Finals

Well you guys.  Last week was finals week.

 And, I am alive.

 Significantly less presentable, but alive.

 And, I think I did ok.

 But I definitely feel like this.

 And this.

Peace out.

Visiting Pickle's Office

The next morning we spent some time in the park.  Can I just say, that Utah weather is so different!!!  It was warm while we were there.  Up in the 100s occasionally.  But when you stepped into the shade, it actually made a difference!  And at night, if you were out after dark, you got cold!  So weird for us Alabamians!

 After the park we got to go eat lunch and visit at Pickle's office.

 She showed us around the production floor where they make medical appliances.

And Danny Boy may or may not have wanted to pet Jonamon's growing hair really badly.... 

 When lunch was over, we gave hugs and left Pickle to finish the work day.

 While we waited for those with, you know, jobs, to join us, we did some fun stuff with Grandma.  If you can't tell, my kids LIVE to craft with Grandma.  They have some pretty hefty expectations, but she always comes through!

 For dinner, we had an abbreviated reunion with my dad's side of the family.  Unfortunately, since my grandfather on that side passed, it seems that Grandma's mental status is declining rapidly.  But it was fun to visit with the Aunts and Uncles that came, and my kids really enjoyed hanging out with my cousins...  who would be their 2nd cousins?  1st cousins once removed?  I can never remember!

It's a good thing that you don't have to remember actual family relationships to give hugs :)

Father's Day in Utah

I know, I know.  What kind of person takes her kids away from their dad for Father's Day?  I guess that would be this one :p  Don't worry.  We celebrated with him before we left.  And we made sure to call and skype and text and all of those things.  But that meant that on the actual day, we got to do other things as well.

 Like visit my Grandparents.  I didn't know at the time, but this would be one of the last times that I saw my grandfather alive.  

 And everyone hammed it up for a picture :)

 Kari got to spend a little bit of time with Grandma Pat...

 While everyone else played around them.

It's funny.  I played in that room as a child.  With those same, exact toys.  Seriously, the ones that haven't gotten broken are the Same.  Exact.  Toys!  Probably in the same way, while my parents visited and while I was clueless.  Somethings never change :)

Chalk Art Festival!

From belly dancing at the park we headed to the chark art festival.  It has something to do with DannyBoy's work in Utah Foster Care...  Sponsored by it?  Participating in it?  Fundraising for it?  I don't remember.  I just remember that La and her family get to go every year, and this year we got to go with them!!!

I had the kids get a picture with their favorite :)

Kaitlyn's

This cool one from Moana! 

 This is one of my favorites!  This past February, I bought a picture frame at Disneyworld that looks a lot like this.

 Kari liked the finding Dory picture.

Kelsey liked this one because it had a lot of food.

 It took a while for Dylan to find his favorite.  I am not sure he knows who the character is...  I don't.  But he thought it was cool.

 There was also this fun biking sculpture that everyone wanted to play on.

 Because, when one person fake bikes...

 ...Everyone does!

Utah Belly Dancing!

After driving for days and getting in at dinner time, I was more than happy to put the kids in their beds.  I knew we had a full day planned for that first Saturday in town.  First on our agenda was heading to the park....

... to see Aunt Pickle do her belly dancing recital!!!

Pickle had taken a 12 week belly dancing course, and they ended with showing off for everyone :)  It was fun to see the hard work she put into it pay off.  She was one of a group of friends who signed up for the class, but the only one to follow through and finish, as well as go to the recital.  The other dancers with her are "fillers" so she wouldn't have to dance alone.  She did such a great job!

She was nice enough to share her cool jingly belt with the girls too!

It really was fun to have the whole group there to support her.  Don't mind the finger...  It wanted to be in on the fun too ;)

That was only the beginning of the day!