We finally made it out to visit Dan's family again! We were all packed and ready to go at Christmas but illness struck and we had to stay home. It has been an entire 9 months since we were there and Kaelah couldn't have been more excited. She loves her cousins! Here some of them are eating their ice cream cones at Thanksgiving Point.
My children adore their cousin, Sloan. Here K & D are holding her hand as we walk from the van to the Freedom Festival Parade. In the van on the way there I had been listening to Stephanie Nielson's book, Heaven is Here, so I was surprised and delighted she was the grand marshall of the parade. She looked great for just having had a baby a few months ago. I would have never known!
Watching fireworks with cousin Evie. These 2 are born exactly 2 months apart. Seeing them together makes me want to move closer to Dan's family. It took us less than 9 hours to get there but almost 12 hours to get back. There is more than one reason we don't visit every few months!
We said good-bye to Dan's parents before they left to serve as full time missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the next 18 months on the tiny island of Bonaire in the Caribbean. Since we are the only family that lives far away, we actually felt closer to them on their mission to Argentina because of all the video chats we did while they were away from home, so we're excited.
These 3 cousins were all born within 5 months of each other and shared a fun little moment on the sofa as I threw throw pillows gently at them or when they were hiding under them. Fun times.
We finally made it back to Temple Square with our entire family! It was so fun to tell my children how happy I was the day I married their father almost 9 years ago. My best friend, Shannon, was more than happy to take pictures for us. Check out that hand on hip Danny had going. I love that boy. I also loved looking at all the huge paintings of the Savior's life with the children. Kaelah has a great memory so was able to tell us what was being depicted and I was so happy to know she was picking stuff up from scripture stories, family home evenings, and church. We had to skip over the Garden of Gethsemane and the Crucifixion because Michelle was so upset Jesus was sad. I love Jesus! she proclaimed. Melt my heart. She is the sweetest little girl I know.
Kneaders for lunch, joined by wonderful friend, Melissa, her son, Christopher, and her 2 Yorkie puppies. Michelle and Danny couldn't have been happier.
After lunch we continued to drag Shannon around (we had a wonderful time staying at her house, btw) and visited Dan's Grandma W. She is such a joy to be around and it is great to see how comfortable the children are with her and how much fun they have even though they don't see her very often. Her giggles are the best.
We were treated to dinner at Brett & Shelley's (Dan's older sister) and couldn't have had a more fun time. When we arrived there were signs and a waiter and waitress and Cole even had on a fake mustache. He was also kind enough to later make Danny one. Such a neat family. That afternoon we also went to the Riverton Aquatic Center with Dan's brother Mark's family & his sister Amylynn's family and friend Craig my friends Carl & Leslie and their family from my BYU days. Kaelah really liked borrowing the life jacket Ethan brought for her and she and Evie were great mermaids in the water. It took Mark & Kendra & I to keep an eye on Sloan and Danny because those two loved the slides so much. She is half way in age between Danny & Michelle and is just the perfect cousin for them.
For lunch on Saturday we made reservations at the Olive Garden in Lehi and hoped some friends could show up, and show up they did. Danny had a great time with my mission friend, Lynda's son, although I'm not sure Simon can say the same. Let's just say Dan had to confiscate bread sticks being used to beat his new friend over the head. Ah hem.
I'm so happy I could catch up with Reagan before her family makes the big move to Maryland. This is one of the funniest people I know and we met each other oh, so long ago as elementary school kids living in Iowa City. I was so happy when her first daughter, Piper was born. She that blanket she's wearing? I crocheted that. I used to have time to make baby blankets before I became a mom. lol.
Us Kansas girls have to have wind blowing in our hair to remind us we've known each other for a long time. It was so great to meet Mylee's beautiful baby and see how well she & her husband are together in their new parenting role. The last time I saw her was at her wedding reception 2 years ago.
I'm so grateful my friends were willing to go along with last minute plans to come spend time with me before I headed home. I have truly been blessed by wonderful people being able to put up with me my entire life. And a huge thank you to Shannon and Aaron for housing us this trip! My children want a repeat and soon. (:
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