This has to be a giant blog because I haven't had time to blog in a long time....so here is most of my Utah trip.
First my flight out to Utah was amazing. Why, Do you ask? My favorite baby sitter was on the flight with me! (AGAIN!, she was also on our flight out to Utah at Christmas time. Both times this was unplanned.) I am so thankful Courtney was there, because I had to spend most of the flight in the bathroom. I was so lucky, because she would sit with the child that wasn't going potty. Yes, I take my sitter on all my flights! =)
Relax.
Catching "butter faeries" in the backyard.
I love this sweet girl.
My brother, Mike, and my Mom had our rooms ready for us. I had a vase of the coolest red roses, and the kids had the cutest beds. Wyatt and Talia's bed had bedding from the movie Surf's Up. Wyatt's was blue with Cody on it, and Talia's was pink with Lani on it. These beds made all the difference in the world at nighttime. They were so happy to sleep in them....even thought they woke up at 4:30 am the first night. They eventually got used to the time change.
The first few days were not my favorite. I found out that I had bronchitis and Talia had a terrible bladder infection. Not fun. The fourth of July was a bomb for us, we went to bed at nine. We didn't really start doing fun stuff until the weekend, when we started to feel a little better.
We got to do so many fun things and visit so many people. My whole family came over on Saturday for a BBQ "in my honor." At least that is what my mom called it. =) It was so good to see everyone. A few of my brothers even talked cameras with me! Earlier that day we got to go to cousin Mason's 3rd birthday party. Jennifer made superman capes for all the guests, they had delicious cupcakes, games, and a fabulous photographer to document the whole party! (He he. Kidding.)
Mason and the cupcake....can you believe how RED they are.
We had a girls shopping day one Thursday. Mom, Jennifer, Brina, Lori, Jana, Ann, and I went to Gardener Village and had lunch and shopped. It was a fun day. Emily and Tim watch my kids for me. Talia loved Emily's little dog. They had a good time with their cousins.
We went to the dinosaur museum and the petting farm at Thanksgiving point. Talia rode a pony, and now is a horse fanatic. She was so happy and proud to be on that pony. Wyatt joined her the second time. Except he didn't want the "tall" pony, so he got on the short one and Talia rode the biggest one. Wyatt loves the dinosaur museum, except the "scary music" they play at in the front entrance area. He is scared of the funniest things, because somethings don't even phase him. He had a great time, but Talia didn't. I think we went to the bathroom 4-5 times....it isn't close to anything, so we had to race there a few times.
We got to go fishing with Grandpa. They didn't catch anything, Wyatt was disappointed. Grandpa told him "Fishing is always fun, and sometimes you catch a fish." I think he took that as a good answer, and stopped complaining. We had the most delicious salt and pepper potato chips while we were at Adventure Park. I bought some for us here, and Talia tasted one a few days ago and said "We eat these chips at fishing. *crunch crunch* With Grandma and Grandpa. Tasty." I thought it was funny that those chips sparked a memory for her.
My Grandma celebrated her 93rd birthday while we were there. She is doing pretty well, but stays in here home all the time. She also has stopped crocheting. Which is a little sad, because she has crocheted my whole life. I have afghans, doilies, pillows, Natalia's blessing dress, baby blankets and booties, slippers, hand towels, and more. These will always be treasured by us, especially because I know they were done with love, and with a little pain. (She has arthritis in her hands, which is why she finally stopped.) Well Natalia thought Grandma Great was one of the best things about the trip! We would walk past Grandma's door, and every time Natalia would say "Let's go say Happy Birthday to Grandma Great!" Grandma's birthday lasted about a week and a half, because Talia kept wishing her a happy birthday. Talia would get all of the stuffed animals in Grandma's apartment and line them up. She would look at everything on the table and ask "What this?" She loved to go visit her. One day I walked in to see if I could take a picture of Grandma and Natalia together, and she was sitting in her chair crocheting. I don't know exactly why she decided to start again, but it made me so happy to see her doing it. Here are the pictures of my silly little girl with her Grandma Great.
I got to do two non-family sessions while I was there. One for Adrie (we traded again) and one for my Laurel leader, Sister Greenwood's grandchildren. Both were good sessions! Adrie's kids are dream to work with. We went to the Scera pool with them a few days later. One the way there I said "Brighton, when I came over to your house, did I come over to play or to take pictures?" She yelled back with a big smile "TOO PLAY!" I can't tell you how much that means to me. I successfully tricked them. =) I had a similar experience at the Greenwood's home. That session was with two boys, four and one. I was warned that the four year old had several melt downs that day, and they were sure that the session wouldn't go too well. We had a fantastic time together, and when I started to leave he asked me if I would please come back tomorrow! =)
A few more pictures of my kids.
A sweet conversation by Grandma's tomatoes.
