D girls get car fever, spring fever and hay fever is not far behind.

No sooner than S&S landed in Zion then they did what everyone does who descends Emigration Canyon into the peaceful valley-o. They said to themselves "enough of this handcart stuff, we need some real wheels." So the last few weeks have been punctuated by calls, texts and emails about APRs and MSRPs. Suzanne bought a lovely little Toyota from my ex-M Mission brother Brent Brown (who apparently can bend over backward when selling people cars). Sarah is still in the final stages of finalizing her new Kia Soul a sporty new model barely off the test track. Now the girls can tear up the toll road to each others' apartments, the temples and friends from Logan to St. George. Happy are they. Worried are we. Not really they are both good drivers. And they are paying for their own insurance. We really feel like empty nesters now. Suzanne has been working super hard and even won a recent props letter from her biggest client. Sarah had her first week at Arbinger and so far we only hear good things. She is sporting a new Macbook Pro and Blackberry so she is very much looking the part of the young marketing exec that she is.
And while they may have the classiest of wheels, both D girls are missing their furniture from home. So C. has threatened to U-haul it out there and catch the Church history sites along the way. Imagine that -- Motel 6, Nauvoo, eccentric roadside food and Winter Quarters. A true pioneer experience.

Back at 196 OKHN the front garden is in bloom and the cherry trees are a blaze of color. My favorite time of day is dusk when the outdoor lights kick on and bathe the bushes, trees and plantings in soft light. I love to walk to get the mail and notice every new blossoming thing. We are spending more time outside on the deck and Emmy took advantage of the warm spell during break and went to Cherry Lawn with gal pal Julia and they explored the lakeside in search of ducklings, flora, fauna and boys playing sports. Drew is working on the planning stages of an amazing Eagle project and getting more driving practice and continues to make beautiful music when he is not on the phone with a new found friend up Idaho way.

C and I are still loving Institute, the change in the seasons and our time together out with friends or just the two of us at home for our pillow movie nights. It's funny, I grew up with a sister who loved old movies. It was years before I knew we even had a color TV because more often than not its screen was alight with Myrna Loy or Fred Astaire. And now I am doubly blessed with a bride who appreciates classic cinema. Of course that doesn't give me much hope for that OLED HDTV I want. Don't need 1080p of those to watch "Torchy Blane" or "The Thin Man." Oh well, I laugh at the fact that once again I am seeing see those old familiar faces of my childhood Film Noir days.