Utah: Fourth of July

We spent the 4th with both families. In the morning we went to the Centerville 5k where we both were painfully reminded that we are no longer 18 and can't just up and race a race without training. I don't know why we thought it would be pretty: we haven't been running, AZ doesn't have anything that looks remotely like a hill, we were up late the night before eating nothing but ice cream and cookies, and Utah's altitude will kill the best of em. It was brutal, but it was fun. No actually I can't even say it was fun. It was just brutal.
If we are going to be totally honest, I wish I would have stayed with Ethan the whole race. He doesn't run very many races and ever time I actually run with him, I have more fun than if I try to win my age group. We got separated right away, but I still could have found a way to wait for him. His commentary would have been more fun than listening to my own wheezing for 25 minutes.

So I know you will all roll your eyes, but as luck would have it, I ended up winning my age group. I guess the 57 people that passed me in the last half mile weren't my age. It helps that my age group is the "baby division" as me and my friends call it. Half of the women my age are having babies, are pregnant, or just gave birth so naturally the amount of us running at "full" speed is always significantly less. Probably not true, but still a funny joke. Well I got a prize, but we also wanted to get back to get ready for the parade. They were taking FOREVER which was terribly disappointing because this was like 25 years in a row. You think they would have figured out what works by now. At like 7:45 we asked if we could just get my ribbon and leave. They were like, "we are going to start very soon" At 8:10 they finally started things and here is how it went "Welcome! We are going to start with the awards now. We will start with the men and work our way down age wise. Can Danny Conner come up. He is the winner of the 75+ with a time of ...Lets all give Danny a around of applause while he comes up." WHAT!!! It took like 10 minutes for them to get through one division. Ethan being the awesome person he is, walked up to the table and was like, "so we want to get the parade. Can my wife have her ribbon?" They handed it to him kind of in disbelief that he didn't want to stick around and then as he was walking away they were like "don't forget her prize!!"Without looking Ethan grabbed the first thing he saw which happened to be shampoo and conditioner and a free hair cut. Not too shabby! But I go back to and stand by my original statement: it would have been way more rewarding and fun to run with Ethan. It was not worth the side ache, muscle pain, and shampoo. I walked away thinking, that was fine, when I could have walked away thinking, that was fun.

After the race, we ran home, got ready, grabbed the girls and headed to the Centerville parade where we met up with the Wing gang.

Not the best picture lighting :) 

After the parade we had naps, made a salad and headed over to Scotts for a barbecue complete with deliciously smoked meat.

Madison was having a really hard day. We have no idea why, but she was. Medicine helped some but she just hated life. I felt bad for her, but after the constant complaining it just started to push my buttons. People were so helpful and would try to distract her best they could. Aaron took her to the park for a whole hour so that we could be free of the tears. In hindsight I just feel so awful for getting so frazzled by her, but at the time there was literally nothing that we could do. She was so angry. She is all better now which is why I can write about it. Maybe she was just totally out of her element making her a bit wacky? We will never know.

unplanned and wonderful

Madison kept trying to tickle Jakco. She'd run up and go "ickickick" and make this weird noise and basically scratch him

 She was happy with an ice cream sandwich in the shade, but who wouldn't be happy with that?!

From the barbecue we headed to West Jordan park where we watched one of the coolest firework shoes I have ever seen. The finale lasted FOREVER (which is a glorious thing!!!) I thought it was awesome, but I was confirmed of its awesomeness when I looked at everyone else in the group and they were all smiling equally as big as I was.

All of us together for the first time in 5 years!

I thought this selfie she took was the best!

 

 

 Some how, after avoiding the urge for a few years, we have come full circle to Ethan once again "recreating" his already perfect smile. He does it because he knows it drives me nuts! I can't wait for this phase to once again be over.

 The girls were so good, but naturally fell asleep instantly. I parked in the neighborhoods by my parents and walking back with them, my mom pointed to the stroller. Both the girls were out. Madison jolted a bit when the flash went off, but don't be fooled. She is dead asleep in this picture. My favorite part about this was, like 2 seconds before, as we were fighting through the crowds they were both yelling at each other and at life becasue they couldn't get comfortable. And then it just went silent. They fought their last fight and then there was nothing left for the day. They excepted reality and fell fast asleep.

The 4th of July really is so much fun even if you don't go to sleep until midnight. Happy Birthday America

Utah: Week with the Wings

The girls and I left for Utah on Friday June 24th. Everything went perfect in the airports and on the planes. The girls were wonderful and we sat by very nice people. We also timed it perfectly so we had enough time to get to the gate, but not too long to wait. We had just enough time to get some wiggles out in an empty hallway before they called us to board.

the Grand Canyon

After we landed, the week was filled with nothing but family. We welcomed Hannah home from China, we played at Julie's, we went to visit Grandma Farnsworth, we played at a splash pad with Shara and the kids, we went to Pineview Reservoir, played outside almost every single day, went to the park, had a family reunion, and the girls played so hard with Grammas toys that I hardly ever saw them. It was such a wonderful and long break from normal life. We really missed having Ethan with us, but we got to join us on Friday evening. The best part about the whole trip was being able to play outside and how long it stayed light. I forgot to put the girls to bed the first night because at 9:30 it was still light!! It was glorious!

Kelsey and Grandpa playing catch before bed

Its 9:30 in this picture!!!! 

Pineview
Pineview is always really fun, but this year I decided to rent a paddle board and "taught" everyone how to use it. I was so proud of everyone. They all did so good! I have to say though, the best part of the whole thing was the opportunity it gave me and Holden to really connect. I'm not a fun aunt. I just can't compete with Hannah, or Em or Annie. I'm okay with that, but its kind of known that if you want to have fun you don't come to me. This was the first time in our relationship that I WAS the source of fun. Holden and I had so much fun. At first he wouldn't even leave the comforts of talking distance from the shore, but by the end of the day he was jumping off, paddling, trusting his life jacket, and swimming along side the board while I paddled. It was so much fun. I don't remember a lot of our conversations, but one that sticks out included him being so worried that I could afford the paddle board :) As soon as I let him know that it was in my budget he was totally fine with it again. He is so stinkin cute.

It was only 85* so guess who totally forgot sunscreen! I paid for it big time

Hayes seriously might be the cutest baby I know right now. I seriously could steal him and take him home

 We WALKED to the park at 10 am and stayed there for like 2hours!! DURING THE DAY!! IN JULY!! It was so much fun!

This was taken at 3 in the afternoon. Kelsey and Gramma were at Finding Dory and during nap time I sat outside typing. It was so relaxing

 One afternoon we met up with the Nelly's and went to Chick fa LA and a splash pad

 Hannah returned home from her trip to China. She was gone for 4 months and everyone was very excited to see her. I drove Holden to Gramma's house and after he told me about all the swears that he now knows ("which is why I should be able to watch PG-13 movies") he told me that he missed Hannah so much. "I thought Europe was bad and that was only 3 weeks!!" He was so excited to see her. Hannah brought  us all home a China gift but my favorite was probably these little parasols that the girls got. They were adorable.

Madison wasn't too fond of baby Hayes, but every now and then she would come up and pat him or try to tickle him. I don't think she realizes that they are only months apart. One time we were at the Mannings, and Madison screamed Hayes out of the room and then kept glaring around the corner to make sure he wasn't coming back. Poor baby Hayes. I'm so so sorry

Who needs Bear Lake when you can watch deer in Gramma's backyard
We played at the Mannings a lot

One evening my Grandma was having a birthday party at her house for her niece. We decided to go and there was a candy rocket. It was a really fun invention for the kids.

A huge storm rolled in right as we were getting started. It didn't rain on us, but it was so windy that the plates kept blowing up and landing in our faces. Madison, Kelsey, Norah, Jack, and I all got  a plate to the face.

One of my favorite activities was hiking to Doughnut Falls. I have been up Cottonwood Canyon like 900 times and yet some how I totally forgot about how beautiful it was. It was simply breathtaking.

Doughnut falls is super fun too becasue it is like a glorified walk but yet still beautiful. Its like minimal effort for maximum reward.

On Friday July 1st Ethan finally got to join us!!

On July 2nd all the Wings gathered and we had a barbecue filled with swimming and fun

Harper and Kelsey would not get out of this nasty pool. It like hurt me to take this picture, but they were so happy

After we got back from my family's reunion baby Hayes turned one and had the most adorable farm birthday party. I don't know about you but baby Hayes reminds me of Peeta. I just want to put him in my pocket and take him home forever.

Flying home was very uneventful and smooth but very sad. Although we stayed for more than two weeks our stay was much too short.