Back... So much to tell.

I am finally back from vacation, and finally on two feet again.  Okay, really I am only on one foot but I am trying to balance.

I have so much to share mainly for my own record keeping.

So much to share about our vacation.  Only my BIL, Wes, says it is not a vacation when you have kids.  It is a trip.  A "trip" it was. 

It was so nice to see our family, and I must apologize to all my friends who I did not get to see this trip.  I must explain:

We did not rent a car, and with four kids now it was nearly impossible to go any where with out two vehicles.  It made visits very tricky seeing I was there alone for nine days before Jonathan came.  Once he did come it got very busy.  We enjoyed some time together, and he also had some job interviews to take care of.

Time was up before we knew it.  To all my Utah friends, I love you and hope to catch you all next time.

The beginning of our vacation started with me taking 4 kids on an airplane by myself.  I don't think I have had so many "looks" in my entire life.  I survived.  I wanted to cry, but I did survive.

Our trip consisted of:

Meeting little Luke for the first time, and taking pictures of him.

Tessa turning 5 months, and meeting some of her family members for the first time.

Cousins getting to know each other.

Cousins getting reacquainted.

Jonathan's parents have 19 grand kids.

We enjoyed lots of late nights chats, and quality time spent with our loved ones.

A baby shower for my sister Lindsay and baby London.

 

A couple of small projects I could work on at home.

(this was so easy.  I found the tutorial here.)

A few girl shopping trips.

Attending the Taste of Home cooking school

A few boy(shooting guns, training dogs, four-wheeler rides) outings.

Stella went with the girls to have a pedicure.

Jex went with the boys to shoot clay pigeons.

We also made a trip to our old stomping ground; Logan, Utah.  It was a very quick trip.

Jonathan met with a group up there to discuss the possibility of a job.

I would love to live there, but I have questioned moving back because of the weather.

This is what happened once we arrived:

It really was beautiful.

Jonathan's two sisters live there so we enjoyed some time with their families.

Jonathan's sister Lorinda has a bounce house in her basement.  Let's just say the kids were in heaven.

Then it was time to say goodbye to our beautiful Logan, and head back to Utah County.

We had a great time getting together with my whole family.  My family has not all been together since before Kristin got married.  I know it was nice for my parents to have all their kids, spouses and grandchildren together in the same place.

My mom planned Mexican night.  We had stacked enchiladas, and margaritas.(non-alcoholic) Then a rousing evening of games and laughter.

Easter weekend approached quickly.  We made sure the Easter Bunny made his visit on Saturday morning as usual.  We would also be leaving for the airport on Easter morning, so we hoped he could find us the day before.

We did all the traditional Easter festivities.

Easter Attire for Sunday:

Traditional Easter picture.

All of us laughing during pictures, because:

you guessed it; Isaac is a goof ball.

At least we have some one to laugh at.

We colored eggs with our cousins:

We also had a really fun egg hunt:

And then we ate the candy on the airplane ride home.

We are all feeling a bit melancholy.  It is so hard to leave loved ones, but it is so great to be Home. 

My trip left me pondering what I have realized about home in our journeys to far off lands:

Home is really where your loved ones are.

We have had loved ones in every place we have lived.

So where is home?