On December 26, 2014, we made the drive from Washington to Utah, to spend a week with family for the holiday season. We made the drive in 12.5 hours and it was smooth sailing all the way. We spent a lot of our time at The Plantation, as that was our home base for the week. We LOVED seeing everyone and getting to actually spend time with so many family members. We missed those who were not able to make the trek to Cache Valley, and hope to spend time with you next trip.
We pretty much fell in love with baby Mae and little Gavin! Couldn't get enough of them. I gave Dallin and Heidi a hard time because they refer to Gavin as "the baby" in conversation. As in, "Will you get the baby" or "the baby needs a diaper change", etc. I think a lot of people do that when they have a handful of kids. I just think it's funny...so I teased them. FYI, his name is Gavin!
Little Miss Mae is about the sweetest little thing ever! She is so animated and has her own little language and most importantly....she likes ME!!
Ellie giving the little girls ballet lessons. (And Kaden.)
We were able to coordinate our travel plans to spend almost three days with Fode and Mel before we drove them to the airport to fly home. So great to just be there with them. Everyone played games, played basketball at the church, shopped, went to movies, ordered Fode's favorite Italian cheesy bread sticks, ate Marilyn's fabulous food constantly, and just had a good time!
New Year's Eve Deana and Michele's family joined the ranks at the house. Logan and Ellie loved every minute of cousin time and were sad when some cousins had to go home. The countdown to midnight looked like this.....check out these pis. Our kids are playing games with the adults! They are in the group of "older cousins" who are fast approaching their teenage years!!! Holy smokes!! We've always talked about the day coming when all these cousins are full on teenagers...and we are pert near there! (P.S. Logan and Carter might still be 11, but they are huge!)
It felt so great to have Dalynn, Devarie, and Darla around all week. They are so supportive of what everyone is doing, they love playing with the nieces and nephews, and they just make it all more FUN!!
New Year's Day Dave and Em dropped their kids off to join in the fun, while they snuck off on a mini vacation. More fun was had by all, and again, the kids can't get enough of their cousins!
Marilyn fed us all continually, Made yummy breakfasts and meals, treats for the kids, and facilitated all the kids playing and tea-partying, and shoot-em-up-ing. Including having three of the Daugs cousins over for hours at different times. It is the most fun thing that Logan and Ellie can be playing with cousins from both sides of their families at the same time! We are lucky! And blessed to have a grandma who is so willing and wanting to help all the kids have a great time!
Let's skate! One day we headed to the indoor rink for public skating. The Jones family happens to own dozens of pairs of skates, so we tried on a bunch to see who would be able to skip the skate rental at the rink. Everyone had a blast at the rink. I think I laced skates and traded kids sizes for a good forty minutes! The big girls joined us, and fun was had by all. Brielle was a maniac with her skate-walker, like a dog musher all around the rink. Fearless!
And then there was the outdoor skating. Luckily Devin and Jenny made it back to Utah in time to spend a little time with us. Devin is the ice-checker. With his OK, we sent the kids out for skating fun the way it was meant to be done...in the great outdoors of Cache Valley!
Getting ready to go out into the freezing temps. FYI...that's a toy gun!
We took a drive with Dalynn to look at some houses and see where Dalynn works. It was a beautiful drive and we came across so many wild turkeys!
Our last night there, the kids watched "Jurassic Park" on the big screen. First time for my kids. And Darin and I went out to a quick dinner at Texas Roadhouse with Devin, Jenni, and Dalynn. Then it was games, and plenty of packing up! We hit the road early and made it home in the same time, 12.5 hours.
So long for now, Utah and Jones family! Happy New Year everyone!
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