Out West - Utah

(This post and the previous two are journaling from our trip out west in July. We had such a great time seeing family and friends in Idaho, Wyoming and Utah! Three weeks was a bit long for me, but better than not coming at all.)

When we arrived in Utah we went straight to Stephanie's house where we planned on staying for 5 days.

Here we are having a BBQ in Alpine with my parents and the Nielsen's. Bryant and the girls had a competitive water fight, and Kate tried to figure out the crawling thing.

As soon as we got over the stomach bug, Aubree came down with a really bad cold and croup and then shared it with Ellie and me. So, our plans to stay with Steph and Bryant were foiled. My parents graciously invited us to stay in their hotel room with them for the next few nights - and they took care of us. My parents have got to be some of the most giving people I know! They fed us, entertained us, took care of us, and so much more! 

One afternoon we met the Garretts (who were also visiting family in UT) and some of our Boston sister missionaries who have returned home and live in the Provo area. Sister Avery (by Ellie), Sister Ford (above Reese), and Sister Prezsler (by me). We LOVE our sister missionaries!

We spent a lot of time at Seven Peaks - I think we went four times. 

Ellie and Sophie

 Emma, Kali, and Carly (with photo bomber Scotty)

 Kissy face! (My Dad doesn't believe in kissy face and Kate forgot because she was zoning out.)

My parents took the girls to an art museum at BYU where they got to dress up in old fashioned outfits.

 For our last night in UT we spent the night at a hotel near the airport. As we were on the freeway to go to the hotel I passed a sign for the Temple Square exit and realized we hadn't stopped by while we were in UT. So, I quickly changed lanes and we took a very last minute trip to Temple Square - one of our favorite family spots! I so hope my girls have fond memories of all the time we've spent here and the spirit of this place.

Out West - Wyoming

We drove through Yellowstone to get to my parent's old stomping grounds in Wyoming. Aaron and I both grew up going to Yellowstone, but with somewhat different experiences. Aaron's family went there to go fishing, take pictures for his Dad's artwork, and just enjoy Yellowstone. For my family Yellowstone was never a destination, it was just the best way to get to Burlington, WY. So, we usually only stopped when needed, and my memories of Yellowstone will always include my mom's very annoyed remarks toward the people who stopped to look at the wildlife (specifically those who stop in the road to look at the wildlife). Either way, we both have fond memories of this great place and enjoy talking about our childhood memories while driving through. 

 At Yellowstone Lake
(As a little side note - Aubree did end up having Lyme Disease. Luckily we caught it early enough that one round of antibiotics did the trick and hopefully we won't be dealing with any long term side effects.)

I am so completely grateful for the beauty of this earth and to have all my senses to enjoy it with and to have this family of mine to share it with.

 At the Old Faithful Hotel

 One memory I have of driving through Yellowstone with my family is the story of the lost spectacles. We made a quick stop for my dad to use the bathroom at one of those outhouse type things. When my dad came out of the bathroom his glasses weren't on him. He told us that his glasses had dropped down the hole and that he would need Ryan to get them. He told Ryan that he would hold him by the ankles and lower him down into the hole. Of course Ryan was not excited about this idea and quickly suggested that he hold either Stephanie or me by the ankles because we were smaller and would fit better. After some begging and arguing over who would do it, my Dad laughed and pulled his glasses out of his shirt pocket. (Nice one Dad! I wish we would have thought to ask him HOW they dropped down the hole...)

 We made it to Cody, WY where we met my Dad's brother and his family and my Grandpa and his wife at a rental cabin. (Unfortunately Aubree, Ellie and I got the stomach bug while here, which held on through some of our time in Utah.)

Aaron and some of the guys went fishing

 Grandpa and many of his great-grandkids

 Grandpa and many of his grandkids (all of his biological grandkids)

 Dad, Grandpa and Uncle Larry

Grandpa, his sister, and Grandma Midge (grandpa's wife)

 Me, Aubree, Ryan and Stuart

It was so good to see all of my siblings (even if it was for only one night). Also that night my Dad and Larry stayed up and told some of us a bunch of stories from their youth - so wonderful and funny!

 Potluck lunch at the church's pavilion in Burlington. It was nice to see cousins and Aunts and Uncles on my Mom's side and of course my Grandma Henderson. She is such a sweet and hard working lady. (On Sunday morning before church she had a homemade strawberry pie ready as a breakfast dessert.) I LOVE Burlington! So many wonderful childhood memories. And the people in Burlington are such amazing, down-to-earth, hardworking people. I'm proud to have roots here and share heritage with many of the people here.

 Dad, Alan and Larry

 Paddle boating in a little reservoir near Burlington

And last but not least, we finally got to meet our newest cousin, Kate! What a cutie!

Out West - Idaho

We started our vacation out west by waking up at 4am to get to the airport in time for our morning flight. We got to the airport in plenty of time, got seated on the plane (as well as every other passenger on the full flight), and then the pilot gets on the intercom to tell us that the flight is cancelled due to some problems with the aircraft. We ended up having to split up on different flights - Aubree and I together, and Aaron with Carly and Ellie - and hang out at the airport for several more hours before heading out. Kind of a pain, but luckily we weren't in any big hurry and we were all safe.

Aubree and I landed in SLC first and rode the trax to Temple Square to meet Kathy. I just love that place!

 Seeing Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Leon - love!

 Aaron was invited to be a guest teacher for one of his old landscaping teachers at BYU-I, so I wandered around campus, amazed at all the changes. Here is the sky walk from the library to the MC and this little terraced area - all new to me. And the Manwaring Center is totally changed around! The  Nordic Landing is no longer there. It's where Aaron and I would meet for lunch every day when we were first dating (before I started cooking lunch for him everyday). Part of me feels a little homesick for the places where so many memories were made, but mostly they are awesome improvements.

 Some things haven't changed, like this cute little boy enjoying his books right outside the library. I LOVE this statue - (just need it with a little girl).


 Holly planned and decorated for a super cute Mad Hatter tea party. Such yummy food and so fun!

 Holly made these little candy mushrooms from scratch. They looked totally real!

 Meeting baby Ryder for the first time. Aubree especially couldn't get enough of him.

 We got to be IN the Menan, ID parade with the South family. The Souths are so awesome and always willing to have others join them - the more the merrier.

Also on the 4th we made a trip to Kelly Canyon and "the Tree" with the Wakefield's (who have their initials carved on the tree as well).

The Wakefield Family - so glad to have these guys as friends. 

 The Parson Family

 After we hiked to the clearing and sat down on some logs we had the kids tell their versions of the coffin date. That was pretty fun. It is so wonderful to go to this beautiful spot where our story began. And especially to be there with such great life-long friends (Curt and Aaron were high school buddies and Shawna and I have been friends since elementary years.)

 Leon and Kathy's grandkids - all together for the first time in like 5 years!

With the Souths in Jackson Hole

We ended our time in Idaho with a trip to the South Reunion Center in Island Park. It is a huge dome cabin with 10 bedrooms and a circular loft with single beds all around. The kids have a blast just running around and around the loft upstairs and being with lots of little cousins. Justin and Nissa-Lynn planned the reunion this year and it was a party every day - Nissa is such a great planner!

And again, we enjoyed canoeing down the beautiful Snake River. 

The sights and sounds and smells of this place could never get old!

Sometimes when we're here, we're just so inspired by the beauty and the love that we have for this great state that we break into the Idaho state song - the tune is beautiful (and we're awesome singers, so it sounds way good). ;)

And here we have Idaho,
Winning her way to fame.
Silver and Gold in the sunlight blaze,
And romance lies in her name.
Singing, we're singing of you;
Ah! proudly too, all our lives through,
We'll go singing, singing of you,
Singing of Idaho!