The first week that we were in Utah Matt and I were able to have a little trip for ourselves for a week while my parents and Matt's parents helped watch Ammon. We went to Saint George for a week and stayed at my in-laws condo. While we were there we went to Las Vegas for a night and saw Lion King. We were also able to see Matt's sister Wendi and her husband Mark. They were moving to Florida from Cali and were able to stop by and say hi. We were also able to see our friends Kenny and Celeste who live in Ceder City for a few days. We had so much fun just being on our own again. It is amazing how much things change when you have a child. You never seem to have enough time for each other after you have kids, so it was so nice for us to be able to get away for a week. We were able to sleep in, go to movies whenever we wanted, go out to eat, take long walks, take naps, and play games with out being disrupted. Oh it was so nice, but by the end we were ready to go and see our little boy. I missed him so much!!!!
Sorry it's a little blurry but it's from Matt's iphone. It's all we had
After Saint George we had a week to settle in and be with both families and then we were off again to Lake Powell. Lake Powell was amazing. Matt and I left Ammon with my parents and we spent a week full of food, fun, and freedom with the Nelsons! We hiked, swam, water-skied, wake boarded, played games, and had a great time. Matt swam a half mile every day and was pressured by his younger brothers to work out much harder than he was used to, so he spent a lot of the time being sore. I, on the other hand, almost died on the tube as I was whipped around at 60 miles an hour over choppy water by my father-in-law. He and Matt were really impressed that I hung on to the tube. My life was at stake. What else could I do??!
After coming back from Lake Powell, Matt went back to work and I enjoyed some more time with his family for another week. That weekend Matt and I decided to get away from everything, again, and go up to his cabin. I can't tell you how much I LOVE this place. It's one of the most peaceful and relaxing places on earth. We brought Ammon with us (yes we do love our child and will bring him with us on fun trips, sometimes) and he loved it as well. The weather was perfect to go outside and play with rocks by the lake all day long. We had the pleasure of having our friends Kenny and Celeste meet us up there. They drove all the way from Ceder City just to be with us for one night. They said it was well worth it. I hope so!
When we got back from the cabin the next day, Matt and his dad and bothers went to the Wind River Mountains for a week on a fishing trip. Yeah, we did come here to work, but who cares about work when your boss is your dad and you can take whatever vacation he takes! There's nothing wrong with that, right? I think these boys LOVED there trip. I think they were tired and sore when they came back, but from what I heard it was well worth it. They hiked 9 miles in and rowed rafts two miles to get to their camp site. They caught big rainbow, cut-throat, and cut-bow trout in one of the most beautiful places Matt had ever been. While Matt was there, I was able to go up to stay with my sister Michelle for a week. We had so much fun playing games, watching movies, shopping, eating candy and talking. What more would you want to do with a sister for a week. It was perfect, besides the fact that Ammon had diarrhea the whole time. Other than that, I loved it. I hate living so far away from family. For those of you that live away from home you know what I am talking about. I am very close to my family but 5 out of 7 of us live outside of Utah and are spread out from one end of the country to the other, literally. North Carolina to Cali. Crazy, huh. But maybe when we are all old and gray we will all be in the same rest home together and can laugh and talk all day long. Or maybe we could make it work before we are all that old, HOPEFULLY!!
The next week my whole family came in town just to leave me alone so they could go to Martins Cove. Lucky Them. They were able to be outside in the 100* weather pushing hand carts and sleeping in tents that were blowing away, while I was home alone in an air conditioned house with movies to watch and ice cream to eat. At least there's one bright one in our family, right? JK, mom, I'm sure it was the funnest thing on earth. While they were gone I had two of my closest friends have baby showers. My friend Celeste is having a baby boy. I was so lucky to be able to be there for that. Then one of my closes friends from high school, Kiley, is going to have a baby boy. I feel like every person I know that is pregnant is pregnant with boys!! What's will all the boys? It was so fun to see old friends from high school that I don't think I have seen since high school. Ammon was cracking me up the whole time we were there. HE loved Kiley's sister, Jessica, so much. Every time she would pull out a camera he would run up to her and give her the biggest cheeser you will ever see. Like soo...
That's my boy for you. He's just a little bit of a spas.
Kiley and me. I feel so lucky cause she isn't due for a while, but I begged her to have her shower while I was there and She did :) she must really like me as a friend. right?
When my family came back from Martins Cove we had almost 2 full weeks to be together. It's crazy that for the first time in about 3 years I had all of my sisters with me and no husbands. As much as we love our husbands they can sometime take us away from each other, but not this time. This time we played and talked all day or as much as our kids would let us. I love my sisters so much and my brothers, too:) It was also fun to see all the cousins together. I have 17 nephews and nieces and all of them had so much fun playing with each other. Ammon was a little intimated by all of them, but by the end he warmed up to them a little. He loves, LOVES my Niece Mya. She is 7 years old going on 20. She is very mature and you wouldn't think you would feel safe having a 7 year old watch your kid at all times, but I'm telling you, she's turning 20 next year or at least that's how she acts. I think that Ammon might of thought that she was his mom for a while. I think she might need to move in with me to be Ammons permenant babysitter, that is if it's ok with Tiffany. It was so hard to see my family leave one by one. and then I had to leave as well. It feels like its once every 5 years that we can all be together and actually enjoy it. We do all get to see each other in September :) but who knows when we will see each other after that.
Ok, enough with the crying. We have wonderful news in my family. Like I said we get to see each other in September because..... my brother Brandon is getting Married!!!!!!!!!! We are sooooooo happy for him and so excited that we get a new sister-in-law. The lucky girl is DeEtte. Brandon met her in DC at their singles ward. They have known each other for over two years and now they are tying the knot. They are now living in Cali where Brandon is doing his residency and then they will be married in the Oakland Temple on Sep. 12. We can't wait. Our family will finally be complete.
Congrats Brandon and DeEtte. We Can't wait!
After they got engaged, my brother Brett and his wife Sarah had there first little boy Jake. What a cutie. I love seeing them with a kid. He is so little and so perfect. He had a hard time coming out but sweet Sarah hung in there and lo and behold little Jack was born. Congrats you guys.
On the down side, Ammon and I got sick with the cold. On top of the cold, Ammon had stomach problems two different times (poor little guy). All in all, with 30 family members being at my parents' house over a period of two months, we only had two emergency room visits. I would say that's pretty good right? Poor little Ethan and Rebecca. We are so lucky that they are all right.
Some random pictures of the trip...
Matt went and joined a rogue motorcycle gang. (Really, his brother Scott has all the gear and let Matt borrow everything for a little joy ride or two)
Matt decided to join a hard core motorcycle gang. What a hunk!!
Ammon learned how to drive a car. Crazy, huh?
My family and I went to the Oaker Mountain Temple open house
Ammon enjoying a cousin dance party. He couldn't keep up with his cousin, Dallin, though.
Flower sniffer.
. Sniffing something else, I guess?
Ammon and Sadie. We couldn't get them to look at the camera at the same time, so this is as good as it gets. My goodness, that little boy is soooo CUTE.
Good bye Utah, until next time.....
