Friday, July 10, 2009

First Week in Utah

Damian, the kids and I drove out to Utah last week. Josh attended a BYU basketball camp with his best buddy, Drake. I didn't get any photos of them, though. What a slacker. Josh even got his basketball shoes signed by Thurl Bailey, a former NBA star!


While Josh was gone, Damian and I visited mutual friends and Damian's family. Our first stop was to our kids first babysitter, Kristy Yamaguchi Swendson. How I love that girl! She just had her first baby and we enjoyed meeting little Andrew and getting to know Kristy's hubby, Rob better. Emma even spent the night and went to mutual with Kristy's ward.

And Rob had a video game system that the kids loved. The boy on the right of Ben is Josh's friend, Drake.

We visited Drake's aunt that used to live in Central Point. She just had a baby girl and we loved our visit to the Kolpaks.

We got to spend a lot of time with my brother Paul's kids, Matthew and Ariana. They have been a highlight of the trip so far. I do love those little cuties. Matthew is a year younger than Ben, but they play very nicely together. Matthew has lots of funny sayings and speaks with such seriousness, he reminds me of Marcus Idiart.

We went to Chuck-E-Cheese's with Matthew and Ari and is was fun. They had never been before with their daddy and loved it.

My neice, Ariana LOVES Nina and Nina adores her. They have had a lot of fun being together.

Oh, did you see that Rachel got braces? Isn't she so cute? I love this girl.

One morning we went to the Oquirrh (pronounced ochre) Mountain Temple in West Jordan. It hasn't been dedicated yet, so the public is welcome to tour it. What a beautiful building, with a quiet, peaceful spirit. The kids loved it and were surprised at how much larger it is than our little temple near our home in Oregon.

That evening, we visited Matt Vranes older sister, Beka and her family. Beka and Damian were best friends in High School. I love that woman. And her family. She has 4 cute kids and a very nice husband that cooks a mean BBQ. Her oldest boy is pulling a face on the couch back, her little button is in the light green shirt to the right of Nina.

This little man ate 3 hamburgers in a ROW!! I took a picture of him DEVOURING his last one. What a hoot!

This brand new baby was much adored and pawed. Emma and I couldn't get enough of his sweetness.

We visited Damian's cousins before our trip south for the 4th of July. What a fun visit that was. Some of the cousins were visiting from Texas (even though they're moving to the East Coast, soon) and some live near Provo. Each of the kids met a playmate and have been begging me to bring them all back to Provo to play, ASAP. Especially Josh and Tanner.

Josh and Tanner are bosom buddies. Tanner is Josh's Diana Berry and Josh is his Anne Shirley, apparently. Who knew? Now we just need them to move to Oregon so they can play together all the time.

12 comments:

Andrea said...

It looks like you have been having lots of fun so far. Are you still planning on Chuck E. Cheese on the 14th for Hailey's birthday?? I didn't know know you had already been this trip. I love that picture of Rachel pointing to Moroni on the Temple.

Brandan and Becky said...

Love all the photos of cousins and friends-- makes the big wide world seem like a very friendly place.

Grandma Duffy said...

Dang...thought we might see you this trip!

Stacey said...

Wow! I have so much to catch up on with your blog. I'm a slacker! Thanks for reinviting me! You have the best blog ever!

utmommy said...

We would love to live in Oregon!

Krystal said...

I didn't know you were "up North" before the reunion. I thought you were only going to be in Utah after the reunion...bummer! We were in Logan before the reunion, and "up north" while you were in St. George...So I guess our paths just didn't cross enough this time! It was fun to see you guys at the reunion, although I hardly even got to visit with you! I'm not sure how you drive home, but if you need a place to stay or stop for a while, you are always welcome with us here in Boise! :)

Cynthia said...

It was great to see your darling family at the reunion, even though I don't feel like I got all the visiting in I wanted. I love you all, Aunt Cynthia

youreprettytoo said...

i am truly offended! i see no mention of your "awkward" visit to my house!;) really it was good to see you even if there are no pictures to prove it and I'm sorry it was so short. But i keep mentioning crater lake to eric and i think he is warming up to the idea!

Kristi said...

Wow, you must have visited everyone you know east of the Cascades. It looks like you had lots of fun, but we are glad to have you back as our own local friends.

Beka said...

We loved our visit with you! Thanks for capturing the evening with fun pictures. Love you...

suzy said...

Post something new lazy.

suzy said...

Post something new lazy.