We were able to head to Utah this summer!! It was a fun trip and we decided to sneak in one more free flight for the girls before they turned two!! Stephen couldn't take much time off work, so it worked out perfectly to have my brother in town for business. We flew back with him on his same flight and he took one baby and I took the other....he was a good sport. Then Stephen came out a weeks later for the holiday weekend. It was nice to get away for a few weeks.
We played hard and tried to squeeze everything we could into our short time there.
Splash pads are a lot more fun with cousins ...and water. We decided to get to the splash pad early and beat the rush. Instead we ended up waiting an hour before it turned on. Good thing these kids entertained themselves with each other!!
Growing up my parents always had a huge garden with tons of fresh produce. They still do some of their favorites and peas are one of those!! We helped them pick the last of their crop! I think we ate way more then we harvested!
We had some pretty hot days and had to find a way to cool off!! I'm amazed though at how 100 plus degree weather didn't phase me. With no humidity, it was quite pleasant. I wasn't sweating buckets as soon as I stepped outside. I guess I'm finally acclimated to the south.
A night with our Holden cousins! It just so happens that my sister-in-law's parents moved to Kaysville just 5 minutes from my parents house a few years ago. She brought out her three littles for a few weeks and our trips happened to overlap! Stephen's sister who's been living in Provo was about to move to Colorado and so we had to find a night to connect! It was super fun and I love hanging out with these girls!
Wiggle riders! These little cars are Andrew's absolute favorite! Since my sister is currently living with my parents while they build a home, there was about 8 of these cars at Grandmas house! Good thing they have a huge area to drive them on! Andrew would wake up and wander straight outside first thing in his pj's and would ride for hours. We all got in on a little wiggle riding action!
It was so fun to catch up with these ladies!! Some of my dearest friends right here and their sweet kids!
One of the best things about visiting either side of our family is seeing the connection my kids make with their cousins! The last time we where in Utah the girls were 5 months old. It was hard for a few of the younger cousin to realize they don't like being held anymore like babies. But by the end they sure loved playing with their cousins. Andrew seemed to really connect with his cousin Nate this trip, who will be a sophomore in high school this year! They were best buds and Nate was so patient with Andrew.
Sunday drives are the best...especially when we get to go in grandpas cool car!!
This girl left on her mission in Mexico just a few months after we found out we were pregnant with the girls. She returned just before Christmas last year and so this was a first time these girls met their cousin Ashley. Kathryn wouldn't stick around for a picture...so this is the best we could do!
My parents neighbors have a little farm with a goat, chickens, bunny rabbits and they had just gotten some baby turkeys! They let us come over and play with their animals one morning!! The girls loved it!!
Girls lunch!! There's nothing like having a handful of babysitters at hand. So we took advantage and did a girls afternoon. Pedicures and lunch with my mom and sisters!
These girls got a pedicure of their own too! Aunt Camille helped me brave painting these girlies toes for the very first time!! They loved it and kept saying "pretty, pretty" while blowing on their toes.
I love taking my kids to the cabin! So many fun memories made here!! The girls and Andrew had an absolute blast playing with cousins, riding four wheelers, playing in the dirt, setting traps for the squirrels and going on 'hikes'.
Since we don't know when we'll all be together again... It was family picture time!! It's no easy feat to get six different families with 25 grand kids all looking happy and smiling, but we did it...mostly. The setting was beautiful and I love how these turned out!!!
We loved being able to celebrate the Fourth of July with everyone!! We started the day with the good old Kaysville parade! They don't really do parades, out east like they do in Utah on the fourth. So this was a first for all of my kids. Andrew loved getting all the candy and ate it almost as fast as he could grab it. All of them loved cheering and clapping for everyone that passed by and Andrew especially loved the marching band, with cousin Nate playing his trumpet.
Afterwards we cooled off by playing in the sprinklers and on uncle Ryan's gigantic slip n slide! Then a night of fireworks was in store. Andrew loved doing the sparklers although it was tricky for him to hold such a small wire. He loved cuddling in a cozy blanket on the front lawn and watching the big fireworks just as much!!
