Our Voyage West, Days 1-5

On June 26th we spent the entire day packing and preparing for our month long voyage/vacation to visit family and friends in Utah.

The next morning we snatched the children out of bed at 5:00am,

 said a quick prayer in the car and began our 30 hr. drive West!

Coloring books, car bingo and Where's Waldo helped to pass some time, 

thanks Kelty for the car care package,

however, nothing was quite as effective as...

a healthy dose of electronic entertainment!

On the first night we stayed in Kansas City, MO with the Kirk family, 

our close friends from medical school.

It was great to finally reconnect.

We were able to meet their twins London and Lilly 

and get to know Fallon again, as a teen this time!

Spencer is a surgeon now and making quite a name for himself at the hospital.

Vivian is also keeping busy as a Young Women's president and mother of three girls!

 

Our next stop landed us in Denver, CO with our Columbus friends the Burnetts. 

 Last year they moved to Denver for Trevor's 2-year allergy fellowship.

On the second night of our stay in Denver the Anderson family, also friends from Columbus who moved to Denver, came over for a BBQ. After dinner the Dads and big kids went to a soccer game while the mom's and babes stayed behind to do what we do best, talk!

How I miss this gal and spending time with her did not make me want her back 

in our town any less, quite the opposite in fact!

On the evening of day 5 we rolled into Provo 

and enjoyed a delicious meal that Grandma Ginger had waiting for us.

The Last Day

My last day with Leah's family was undoubtedly the BEST DAY OF ALL. (And you'll probably be glad this is my LAST grandmotherly post.) We stayed home and simply played.


Of course, they were THRILLED to walk the dogs. Notice the darling dog on the left. That's "Buddy", my neighbor's dog who is staying with us for a few weeks. The red-head on the right is a second cousin.


We strung beads at the picnic table. And made terrific accessories.


You only get head shots because the gals went au naturel in my secluded backyard.

In the evening, we lit sparklers - the torch kind - and the kids sashayed around the yard in their pajamas.

Watch out, Buddy!
 

Baby Reese was content to CHEW on a box of sparklers.


As the twilight descended, dark clouds gathered and we watched a summer storm moving across other side of the valley. This photo shows what we saw from our back yard, but it almost looks unreal. It isn't.

When the rain headed our way, it was time to head to bed. STORY TIME is certainly my favorite time . . . as a child, a mother and now a grandmother.

Good night.

P.S. Leah's gang arrive home this morning.

The Dolly Grandma with a Farm

While the big sisters were having a sleep-over with their second cousins, little Aspen and I took a field trip to see the Dolly Grandma, AKA Farmer Luke.

Aspen really took a liking the chickens, after a few fearful moments. They all have pizzazzy names . . . Henrietta, Celestine, Big Foot, Speckles, Hennie and Penny.
 
There are also bee hives on the farm.

They didn't scare my granddaughter one bit. In fact, she got mighty close to those hives while the bees buzzed all around her. INSIDE the house, Ms. Luke has a fabulous set of seven nesting Matryoshka dolls on her bookshelf. Did Aspen love them or what???!!!
 

Ms. Luke was appropriately named the Dolly Grandma by Brinley, Aspen's older sister. She absolutely adored those same dolls when she was a tike.

(But she loved the Dolly Grandma even more.)

More Fun With Family

It's been WILDLY delightful, this July 2012. The shot ABOVE taken during a roller coaster ride at the annual downtown carnival. (Played with the photo a bit!) However, the shots BELOW show the carnival spirit at home . . .
with the assistance of my dress-up box.

 

Yes. It's been positively grand with a month full of grands.


With a pack of youngsters, including 2 neighbor kids, the apricots were removed from the lawn P*R*O*N*T*O.


Personally, I've been loving the high energy around here and I'm not quite sure
how I'll adjust when they all leave.

 
Leah starts her mornings with yoga. Yes. She's now a convert!

During our days, we've gone on lots of OUTINGS.

Our local ski resort runs their lift in the summertime. Spectacular scenery, no matter what season.

NONE of the five little ones showed an ounce of concern over the heights.

Downwind time at home helps to restore the troops.

Here's a great quiet activity: Give kids a box of Band Aids.

Sometimes quick naps have been in order.

Please, Cody, don't kill me for this one.

Duane and Kelty - quite content sharing a couch as they snooze.

After healthy breaks, the activities continue. A game of Sorry with my friend Bonsey is transformed into a different activity by Rella, Kelty's little daughter sitting on the far side of the game board.

  Taa daa!

And so our days continue, right into the long July evenings.
 

Summertime With the Grands

Cousins - Avery and Rella:

taking a dip in our humble but relished community pool.

It's lined with grass and big ole trees, which were planted by our pioneer ancestors.

 
Brinley, Avery, Aspen and Cody. Three of my granddaughters with their infinitely devoted dad.
 

I watched the action, alongside my youngest granddaughter Reese.

We Are Back and the 4th!

We pulled our van into the driveway at 4:30am this morning after making the 30 + hour drive back from a one month trip in Utah. 
In time I will upload and blog my own pictures and stories, but for now enjoy 
the next several posts from my Mom's blog.

GRANDDAUGHTER AVERY AT THE PARADE

Celebrating the 4th is a BIG DEAL in our family. This year was an especially BIG DEAL, because my two daughters made the pilgrimage to the homeland hauling along their husbands and a collection of granddaughters.


GRANDDAUGHTER RELLA

 We are pretty much crazy about our local parade.




It's because my kids grew up on the parade route and it's in their blood. Legions of our family clan turn out annually to share in the festivities. This year was no exception.


There's always something new, parading down the street. For example, this year the Navajo Nation came out in full force. They danced their way down the street in bright native costumes.
  Then, of course, there was the traditional barbeque. Thank heavens for our well-shaded backyard, cuz it was hot, hot, hot.

 

Jennifer came all the way from Greece. She's sitting at the end of the table - BELOW. Just seems like yesterday that we were in Athens together, although it's been a couple of months.

 Adults chatted while kids played - reveling in their mountain of cousins.

 GRANDDAUGHTER BRINLEY FINDS A NEW WAY TO MAKE USE OF PICK-UP STICKS!

GRANDDAUGHTER ASPEN COOLING OFF WITH A 'CREAMIE'.

More to come . . .