Off to Utah Pt. Random

Along with all our other Utah adventures we also managed to attend a baptism, a baby blessing, and two birthday parties.  We were able to see a lot of our family and a few of our friends.  I'm still surprised how much we were able to pack into three weeks.

Got to visit Grandma Stella at her house.

My parents were so thrilled that they had set up two triple-decker bunk beds for grandkid visits.  They were excited to hear the giggling and non-sleeping antics coming from the room.  And boy did we ever hear them.  Several nights Jen, or myself, or even one night, my dad himself, ended up going in the room to maintain quiet until they all fell asleep.  Jonny and Mary slept on the two bottom bunks, Atticus and Jonah took the middle bunks, and Anna read more than a few books while using one of the top bunks.  

Playing Peek-A-Boo with Micah

One late night Dayton went and found a spot on the bottom and passed out, too.  And yes, Jonny always sleeps with the blanket on her head.

Time spent with Princess (and grumpy) Mary.  I heart her.

We got to go up to Tremonton and see my girlfriend and her new baby, Jude.  Of course the only picture proof I have of that is Jonny hanging out in Nicole's dog's kennel.

Jonathan's oldest, Anna, turned 8 in July and was baptized in my parent's ward while they were there.  Then the next day was the baby blessing for Dean, Jameson's son.

After Anna's baptism, we had a birthday party for her back at the house.  Jonny kicking back.

My aunt, Jenny, sound asleep while the party raged on around her.

Both my grandmas!

After the baby blessing we went back to the Eldredge Manor for lunch.  Atticus was quite through with pictures.

The last week we were there, my mom surprised Jonny-Moana with a singing Moana necklace.  She wore out the battery before we'd even packed up to head back to Boston.

I love the look of surprise on her face.

I did a lot of Farmington wanderings.  Farmington is best for my soul.

We also got to attend my Aunt Jenny's birthday party.  Atticus was having a rough time.  It had been a long time of being off routine, away from home, and constantly going.  When we got to Jenny's house, she was still dead asleep for her Sunday nap and it took her a good 30 minutes after being awoken to shake her dazed and sleepy grumpiness and it was pretty hilarious.  

Working to cheer up my exhausted and grumpy boy.

The moments Jenny finally shook her grumps (with some tickles and teases from my mom) and realized it was party time.  (The grumps weren't gone for good however...)

I wish to keep him.

Jonny does, too.

Loving all the babies!

Happy 49th, Jenny!

 Some random, styling picture of Jonny.

Some exquisite dancing from Sam.

Oh, look!  Jenny's asleep again!  And so is Granny.  (This one was during relief society after the baby blessing.)

My Aunt Mikki, who is one of the best people I know, got Jonny a Moana dress (and Atticus an R2-D2 jacket) while in Disneyland because she loves to spoil me and my children.  Jonny was on cloud nine with the whole ensemble and it was made even better that she finally got have her promised Moana movie night with Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Madi.

She is showing off her wayfinding skills and Atticus is pretending to be one of the kakamora in his pirate jammies.

Bubbles And Bonneville

We had some more lazy days and adventures with our Williams cousins.  It was so fun to be in town at the same time as them.  They were there as a stop on their move from Ohio out to the bay area in California for my brother's new pediatric position.  Jen's having a baby in December so we won't be seeing them at Christmas, and have no idea when we will see them next.

My parent's house is right below the Bonneville Shoreline trail.  So we took a little morning hike to see the view.

Searching for Grammy's house.

Jonny, Atticus, Mary, Anna, Jonah

I love Farmington with my whole soul.

Whistling to get Grandma's attention from her driveway.

Grammy blew bubbles for as long as they wanted.

Jonny and Micah were the most pleased.

I love this so much.

More dramatic faces from Mary.

And where Atticus spent the better part of his time at Grandma's

Pioneer Day 2017

For the actual 24th of July my dad took Atticus, and my niece and nephew, Anna and Jonah up to "The Golf Balls" on Francis Peak.  I tagged along as well,  Atticus has always loved finding the golf balls on the mountain and he and I have both been really missing the mountains so we were thrilled to go.  

A little lazy morning with Grandpa before heading off on our adventures.

The golf balls!

We belong in the mountains.

We found snow in July!

Getting ready to throw snowballs at me.

Jonah and Atticus spent a good while throwing rocks down the mountain.

Had themselves a little picnic on top of the world.

And they apparently sat on a nest of these little inchworms because after Atticus found this initial one crawling on him, we found many more on the kids and in the car on our way back down the mountain.

After our mountain adventures, we had a cousin water fight.  They kind of were a little lame about it.  Standing around sort of throwing balloons at each other.  I finally had to get up and chase them around a bit to show them how it's done.  It was still pretty anti-climatic.

Poor little Mary.

Jonny and Mary escaped to the kiddie pool.

That night we had a barbecue and an FHE lesson.

Tate and Jonny.  He is always helpful in encouraging Jonny and teaching and playing with her.

 Stefanie got all the ladies festive leggings for the holiday.  Here, Jersi models hers.

Jonathan of course did not want to be left out.

Micah.

Prepare yourself for some of the most beautiful pictures you will ever see.

And then my self-important brother got his very patient wife to take some more glamour shots of himself.