While we were in St. George for my nephew's farewell, we found out my sister's family was planning on coming back up for Thanksgiving. Myron and I decided we would also come - and so we did! Morris and his kids were even able to come up. We had a grand time. Since we were planning so far in advance (and since we'd just had a short trip that was super rough on the baby), Matt decided he wanted to actually spend some time.
We headed down Wednesday afternoon. Henlie did well for a lot of the trip, but when she started getting cranky, Matt pulled over and made me sit in the back with her.
How I found her...
Grandma and Grandpa Erdmann were so excited to see Henlie! So much, that my dad kind of ruined it for himself by wanting to hold her before she was ready to be held by him. It may have taken her a little longer to warm up to Grandpa after that.
Which she clearly did. She really enjoyed that mini slinky.
That evening, Mariona and her family came over to Mom and Dad's house. Felicity and Marquessa loved playing with Henlie while Mari cut my hair. (I love my hair, too. It works as wash-and-wear the best out of all haircuts I have ever had haha) That night, Myron's family made it in too. Henlie didn't sleep so well the first night, but with each night, she got better.
Thursday, Thanksgiving day, everyone was off hiking with their dad, so Matt took advantage and took a nap. Then we went for a little walk around Grandma and Grandpa's neighborhood.
That afternoon, everyone except Monica's family gathered to play while dinner was being prepared. (Monica was hosting the Johanson side at her house.) Dinner was tasty - and we got to sit at the adult table lol. With the babies as well. It worked out well. Since I was sharing with Henlie, I got some yams. I also tried them for myself (for the first time). Turns out with enough butter and brown sugar, they are awfully tasty.
Dinner prep
Grandpa, Myron, Morris, Grandma
Maritza, Henlie, Ari, Porter, Mariona
Trying on Uncle Ryan's glasses.
Playing with one of mom's old toys - naked mole rat :)
Kiera, Ari, Makayla, Henlie
Grandpa and Greg
Grandpa is silly :)
The spread
Mari and I got to cut the rolls to make them look like pumpkins.
Pralines made the stems.
While we waited, we wrote notes to Chase for his Christmas tree.
Henlie even drew on one herself.
Watching movies that night - Ari the puppy dog ;)
Friday, we took family pictures at a golf course. After that, we went with Mom and Dad and the Leavitts to Santa's Workshop. We didn't buy anything this year, but we did witness a flash mob proposal :). That afternoon, everyone else went to a BBQ at their dad's house, and us and Mom and Dad went to Costco to pick up Henlie's birthday cake. However, baby girl made a mess with her pouch of food in the car seat, so we ended up just heading back home.
Playing with her new slinky from the Farnsworth's.
Family Picture!
Thanks to Monica's self-timer for the photo :)
Let the crazy out!
Thanks to Monica's self-timer for the photo :)
Ellie, Matt, and Henlie
Thanks to Monica for the photo :)
Thanks to Monica for the photo :)
Grandpa and Henlie
At 2pm, everyone re-joined us (except Morris, who was visiting with an aunt, I believe, whom he hadn't seen in years). Before the party started, Henlie was showing off her soccer skills to Uncle Ryan. :) We had cake and Henlie opened presents. She is very loved.
Playing with balloons before the party.
I'm glad I took them. The kids loved playing with them, and I got rid of the excess :)
Grandpa picked out the cake.
Getting ready to sing!
Ellie wanted to know why I didn't just let her make a mess of it.
No, thank you. Done that twice!
Starting to get the hang of this present thing.
For dinner that night, those who were staying at Mom and Dad's had leftovers. However, we'd already had those after we got back from Costco. While they were yummy, I wasn't excited to eat them twice in one day, so Matt took me out to SmashBurger. (My first time there.) We took it back to the house to eat, but it was fun to get out together. (It was late, so we let everyone else watch the babe.)
Ari, Henlie, and Grandpa
Matt teaching Porter the art of phone drumming.
Porter passing on his knowledge to Henlie.
Saturday, we were going to head out in the morning, but everyone decided to visit the Glitter Pits again. (Those who came early in the week had gone once.) We caravanned across the state line into Arizona to play in the Glitter Pits before heading home and then getting on the road.
Finding a shiny rock.
Two cool kids :)
Heading down into the pit
They crushed these up and used them on the outside of the St. George temple to make it sparkle.
Grandpa and Henlie
Grandma keeping Ari warm
Matt, Me, my dad, and Henlie.
Thanks to Greg for taking the picture :)
I climbed up with a couple of the girls.
No zoom :)
Matt helping Henlie walk up the hill out of the pit.
He was sore after that :)
A view of the Glitter Pits from where we parked.
In the sun, those rocks really to sparkle.
All ready to go!
Payson temple
We made it home!
It was really fun getting to spend time with my family. It was also really nice actually taking a few days to relax. St. George is so close that when something is happening, we usually just make an overnight trip at most, so spending a few days was definitely luxury :)
