Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Party In Orem

I think I might blog more now that it's spring and the weather is nicer. I was in a real bad mood for a couple months because I was so tired of being cold. But since the sunshine and warmth instantly makes me happy, I'll be blogging like crazy, just you wait!

A long time ago I made plans with my sil to meet up in Utah so I could finally meet their new baby (6 months already!!!). Well, then my brother and his kids from Missouri made plans to come out west that same week, and since they were going to be there, my parents of course had to come because it's not often we get to see the Missouri Jolleys. So we just went ahead and had ourselves a little mini-reunion in Orem, Utah. It was busy, crazy, freezing and exhausting but SO much fun!!!
We could pass for a family of 3 don't you think? And Easton was a pirate most of the week; hence the do-rag.

This is baby Erica. She is as sweet as can be! She got passed around all weekend and didn't even care. And she's so adorable, I can't believe it took me so long to see her, but it was well worth the wait. Carly LOVED the baby and wanted to touch her at all times. The same cannot be said about anyone else on the trip. She was pretty much afraid of every new person she saw.Cute cousins! Carly looks like a giant.
My niece and nephew, Megan and Kevin. 15 and almost 14. These kids are awesome. They are nice, fun, funny, polite, silly, helpful, talented, and AWESOME! I LOVED spending time with them and I'm sad they live so far away.

We of course hit up the dino museum again...only this time we were much more knowledgeable. Jenni was in awe of my dino knowledge. I should be a guide at that place. This was the 3D movie we saw, Jenni and Easton are modeling their sweet glasses. Steve loved it of course.


Our fun with Jenni and Michael included a trip back up to Bridal Veil Falls where Easton was crazy and wanted to get in the freezing water. He also stayed in pirate character the whole time and even yelled some pirate obscenities to some kid not watching where he was going on his bike. We also walked around BYU a little, showed those Missourians a thing or 2 about a place called Cafe Rio, went to Jump On It one afternoon and had a BLAST, and had an awesome family dinner thanks to Jill's parents who not only let my little family stay at their house but who cooked a giant meal for all of us. They were so kind.
Cute Megan and cute Carly visiting with Grandma Williams.

We spent a night in Beaver to hang with Grandma. We just love that little town and her house. Kev made a sweet movie while we were there and if I can get my hands on it you can bet I'll post it on here. Here's a teaser: Slumber party gone deadly...and a tortured love...


Then we made our way back down to Vegas with Jas and the kids. They were here for about 30 hours and we managed to:
*hit the Rio buffet (best imo)
* watch Steve and Kevin ride 2 roller coasters
* visit the conservatory and grab gelato
* walk around the forum shops
* play at town square
* M&M store and pictures with freaky Eastern European Michael Jackson
* drive through red rock canyon
* lunch at in n out
* get Kev a new skateboard

Did I miss anything?

Then grandma and grandpa came down to stay with us for a few more days! We took them to the train and Hoover Dam. I can't believe in all their visits we had never done that before. We went on walks and my dad worked his mad fix-it skills around our house. Grandma played and told story after story and helped me finally get some curtains up. That was an ordeal.
Thanks to EVERYONE for such a fun trip. After go, go going for a solid week I feel like I'm moving in slow motion. And the laundry...oh the laundry.


17 comments:

Teresa, mom, Deitz, Aunt Dee Dee said...

sounds like you had a blast. the kiddos are growing so fast, i can't believe how big they are. WOW

Kirk and Dynelle said...

You are cute, looks like you had a blast! I want to come see your new curtains, and you make a darling family of five. I like warm weather too :)

Jenni said...

I LOVE THIS!!! I love your pictures so much! Especially the ones of megan and kevin at your house! Man, that really was the funnest weekend! I wish I could do it again. It was SOOOOOO fun to see you guys and play with everyone. I'm still mad at myself for not going all the way to vegas... boo.

I think that picture of you with erica, 3 kids total, looks very fitting and natural. mmhmmm.

And your little teaser about our movie is FABULOUS hahaha! I can't wait to see it!!!!

Kara said...

Glad you're back to blogging and back in town! I can't believe all that you did in that amount of time! Makes me look like a wimp with what I did with my parents in town. That dino museum in UT looks freaking awesome! We might have to make a special trip up there just to do that.

{lizzythebotanist} said...

i thought we did a lot with my friends in town but you kicked some serious butt in thirty hours!

Aimee said...

I'm tired just reading about your fun week! When I come down in two months let's just lay around and do nothing!!

*Stephanie Lance* said...

Cute! Cute! Cute! I love that you guys all got to get together! And all these pics are so cute! You guys are all babes and hotties and those kids are real cute! I especially LOVE the teaser for that movie! I gotta see it! I'm sure it's really good! hahah Brings back some reallllly good memories!! :) Love you!!

Amy said...

Oh the laundry!!! I loved that you ended with that because that is really what you come home to after vacations! Sounds like tons of fun though. Seeing family is the best. I think your kids are soooooo cute!!!

Thanks for the vegas info. I had never heard of a tapas restaraunt before so I looked it up and it looks YUMMY! I would love to get together with you and have lunch or something. My email is chunkhutch@yahoo.com if you want to send me your phone number. I could definetly ditch Ben for a couple of hours. It's Vegas I'm sure he'll find something to do.

Ben & Diane said...

I love that picture of your dad and Carly and the doll......PRECIOUS!!

Carol and Bruce said...

That is such a great wrap up, it was all so fun and seems like a dream now. It went by too fast but we loved spending time with everyone. You guys are excellent hosts that is for sure, as well as my family, Jenni and Michael AND the Andersons. Thanks again to all. I hope Jason will bring the kids back soon.

That picture of Carly and Dad really is so cute and I love the train one. I missed out on the murder mystery and can't wait to see it.

I'm so glad you have warmed up and are back to blogging. I need to catch up mine too.

Alifinale said...

Um,I am exhausted too just hearing about all that. What fun times. And I love all the pictures, especially Steve sleeping through the dino movie. You are inspiring me to blog more than once a month.

Lima Bean said...

nice, fun, funny, polite, silly, helpful, talented, and AWESOME

I really hope I am raising my boys so that people say this about them when they are 14 and 15. And that they not only say it, but mean it because they are all those things. Here's to hoping and praying. . .

Jill said...

Great post! Loved that party in Orem. I've missed you and your kiddos so much. It was so wonderful to see you even though it was WAY too short.

I LOVED hanging out with Easton without my boys around. He's the best. I wish I could've heard his pirate obscenities! I'll upload my American idol video of him soon and send it your way.

So glad Erica gave me an in with that darling Carly. She's a sweetie. Thanks for coming down!!!

I MUST see Kevin's video!

Good luck with the laundry.

Mary said...

Slumber party gone deadly? You crack me up em! Looking forward to this movie debut!

Megan and Greg said...

Um, yeah, it's about time you blogged woman! Cute pics! I want to know more specifics about the pirate obscenities! Glad you got to see your fam. It's been awhile for me. And yes, a family of 3 looks really good on you guys. For a split sec I wondered if you up and adopted a baby because it all looked so natural.

Matt and Shannon said...

Welcome back :)

Brynne, Aaron and Cade said...

WOW what a busy week but sounds SUPER fun!! Awesome to be with family!

Love the pic of your dad with carly and dolly. ;)