Utah Trip

We just got back from a trip to my parent's house in Utah.  It ended up being a two week trip because Rob and I left the kids for a week and went to Colorado together and then he flew home and I stayed an extra week to visit.  My sister Lucy drove back with me to help with the kids and then we flew her home from here after she visited for a few days.

As always, we loved our stay.  I miss Utah.  It's a beautiful place.  The part I miss most is grass.

 Fourth of July.  We had to go downtown to the park because fireworks weren't allowed where my parents house is due to fire hazards.  Luke looks thrilled.

 My cute boy.  He's always making hamming it up for the camera.

 Little Claire wasn't sure what to think.

This was Jane's first experience with the sparklers and she ended up burning herself.  Poor thing.

 Uncle Joe started a water fight and Abby was using Jane for a shield.

 Blake and Jane playing with Emmy and Alice.

 Natalie with her aunts Emmy, Abby and Alice.  They're the best of friends.

 Blake wanted a picture too.  He was the only boy, except my sister's little baby Oliver, so he felt left out a lot.

 I finally got to meet my adorable new niece and nephew!  On the left is Cora, my sister Catherine's baby and on the right is Oliver, my sister Melissa's baby.  I got lots of snuggling in.  They are such good babies!

 The kids had a blast playing in the pool.

 Jane and cousin Claire on the swing.

 Jane with Grandma Hales.  They were buddies.

 Jane took a while to warm up to Grandpa, but she did in the end, right before we left.

 A bunch of us siblings and their spouses went to dinner one night at Cafe Rio. So fun!

 The kids loved my brother Matthew's girlfriend, Shelby.  She was so good to them.  One day she came over and did the girl's makeup.

 I got to run the Freedom 5k with my sister Lucy and Melissa.  It's such a fun tradition. I ended up coming in fourth in my age division, and 182nd overall out of 1500 runners.

We even took a trip to The Barn, a country store where I and my sisters used to work as teenagers.  We of course had to get some yummy ice cream while we were there.

 Jane and Blake really loved playing with Great Grandpa Hales.

 How many kids can fit on Grandma's lap? 

 Uncle Thomas took Jane on the "neigh" as she called it-the highlight of her trip.

 The kids helped my brother Bradley wash his car and then of course got into a water fight.  Poor Blake got the short end of the stick.

Jane loved the kitties.