Utah/Oregon Week #4 and #5

So on Sunday we went to church and then headed north to Aunt Jill and family.  We had a wonderful time visiting and playing with Jill's family.  Jill also has 4 boys, so just imagine the noise level and energy level with this crew.  It made me happy to have all these boys together.  The older boys spent a good part of Monday at the local water park.  While Jill, Mark, and I took the two littles to a fountain park to run in the fountains to stay cool on a very hot day.  Then on Tuesday we headed out to Oregon.  We ended up taking two of Jill's boys with us and leaving Dallin with Jill, since Jill and Jared and the others would be joining us in Oregon in 2 days.  The boys all did so good on the trip.

Got to love a big wheel.

On Wednesday we were able to go attend a double header baseball afternoon for one of the older cousins.  It involved a lot of talking in the shade while cousins played in the grass, trees, sprinklers, and creek by the ball field.

It was a VERY hot day.  And yet, he caught for two games, he did so well.

And this cute bat boy is another of our amazing nephews.

Mason is hidden in there too.

These two have a lot of fun together.

Drying off in the sun.

The next week or so was spent hanging out with cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandma and grandpa.  We also were able to attend a family reunion with Mark's Grandma Last.  This included all of Mark's aunts (his mom is one of five girls) and many of the cousins.

Aunt S, Aunt G, Aunt J, Grandma Last, Mark's mom, and Aunt J

The whole clan...

This is my favorite picture and memory of the day.  Great-Grandma watching her great-grandkids playing together as the fireworks started in the background.  It was a tender moment.

Mark, Easton, and I went with C and Aunt Sonia to watch C's gymnastics class.  I love doing these things when we visit.  I rarely get to take part in the everyday things of my sweet nieces and nephews, so it is a big deal for us to get to be there for the little things. 

Other things to remember:

-Dallin and Mom going to little T's baseball game.

-Going to the movies with Jill and Sonia's family and Ryan

-Sitting around the fire, watching skits by the cousins, and eating s'mores (twice)

-Church and a big Sunday family meal.

- Mark and I running in the mornings through farms and by the reservoir

-Big Wal-mart shopping 

-Spending Tuesday afternoon and evening with Tonia's family in the Tri-Cities

- Lots and lots of cousin time

-The big haul back to Santiago, starting at 4am on Wednesday and finally getting home at 10am on Thursday.  And the kids rocked it!  There was a lot of video games and snacks...and not just for the kids. 

- Arriving at the Santiago airport and knowing we were home.  That's a big deal.  Last year it was dread and depression for several weeks.  This time we had our normal back from vacation drag for a couple of days, but then happy to be home feelings ensued.  It's all good.