Today: I pack for a trip to Utah to visit the hubby’s relatives- in-laws, outlaws and the like. Many of whom I love dearly and a few who - well not so much I’m sure, heh. Such is life. Such is family. You love them, they love you, they get on your nerves, they judge you with the harshness and hypocrisy of a thousand burning suns and commentate on your lifestyle, parenting style, clothing style, hairstyle, lack of style. And through it all, you attempt to smile and remember that really, behind any family crap that can be thrown at you ( I HAVE FOUR SISTER IN-LAWS- there is always PMS going on in this family), you do love these people, and you love your hubby, who is a product of these good people. . .even when sometimes you fail to see the resemblance. . .see I’m totally psyching myself up. Family. WOOOOO! Bring it on. I always have a good time in Manti (after the fifteen freaking hour drive through the wasteland that is Nevada). I fell in love in Manti and I always feel GOOD in Manti. That’s just how that town is. It makes me happy. Plus there is the gorgeous Manti temple there, where Chris and I were married. And the family cabin, which is completely wonderful and so very, very Grandpa that you just have to smile and feel all gooey and sticky inside because people, don’t singing, plastic deer heads mounted on the wall do that for everyone? No? Just the Tibbs clan? Well. . .I guess that is why I fit in.

Didja follow any of that?

Today: I am restraining myself from diving headfirst into the next two books in the Twilight series. I keep telling myself that packing is important. Clean underware: IMPORTANT. Having a thousand pages to read on a fifteen hour car ride: IMPORTANT. But I so want to know what happens next!

Today: My baby brother enters the MTC (Missionary Training Center). After three weeks there he will be off to Melbourne Australia to do missionary work for the next two years. Last night, as we chatted on the phone for the last time for the next two years, he thanked me for beating him up when he needed it. I said you’re welcome. I cannot believe he is growing up. It is good. I am really excited to watch him do this and someday get married and bring home some girl who can feel the way I feel when he brings her home to meet her new sister in-laws, “Welcome to our alien planet- yes, we really are that weird!”

As soon as he gets to Australia, my siblings and I will all be on different continents. I have no idea how my parents raised such independent children. They both live in the state they were born in, married someone from a nearby small town, and live only an hour from their parents, which is beautiful and sometimes I’m extremely jealous, but seriously- why do their offspring feel the need to leave the country? I have no idea. I can say, with all honesty, that after college and marriage and babies, I am ready to move back home for awhile. Take a little reprieve from the moving. Only one year and eight months of the Air Force left for us, and then really, who knows? Chris is finishing up his degree, and in a little over a year he starts applying for jobs. Anyone want a really gifted computer networking guy working for you in that time frame? A hunky guy who enjoys long walks on the beach, good books. . .wait. . .that was the resume that won me over- he’ll need a new strategy for the civilian job market.

Today: I have a mountain of laundry. I have cereal to vacuum off of the carpet. I have luggage to locate and then pack. Today I’m procrastinating. Typical. Better get off my butt and start making things happen.