Utah

Heading up to Utah to welcome parents home from Hawaii Mission. We had to force him into his buckles. At this point the trip does not feel promising. Notice Rachel?


Are you kidding me? Caffienation Station! I'll bet they don't serve anything that qualifies as word of wisdom.


Relaxing at a rest stop and getting our first feel of Utah grass. Besides family, it is what we miss the most. In the words of Rachel, "It isn't even crispy."


Smart rest stop design, thank you!


"Now this is more like it! Freedom."


We finally arrive! It's so fun seeing Tyler getting to talk with Dad. I love how happy they both are and how much fun these buddies have together.


Last time he tried to sleep in my bed, this time my suit case, whatever. Maybe it's time to rethink the pack n' play arrangement.


We arrived a day early. We had planned to meet Paul and Alexis at the cabin, but they got sick and had to go home as we were driving up. We gave Grandpa Gary free reign of the day, and being a professional with a PhD in Recreation he sure knew what to do with it! We started with Hiking Bridal Veil Falls.


Posers


Enjoying the mist and Hiking






After the hike we picked up Grandma Shirley for a lunch at Pirate Island.



Then we dropped her off and headed to BYU for bowling and reminiscing.





Feeding the ducks in the botany pond.


Adam dumped out his whole bag of apple jacks.


In honor of the big 10 year anniversary we acted out our meeting.
Wow who is that good looking guy?!


I better pretend to push the elevator button so I can talk to him after that girl he is talking to leaves.


Hey don't I know you from somewhere, oh yeah, 7th grade Spanish class!


Get him talking about his mission, I can hear a recent accent. "Did you just get home from your mission? You have a strong Spanish accent, where did you go?" "Bingo! He lit up and is talking!


Keep talking. Keep him talking. He asks, "Weren't you going upstairs?"
"Um...I can do that later." Real smooth.


Bonus, we are parked right by each other. Sit down on the hood of the car and he'll keep talking...Ten years later we are a family of five living happily ever after!


That night we celebrate by sneaking out after the kids are in bed. We went down to Los Hermanos for their famous virgin specialty drinks and of course chips and salsa! Mmm.


The next morning it was time for seeing Grandma and Grandpa Cole for the first time in two years! We had a big surprise waiting for them.


They didn't know all the kids would be there waiting. All but Fran, who was flying in that night, as yet another surprise.


The whole crew


After we got Mom and Dad home Ross and Jenny came by for a little romp in the park.


Their girls loved walking the Palmer's dog Shadow.


Then we all went to lunch at Arctic Circle with Grandma Shirley and Grandpa Gary.


That afternoon the Palmer family gathered for a little wet n' wild action in the park on Grandpa Gary's homemade water slide.






Then we watched a DVD he made of his hike up timp with his grandaughters


It was nice to talk and eat together all night long.



Saturday morning playing Adam's favorite game, Don't Eat Pete! He learned how to say it very announciatedly just before our trip. We are so proud of him talking so much, finally!


Then came the second big surprise. Francine welcomed Mom and Dad in for their welcome home party. I could hardly sleep all night in anticipation hoping she had made it onto her stand-by flight. Look at those surprised faces!



Tears flowed.


We were actually all together! For the first time in 5 years!


All the Siblings, and Jenny counts as a sister.


Rocky and Adam reaching to play air hockey together. I was so happy they hit it off.


"So this is Aunt Fran." My girls finally meeting the face on the other end of the phone line.


The boys destroyed an old tv with an ax. I don't know why, other than that they are boys.


The party started at Cheryl's house, but Mom wanted to move the party to her house half way through so the grandkids could have the fun of being in "Grandma's house" again, so we caravaned to their house, all of two blocks away.






I snuck back over to Mom and Dad's after the kids were in bed to help Fran go through her boxes of stuff she left at Mom's. We got so silly and had so much fun reminiscing together. It was fun to be 3 sisters again without any kids just for a bit.



Sunday we attended our old ward and listened to wonderful testimonies, in which Cheryl and my parents participated. My mom mentioned how she felt so happy that weekend she was sure she would burst, and how glad she was that we don't actually do that because it would be really messy. I'll never forget it! The party continued Sunday after church at Lorene's house.

Rocky and Adam picked right back up where they left off. They both share a love of cars. When we got home Adam talked to Rocky on the phone and said, "Rocky tackle me," which means come play football with me. Tackle is the other favorite game next to Don't Eat Pete.


The agenda for Lo's party was first the meal,


with a little Bish to Bish advice on the side,


then the sharing of testimonies and miracles


and the talent show which I didn't get pictures of, but was very entertaining. Then the fun. It's so fun to see it all come full circle. It used to be me tossing Braxton, now he does it with my kids. Ahh, a sentimental moment for me of the Aunt Debi that is no more, but really, Braxton is a junior in high school now, I don't think I could toss him even he did want me to, which I'm sure is a big no, but he did like the box full of Kool-aid, right? Ah yeah.


Girl cousins finally together


What a wonderful weekend


Monday morning we savored our last moments with Grandpa Gary and Grandma Shirley in the park. We love you so much.




Then to savor last moments with Grandma and Grandpa Cole, including impromptu hula lesson. That's my Mom for you, there is always time for a little dancing...


and a little more advice, we'll take all we can get.


We love you and are so glad you're home.


Bye!


On the way home we got stuck in a hail storm. Adam was so excited about the "chunks," that is what he calls ice and it is as sought after as candy at our house, maybe I should have them trade in their Halloween candy for it. Adam was so awake, and luckily happy.


Here we are driving in very late with exhausted girls and wide awake little dude.


At least he was happy. What a nice change from the start of the journey. Seeing grandparents made it all worth it, right bub?