense.... donde miercoles voy a encontrar un estacionamiento? Prendi el coche y literalmente empeze a orar para poder encontrar un estacionamiento. Maneje hasta un vecindario que esta atras del Centro de Conferencia, pero por supuesto hay carteles por todos lados que dicen: "No estacionar/ solo para residentes". Despues pense... "Lo voy a estacionar y me voy a bajar y preguntar en la casa si me dan permiso para estacionarlo para que la compania no me lleve el coche". En eso vi a un viejito que estaba llegando a su casa en su bicicleta y se ve que yo tenia una cara de desesperada que el viejito se acerco al coche. Baje la ventana y el me pregunto si estaba llendo al funeral y le dije que si. Me dijo que podia estacionar el coche ahi en su casa si queria y yo por supuesto le dije que si. Despues el me pregunto si ni bien terminaba el funeral si hiba a venir a buscar el coche y le dije que si. Entonces el me dijo que podia estacionar el coche en su garage. Asi que lo estacione en su garage. Le dije gracias y me camine las 2 cuadras hasta el Centro de Conferencia. Cuando termino el funeral, Jorgelina y yo caminamos para ir a buscar el coche. Cuando llegamos, le golpie la puerta al viejito para ofrecerle dinero por haberme dejado estacionar ahi pero el no quiso aceptar. Le agradeci de nuevo y nos fuimos. Yo llamo a este hombre el "Buen Samaritano". Quien sea que sos, GRACIAS denuevo.
Today we went sledding at Rock Canyon Park. It was the first time for Lili, John and MYSELF, but not for Mac. How embarassing! I've been living here in Utah for almost 7 years but I had never gone sledding. I know I'm pregnant and maybe shouldn't be doing things like this but this might be the last winter in Utah or for awhile so I couldn't leave Utah without going sledding. It was really fun and Lili loved it. Lili really is not afraid of anything. John didn't like it that much but maybe he'll enjoy it better when he gets older. We all had a great time.
This is me at 23 weeks. At this time I'm enjoying this stage of pregnancy because I am passed the sickness part and I'm not too big either. I know I won't be saying the same thing in a couple of months so I'll enjoy it while it last.
Lili is always full of energy, but when she is tired she can fall asleep anywhere. She was just watching some cartoons while I was getting ready to go to the supermarket and I was taking her with me. She was already in her pajamas because it was close to her bed time. When I came back in to the living room this is how I found her. So I took her to her bed and went shopping by myself. Of course Mac stayed home with the kids. And since John was asleep too he took advantage to do some school work. Isn't it nice when everything works out that well especially when you don't plan it?
This is Lili painting. I bought this watercolor set for her to have something different to do during the day and she loves it. She likes mixing the colors and that's ok. As long as she is happy she can do whatever she wants, that is with the watercolors. I love how concentrated she looks in these pictures.
Jorgelina went back to Argentina today. Last night we went to eat at TGI Fridays with a bunch of friends to say goodbye to Jorgelina. It was really fun. Jorgelina, I hope you had a great time during your stay here in the U.S. I will always remember the wonderful moments we shared while you were here. I'm going to miss you a lot. Love-ya!
This is John enjoying himself while playing in the toy chest. He didn't get in there by himself. I actually put him in there. Don't worry I didn't leave him by himself. I was there watching him. Isn't he cute?