Highlights of our Utah visit - part 1 (of how many parts...I couldn't say)

After 77 days of countdown (from the time we booked the airline tickets until we arrived) - we finally stepped off the plane and into the waiting arms of my sister, Mindy and her husband, Kyle (ok...not into Kyle's arms...lol). Yep, it was just Mindy and Kyle at the airport, as they had recently traded in Mindy's Ford Expedition for a Ford Fusion and couldn't fit me and my troop along with their troop. So, their troop was {in} patiently waiting for us at their house.

So what did we do first? Well, it was late (even later for us on Eastern time), so after a short visit, we all hit the sack! My neice, Samantha (Sam) graciously gave up her bedroom (and bed) to me for the entire month of our stay. Karlee and Carson (and Mindy's kids) all just crashed wherever for the entire month (a true party...lol). Before we hit the sack, however, Tyson quized me on Gracey's morning routine; what time she wakes up, what time she has a bottle, what time she eats... Come to find out he wanted this information because he'd been planning for MONTHS that he was going to make Grace homemade applesauce for breakfast on her first morning there! How sweet is that? Tyson, aka "Cake boss" loves to cook. Anyway, true to his word, he made, and fed, Grace applesauce the next morning...HOMEMADE applesauce!! This sweet boy (who ALMOST shared a birthday with Grace...missed it by 23 minutes) loves her to pieces!










Then Grandma Yvonne, Grandpa, Oma and Opa came over! It was so great to see them again!!!



And of course, the kids met up with all of their friends that they hadn't seen in almost a year!! Here is Carson seeing Cole for the first time!

And then Grandma, of course, had to have lots of BBQ's! Complete with lots of good food, grandma's blow up swimming pool and just plain fun!

Samantha and Carson

Karlee and Bayleigh
Grandpa Steve...just a few weeks post lung transplant surgery!

Grace...getting her first taste of our family's favorite dessert..."Potato Bug Pie" I'm sure you're all wanting the yummy recipe for this fabulous dessert...because, as you can see on Gracey's face...it's the best dessert out there! Tyson, Mindy, Oma and Opa Mindy loving on Grace while Tyson gives her a foot rub!

Ok...so I'm going to end this post here...but don't dispair, there'll be many more to follow (as we were in Utah for an ENTIRE MONTH and have lots of memories to share)!