Utah

We've been back in Buffalo about 2 weeks now, but better late than never right?! We had so much fun being home & seeing family & friends. We did so many fun things! Therefore, this is going to be a long post. ENJOY!

A surprise baby shower:

My sweet & sneeky girlfriends from the salon threw me a baby shower! I love these girls to death & miss them like crazy! Thank you ladies for being so kind & thoughtful!

Me & Elizabeth. I just love these gals!

Me & Alisha are having our babies the same week! Cute Lindsay & little Taya!

All the goodies! Thanks again girls! I miss you!

A weekend in BEAR LAKE:

We headed up to the lake for some fun, sun & friends & family!

Isn't this place beautiful? Here are the guys & their matching wave runners!

My stud muffin & his best friend! While he is out ripping it up....I'm here!

This is Jaxon & Amy hanging out with me on the beach. And Doug's brother Dave decided to settle down for a little snooze in Jaxon's tent. :)

This is what happens when you don't check how deep it is. This was the 2nd truck to get stuck & need a tow truck to get them out. It was crazy how stupid people can be. Here we are as the gang on the beach! Carrie, Josh & Jaxson Hewlett, Josh & Amy Hansen & Us

Just a Sunday afternoon:

When we arrived home from Bear Lake we were greeted with a house full. My brother Jason & his family arrived from Colorado that weekend.

My sweet sisters

My brothers Jason & Hyrum with Doug

My talented mother made all the grand-daughters summer outfits. Aren't they cute?

And of course after sitting pretty they just had to play hard. Uncle Doug is very loved by these kids & it shows. He is there personal jungle gym!

Little Savvy was very interested in my baby belly. She would always just come up & touch it & say how cute & soft he is & that she loves baby boys. So sweet & tender!

Ward/Neighbor/Friend Baby Shower:

My dearest friend Emily has the sweetest mother! She wanted to host a baby shower for me while I was home. Everything was beautiful & I felt so loved. The only thing missing was Emily. She had to leave to go back home to Michigan to be with her hubby.

All of the food looked too good to eat, but don't be silly, of coarse I ate it! Here is the host Raylene & my mom. These woman are pretty special to me!

Opening gifts for our little guy was so much fun! Everyone was so generous. Who knew there was so much cute stuff for little boys! This is my close friend Jenn (Hawks) Lundeen. I grew up just 2 houses away from her & her sister Julianne. (who couldn't be there)

Our long time friends JoAnne & Kathleen Price. We met when we were only 3 years old! I'm so thankful for long-time friendships.

Raylene & Me

I am so grateful to have this woman & her family in my life!

This is the Place Monument:

One afternoon we decided to go up to the park. It was a very hot day & the first thing we did was get ice cream! It was a lot of fun seeing how things ran back then.

The whole family!

Learning the printing process & visiting the dentist. Ashley is a brave one to let Doug come near her with those pliers. OUCH!

The peacocks were so pretty & we even got them to talk to us. Or rather shriek!

Me, Anne, Becki & McKay

BoonDocks:

We just had to go & ride the go-carts!

Logan & Laura in #3 Hyrum & Anne in #13

Me & Becki sat on the side lines taking pictures, cheering on the racers & watching the babes.

Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House:

We were lucky enough to get the opportunity to go to the temple open house. It was such a great experience to have as a family. I loved looking at my niece & nephews faces as they entered the beautiful rooms. They were in awe of all the sparkling chandeliers! They kept saying they wanted them in their rooms. :)

This picture cracks me up. No one was able to keep their eyes open, but we are all trying to smile anyhow.



Girls Night:

This is a night that I always look forward to. I was able to get together with all my high school girlfriends. (except Emily & Laura) It was so good to visit & catch up with them. It is amazing how all of our lives are going different directions, but we are still as close as ever. I love these girls & miss them a lot!

Holly, Jami, Me, Lisa, Rachelle, Court, Heidi

Camping @ Tanners Flat:

My dad got us a campsite up Little Cottonwood Canyon & boy did we have a good time!

The boys & Ashley all slept over, but us big girls were too much of city slickers & decided to sleep in our beds at home. :)

Setting up the tents

Dad showing McKay how to start a fire & get our tinfoil dinners a cookin!

Hyrum & his little Sophie. She has this thing with rocks & let's just say she was in heaven being up there! Little Hailey & Becki having fun pre-dirty clothes. :)

I think she dropped a rock in this one.

Savvy showing off the crown she just made with grandma (mom)

McKay getting ready to dig in to Dougs peach cobbler. It was so yummy!

Ashley & Hyrum

S'mores anyone?

Just chillin by the fire & enjoying the cool evening!

Thanks dad for such a fun campout!

Laura's Graduation:

My big sister got her associates degree in Paralegal. She is one little smarty pants too. She received the honor of being Salutatorian! Way to go Laura!

Madsen Baby Shower:

This was a fun-filled day of BABY! It started out with a shower at Anne & Hyrums with all the family on my side. It was so fun! Anne & Laura did a great job putting everything together. The invitations & decorations were adorable! Anne's sweet mom Kathy came up from Vegas to help out too! She made yummy sandwiches & this amazing lemonade! It was so fun to see all my aunts & cousins.

Me & Becki

One of the games was to see who could suck the water out the baby bottle the fastest. Little did we know that the bottle nipples were for preemies! My jaw & cheeks were so sore! You would think by the looks of it I won, but sadly, I didn't. My mom & her twin sister thought this was hilarious! I just love this candid moment of them.

Me with all the fun baby loot! Here is a picture of my wonderful family. These woman are all such great examples to me & I am so lucky to have them as family.

Shaw Baby Shower:

The night continued with more baby fun at the Shaw household. Doug's mom put together a shower for his side of the family. It was great to see all of his aunts, cousins & friends.

Me & my mom trying to keep up with all the fun gifts! This is Doug's aunt Kris & her daughter Sydney. Doug & Sydney were born really close together & she just had her first baby not too long ago.

It was so good to see Shawnee Griffith. She is married to Dougs best friend Jordan.

Here is cousin Meggan w/baby Halle & aunt Brenda.

Doug was playing photographer that night & so of coarse he had to throw in this one of him & aunt Shelly. Here I am with my wonderful mother-in-law JoDee! She is so excited about being a grandma & we can't wait! Thank you JoDee for such a wonderful shower! I couldn't have felt more loved.

So there you have it! All the pictures that captured our Utah visit! We were so lucky to be able to come out & spend a splendid 16 days with our families & friends. We love & miss you all!