Daddy came to UTAH!

 Sterling was able to fly to Utah for a quick (very quick, two red-eye flights and two days there) trip to say hello and be there for Claire's baby blessing. We were so so so excited to see him. Two days was definitely not long enough. But it helped!

Sterling misses the mountains and hiking more than any other thing. So that was what we did first thing Saturday morning even though he got there at midnight, which was 2am his time.

 That night we took family pictures with his family and then had a bbq at Bridget's pool. It was so great--and Sterling got to meet so many people he hasn't met yet! Sister-in-laws and nieces and nephews and brother-in-laws!

Brandon, Marlowe, Rachel, Dan

Cindy, Jenny, Bridget

Ster and Mar

 It was really fun that Sterling was able to be there to be in the circle to bless baby Claire. I was so glad!

Dan and Ster

Ruthie holding Dan's baby boy Eden. He is adorable.

The two new Ball babies!

 After spending a couple hours at Claire's baby blessing brunch, we headed to Hyrum to meet up with my family when they got out of church. Sterling got to "see" everyone for about a minute each haha, but hey, he did get to see them!

Reunited and it feels so good!

All my sibs.

This is quite possibly my favorite picture from the entire summer. Totally candid and just lucky I'd been taking a pic in the other direction and had it handy.

Family pictures are never easy, but it turned out as well as you could possibly expect! (babies never look haha)

Ball/Haws grandkids. And yes, the older twins have reddish hair, and yes, that is really weird that Bran has redheads.

Probably our first and last family pic with Russ as the baby!

Sunday night I drove Sterling to Cindy's while the kids stayed in bed at my mom's--which was super nice. We slept for approximately three hours before taking him to the airport. Poor guy. Oh yeah and the night before he came to Utah he spent in the ER for swallowing a metal bristle off our grill brush that came off onto the meat. It was quite the weekend for him. Poor guy. But we LOVE LOVE LOVED having him around!!!