This last summer I drove to Utah for the first time since leaving Utah 3 1/2 years ago. I was so nervous of the long drive because I was doing it by myself with the four kiddos. It turned out great and I hope to return every summer.
Our first visit was to the amazing Kindred family. We enjoyed pizza, playing, and lots of visiting. It was fun seeing Andrew and Miles reunite with their good buddies Jaxson and Kaleb.
One of my mornings consisted of leaving the kids behind and going to the Mount Timpanogas temple with Amber and Jenny.
Of course a pedicure was in the agenda....and Cafe Rio for lunch--my absolute favorite. It was a fabulous day. :)
I also reunited with Elicia and met her twin girls for the first time. ADORABLE. Here's Ruby and Lily with EJ and Eli.
Fun at the Housley's. Jenny was a wonderful hostess. She graciously put up with us for three whole days :) Andrew and Miles were soooooo happy to reunite with Braden. Jenny and I had so much fun just talking, talking, talking--our favorite pass time together. We discovered that we are both "4"s according to Carol Tuttle's book about personalities and had fun re-discovering ourselves together.
Enjoying a short yet sweet visit with the Oehlers.
It was sooooo nice getting together with Jana and Diane again. We met up at the McDonald's in Lehi (one of our old stomping grounds) because there was a massive rain and lightning storm going on outside.
Our posterity...plus a new one still hibernating in Diane's tummy.
I finally reunited with Melinda after about a six year drought. It was so nice meeting her husband and beautiful little girl.
We were also able to visit her incredible salon in down town Salt Lake that she and her husband own and run. What a talent :)
Our trip to Utah would not have been complete without a visit to the Provo river trail. We met up with Miranda and her 5 kids and enjoyed picnicking, hiking, and swimming in the cold water.
The Duke and Gilbert family in front of the falls.
The above is our second apartment that we moved into in Provo when Andrew was only four months old. We loved it there.
This rickety thing is the first apartment Yannick and I live in. We paid a whopping $400.00 a month in rent. I cannot believe it's still standing....
Miranda and I enjoyed an evening without 9 kids....a rare occasion. :)
Andrew and Zachary....the newest edition to the Ethington family. Thank you to the Ethington's for letting us crash your pad for a couple of days before our return to Cali.
Our morning walk to the donut shop....a sort of Ethington/Gilbert tradition. :)
Each of the kids had 5 dollars to spend at the BYU bookstore.
By the end of the trip Lily was exhausted.
This is Beau. The three legged,lost dog we found on BYU campus. We saved him by getting a hold of the owners on his dog tags. He was a really cool dog.
BYU creamery....yum yum.
Celine and I outside her beautiful home in Springville. We are considering buying the lot behind their house so we can be neighbors. Would love that. :)
