Grandma's House, Sterling's home!

We planned a big celebration for Sterling. Okay, it was really the last day EVERYONE was around, but it was the FIRST day he got to see everyone--so we partied! 

Dad took us on a ride in the morning. I didn't bring my camera. Fail, I know. It was gorgeous and beautiful and breathtaking and so much fun. But before we went, the kids got some riding in, too:

No true princess rides without her crown. Also, I love that her hair matches Roxie's.

Can we say cheeser?

He was loving that they were so close to pet.

Kami's cute family waiting for a ride. Ana was at AFY, which she loved, and made me reminisce about OYA (which is what it was called back in ancient times, because I am suddenly SO OLD).

Jubal man, Molly's twin.

Lando and Will being so cute. 

I love that Lando is giving Jubal kisses.

Handsome boys.

Same age. Molly and Jubal are three weeks apart and Clover (the chunker) is four months younger. This really was the best picture I got. We even tried on two different days. You just can't force babies to look and smile.

Or be nice, haha. I think his intentions were good though, I think he was going for a hug.

And I add this one just cause Clover and Jubal are so cute. Why is my baby so uninterested?!

More twinners. Oskar is three weeks younger than Will. Nicolas is six months older I think.

I love Will's smile right here. And of course, Lando's roar!

We celebrated Jubal's first birthday as part of the celebration. The cake was incredible--Kami is amazing. Sterling was in LOVE with the dark chocolate.

Grandpa Jack

Aren't Sterling and Will the absolute cutest?!

Olivia, Danica, Lynnaea, Miriam

Sleeping chubby Clover.

We had a massive Koob tournament. It was amazing. We lost miserably, but it was still amazing, haha.

Then we roasted hot dogs in my parents fire pit. Which we used less this summer than Blacksmith Fork Canyon, which is a true travesty and will have to be rectified next year.

Ana whistling with grass. I can't do that. Also, new boots. They are soooo beautiful!

Oh my gosh that day, every single time I looked at grandma we were both almost in tears. It was such a good stay.

Grandma and my girls.

Also, that garden behind them!

Grandpa and Elena.

CUTEST EVER!!!!

The first day we got there, six weeks before, there was one TINY row of sprouting somethings. Insane what six weeks can do.

Chad is crazy and hooked two swings to one chain. It was pretty awesome though.

Dog pile on Uncle Leo. 

The kids played outside for quite some time. I just couldn't quite pull them back in for bed when I knew it was their very last night to see everyone. Oh how I wish you could just blink and be with family whenever you wanted!!!

This cute girl walking around.

That ended the only day that Sterling saw my family in Utah and a huge day full of lots of festivities and fun and food. Perfection. Oh Grandma's house, you sure know how to show a great time. And Grandpa's horses---we'll be missing 'Pokey' for a LONG time.

Pineview

When Megan had a day off work, she was kind enough to take us all boating again. Amy was there with her kids, Andrea and fam, Kami and fam, mom, and myself and my kids. It was SUCH a fun day. It was beautiful weather, the kids were SO occupied playing in the sand, that we were having a lovely time chatting and watching them and the kids were loving the boat rides. Then the weather decided to turn devious on us and a massive storm rolled in. But it was still a great time!

Danica and Olivia waving at the front of the boat. Those lovely valley mountains. 

Endless fun.

 When we first arrived, we didn't have any toys yet because they were busy with the boat. Another family on the beach did have toys, so naturally my kids gravitated towards them. They seemed to be okay with it, until Will hit their little girl. I apologized and got after Will and the couple was so funny. They were both laying on their backs on their towels with their eyes closed and without even moving an eyelash the dad said "It's okay. Our kids never fight." and the wife came in with "Yeah. We've never even heard them cry before. It's fine." HAAHAAHAAA. I love Utah, and people who are used to kids, and who are used to families and normal sibling squabbles. No one, ever, would have responded so drily and comfortably in Miami. Hahaahaahaa.

Garrett, Myles, and Lynnaea on the tube.

HAAHAAHAA mom. 

Kiersten and baby Molly were just the sweetest the entire trip.

Anders and Cowen, boaters extraordinaire.

Painful grins.

This is my baby. In a mud hole. She loved it. 

Love these two hooligans.

See those clouds rolling in? It started thundering and lightning and the boat came in to drop everyone off and all the moms started mad-dashing about trying to clean everything up and get kids into vans. It was quite amazing, actually, the speed at which we took down camp.

Utah, unlike Miami, drops temperature when it rains and storms. Ruthie was freezing. Oh wait, I was freezing.

The waves kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger.

I love how Garrett looks like he's drowning. He was fine, I promise. 

Those waves!

After my kids were safely in the van, I convinced Olivia to run back with me and jump in the water, even though the rain was PELTING down on us. See those dirt stairs? Yeah, Olivia took a pretty good slide down them. I rode on my heels. It was awesome. The water felt so WARM after the freezing rain, and the waves were amazing. There is just something so incredible about extreme nature. I love it so much. It was breathtaking and spectacular and I just wanted to soak in and drink in every single moment. It makes time stop for a moment so you can actually FEEL that moment. I've always loved extreme weather. It's almost like when the tornado sirens would go off in Minot and Wyatt and Ethan would run around like crazies in the rain and hail until mom made us go down in the root cellar. It's exhilarating. 

Olivia was the bomb and I am so glad she ran back. She accused me earlier that week of being old and no fun (my kids were ornery and I didn't want to make a raspberry shake, which I feel bad about now, because that has always kinda been our thing.) so hopefully I redeemed myself a bit. Definitely a highlight of the trip. Also, the hazelnut Stephen's hot chocolate at my mom's house afterward (which she mocked me about, but it was freezing!) was perfection.