Thanksgiving Utah Trip, loads of pics

We had so much fun in Utah, it went by way too quickly.  I got to bond with nieces and Nephews.  Here I am below with Bryan and Helga's oldest, Makyla.  She is a funny girl, she reminds me SO much of Peyton.

 We started a new tradition this year, kids got served and ate first, then they went to the basement to watch a movie.  The adults got to eat in peace and quiet without any disturbances, it was really nice.

 We took a little side trip to the cemetery in Salt Lake where Tyler's Grandparents are buried.  I had to try not to get all weepy, I miss Tyler's Grandma Williams, she past away when Micah was just a baby.

 We had a huge family reunion with Tyler's Dad's side of the family and the kids got to swim in the pool at my Father-in-laws brother's Apt.

 After swimming and dinner we went to see the lights at Temple Square, the kids got to touch the temple.

 It was freezing and our group got separated a few times but we didn't lose any of the kids in the crowd, not even Ben!

 It snowed just beore we came and of course melted for the most part before we got there.  We made the most of it and found a few piles for the kids to have a snowball (chunk) fight in.

 S'mores for dessert after FHE (out of order, this was our first night there).

 For our "snow" trip we ended up with the boy car.

 Hanging out at Bryan and Helga's beautiful home in Lehi (I think).  The cousins were so cute and really bonded with each other.

 Peyton latched on to Sophie again and Sophie seemed just fine with it.

 Aunt Becca did matching hairdo's for the cousins...

 Peyton had to really try hard not to smile, but she succeeded like always.

 Boys beat girls at Catch Phrase, BARELY.  They were ecstatic.

 Girls bonded, maybe a bit too much!  We were up the night before Thanksgiving until 6am.  Not the smartest thing to do, but it was well worth it, I mean, how often to I get to spend time with my sisters?

 We really do all love each other very much.

 One of my best friends was in Utah for her sons wedding and she came and found me at the visitors center, it made my night!  I love you Allyson!

 Can anyone guess who my new friend is???  After the lights at Temple Square we happened upon a Deseret Book store and I got to meet one of my most favorite authors!

 LeGrand and Becca's house was amazing and perfect for hosting a bazillion people for a week.  Thanks guys, we loved it and miss you all!

Our Utah trip in the smallest nutshell I could fit it in!

This was our best trip yet to Utah. We love LeGrand and Becca and Bryan and Helga. They are our family, yes, but they are also some of the best and most fun people too. We also got to spend some time with their extended family, LeGrand and Bryan's in-laws, and they're awesome too! It was relaxing and fun.

We had our traditional waxing, somehow Tyler got away without participating this time. My nose is already hairy again so I think I'll need to invest in some hard wax!

They always have at least one fun new thing to try, this time it was catching whipped cream in your mouth. You squirt some on your hand, toss it into the air and then catch it in your mouth, or somewhere else on your face! It's a perfect after baptism activity to do while still in your nice church clothes (my niece Adelyn was baptised).
Sunday my new nephew Taysen was blessed and the next day was the 4th of July! We got to go to a parade in Provo, a LeGrand Laing family tradition. Tyler and LeGrand and a few other went early, really early, to get a spot. Becca and I crammed in with the kids and came along later. Gosh, no, of course we didn't really drive with 10 people in a 7 passenger van! This was a just for fun picture, we really took 2 cars.
This next picture may seem silly, but while walking to the parade we saw this, house? Micah stopped in front and said loudly, "I can't believe someone lives here, it looks like a broken down old shack!" There were windows open and a car in the driveway! I tried to rush him along and tell him we don't say things like that, it was someone's home. There was a couple and their child walking near us, and he said, "I was thinking the same thing." I said, "I think we all were, we just weren't shouting it at the top of our lungs!" I sometimes wonder at what age Micah's brutal honesty will take a backseat.
Becca's Aunt has a red hat tradition at the parade that we got to take part in, everyone wears the hat for a pictures and strikes a pose.
I got to sit by my guy.
After the parade we enjoyed another of Becca's traditions and went to her grandparents old house where her sister and new husband are now living. We had delicious food and a slip n slide competition. I felt like a kid again, a less daring kid, but still a kid. Ben got himself a nice huge slice of watermelon.
We went up to the Mount Timpanogos caves, one of my favorite activities this trip. It was a pretty good little hike up, especially carrying a 30 pound little girl!
I got so many amazing pictures I had to put a few in.
Helga's sister Heidi took a group picture for us, so she wasn't in it, but this was everyone else.
I like hiking.
I don't like carrying little kids that are perfectly capable of walking themselves, but I did anyway. I tried leaving her behind but she didn't care, she just stayed behind, so I carried her. Daddy was behind with the slower people in the group helping watch other kids and I'm not a slow hiker, apparently even when carrying an extra 30 pounds. Daddy did get his turn on the hike back though, don't think he bailed on me.
This rock is near the entrance to the caves, everyone touches it, and this is what happens when your oils get on the rocks, pretty cool, but you can't touch anything in the caves.
This is the heart of Mount Timpanogos, it is estimated to weigh about 2 tons and is 5.5 ft in length! I have dozens of pictures of other amazing formations too, but had to share this one.
Such an amazing view!
This is my nephew Taysen, he was so much easier to carry down than Miss P was to carry up!
Helga's sister Sonja has her own salon and gave Peyton her first haircut while we were there at Natalie's (another of Helga's sisters) house. I woke her up for the haircut and she was spazzing majorly. She later told Tyler that she "fussed a little bit at first" HA! I have video that proves otherwise. Sonja did a great job though and straightened her hair first and then cut off a few inches and layered it. So cute. She eventually calmed down and she liked her new hair.

While Tyler, LeGrand, Becca and I went to the Mount Timpanogos Temple (Provo was closed for cleaning), out to lunch at Zupas (yummy soup salad and sandwich), and to DI (my favorite thrift store ever) Tyler's Aunt Becca ( who has 12 kids herself) and some of her kids watched all of our kids. We also got to visit with Tyler's grandparents who live there now. Peyton even fell asleep on Moroni, and that is not like her at all. The kids LOVE the Burrows family and I'm so glad that got to spend some time there.
Movie time with Junior's Giants.
I ran into an old friend while getting new G's at the Distribution Center, it was Jan Budge! My old Bishop's wife. I am friends with her daughter in law who is in our ward! Small world huh?
On our last night there the boys went to Bryan and Helga's house and the girls and kids hung out at LeGrand and Becca's house. The kids had movie (Little Rascal's) and pizza (Litttle Ceasars) night while the girls (Me, Becca, Helga and Liz, Becca's sister) did crafts and ate Cafe Rio pork salads, I really hope they get one here someday, YUMMY! This is my very adorable and sweet niece Makyla. She is a lot like Peyton and she finally warmed up to me at the end. She even has the same cute little legs and feet that Peyton has, so they must come from the Laing side. I love my family and wish we were all close to each other geographically. Maybe someday we will be, but until then we will do our best to make trips to see them. LeGrand and Becca, thank you so much for housing us and feeding us and being the wonderful people you are, WE LOVE YOU!

We...Post#7

Did you think I forgot about this series? Well, this is my second to last We post! I know, it's pitiful that I'm still in December but I didn't want to skip over anything. There is so much to look forward to in January too, like Peyton's birthday cakes from this year AND last year!

We visited with family! I didn't get very many pictures because our visit was cut way too short, which I won't go into. I will say though that we were SO sad that we didn't get to spend more time with LeGrand andd Becca and kiddos, some of the best people on the planet. I am also sad that we didn't get more time with Bryan and Helga. I need some one on one girl craft time with Helga someday, she is amazing in more things than just photography, she is a girl of many talents!
The girl cousins, Peyton, Adelyn, Makyla and Sophie.
Ben likes the little ones too, like big brother Micah. Makyla is such a sweetie too, you want to just squeeze her!

We met Essien's new dog Riot. He came named by Santa. My kids, especially Micah, couldn't understand why Santa gave him the name Riot, when it means something bad. He informed us that it means to disagree and argue. He is a super cute puppy and P just didn't want to let him out of her sight, or her arms.

Kolby, who is just about 3 weeks older than Peyton was such a good playmate, they got to enjoy a game of checkers together.

Brayden got to spend the night and we are so glad that he did! The boys couldn't have been happier, or me for that matter, he was a perfect guest. The only thing that would have been better is if the rest of his family could have stayed over the next night! You guys owe us a game night when we come to your house!

November is gone!

My how that month went by! Here is the picture of Jacob I promised. We let him open his gifts from Nana Byn and Papa Ron on Thanksgiving, the day before his birthday. What you see around him are family members participating in the tooting part of the birthday song, a Laing tradition. I am thankful for traditions, both old and new.
I am thankful for cousins! We only had one cousin with us on Thanksgiving, but we are very thankful for him and that he lives so close by.

I am also thankful for the beautiful Rainbow that appeared for Jacob's birthday! Peyton and I were the only ones in our house that were very happy to see such a perfect rainbow, a double rainbow! I am thankful to no longer be the only girl in the house too!

My pictures don't do it justice, it was so bright!

I am pretty sure I already siad this, but I am thankful that our Christmas decorations are up, even our outside lights. Daddy was on the ball this year. We all really enjoyed decorating the house this year, more than any other year I can think of. I let the boys put the fun tree up in their room and they decorated it all by themselves and did such a great job on it. Below is our main tree with our pretty and special ornaments, I love it!

I think I've said this one before too, I am thankful for the sister missionaries! We had them over for dinner last night, and my sister too, for Enchiladas, one of my favorites. They taught our lesson for family night, it was great, Sister Johnson did a lesson about the great Apostasy, cups and all. The kids were wild and crazy, they reminded me about Elder Bednar's talk from the last conferance. Fortunately the Sisters are very sweet, I even think Sister Tupoe thought they were pretty funny, but don't tell them that!

Peyton loves the Sisters, especially after she's warmed up to them for about an hour! Sister Tupoe just learned English a few months ago and she is amazing. I like to throw as much slang at her as I can and talk as quickly as I can, you know, so I can challenge her and help her improve her English. I can never stump her and she never misses a beat!