Our Utah Trip

The longer I wait to post this blog the harder it gets! I spent a lot of time putting together a little slide show on Photobucket with all our pics from the trip...but then I couldn't figure out how to get it on here so I gave up ... now you're going to get a long string of pictures from me so get your scrolling finger ready!

The day after we got to Utah we met at the Salt Lake temple for Cheryl & Greg's sealing. It was amazing to be in the temple with my baby sister! I was weepy and near tears the whole time. I'm so proud of you Cheryl!!!!

Here's our side of the family with Cher & Greg:
That night we had a BBQ at my sister Jennie's house. She has the perfect yard for our big family! The kids had a great time running all over the place! My mom gave Corbin a late birthday present. He LOVED it!
Here's a picture of my family at the BBQ - it's rare to get us all in one place at the same time! (that's all my siblings, mom & dad and grandma)
And my little family:After the BBQ we headed down south to Castle Dale where my parents live. Did I mention that I LOVE being home? It's the most wonderful feeling in the world to be in my parents house! So safe, content, peaceful...wonderful! Besides, it's a tiny little town so everything just slows right down! I love it!

Here's Jenalyn on the swing on the back deck with Grampa Jerry:
Corbin after church on Sunday:
Bedtime story with Grandma'Nee:
Sweetest picture in the WORLD (taken by Aunt Cheryl):
Cheryl & Greg came down on Tuesday and we went to the Manti Temple. It was AMAZING! I think the Manti temple is our new favorite. It helped that my dad ran into an old friend from high school (go figure, huh?) so we got a little tour and got to see one of the spiral staircases. That was awesome!
On Wednesday we drove out to Moab and hiked to Delicate Arch - 3 miles round trip. It was a pretty good hike!
Jenalyn hiked the whole way up on her own two feet! I was so proud of her!
It was too much excitement for Corbin - he zonked on the hike back.Of course he woke up when we got back to the truck for a game of Peek-a-Boo:
Friday we drove back up to SLC for Cheryl's baby shower. It was a LOT of fun. We did a baseball theme, complete with hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, peanuts and soda pop. My mom did an amazing job planning it and pulling it off :) It was a LOT of fun!

Here's Jenalyn and her cousin Leslye getting ready for the shower:
Cheryl opening her presents. This is the quilt that Aunt Dale helped me make. It was my first patchwork quilt - I think it turned out pretty great!
Cheryl being dramatic after opening that huge load of gifts *giggles*Jenalyn had a GREAT time at the shower. Uncle Jerald's house is awesome! Here she is with her cousin Alex. Alex is so good with the little kids!
On Saturday we got together with our MoB friends:
Then Saturday night we played games with Rachel, Mark, Cheryl & Greg. We had a great time! Jason doesn't usually like Cranium, but we both agreed it was one of the highlights of our trip...too bad I didn't get any pictures of that!

So there you have it...our trip in a nutshell...almost 2 weeks past-due *hmph*

The *AuntCheryl* Pillow

A couple years ago my sister came to stay with us for the summer. While she was here Jenalyn "inherited" this pillow from her and it is her absolute favorite - I think she would prolly have a harder time sleeping with out it than Sally!

So this morning I was in the bathroom getting ready for work and Jenalyn came in all groggy and not quite awake - she's carrying her auntcheryl pillow and sniffing it with this look of sleepy-joy on her face *lol* I said, "Do you like the smell of your pillow, Jenalyn? Does that smell good?" She just kept sniffing it and said, "Mmm, it smells so good! You wanna smell it mom?" So I did, and I must say it smelled like bad breath! She slobbers when she sleeps and it kinda grossed me out!

So this afternoon I was doing a load of laundry and decided to throw in the pillow - BIG mistake! Woops! When I got it out for her tonight the first thing she did was smell it! Then she gave me the worst dirty look and exclaimed "It doesn't smell like RAINBOWS anymore, mom!" OH MY GOSH! Rainbows? what do rainbows smell like? I've never smelled one, but apparently Jenalyn has *lol* it was jut too cute - I couldn't NOT blog about this! My sweet girl! Apparently her bad-breath-slobbery auntcheryl pillow smelled like rainbows!

Baby Shower and...other stuff...

Friday night we had a baby shower for my cousin, Stephy. I was in charge of the decorations. I LOVE the internet - I found a couple of really cute ideas online - and they turned out even better than I hoped for! I just wanted to share them...in case anyone can use some ideas - who knows, maybe these ideas have been done over and over a thousand times and they're just new to me *shrugs* oh well.
Here's my beautiful cousin, Stephanie! She's such a cute pregnant mama! This will be their first child - they're having a girl and decided on the name McKayli Elizabeth *swoon* I think it's absolutely beautiful! She's due July 3 - but will likely be more like a Father's Day gift than a firework :)
...and of course, the sock rose bouquet :) I whipped this up while watching Lost Thursday night. I think they turned out pretty good!

In other news, sorry I've been such a bad blogger lately! I feel like my life has been a whirl-wind lately! It seems like I've got something to take care of EVERY night of the week - which leaves little time for blogging (although, if I'd nap less in the afternoon, I'd prolly have more free time in the evenings... *pshh* like that's gonna happen!)

I did manage to get away Saturday night though. Heidi and I had a chick-flick night at the cheapie theater and watched 27 Dresses - WOW - that was a great show...and just what I needed! I totally cried when...(hi-light between the perens ONLY if you've seen the movie - I hate to be a spoiler!) (when her dad gave Tess her mom's wedding dress! *ACK* I was so sad for her - the wench didn't even like the darned dress! AND then she cut it UP?!? What the HECK! *grrr* I'm a sentimental fool so this really rattled my cage. I was FURIOUS!) ...anyway it was such a good show. I loved it!

We're leaving for Utah on Thursday for 10 days. I'm really excited about this trip. Time away from the office and the daily grind is just what I need right now! I cannot wait to be in my parents' house! That's really what I'm looking forward to most. They live in the tiniest little town in now-where, Utah - and there really isn't much to do down there - but there truly is no where else I'd rather go to unwind and relax...well, not on our budget at least *lol*

I can't wait to sit up late at night in the living room with my mom, everyone else in bed - in our pajamas, with our blankies, sipping hot cocoa, chatting, laughing and giggling, making up scenarios about our dreams for the future, dad yelling from the other room, "ReNee, come to bed!" *lol* There's really nothing like it!!

BUT, the whole reason we're going to Utah is to see my baby sister sealed in the Salt Lake Temple to her hubby! Ahhhh...I'm so totally excited for this! I can't wait to be in the temple with her! And, then the next week we'll be having a baby shower for her. An occasion I might have missed otherwise. I'm glad these two very important events are happening so close together so I can be there for them. I love you, Cher! I've always been your biggest fan! Ever since I was 8 years old, waiting [impatiently] for you to be born - and now we're waiting for your little guy to get here! I'm so happy for you, sistah!