CARLY!!

My dear friend Carly drove up from San Antonio to spend a couple days with us. She is one of the sweetest girls I have ever known and I am lucky enough to have her as one of closest friends since the day she was born. Carly grew up in San Antonio and I grew up in Orem but we saw each other at least once a year. Our parents are best friends and we would trade of visiting Texas or having them visit Utah. We have pictures together through every stage of life from infants through adulthood. She even flew up to go to girls camp with me a couple times and was one of my maid of honors. For one Christmas, all I wanted was to visit Carly in Texas and at a party just before Christmas I was surprised with plane tickets. Carly's parents didn't tell her I was coming and she thought she was picking her grandma up from the airport. I still remember her reaction when she saw me walking down the airport hallway and told her that I was there to spend Christmas and a couple weeks with her all by myself. Now Carly and I only live about 4 hours away from each other but between my girls and her nursing school we haven't been able to take advantage of being closer. She recently graduated (CONGRATS CARLY!!) and I am determined to meet up with her more often. My girls must have known that she was a special friend of mine and now Matt's because they warmed up to her immediately. Carly, thanks for coming up. We had so much fun with you and you are more than welcome in our home anytime. We love you so much.

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Carly painted Sienna's nails. She even let Sienna paint her nails after.

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Sienna loved Carly and would even say, "No mommy, not you. I want Carly to do it." Sienna and Carly at Chick-fil-A sharing some ice-cream.

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We took the girls to a bounce house and watched the girls go crazy. The went down the slide what seemed like 100 times.

Getting ready to drop Sadie down the big slide.

Sienna climbing up part of the obstacle course. Sienna doesn't enjoy the obstacle courses or closed areas too much but she LOVES the slides.

The girls going down the slide together. It was hilarious to watch and I am surprised neither of them got injured.

Grandma Anne and Fez

I think Sienna's favorite thing about Utah or at least what she talks about most is my mom's cat Fez. Sienna and Sadie both love animals so going to my parents' house is such a treat. Right now they only have two cats and a bird but usually they have a couple dogs too. Anyway, the days that we spent in Orem were pretty relaxed because my mom has recently had major surgery on her foot and isn't allowed to put any weight on it for a couple months. It was a great excuse to take it easy and hang out around the house. Being on bed rest didn't stop my mom from spoiling the girls or show them new things. It is really hard for my mom to be immobile but we still had a great time with her. She is always up running around doing a million things for everyone else but now it is her turn to take it easy and heal. Mom, we love you and had so much fun. Don't feel bad about anything- the girls had a blast chilling with you and Fez. Take it easy so your foot can heal all the way. We love you!!

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Sienna, Grandma and Fez watching morning cartoons together.

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Sadie playing on the swing.

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Grandma breaking the rules to show Sienna how to do a sommersault over the beach ball.

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Fez is an indoor cat only but grandma let him out back to play with the girls. Sadie was giving him kisses.

One of my best friends Lauren was able to come over a lot and play. I am so grateful for friends that make the effort to come see me when I go home to visit. It is so fun watching them interact with my girls.

Big hugs.

Sienna and Fez.

Sadie swinging. My parents have the coolest backyard toys.

Sienna giving grandma-grandma kisses.

The girls coloring together on our flight home. They did great on the plane and now we are back in Texas. Sienna keeps saying, "We're not in Utah anymore? We're in Texas."

Worth the Wait

My dad agreed to take us out on the lake on of the days that we were in Utah. Boating and more specifically tubing is one of my favorite things to do and I haven't been able to go for about three years now. The week before we left for Utah, Matt severely sprained his ankle at basketball and I was devastated that he wouldn't be able to battle me on the tubes and almost canceled our outing all together. That would have been a huge mistake and I am so glad we still went out on the boat. The girls have never been boating so I thought they might be too scared to get into the water or even get nervous riding on the boat but they loved it. They even got in the tubes with us and laughed the entire time. Sienna kept saying, "I want to do that again." Later she told me, "Mom, jump in then I will go again after."
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Before boating on Thursday, Matt and I took the girls on a bike ride to feed the horses.

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This orange bike was a surprise for my mom from my dad. She rides around with her cat in the basket. I was lucky enough to take it for a ride.

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Sienna with the baby horses.

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Slalom skiing. After a three year break, I was still able to get up on my first try!

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Best friends. Jamie was a bit nervous for "war tubes" but quickly got the hang of it.

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Don't let the kind gesture of holding my hand fool you. Matt quickly turned into his attack mode and kicked my butt. The first time out he slipped under me on my tube and bucked me off. He's told me about this move when he goes with work and then he decided to show me how affective it was.

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My dad turned sharply which threw me out of the wake and caused my tube to do a 360 barrel roll under the water. I was able to hang on but when I flipped back out of the water I looked up to see that Matt and his tube had landed on top of me. That is Matt's tube upside down with his legs in the air and I am underneath him in a little tunnel the tubes formed.

Sienna giving Grandpa hugs and Jamie getting the ropes ready to wake board.

Sadie loved the boat and kept giggling but it was so bright that she couldn't keep her eyes open.

Sienna was so anxious to jump in with me after I got done skiing.

Cutest flag girl ever.

Getting wind blown.

The girls even went out on the tubes and did great. I was nervous that we would hit a funny angle or something and go flying but it didn't phase the girls one bit. Sienna kept asking to go back on the tubes so she was able to do it a couple of times.

Just relaxing in the tubes. I'm so glad my girls are water babies.

King of the mountain. Jamie and Mal battled it out a few times and then I decided to jump out with them. I would change from one tube to the other until one of us went tumbling into the lake.

Matt and Sienna snuggling up drying off. I can't wait to look back at these pictures years from now. It reminds me of all the pictures I have as a baby with my parents at lake powell, etc.

Sadie helped grandpa drive the boat when Matt and I were both on the tubes. It was her nap time and she would get upset if we weren't moving. As soon as the boat would take off she was happy again.

K-Town Babies

Matt and I were able to get together with his buddies that he grew up with. It was neat getting the K-Town babies together to play for a night. I love seeing Matt with his close friends and wish it could happen more often. Two of his best friends (really it is 4 of his best friends- they all went to high school together and then 4 of them married each other) live in the same apartment complex so we met up with them there to hang out and celebrate Jamee's birthday.

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Alivia, (Randy), Nathan, Sienna and Sadie playing in the back of Randy's truck. Four kids with two more on the way.

The girls loved the battery powered 'bike'.

Date Night

Matt and I were able to leave the girls with his parents and go out with Emily and Andy. It was the first time in a year that we have been able to hang out as couples and it was a lot of fun. We went to Tucanos, miniature golfing, and then to Leatherbys. What a fun and delicious date night!
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Getting ready to do some bumper cars. I sure wish we could hang out more than a couple times a year. Em is one of the best friends that a person could have and Andy's not so bad himself. I love you guys.

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YUMMY! Nothing beats eating ice cream with a hottie and good friends.

Hanging Out

We spent a few more days in Kaysville. More than 100 people showed up for Kyle's homecoming talk and dinner. Andrea is always so organized and it turned out great with more than enough food and goodies to go around. It was such a fun day full of catching up with people. The rest of our time in Kaysville was full of exciting things like Cherry Hill, golfing, manicures, eating out and just relaxing and catching up.
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The kids at Granny Annie's for breakfast.

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Sienna playing with Tutu.

Sadie and mommy getting a manicure.

Nana and Sienna getting a pedicure.

Eating popsicles and dirt cake in the back yard.

I LOVE POPS!

Welcome Home Uncle Kyle!

Bryan and Allie's flight got in Friday late afternoon and then later that night we all went together to get Kyle. We got to the airport and the monitors had said that Kyle's flight had landed so we were thinking any minute we would see him. We waited and waited and waited and waited. It was taking forever. Every time we saw anyone wearing a suit, white shirt or dress clothes we would all jump. We even had a few people tell us that they had sat next to Elder Shumway on the flight. Finally after what seemed like an eternity, Uncle Kyle made his way down the escalator.

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Everyone waiting so patiently.

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Do you see how excited we all were to see him?

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Hurry up already... Nana can't take this any longer.

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Sienna was hilarious dancing around yelling for Uncle Kyle. It was so neat watching Kyle's reaction to seeing his nieces.

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Sienna trying to entertain herself while she waits. She did a good job at entertaining the rest of us too.

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KYLE!! It was so great seeing Kyle come down the escalator. We are all so proud of what a great missionary he was and couldn't be more excited to have him home. We love you Kyle!!!

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I cannot even imagine the pure joy Andrea was feeling. How amazing would it be to hug your son after not seeing him for two years? Especially after knowing that he was serving the Lord selflessly and growing so much.

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Tutu, Pops and Kyle. What a tender picture.

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All of us together again. SLY!!

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Nana and Papa sporting their treasures from New Zealand.