Utah Trip - Day 6

Our trip was almost over...So we made the most of our last full day in Utah.  We started out at Alex's house visiting with him and his family.  They had a new addition to their family - a turtle.

 Peter showing the turtle some love - ew

 I put Max down for a nap in the swing with the hopes that he would be happy for his photo shoot later.

 Max and his Aunt Tawny - lots of love!

 Uh oh, these two could be trouble together!

Max was doing really well at this point in the trip with going to people for a little bit and letting them love on him.

Max wore his Utah hat just long enough to show Uncle Alex, then we quickly removed it.  :)

We went up to my friend LeeAnn's house for a photo shoot.  She is a photographer (took my senior pics, our engagements pics, my bridal pics and our wedding pics) and at my baby shower gave me a present of a photo shoot for Max once he arrived.  I was excited to see her and do the photo shoot before she moves to Hawaii.  While I am excited for this new adventure for her family, I will miss seeing her when I come to Utah.  I will post the pictures from the photo shoot in their own post, because they are so cute that they deserve their own post.  :)

After LeeAnn's, we drove past the house I grew up in (LeeAnn was one of my young women's leaders in my ward).  Oh my goodness was I shocked when I saw the house on Valley Ridge.  Boy had it changed!

The trees on the parking strip were HUGE.  I remember when we planted those!  The bush by the mailbox was huge - I remember when we planted that too.  The front yard though was a mess.  I don't know if you could call it landscaping.  It was almost like some dumped one of those packets of wildflowers seeds all over and then just let it go.  I am not even sure if there was grass.  Everything was overgrown.  It looked to me like it had become the house that everyone sees as the eyesore on the street.

Were there hippies living here?  The window shutters were painted purple and they had tiled the stairs.  All of the trees needed to be trimmed.  I couldn't believe that was my house (it took a while a second to convince Peter it was).  All that time I spent meticulously weeding the flower beds and front lawn... I loved mowing the lawn...Oh my.  My mom would be shocked.  I feel bad for the neighbors.

Front yard

Side and garage

Front Porch

Looking at the side yard towards the back.  My swing set is still there though.  :)  Although it's hard to tell that for the overgrown forest you have to look through.

We had to, of course, stop at Cafe Rio!!! So yummy.

Then we headed back to West Valley for one more visit with Peter's family.

Korben, Max's cousin, actually played with Max.  Up to this point he didn't want much to do with him.

Korben and Max

Max and his cousin Felisha

Max playing with the girls - Felisha and Mariah

Kisses from cousin Mariah

Kisses from Grandma Donna

Grandma making Max smile

Jaxsie, Mariah, Felisha, Mark, Max, Peter, and me

After the visit we went back to Tammy's house and had dinner and visited with them for the evening.  Heather came over with Aaron, too.  Max tried crawling on the grass for the first time and wasn't a fan.  Peter and I got eaten by mosquitoes, but not Max.  I am glad because I had totally forgotten about those dang mosquitoes, especially at dusk, in Utah.

Aaron had a great time with the Buzz Lightyears.

Kisses from Dad

Shooting the breeze - Taylor and Nathan

Aaron and Maryn

Time to go home - put me to bed.  Heather and Aaron

On this trip Peter taught Tammy how to solve a Rubix cube.  She was a good practicer.  :)

Taylor taught Max how to high five.

Thanks for letting us stay, Tammy, Nathan and family!  It was lots of fun.

Easter Extravaganza

My dad and Marriann threw a big Easter party for all the family living in Vegas locally, those who were in from out of town, and some friends.  There was 40-50 people there.  It was fun to be around a big group but also odd at the same time, Peter and I have gotten used to our "quiet" life in Texas with a small circle of friends.

Warning - it was a big party so there's lots of pictures.  :)

Max in his Easter outfit.  I LOVE these corduroy overalls from Janie and Jack.  We had to roll up the pants because he's so short but that was just as cute because they are lined with cute fabric.  Who lines baby clothes?  That's right, Janie and Jack.

He wasn't really feeling friendly towards Katie or anyone else at the party for that matter.  Too many strangers.

Plus, he was tired.

My Dad and Marriann went all out on this party.  They had tables set up with pastel tablecloths plus some flower arrangements (thank you Julianne's hotel room).

The pool was heated and ready to go (thank you renters!).  Look at the stack of towels all set out on the chair in the corner of the picture.  Dad was prepared.

They had put together all these Easter baskets and hid a bunch of eggs throughout the yard with candy and money in them.

AJ, Aaron, and Kimberly - - Aaron wasn't into having his picture taken, AT ALL.

Heather in front of part of the food spread

Skye and Kaitlyn!  Best cousin buds - these two have a blast whenever they are together.  I love how they both left their Easter pearls on when they went swimming.  :) 

Hanging out in the pool

I finally got Max to sleep, poor tired kid

Photographer AJ

Photographer Kallie

All the kids ready to start the Easter egg hunt

Max has spotted his egg...

...trying to get closer...

...almost there...

Wahoo!  Thanks Dad!

"This egg tastes great!"

Max holding his Easter egg that matches his clothes.

Max going for his special gold egg

Hm...

"Yup!  Tastes like an egg!"

My Dad - I think he's an awesome guy

Dad's shadow - Sheba (seriously the best dog in the world.  I would have a dog if I knew it would be like Sheba.  She's very sweet.)

Tyler searching for eggs.

Checking Nana out

Digging into the candy

Skye

Star

Kaitlyn (I promise she was happy, don't know what happened with this picture)

Nana and Maxwell

Bronson showing off his basket with Sharee, Nana, and Max

Sharee and Quaid, such a cute baby!

Dad keeping Max happy with some tickles

Tickles!

Happy Easter!

Jules, Sharee, Quaid, and Paris

Julianne was in town shooting a movie and was able to come over for a short bit.  It was nice to see her, it's been too long since our paths have crossed.  It stinks when everyone is all grown up and goes their own separate ways.  That's why I LOVE days like this where a bunch of you can get together and reconnect.

The bib says it all

Max wasn't too hot on Aunt Kimi...

...until she fed him  :)

Max and Grandpa - - they match!

Aunt Heather and Max

Nana is the best!  She got in the pool with the kids where no other adult dared to go.

Grandpa playing with the younger boys

Maxwell and his daddy

Hanging out after dark around the fire - Ted, Kimberly, Peter, and all-swaddled-up Max

Dad, Marriann, Tyler, Sheba, and Ted roasting marshmallows and hot dogs.  It was a perfect ending to a perfect day.  I am so grateful to Dad and Marriann for all the effort, time, and money they put into have an awesome get together.

Max won (he's not sleeping)...oh well...who can sleep when you are on vacation, right?  (note the Las Vegas temple in the background)