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I know that the last part of our vacation pictures and fun has been a long time coming. (We just moved into our first home!)
The reason why we chose to go to Utah when we did was because there was a Science Fiction/Fantasy Symposium going on at BYU, in Provo, UT. I call it the nerd convention! But while I was there rubbing elbows with famous and not so famous nerds I realized that I am a nerd too! But don't tell anyone, it's our little secret!
The girls and I went to a bunch of different lectures and panels, Erik and Austin attended a bunch more than we did. We attended a class about making jewelry, Science Fiction and Fantasy books for kids and how to incorporate them in the classroom, supporting your creative partner, and a few others. Erik and Austin attended classes on writing believable characters, intriguing plots, and other such writing classes, since that is what Erik wants to do when he grows up. Austin also attended a class about video games, since that is what he would like to do when he grows up.
The girls and I also got the job/privilege of standing in lines to get books signed while the others attended classes. We got a bunch of cool books, I know just what we need more books--just be glad you didn't have to move them all and try to find a place for them all to go.
We got to talk with a bunch of really neat people like, Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, Jake Black, Howard Taylor, John D. Brown, some of their wives as well as many others. And while they won't remember me from the next crazy person, they will be remembered by us! Jake Black in particular gave way more time than he needed to to answer Erik's questions and concerns about writing and supporting a family on a writer's pay.
One day Erik will be there as a guest speaker/panelist and I will still be the crazy wife but this time I'll be the crazy wife of the famous author!
After our days in Utah we then drove straight through to San Diego so Erik could attend a work meeting there the next day. While he was hard at work Austin, the girls, and I went and played at Balboa Park.
Austin, Mia, and Emma at Temple Square in front of the Salt Lake Temple. Families Are Forever!
Emma and Mia at the Paleontology Museum on the BYU campus in Provo, UT.
On the BYU Campus
Petting the snake at a live animal show at the Bean Museum at BYU
Butterfly Mural made with butterflies at the Bean Museum at BYU
Stuffed African Animal display at the Bean Museum
Mia and Emma by Shasta a female liger. Shasta was born and lived her life at the Hogle Zoo in Utah. A liger is a cross breed between a male lion and a female tiger. A tigon would be a male tiger and a female lion
Austin, Emma, and Mia at Balboa Park in San Diego, CA
Emma and Mia at the Natural History Museum in San Diego, CA
Mia and Emma at the playground in Balboa Park, San Diego, CA
Emma, Mia, and Austin at the Japanese Friendship Garden in San Diego, CA
Mia and Emma in the Botanical Garden in San Diego.