Utah: Uncle Michael's delayed & Dad Arrives

Michael was suppose to arrive Thursday night at 8 o'clock. Somewhere in the afternoon things started falling apart because his plane was delayed because of weather. Around 7 pm when he hadn't left yet, I knew my plans of leaving Rebekah with her cousins and picking Michael up was not going to work. Luckily Joseph had my back and was able to do it. I spent the night worrying about Michael getting in okay when he finally texted just after midnight saying he was with Joseph. Finally my anxiety could rest. Or so I thought.... Don called around 2 am asking if I knew where his bag was. Up and at 'em anxiety! 2 am = 4 am his time... plane leaving at 8... a good hour and half drive... got to park in long term parking... brain doing the math with help of anxiety... and he doesn't even know where the bag he is taking is? Has the man not even packed yet?! Is he going to make it?! If he misses his flight, how do I explain to Rebekah....?

At 4:30 am he texted again. Something about stopping for gas then on his way. I forced myself NOT to do the math. 

But he made the plane, which was on time. Got to love Delta and Indy summer weather. 

We went directly to my mom's, who had tax questions, and that also meant I got my first glance at Michael! He knows Rebekah has been waiting for him to juggle for her so he gladly made this video:

Then we left mom's and went to see our little snuggly. It was a joyful reunion, but I only snapped the picture when Rebekah decided dad needed to see the leftover doughnuts. 

After we picked up Rebekah we headed out to see the grandkids! Little princess Makenna...

Proud grandpa.

So hot so we all went for snow cones.

Makenna shared with her mama, but after mama was through she was still wanting more. Grandpa seemed like a willing accomplice.

She was correct. And Don loved every minute of it.

We spent the day catching up and playing but we had a dinner appointment with mom and Michael so we took one last picture and headed back out.

Dinner with mom was wonderful. So nice to see Michael. Rebekah also enjoyed the reunion and drew him a picture for the occasion. She left out the beard though, because: "It looked silly..."

After dinner we went back to Daniel's. I was starting to feel ill and left Rebekah in Don's charge. They both came in just after 10:30. Apparently Don fell asleep on the couch and with Abby and Sam around, Rebekah just keeps going and going and going... Good thing they had a bed time!

Utah: Doughnuts, Swimming, & Games

The next day I had plans to visit my friend Miss Pamela Morgan. Since she and her husband are creators of Beyond Glazed doughnut shop, I decided two birds with one stone: meet Miss Pamela and show Rebekah what a doughnut can really be like. 

Sam and Abby came too. Love these kids!

Rebekah chose a mango strawberry. So beautifully yummy. And I was pleased to announce that there was not a sprinkle in the building. Miss Pamela states they are all made with real and natural products. They bake, not fry, and yet they taste just like heaven.

I haven't seen Miss Pamela for years but we picked right up where we left off. So many books to discuss and I was on the edge of my seat listening to all her travel adventures. I sure love that lady!

She treated us to the doughnuts, and sent us home with 6 more.

Then I realized we had a schedule to meet and I was running behind. At this point I was starting to be weary of all the tight scheduling I created. But vacation was only a week in and we had another 5 days to go. So, deep breath, buckle up, and get on down the road. Next stop: Goldfish swim with Kayla and the kids for some swimming.

That's little Henry - not quite 3 - free floating on his back. Mad skills!

Paige doing a back streamline. Very nice indeed. 

And little Makenna with the baby doll.

The whole group:

Then we made our way through parking lot trauma (found out Rebekah's nose had a slight bleed, but Kayla saved the day with wet wipes), great construction (Utah is growing SO big!), to make it to MacDonalds. Once there I ate the peanut butter sandwich I made Rebekah and bought Rebekah a "happy meal" and we had lunch. Then the kids played. 

A little boy decided to pick on my little girl. She asked him to stop and he said no, so I got involved but he still has hounding her. She finally ran to me in tears. I got her calmed down and they all wanted to do one more slide, Rebekah wanted to slide down with Makenna on her lap) and they all went back up. As they went up the little boy, who was eating with his grandma, saw his prey and started to climb up the slide to get Rebekah. I told him not to go up because they were coming down and asked him again to leave her alone. At this point he got his grandma who backed him up and walked him up to said slide so he could climb up it. I spoke to the grandma saying my daughter is coming down the slide and he shouldn't go up. She then informed me that she thought I was just being "ornery." I wanted to say yes I was being ornery because her grandson was picking on my girl, but at that point Kayla intervened and things calmed down. Somewhat. I was still not happy. 

Then we went back to Daniel's and played the night away. Got to love this family!

Such a fun game. I truly loved spending the night playing games with these people! And my little girl! So happy. Such good times. She would have stayed up until midnight but I was exhausted and pulled her away somewhere around 10:30.

Utah: Paige's Recital

The second half of that day we went to see Kayla and her kids. Paige was having a dance recital and since we happened to be in town I thought it was fitting we drop in to attend.

We got there early to get reacquainted with the grandkids. 

Makenna. Such a cutie!

Riding her horse:

Josh's mom dropped in too and brought balloons. (I of course brought nothing. Rookie mistake....) That's Paige and Henry.

Kayla doing Paige's makeup for the night's performance.

I think she did rather well! Love the hair too!

We met up with Josh and Kayla at the performance. Henry brought flowers. Again, I came empty handed. Ugh.

Well, not empty handed. I brought this snuggly. Who, by the way, was adapting quite well to Utah time. Here it is 9:30 pm Indy time - way past her bed time. And who has a recital including kids under 5 that starts at 7:30? Seriously people!

Paige's program.

Rebekah loved every minute of it! I have a great fear she is going to want to do dance and it horrifies me! The hair, the makeup! The costumes! The loud music! Yes, apparently I'm old. But I suppose I'm going to have problems with whatever she does.... But back to Paige's night.

Paige did so great! Knew her part to perfection. I was so fun to see. Having to drive over an hour back to Daniel's house, we left a few numbers after her performance. I hear all the others went out for ice cream and didn't get back until around 11. Hard to miss the party but since we were going to be for the next week or so, I figured we would party during daylight hours soon.

Utah: Cousin's Photo Shoot

Knowing that time was limited I packed my good camera and planned a little hike / photo shoot. Abby lead us through Yellow Fork. Uncle Daniel took the day off and joined us. 

We walked and walked. Shreann brought snacks as motivation to keep walking. We finally arrived at the picnic tables. It was my job to take repeated pictures with my good camera in the hopes that one or two would turn out. I started with one at snack time. 

Snacks for cousins:

Snacks for Toby:

Then we tried some posed shots. 

One of the boys:

This is one of my favorites. Although if you look closely at Oliver's face (boy in the back)... Apparently he has the tendency to make crazy faces during pictures. 

After we were done with pictures there, Abby said there was a nice place just up the hill. So we headed in that direction. 

Beautiful scenery.

There was a nice little bench in the shade. (As you can see I have trouble with lighting and shadows. You can tell I'm a musician not a photographer.)

These pictures turned out pretty nice, but again, Oliver is making silly faces in some... this one for example:

At this point I suggested they show the love...

Then I went with crazy cousins...

I also asked that we get a picture of the adults of the group. Somehow Oliver got the camera. Not sure what he was doing but this was the result.

He finally jumped and got this. Somewhat better aim, but still uncertain why the jump was necessary. Got us all to smile though!

Then I turned back to the girls and saw this: 

Love these girls!

Then we did family shots. Spencer's crew:

Daniel's:

Me and my mini me:

Utah: Cousins!

Shreann and the kids drove up Monday night and we were able to spend the day together on Tuesday. It was so fun to watch them play! First we went to the park and let the kids play. 

Claire apparently is part monkey. 

I knew that entire Stirland cousin moments are few and far between so I made sure we got lots of pictures. I started out with this gem.

Aunt Shreann brought snacks.

Crazy faces... most of these kids are better when they don't have too much prep time.

Later that afternoon we went swimming.

I as impressed as Rebekah went straight to the slide and went down. That's more bravery than I've seen in her!

Success!

Rebekah was somewhat overwhelmed by the crowds and the continual whistle blowing by the life guards. She decided to hang out in the kiddie section and play with some toys with Katie.

Sam also decided to hang out in the kiddie section....

Nice.

Shreann decided to jump in and play with Katie. They had such fun.

The cousins gravitated to the middle of the pool to play ball.

At this point Rebekah got hit in the face with the ball and it bumped her wiggly tooth. Between the crowds, the whistles, and the ball she was about done. The cousins came over to comfort her.

At this point they decided they had a common desire...

...and compiled their strength and attacked Oliver.

Love this one. Claire has him by the shoulders while Rebekah and Katie splash him. That's Sam off to the left attempting to help Oliver.

The girls pushed Oliver under the bucket but Sam took it for him last minute.

A job well done.

Then we drove back to Daniel's. Rebekah drove with Shreann and I stopped for Papa Murphy's $10 Tuesday special. Came back to Daniel's and the kids were all playing. Got to love cousin's: instant best friends. The kids spent the rest of the day playing while I basked in the complete joy of my daughter.