Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Last Hurrah!

January brought 2 major goodbyes for our family.  My parents left for Kenya, and Andy left for Afghanistan.  We needed an awesome getaway never to be forgotten because it is going to be a long time before we are all reunited again.  So Kate and Andy found this incredible cabin for an awesome deal, and away we all went.  We missed having Luke there, and the Lawrence gang was not there either.  But here are some photos of precious, precious time we spent together.  My favorite people all together under one roof made me so very happy.
Starting the party off right with Kate's amazing Navajo tacos.  YUM!
Salaam Alaikum in honor of Andy.
Snuggling on the couch.  (It took us awhile to get the place heated up!)
Andy and Lincoln.
Finn just could not stay away from the loft with his cousins.  We were just waiting for another "incident."  Thankfully, nothing bad happened, and in fact, he finally started using his right arm again on this trip.  Getting into the loft was enough motivation for him to use both arms to climb the (scary) ladder.
Hakuna Matata: Swahili for "There is no problem."
Jambo, in honor of Grandma and Grandpa.
Harper would not hold still, but this was such a tender sight!
Can you see Kate way in the back?  She refereed all these kids in the hot tub because noone else would, and Uncle Tyler, the party uncle, had not yet arrived.

Sooooooo cute.  Except... what was that foam?  Ew.
Hanging out with Grandpa while he tried to snooze.


See what I mean about the scary ladder?  Aunt Cami was a good sport and slept up there with Jessie and Brookes!

Uncle Andy was very proud at how Harper took to the BB gun.


Now THAT is an awesome Grandpa.
Out on the front porch, ready to play in the snow!  Bear Lake is in the background...
It was soooo cold, the snow was dry and fluffy.
Jessie and Clara.

Grandpa and Clara.

We probably did 50 laps up and down the road to the house.  The perfect sledding hill!

Look at all those grandkids!!!!!!

Check out Porter's big boy haircut!  So handsome!

Indoor rock climbing.

Yes, that is Tyler's red truck out in the field of snow.  He was trying to get to a good sledding spot at the Sinks, and thought the snowmobile trail was a road?  He was stuck good.  The snow shed dudes graciously pulled him out.  I don't know how, but they saved the day.
While they were trying to get un-stuck, I took the big boys sledding at the top of the Sinks.  About 5 minutes from the cabin.


Wahoooooo!

We played with Blue while Jaime and Tyler drove into Logan to Instacare.  Gall stones are no laughing matter!  Major bummer.  So glad she was able to come back to the cabin and enjoy the rest of the time!
Andy and Blue.
This photo is so awesome for so many reasons!
Another great picture!  Many hours of the LOTR series were watched as well.
EXCELLENT WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brotherly Love

Harper is so lucky to have brothers who adore her.  They take such good care of her, and moments like this are common.  So precious.  Lucky little sis.  Lucky brothers too.  How I love my little family.  They are my whole world.

Brother and Sister Olsen

It was a very special day...
Meet Sister Olsen!  Walking home from church after she and dad were set apart, the day before reporting to the MTC.  The whole family was able to be there, and it was such a special time.
And then the party started...
Bennett, Tyler, Owen, Gracie and Jessie rocking out to rock band.  Eye of the Tiger to be specific.

Sing it, Bennett!

Kate loves the turkey skin.  Let it be documented.

Crazy cousins in their boat.

Brookes and Zac.

Oh, how I love this picture!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Uncle Andy gave horsey rides.  (Harper LOVES her Uncle Andy!)

The whole crew!

Snuggle time was extra precious.

Grandma and Grandpa were so sorry they would miss Owen's baptism, but we put these pictures in his baptism book.

Saying goodbye is not easy.  On this night I was in complete denial, since I knew we would see them again briefly when they returned from the MTC and before they flew to Kenya.  Still, the reality was beginning to dawn on me...  How we love these people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Year's Eve Spectacular

 Okay, spectacular may be a bit of a stretch, but it was pretty dang fun.  The Olsens joined us for a fireworks show, preceded by French Dip, soup, shrimp, a keg of rootbeer and soooo much other food.  We love those Olsens.  They know how to partay!


Jackson learns from the master.

Um.

We ended the night with games and more fun.
HAPPY 2012!!!!!!!!!!

Gramma Linda's Christmas Visit

We picked Gramma up from the airport and went to dinner at the Spaghetti Factory in Trolley Square.  Harper was doing a special  dance for us.

The gang and Gramma.

Harper warmed up to Gramma immediately.  Books (which they both love intensely) broke the ice.

Nooooooooo, Gramma!  Don't leave us!
We had a great visit!  Linda is so great at making time to come stay with us.  We are lucky to have her and can't wait to see her again!