Utah Trip Part 2

So on Saturday morning (the 5th) we drove up to grandpa Shannon's house for a waffle breakfast and then went to Marjerle's family farm. I love farms, I would totally live on a farm but sadly for me I married a city boy through and through. He about has a heart attack every time I say I would love to own some chickens.

They had these little mini bike things (I have no idea what they're called). Let's just say they were not quite as easy to maneuver as a quad is and I may have had a run in with some bumper somewhere.

The kids loved feeding the horses. In fact I'm pretty sure they were well overfed by the time we left. Kael was a little scared at first and kept just throwing a handful of hay at the horses mouth and running the other way. He eventually gathered his nerve and started actually holding the hay for them.

It's hard to tell from this picture but this horse was beautiful. It reminded me of the Budweiser Clydesdale horses.

See? A regular old farmer.

Uncle Kurtis helping them climb up the hay.

Kurtis and Mikael. I snapped many engagement pictures for them. So really I did them a huge favor. 

This is Andre and my new niece! Little Jada, she makes me smile every time I look at this picture. She was probably the best baby I have ever seen. I don't think I heard her cry but once the whole time we were there.

So then Saturday at lunchtime we went to a family reunion event at the park with a slip n slide!! It was a huge slide with lots of soap and water. Once we got the water going though the slide was so hot it took a while to cool off.

I honestly think he's screaming in this picture from how hot it was. Poor kid, he is fine, but it took him a while to go down again.

The solution? Go down in a tube!

Kurtis taking a dive.

At least I know he got a bath during his time there.

Ava and Izzy!

Ava flying down the slip n slide!

Kurtis and Mikael!

Ava and Esther. Esther is one of Ava's favorite cousins!

Kael spent a lot of time in the kiddie pool doing "cannonballs".

Sunday was a very special day for me. Definitely one of the highlights of my trip. Kurtis was ordained to be an Elder! Andre ordained him to the Melchizedek Priesthood and then that afternoon he got his Patriarchal blessing. I hope Kurtis knows just how special he is and how proud we are of him and the choices he is making. Kurtis I know you are reading this. I love you like you are my own. You are a leader, so don't follow others and always reach for higher ground. You have special gifts that not many other people have so use them, don't let them go to waste. And wash, iron, and use a bloody white shirt and tie. Often.

These are the men that ordained Kurtis except my grandpa left before we could catch him. Andre, uncle David, Kurtis, and uncle Jeff.

I am really grateful for Mikael and that she pushes Kurtis to be a better person. I am glad she could be there when he was ordained.

Playing kickball in grandma's yard.

I LOVE this picture! This is another of Ava's favorite cousins- Izzy! Ava had lots of sleepovers with Izzy and it was so fun to watch them together.

Ava wrestling aunt Taylor.

Grandpa showing Kael how to use the bow and arrow he got him for his birthday.

Sunday night was sadly the end to our great family reunion. We had family dinner and then some fireworks that night. 

Engagement photo!!

We had such a great time we were already making plans to go back there for 4th of July next year. But then I remembered that Kurtis and Mikael might have something big coming up in April or so, so we'll just hold off on making plans for a bit. Until next time, farewell Utah!

Utah Trip! (Part 1)

We just got back from a very loooooooooooong and very fun trip to Las Vegas/Utah. We flew into Las Vegas on Thursday, June 26th and drove straight to Pleasant Grove. It was a very long day but the kids slept pretty well. Needless to say I will never book another 5 am flight with the kids if I can help it! When we arrived in Pleasant Grove we went to my grandparents house and stayed there. My grandparents were still on their big long trip but we stayed there with my cousin Alexis and her family (they stayed there while they were getting their home built in PG). We had the best time staying up way too late and having really great and awesomely random conversations. They have three children that Ava & Kael loved so much. Our kids now think that cousins are the greatest things in the world! I am so happy they got time with their cousins because growing up I loved playing with my cousins. I thought a cousin was the best kind of friend and definitely the best part of a family reunion!

Also one of the best parts was that Ava and Kael could roam the yard whenever they wanted and I didn't even have to go out with them and follow them around. That is one thing I look forward to when we own a home- having a yard!

At the new aquarium in Utah (Friday the 27th). We went with grandpa and aunt Taylor.

At the aquarium again. I always forget how many kids are in Utah. I know there are kids everywhere but for some reason Utah seems overflowing with children everywhere I turn.

The aquarium was really neat, they had penguins (that were very active!) and otters!

On Saturday was Easton and Marjerle's wedding. It was in such a beautiful place, if only it wasn't so blazing hot. I'm pretty sure my face melted off and was sliding down my neck by the end of the ceremony but at least it wasn't raining! Also Ava felt pretty special to be a flower girl.

You may kiss the bride!

What a hottie my husband is.

Beautiful girl. I also think her little bouquet was gorgeous. I wish there was a way we could have saved it!

Kael and aunt Taylor. The kids both loved playing with her and miss her a ton.

Grandpa!!

Waiting for the reception to start. I think Kael was trying to steal a kiss.

Handsome guy!

Ava getting twirled by her daddy.

Andre and his momma.

Ava dancing with Andre.

So on Sunday we went to church with my cousin and then right after went to eat dinner with our friends Tyson and Ashley. They were nice enough to cook us dinner and even made cake! The kids loved spending time with them and their cute little dog Bentley!

On Monday we went to Bridal Veil falls. The plan was to take lunch up there but we just ran out of time. So we grabbed lunch and then drove up there. The kids thought it was so great. They were surprised by how cold the mountain water is! Kael would hardly go in it he did not like it.

His first time feeling the water!

Ava saw people climbing up the waterfall (it is actually much steeper than my camera makes it look) so of course next thing I know she is climbing way up there. See her in the purple? She wouldn't have stopped if Andre didn't go grab her.

See the fish?

We did end up hiking up the path to get to the waterfall. Can you tell we're from Wilmington? Everyone is going up in tennis shoes and hiking boots and we're all super smart so every single one of us was hiking in flip flops. 

It was really hard to see so I mainly was just pointing the camera random places and snapping pictures. I somehow lucked out and got this picture.

See that crazy girl? I thought I would be the super cool mom that would go touch the waterfall so my kids could see me do something awesome! Yeah I didn't get too close. The water was freezing!

So on Tuesday we drove up to the cabin in Park City where Easton was staying (yes, we crashed their honeymoon) and we had a great time. We went on 4 wheelers and there was a lake with boats, and downstairs there was air hockey, pinball, and a basketball game thing that the guys were constantly trying to beat each other's high scores in.

Kael with uncle Easton!

Ava was brave and rode with me. Secretly I'm the most fun driver.

Pictures could never do the view justice. It was beautiful.

Rowing at the lake with Taylor and her boyfriend Parker.

Ava with aunt Taylor in the paddle boat.

Bumper boats! Did I mention the kids loved Parker too?

I guess I don't remember what we did on Wednesday since I have no pictures of it. I think I just helped my grandmama that morning for a bit. Oh I do remember we took the Bagley twins to lunch. It's their first semester at BYU so we thought we'd catch them for a meal.

On Thursday morning uncle Kurtis' flight came in! We drove to the airport to pick him up and then went to temple square. We toured the conference center and went to the Lion House place to eat lunch and then went to the visitor's center on temple square. I wish we had more time up there. One thing about this trip is that there was just not enough time! Every minute seemed planned out and there was just not enough time to do everything we wanted.

On the roof of the conference center

Conference center roof!

I loved all the beautiful flowers planted all around temple square.

Thursday evening was when my family reunion officially started. We had a progressive dinner Thursday evening which was really fun (who doesn't love food?) then Friday we had a waffle breakfast then we all went to a park.

The creek

Climbing in the creek with cousins! There's Auburn and Kael.

You can see Kael back there with Gabe. I think all the cousins 10 and younger had their private meeting area.

Andre insists that my grandpa looks like Indiana Jones. He is quite adventurous.

4th of July!! I cannot believe Ava actually went to the fireworks. She gets hysterical every single year from the loud noises. I guess it helped that all her cousins went this time.

I guess this was her coping mechanism. Falling asleep in the middle of the show.

I have tons more pictures but I will finish this later. To be continued...