September Trip to Utah Part One: Shannon's Wedding

We had a quick trip to Utah for our friend Shannon's wedding.  But first... a little tennis lesson...

Eating my face?

No, giving me a kiss.

Playing at Dallas Love Field Airport.  It's pretty great since being remodeled!

Now that she's old enough that she has to have her own seat, I let her have the window seat.

Max and Peter sat behind us which meant we were on man-to-man defense.

She's really into pretending to be a doctor lately

Woo - - look at those gorgeous mountains!

They didn't sleep on the plane, but they slept in the rental car once we got to SLC.

When we got to my Aunt Tammy's, Maxwell went out with Maryn to pick some tomatoes.

Maryn came with us to the store in the morning.  The kids were really excited to see her.

We dropped the kids off at the zoo with Aunt Aja during the wedding.

Shannon and her groom Colt got married in the same little chapel up at Fort Douglas that Peter and I got married in 13 years ago.  We hadn't been back since the day we were married.  They have switched the room around.  The back of the room now was the front of the room then.

We have a picture in front of these stained glass windows.  They were one of the reasons that I loved this chapel.

Pretending to ring the chapel bell that we ran 13 years ago.

It was fun to revisit so many of those memories from 13 years ago while celebrating a dear friend starting on her own journey in the same place.

The kids were having a great time at the zoo with Aja and her family so we spent a little more kid-free time enjoying some Cafe Rio and then drove up into the canyon to look at the fall colors.

Look at those colors!

I've been working to lose weight for about 5 months and I went shopping to find a dress for this wedding that I would feel good wearing.  I love it!

The kids had an amazing time with Aja and she sure spoiled them.

Maxwell and Korben got along great

Korben, Maxwell, Emmalyn, Ken, and Harleigh

Emmalyn took a few minutes to warm up (she was upset when we didn't go into the zoo with them) but then she was okay.

Cotton Candy, Ice cream, Pizza, oh my!!

They loved riding the train

Love that sweet profile and those baby fingers

Since it was a short trip where we got to see very little family, it was really nice that Aja was able to help watch the kids during the wedding so that they got some time together.

After the zoo we took the kids to the wedding reception with us

My cute family all dressed up and enjoying this fun night.

Maxwell was super happy to see Shannon

Family pic

Sibling pic

Maxwell was waiting all evening to get some time with Shannon.  It was super sweet.  We love her and are excited for her and Colt!

Seattle Day 3: Easter 2016!

The Easter Bunny visited and had stuff for the kids even though we weren't at home

All the kids ready to go find their baskets and the eggs! Sam, Emmalyn, Maxwell, Kimber, Camryn, and Allison

Emmalyn has loved going up and down these stairs all day

You know how it goes...once she knows what's in the eggs it's hard to keep looking instead of opening.   :)

In Ashlee's house, the Easter Bunny not only hides eggs but he hides the baskets too - - Emmalyn found hers!!

Maxwell found his and was really excited about what was in there (a transformer, a toothbrush...)

Everyone looking through their stash

The aftermath

Maxwell's favorite thing to do is play PacMan.  He's getting better and really enjoying it.

Two cuties reading their books

Yummy pancake bunnies for breakfast.  Ashlee's so skilled in the kitchen... she whips up amazing desserts so quickly or does pancakes like it's nothing.  

With the kids all dressed up for Easter, we took some pictures outside with the pretty lake as a background.

(Ashlee lent Emmalyn these rain boots and she is obsessed with them and LOVES them.)

These cuties...what a blessing they are to our family!

Enjoying the trampoline

We went out for lunch and then went over to my Aunt Leanne and Uncle Clay's for dinner and the annual traditional Easter Egg Hunt!  I was excited for my kids to get to participate in this tradition that is so special to me.

Maxwell really loves being around Sam.

Happiness is seeing a big pile of shoes by this front door.

Maxwell had dinner at the kids table (and Peter and I got to eat with adults!!!).  It's great to be around so many kids.

Even Emmalyn had her own little spot (although I helped her eat a little bit).

My baby girl searching for the eggs.  She did great!

It was rainy and cold (Pretty typical) so they were all bundled up.

Maxwell searching

Emmalyn and her money from the eggs

Back in to warm up and dry off!

Uncle Clay taught Maxwell how to play Uno.  He got to play with the big kids.  Uncle Clay called Max "Maxwell Smart".  Maxwell would teasingly tell him that's not his name. He closely watched Clay keep score and so later when I played with Clay, Maxwell, and Sam,  Maxwell wanted to keep score and did a great job adding up the scores!! (great practice on that multi-digit addition)

The adults played games too

It's not a good picture but here's Max playing Uno with Uncle Clay.  He couldn't get enough once he got started.  It was the only thing he wanted to do and Clay was so kind to keep playing with him. 

Eventually they stopped playing and Maxwell went upstairs to watch a movie with the other little kids.  (We put Emmalyn down to sleep earlier.  We tried as much as possible to keep her going to bed early so that we wouldn't have to adjust when we got back to our time zone at home.)