Up the Mountain

On the second full day of our trip we woke up at Bryan's grandparents' house and went to sleep in a cabin in the mountains. In between those events we ate, and toured, and saw an old friend, and shopped, and marveled at the grandeur and wonder of the earth, and ate, and visited with family.

Sophie loved getting to know Uncle Paul better.

The kids spent the morning running around Grandma and Grandpa's magical backyard.

Grandma obliged us with a picture. Yes, the TV was on. No, Sophie didn't look at the camera for any of the pictures I took.

We had a list of restaurants we wanted to eat at while in Utah. In and Out was the first we checked off. And, completely without planning it, Bryan's parents, brother, and sister came to eat at the same location while we were there. Paul said he'd figured we would be there. He was right.

Then we made our traditional pilgrimage to BYU. The kids hung out with Cosmo the Cougar.

Oh look, we all hung out with him.

After the bookstore we walked over to the library to show the kids where my old office was. I worked there for three years during college and then for a year and a half after I graduated. Peter was four-months-old when I quit to stay at home full time.

Imagine my joy when I found my former supervisor, then coworker, and friend Kimberly walking up the stairs as I walked down. She was leaving for the day, so our timing was perfect. We had a lovely chat and, other than the four children standing next to us, it felt like no time had passed. Then we walked the rest of the way down to my old office and had a happy reunion with another friend who still works there as well. We also discovered that my picture is still on the wall in the office. The kids thought I was a celebrity.

After BYU we drove down to see the new Provo City Center Temple. It's beautiful.

While we were showing the kids some of the places we lived during our sojourn there, we drove by the original Provo Temple as well. It's also beautiful.

And that put us right next to the new addition to the MTC. It's huge! We were kind of shocked, but how wonderful that there are so many missionaries that these additions are needed.

After picking up supplies and dinner, we headed up the canyon to the cabin. Here are a few exterior shots to give you an idea of the size of the cabin.

Oh, and here's some of the view.

I climbed all the way up the stairs to the top floor to get this shot. I'm glad that Melody was there on the bottom level to give perspective for how tall that place was. I don't love heights, did you know?

More view. Also us.

Thanks to Melody for taking (and then sharing) the next six pictures, including a few interior shots.

Dallin and Paul enjoyed the view from the inside after Paul was the lucky person to discover a wasp nest outside. After being stung a few times, he put some space between himself and the insects. The owner came and sprayed, which killed some of them, but only some. We continued to find lone, sometimes disoriented wasps over the next few days.

This was the deck right outside the room in the above picture.

And this lovely panoramic shot is from Bryan.

It was really amazing to get to stay in such a beautiful place. Thanks to Bryan's parents for making that possible.

The Sabbath with Family

Our first full day in Utah was a Sunday. We joined Uncle Dallin, Aunt Melody, and cousin Harmony for church. Harmony was both pleased by the company and not sure of all these kids sitting in her pew. But she warmed up to us, see?

Bryan's mom, Nana Shari, had already been at her parents' house for nearly a week. Aunt Kate joined us from BYU-I, Uncle Spencer drove up from BYU Provo, and Ron flew in that afternoon.

Bryan's sister Melinda and her family also got in on Sunday, but I guess I had put my camera away by then because I have no photographic evidence. Only Bryan's brother Ben was unable to attend, the other six kids in his family came, which was awesome.

Hi Paul. Hi Melody. Hi Dallin.

I think Harmony liked having all these big kids around to read to her. Thanks to Melody for sharing her pictures with me.

In addition to seeing all four (nearly five) first-cousins on Bryan's side, the kids were able to play with many of their second-cousins and first-cousins once removed. There's one of each in the picture below. Every Sunday night Bryan's grandparents host a family dinner. It's all very casual and comfortable and fun. Once the temperature outside returned to double-digits, we enjoyed Grandma-Great's gorgeous garden.

Once the cousins and aunts and uncles went home, the sun went down, and our kids were thoroughly caked in dirt and Creamies, we took them in for baths and bedtime.

Weekend Joy

I had a marvelous weekend. Our home was happy and peaceful throughout General Conference, and while I have a blog post on that topic brewing in my brain, there was another exciting event that happened this weekend that was met by whoops and shouts of glee by the members of our household.

Bryan's brother Dallin and his wife Melody are the new parents of a sweet baby girl. She is the third first-cousin on Bryan's side and the first cousinette.

Meet my newest niece, Harmony.

Following a great lesson about General Conference, our Family Home Evening activity tonight was looking at pictures of Harmony. The kids all oooed and aaaaed over their new baby cousin. Sophie was especially taken with her and each time she saw a new picture she would say, "Aww!" with the occasional "Baby!" thrown in for good measure. I think Sophie is happy to relinquish the title of Youngest Grandchild as long as she gets to look at pictures of Harmony.

We wish we were close enough to snuggle this sweet girl, but we'll be content to gaze at her pictures.

Congratulations Dallin and Melody!