Utah with the Johnson Family

(Part II of our vacation out West)

It was so great to be back in Utah again - it almost felt like we had never left. We had so much fun playing with cousins seeing friends again. I've always loved and appreciated the mountains, so of course it was so wonderful to be in the shadow of the Wasatch Front again.

We drove through beautiful Park City to go boating with my family at Deer Creek Reservoir. I wish I had a video of the girls tubing with Kali, Emma and Sophie, with the music blasting from the boat and Scotty singing out at the top of his lungs to One Direction. It felt so good to be with family again!

 I don't know what this is called, but we saw some people doing this on the reservoir. It was pretty cool!

Driving home through Provo canyon was pretty spectacular! I love driving through the canyons with mountains towering on either side of you - never gets old!

 dinner with some siblings - Steph (sister) and Bryant, Ang (sister) and Jimmy, Aaron and I, and Ryan (brother)

 Sisters (minus one - Jen)

Going in to Seven Peaks water park

 We also got to meet up with our friends the Wibergs while in Utah - this is the only picture I have to prove it. We also saw our friends the Balwins and Hamiltons. It was so good to see them - it was like no time had passed!

 Had lunch on Temple Square with Nanny Nette and Grandpa. They work in the church office building in the Senior Missionary Dept.

 Camped out in Angela's backyard and had s'mores.

 Fancy tea party at Angela's with all these beautiful ladies and one good sir.

 FHE at Nanny Nette and grandpa's club house. Steph and Bryant revealed the gender of their baby. Above, the people who guessed it is a girl. Below, the people who guessed it is a boy.

And I was on the winning side - it's a GIRL!!! Yay, we are so excited for them!

 Aubree and Grandpa cuddling up. Even though my parents are living in this apartment while on their mission, it still felt like home just because they were there. They give us so much love and attention and it just feels so peaceful whenever we're with them.

And last but not least ...... (we actually missed this by a day so we listened in on speaker phone while driving home from the airport) ..... my nephew Brandon received his mission call to the Paris, France mission. We found out our first day in Utah that he had decided he wanted to serve a mission and I was so happy that it made me a bit emotional! He will leave in December. I am so proud of him and his decision to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He will be awesome - I just know it!

It was so good to be with family and be back home in Utah and Idaho! The first day back in CT was a little rough and we all felt homesick. But we'll get back into the swing of things ....

Idaho with the Parson Family

Being in Idaho is a little different now that my parents aren't there - I almost feel like I should claim Utah as home now that my parents and all but one sibling live there. (And the fact that we lived there for 4 years before coming back east.) But when we finally got to Idaho it did feel like home. I just LOVE Idaho!

 We stayed the night with Franci and girls (three nights actually). This is Aubree and baby Lucy.

 Ellie and Suzie

 BYU-I

 BYU-I greenhouse that Aaron helped build when he was a student

 Aaron with a former classmate, Mary, who now works on campus

 Mill Hollow Frozen yogurt. A pretty regular place to visit while I was in college. Aaron and I went on our second date here (I think).

 Ponyback riding with the cousins. Thanks to Aunt Anna! (Don't you love Sarah's riding boots and helmet?)

Saying goodbye to my home. It was a little weird to be there and not be able to go inside. 

While in Idaho we went up to Kelly's Canyon to the location of our first date. It was SOOOO beautiful! It smelled like camping (minus the campfire) - tree sap, wild flowers, dirt, rain. This was our first time being back since we got engaged.

 This is "the tree". Aaron's initials were already carved in the tree and I added mine when we were engaged. (Our initials are the 3rd ones down.) I think I'll share the story of "the tree" in another post.

 It had already started to rain when I took this picture so you can't see the view behind the girls. But you just have to see it in person to really see the full beauty of it. GORGEOUS!!!

We had a family dinner the Sunday we were in Idaho.

 Heidi (friend), Carly, Kaylie (cousin)

Curt and Shawna and their family came to the dinner as well (they're like family). It was so good to see them.

We surprised Aaron with an Avenger's ice cream cake since he would be home alone on his actual birthday.

We went to West Yellowstone on Monday. West Yellowstone reminds me of going to Burlinton, WY as a kid. We went to the candy shop and Christmas shop. 

Daddies and Girlies

 We spent the night in Island Park at the South Sawmill Lodge and Reunion Center. Built and owned by our brother-in-law, Josh, and his family. This place is so awesome and HUGE! (You can look at more pictures of it and see more info about it here: http://www.southsawmill.com)

 We went canoeing the next day. As we floated there on the beautifully calm water all of my senses were stimulated! The mountains were muted but majestic in the distance, the tall grass along with the colorful wildflowers clung to the banks, and at one point a baby moose stood grazing by the side of the river. The evergreens stood tall, giving off their sappy fragrance against a backdrop of fresh mountain air. All the while birds serenaded with the sound of rippling water as accompaniment. My heart was overflowing – this must be what Heaven is like! Being there was chicken soup for my soul.  I just love Idaho and being in its beautiful wilderness.

 We took turns jumping into the paralyzingly freezing cold water.

 And we saw Wolverine while we were there too ... oh wait, that's Aaron's little brother, Troy. ;)

We headed back to Utah right after this canoeing trip to get Aaron to the airport. Once he got back to CT he was pretty homesick without us and we missed him the last week we were in Utah. But, I guess it's a good sign when you miss someone so much!