UTAH trip. {cont.}

:: Week 3 ::

When I'm in Texas and people ask me how I like it my response is something like "It's great! We live in a great area." but when I'm in Utah and asked the same question I hesitate and say "It's good, but it's not home." Also, it desperately needs mountains.

 Monday was such a pretty morning! Sunny and fairly warm, Co and I played outside while Brendon slept. We dug in the sand, played latter golf, visit with Kelly Atkin next door. I love and miss my parents backyard. Even in the winter, I think it's beautiful.

 One day we met Dad for lunch at Jimmy's. YUM. #4 with Dijon please. And they have the best diet coke, which I RARELY drink pop these days, but way back when I did.....yum.

 Tuesday we watched Kai while Josh worked and that was so much fun for Co and I. I haven't had 6 hours of Kai to myself EVER I don't think. We did a little bonding, and I thanked Josh for letting me take him. He is such a sweet boy, and such a good example as a older cousin for Co. He just loves Brendon and wanted to keep getting snuggles from him.

 Naoms and her necklaces, the balls from latter golf. She finds something girly in everything, I just love it.

100 % GIRL.

 Uncle Jade and Aunt Tiffy came and said Goodbye to their three handsome nephews. Oh my goodness, I miss these two love birds. I would pay A LOT of money to have them live by us again. We're so proud of them working hard in school, and we're secretly hoping that they come to Dental school in TX one day.

 Cort and Corby playing on Mom's new Ipad.

Handsome boys. Love them.

 One day the boys and I met my friend Crystal and her boys at the temple to visit and let the boys play outside. It was SO good to see her. Her and her sweet little family bought a house in S.G. and I am a tiny bit jealous. ;) Mostly happy for them. I could not believe how fast her boys have grown up. They are darling, good boys, and she is so gorgeous.

 This place I think TIES as my favorite place in town.

So beautiful on the inside and out.

 Little A man.

He's so yummy, I just couldn't get enough snuggles in.

 Loni is no longer a WANT in my life, she's a NEED.

She is one of the greatest people I have ever met, and I am one lucky girl to called her my best friend.

The cutest mommy and wife.

So proud of her.

 Playing hide and seek with my family, I'm pretty sure I had the best hiding spot of the night. I figured it was worthy of the post.

 Cohen is STILL talking about shooting the air soft gun with Gramps. They shot cups over and that was way too cool for this little boy. He still keeps asking me "Hey mom, nember the trigger?"

 There aren't too many better things than freshly cleaned babies in lotion and jammies. Mmmmm.

 The day before we left the boys and I went to the spin park with my parents. We had so much fun we could have stayed MUCH longer. It was warm, no wind and not one cloud in the sky.

 I thoroughly enjoyed watching my cute parents turn into little kids at the park. They are still young and in love.

What a blessing.

 That evening I took my mom shopping, while the others got my mom's surprise party ready back at the house. We all met for dinner then got home to one heck of a party! I could not believe how many people came. My mama is one loved woman. She was COMPLETELY surprised, mostly because it was 2 weeks before her birthday, also because we are a sneaky team. We thought it would be fun to party while we were in town.

 There is nothing good about goodbyes.

Especially when you are leaving the town you belong in, the people you belong with, and have had the best 3 weeks you've had in a long time. 

Back to reality I guess, right?

This picture is not a joke. This was me and the boys at the airport. I also carried the HUGE duffel bag on my shoulder.

Most everyone was starring; some expressions said "WOW, she's super woman!" but most of them said "What is she thinking?! She is crazy." Ha! Call me crazy, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Piece of cake.

 The flight was close to perfect. Cohen didn't make a peep, other than saying he was ready to eat another fruit roll up. He played on the Itouch and drew a picture or two. Brendon was asleep before we were in the air and I literally had to wake him up when we landed. The flight was a very relaxing 2.5 hours, other than having so many mixed emotions: heart broken to leave, so excited to see and touch Brock, nervous to be a mom of two boys and cook, and clean, and do laundry all on my own again.

But my mom was right....Naturally, my motherly powers slowly came back to me.

The night we got home, Brock found this on Cohen's back in the tub.....a piece of one of the 3 fruit roll ups he ate on the plane. HA! I remember him making a necklace with one of them, and he was a missing piece.

I can't really express what the past 3 weeks meant to me.

In a nutshell {a very small shell} it couldn't have more perfectly fit my needs at the time. My sweet little family is so lucky to be loved and supported by so many wonderful people.

Life just feels RIGHT when we're all together in Utah.

Thank you everyone who made our trip happen, and worth every minute.

We love you all dearly.

UTAH trip. {cont.}

:: Week 2::

 This week after Christmas was the craziest time of our whole trip. We were going NON-STOP, visiting many people, and we lucky to have many travel to come see us. It was a great week. My dad, Cort and Brock went Coyote hunting. 

Us girls went shopping and scored on some after Christmas deals.

The weather was just right while we were in town. A lot of days a jacket wasn't even needed. Strange for the end of December, but so enjoyable. We did A LOT of playing outside and both Grandma and Grandpa's and Papa and Nana's.

 We had a party at the Kitchen's with the Brown's. So much fun! It was so great to be all together again, and eat and eat and eat, and play games. Everyone's favorite time of the night had to have been Reverse Charades. Teams take turns and one person guesses while the rest of the team acts. Hilarious.

 After trying to get together multiple times, FINALLY Brendon got to meet Jessie. My FIRST friend. Ever. She's beautiful as ever, and I miss her like crazy. She is more like a sister than a friend. Hopefully one day we'll live close and our babies will be friends.

 The ALLSOPS stopped by on their way to Vegas for a few hours, which was SO not long enough. I can't believe this is the only picture I got while they were with us. They need to move to TEXAS for the next few years so KALZA came be together again. ;)

It was oh so good to see them and visit.

 Wednesday night we celebrated Christmas again at my Grandma Sheryl's house when Brett and Danna and the girls came into town. My grams did a "money tree". That's right, we all picked a star off the tree after she read a cute little story, each star was 50 bucks to spend on yourself. The little ones got gifts and a star made out of 5 two dollar bills. Dinner was catered by Kneaders. YUM. 

She is so giving, always has been, always will be.

 Smash Burger. Yum.

 Brock's grandparents made a one day trip down to St. George from northern Utah just to see us. They are sweethearts and we've missed them dearly. We used to go to their house for Sunday dinner a lot when we lived in Provo.

 Uncle Matt, Kai and Co all wore red Vans, didn't plan it. Co thought that was "so cool". Now he wants to wear his red Vans ALWAYS.

 My big bike rider boy.

 Ty, Laura, Abs and Baby #2 stopped by to visit on their way back to AZ from ID. An hour was not even close to enough time to spend with our old neighbors. About 10 minutes before they had to leave, Co and Abs were just getting warmed up to each other. Ty's in PA school right now, and Laura's due in June. 

Can't wait to meet that baby!

 Lovin' Aunt Jenna.

 Friday was one of my most favorite days of the trip.

We spend hours hiking in Snow Canyon, my favorite place in St. George.

While we were waiting for everyone to get ready, we relaxed out back in the sun, reading, chatting, eating leftover movie theater popcorn. Cohen obviously thought it was his bucket of popcorn. He shoveled it in as fast as he could, trying really hard not to let anyone share.

 These pictures speak for themselves....

Snow Canyon State Park.

Maybe it's an acquired love, but I'm in love.

If you are ever in St. George, I highly recommend hiking or at least driving through the park. Pictures don't do justice. 

We spent the day with Brock's family on New Year's Eve.

Started out with kickball at the high school.

Talk about a competitive game! You get a bunch of "Kitchens" together and you've got some serious competition.

And I LOVE it.

 Tiffy :: Jen :: Nana

 It was a little chilly if you weren't running around, so we took turns snuggling Brend. I don't think anyone minded. Cohen was so proud to kick it and get on first base. He also is getting a LITTLE better at taking pictures; bottom left pic, he actually got someone's face in the pic, even it it was his own. ;)

 We went to the one and only CAFE RIO for lunch, rented and watched some show about APES taking over the world, while Tiffy and I did our nails. That evening it was time to party with FONDUE, a Kitchen family tradition.

 Three handsome boys to call my own.

That night I took Brock to catch a shuttle to Vegas, by himself, on New Years Eve night. Sad! I felt like the world's worst wife. Pretty much was. And to top it off, he flew home to a lonely house for a week and had school and hours and hours of studying while the boys and I stayed in Utah to play. Guilt.

He is such a trooper.

I kissed him extra hard at the shuttle so it would last a couple hours til midnight.

New Year's Day was relaxing and rejuvenating.

After a long, memorable week it was well needed.

Church was wonderful. Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Seventy attends my parents ward quite often, since his daughter and her family are in that ward. He was there for his sweet grandson's blessing, he and his daughter Janessa also spoke.

His talk was about Mormonism in the world today and how different the world is, for the worst, and how much more important it is to reach out and help those around us in these trying times.

Very uplifting. He is one inspired man.

When he speaks he has a way of drawing in your attention and making you want to listen for hours.

What a perfect day to end the week on.