IRL

I may have mentioned this before, but when I started my blog I had no idea I would “meet” so many friends. Two bloggy friends that have become friends IRL are Linda and Bren.

Every year about this time Linda comes to visit her daughter at ASU for the weekend and makes time to get together with Bren and me. It is the perfect time of the year because they both celebrate their birthdays within days of each other so we have something to celebrate…besides just spending time together.

Last night was our GNO. I love getting together with these sweet friends. Since Linda’s time is pretty busy while she is here and Bren and I both have little kidlets we usually get together just for dessert. I always feel a little bad for our server when we show up. We aren’t going to eat very much and we are going to spend the rest of the evening just sitting there talking and laughing…and expecting refills of water. We do tip pretty well to make up for it.

As much as I enjoyed spending time with these two I have to admit the highlight of my night was when I came home to this little note from Einstein.

I usually only see Linda on her trip to visit her daughter. But this summer we had a bonus visit. Unfortunately Bren wasn’t with us, but I did have some extra people along to join the fun…well really I was just tagging along with them.

While I was visiting my sister this summer Linda just so happened to be travelling through Utah and she was going to be there on a day that Niece had a doctor’s appointment.

So Niece and I…and Ham and Kira and Sergio left Idaho way before the butt-crack of dawn to get Niece to the doctor.

She had her little visit and we had the rest of the day to goof off.

And where else would a blogger from AZ and a blogger from CA and a blogger from ID meet?

That’s right…Cafe Rio in American Fork, UT.

It was the first time Linda and Niece had met face-to-face, but the connection these two have is pretty special.

They are both pretty amazing ladies and I am glad they let me intrude on the visit. And by intrude, don’t I look like Gigantor between these 2.

I am glad Ham was there to crash the party also.

Oh and Kira and Sergio too.

And what would a bloggy get-together be without people taking pictures…of people taking pictures of people taking pictures of people they have just met.

Ham had enough of the picture taking and was headed to throw himself in traffic.

Linda’s daughter is going to graduate this year so maybe next year Bren and I, and maybe Niece will have to make a road trip to visit her.

But Ham is definitely staying home.

It’s A Race

The vacation starts here.

This is the day were the vacation started getting a little crazy…

On the morning of the 21st of June Niece had a doctors appointment, in Utah. About that same time her daughter-in-law was headed to the hospital to be induced, in Idaho. This would be Niece’s first grandbaby. And she really wanted to be there when she was born, even if the doctors were telling her to stay in Utah. Not being one to follow the rules very well Niece was ready to get to Idaho. So off we all went. Niece, Kira and Sergio in one car and the kidlets and I in the subooboo for the first of many trips for us between Utah and Idaho. During the 3 hour road trip there were plenty of texts going back in forth letting us know how Ali was doing. Well we made it in plenty of time for Niece to be there when Celes Marie was born.

If you want to know Niece’s story of her sweet grandbaby visit here.

The next day I made a visit to the hospital to check out my new Grand-niece. But before I could hold her Grandma had a turn holding her, with Kira right there waiting impatiently for her turn.

Kira took her turn. I guess she thinks she needs the practice since she found out a few days before that she is going to be having a baby at the beginning of the year.

Finally it was my turn to hold Celes.

She is such a sweet baby.

Of course I had to count her fingers and toes.

She passed inspection.

Before we could leave Grandma Niece thought she need to hold her again.

Welcome to the family sweet Celes.

We can’t wait to watch you grow.

Child #6…Barbie

The Vacation starts here.

If you have read my blog for any amount of time you know how my kidlets feel about sleeping on the floor together. And if you haven’t…they are more than happy to sleep on the floor all together.

But on this trip I got to join them…which wasn’t as nearly as bad as I thought it might be.

Anyway…

One night I found all the kidlets asleep in their spots.

And as I was ready to get in bed I found someone, or rather something, in my spot.

LaLa became really close to Barbie.

And doesn’t appreciate anyone, especially a brother, laying a hand on her.

And Barbie made the rest of the trip with us…and is now part of the Chaos.

And to be real honest she freaks me out.

Real Men Are At Home In The Kitchen

The vacation starts here.

My brother is right at home in the kitchen. Not only can he cook, he enjoys it and it willing to try new things.

But on this day he treated us to an old favorite: Chocolate-covered Strawberries.

But these weren’t just your average strawberries…they were HuGe.

Rowland is a little different then I am. He is more then happy to have the kiddos in the kitchen helping.

So everyone had a chance to dip some strawberries.

Big J thought about cheating when it was his turn.

I have no idea how I missed Einstein dipping strawberries.

Ro may be talented in the kitchen, but his dressing skills leave a little to be desired…okay so this was a Sunday after changing his clothes from church.

We were anxiously waiting for the chocolate to set.

Everyone just hung around the kitchen waiting.

Then it was time to taste our masterpieces. Delish!

The whole ordeal just wore Ro out and he quietly took a nap.

Happy Birthday Niece

The vacation starts here.

One of the highlights of this trip was getting to be with Niece for her birthday.

Now that she has her new heart she will be around for many more birthdays.

This is Niece with LaLa, Roo and Chloe.

We decided to spend the day in Provo Canyon to celebrate.

We had fun hanging out and playing.

And eating.

And taking pictures.

I love this self-portrait of LaLa and Sergio.

Ham found this inch-worm and played with him for-EVER.

Then later that evening it was time to bring out the chocolate cake COVERED in candles.

She had a rough time blowing out her candles.

Maybe the trick candles weren’t such a good idea.

Or maybe they were…if only for our entertainment!