What a great visit!

Well, these are the last of my Utah pictures. I certainly soaked in lots of family time, and it was great!

My sisters, Mom, and I were able to hang out lots. Here we are at Gardner Village (it's a whole bunch of darling quaint shops nestled around like a little 'village'). Melanie and Brittany were there too. This place is SO FUN. I wish I could go more often.

Benjamin got the stomach flu over the weekend. He was so sick, the little sweetie. Mom stayed home from church with him and gave him lots of snuggles over the weekend while he recuperated. There's nothing better than a Grandma to dote over you when you're feeling sick.

Of everything we did, this was my favorite: Hanging out at night together in the front room. Just talking, lounging, and being together. It seriously is my FAVORITE ever. I'm so glad that my siblings live around my parents so they could hang out at night. Matt & Amy and Brittany & Eric would put their kids to bed in pack-n-plays and then they could stay until late. And Mindy & Griff would stay too. (Melanie & Brad and their kids usually had to leave around bedtime since five boys + a sleepover is a bit more complicated... :) ) But anyway, I just loved talking and lounging around together. It was awesome.

Lights at Temple Square

Every year the Temple grounds are decked out in millions of twinkly lights. Every branch on a tree will be carefully lighted. It's incredible. Especially some of the really huge trees - when every branch is lit up at night it's spectacular! They have to begin lighting the trees in July and August; it's a long process. Anyway, we went to Temple Square on the night that they first turned on the lights for the winter. The entire family came. It was a very fun night.
Eliza is wearing her little beenie that Brittany crocheted for her. Isn't it pretty? Thanks 'Aunt Baba'!

My sisters and Mom... Mindy, me, Melanie, Brittany, and Mom.

And finally, a picture of the temple itself. This is where Jed and I were married, five and a half years ago. It's a beautiful temple!

portraits

My sisters and I went to get some pictures taken by one of Melanie's friends. :)

BYU game

We watched the BYU vs Utah game at my parents house. Everyone was all decked out in BYU blue - even all the kids, including Eliza.

Funny background on her BYU outfit - When Jed went to Utah in October he stopped by the BYU bookstore and picked out a shirt for each of us, and then went to get something for Eliza. Well, apparently they only sell two things for infants - a little BYU cheerleader outfit and a little football uniform. Guess which one Jed brings back to Michigan for Eliza? You got it - the football uniform! I was like, "Jed, she's a GIRL! Why did you get the boy outfit?!" :) Oh well, we added a big bow, tights with little hearts in them, and an undershirt with ruffled edging. She pulled it off well. :)

Everybody was all dressed in BYU.... except Brittany & Eric, that is. We had two Utah fans amongst us. But alas, they're too lovable to kick out so we just pretended we didn't see what colors they were wearing. :)

Horseback Riding

My Dad took us one morning to ride the horses. He and my brother, Matt, own a few Missouri Foxtrotters. We had a blast getting to ride them around. This is the first time Benjamin has ridden a full-sized horse. These are just WAY cooler than ponies! :)

Benjamin looks like he belongs in the saddle. Howdy, Cowboy!

There's my Dad with Benjamin and cousin TJ on their horse.

There was Dad, me, Benjamin & Eliza, Connor & TJ, Matt & Wesley, and Brittany & Gabe. We all had fun.... Connor & TJ gave the kids rides in the wheelbarrow much to their joy. :)

Born in the saddle! Benjamin looks especially comfortable... I swear he's not sitting on top of the saddle horn. :)

Below is a pic of Brittany and Benjamin feeding one of the horses an apple after we were through riding. Benjamin didn't know exactly what was going on, so when the horse nipped that apple right out of his palm, he was quite surprised!

Family 'Twilight' Night

On Friday night, November 21 - opening night of the movie Twilight, the family got together for a Cafe Rio dinner at Melanie's house before heading to the movie theater for a later showing. Here's my mom reading to some of her grandkids. Have I already mentioned that Eliza is their only granddaughter, from among ten grandchildren? Isn't that just crazy? She certainly liked all the doting attention her boy cousins and aunts, uncles, and grandparents gave her. :)

My oldest sister, Melanie, and her oldest son, Connor. And to the right, my sis Brittany and I.

One of the nights that I stayed at Brittany's house she was hosting a Demarle bakeware party for her friends. My sister, Melanie, did a great presentation, and it was fun to see her in her role as the bakeware queen! :) My sisters are so FUN. They are delightful to be with!

Benjamin, Gabe and Eliza in the tub. Benny looks like such a skinny dude compared to the two babies! And to the right is little Eliza - she mastered the skill of pulling herself up on furniture while we were visiting in Utah.

We finally got all the kiddos in bed, picked up our babysitters, and then we were off to the much anticipated movie..... TWILIGHT!

This was a super fun outing. Our party consisted of my parents, Melanie & Brad, Matt & Amy, Brittany & Eric, Brittany's mother-in-law and two sisters-in-law, Mindy & Griff, and me. The movie was awesome! As soon as I left I wanted to walk into another theater and watch it all over again. I can't wait to go see it again in December when I'm with Jed's family.... :) I'm sure part of the fun was the fact that I was surrounded by my family in the theater. It was a packed theater with assigned seating, and there were so many people milling around in the foyer. There was an aura of excitement and anticipation - opening night of Twlight! - and it was pretty contagious! It was such a fun night.

Discovery Park in Utah

One afternoon we went to a fun discovery park with Melanie, Connor, Coleman, Bridger, and Cannon as well as Brittany and Gabe. My Dad met us there on his way home from work.
Benjamin had SO MUCH FUN with his cousins. They were running around everywhere together. :)

We've arrived in SLC

We've been enjoying family in Utah all week! It's been so much fun! We spent the first night at my parents house and then headed to Mindy's for Wednesday. That night we went to a baby shower for her put on by my Aunt Donna and the rest of the Sterzer family. Mindy is due in two weeks and looks so cute! She is having a baby boy. Baby Jack will be my parent's tenth grandchild and ninth grandson. (Yes, that's right - Eliza is the only girl in ten grandkids!)

We had lots of fun at the baby shower and I was so happy to see all my cousins, aunts and uncles again. It's been a year and a half the last time I was in Utah. Above is a picture of Benjamin with some of his cousins, Coleman, Cannon and Bridger. Benjamin's cousins are so CUTE! They just dote on Eliza and are seriously so sweet to Benjamin. I just love being with those loving boys. And the other picture above is my mom holding Eliza next to Melanie holding our nephew Wesley.

Below are pics of my mom and Eliza, my cute pregnant sister Mindy with Brittany and her little boy, Gabe.

Here's my sisters Melanie and Mindy with me at Mindy's baby shower. And that's my oldest sister, Melanie, with Benjamin. It's so fun to be with my family!!

~I'm leaving on a jet plane~

I'm flying out to Utah with the kids tomorrow morning. I am so excited to see my family and spend some time together. And I'm seriously looking forward to the extended break from real life. I'm going to be in Utah for about 2 weeks and then we're going to Montana for the month of December. Jed has a rotation set up in Billings and we're all going to stay at his parents house. So, we'll be gone for a long time and I have high hopes of getting rejuvinated and rested while being away, so that I'm fresh when I get back. I really need a boost to my energy and spirits, and I think getting to hang out with my sisters in the next few days is just the ticket!

Wondering what the picture is all about? It's Jed's documentary of me stressing out. It was midnight after a very hectic day and I suddenly realized I had a committment that I had to prepare for the next morning. Of course, I wasn't smiling until he started taking a picture of me. :) I swear, the last six months have been so hectic and stressful - I keep thinking, as soon as this is over I'll start going to bed at a normal hour again, or, as soon as I have this completed I'll feel less anxious and be able to spend more time playing with Benjamin or reading my scriptures... But the truth is, this is life and I simply have to learn to be happy & peaceful here and now, and make time for the most important things first. My friend, Melody, gave a great talk on Sunday about enjoying every phase of life. Just like the conference talk (I can't remember which apostle gave it) "Come what may, and love it." She even mentioned how we can go into a new phase of life "kicking and screaming" or with a positive outlook - that was great imagery and seemed to hit home to me. So, this is my last stressout - it's even documented thanks to Jed :) - and I'm turning over a new leaf! Even if I have to stay up late to get stuff done, I'm going to be cheerful and happy. Come What May and Love It! And there's nothing like a nice vacation to help jumpstart a new resolution to be relaxed and peaceful and cheerful. :)