The Shaw Family: Visitors while visiting

While we were in Utah we were lucky to get some out of town visitors. The Evans family made a 7-hour drive from New Mexico just to come see us for the weekend. When Steph told me that they were really going to come even though they had a busy summer I was ecstatic!!! We didn't tell Gavin that they were coming because we knew he wouldn't be able to control his excitement & we wouldn't stop hearing about it or being asked if it was time to see Collin. It was really sweet, one day when talking with Gavin he asked me, "Mom, what's one wish you want right now?" I returned the question instead of answering it & Gavin replied, "That Collin would be here in Utah with me." I about melted right then & there. These two boys haven't seen each other in over a year & they are both constantly talking about one another. I LOVE it!

They were both so happy to see each other on Saturday morning! And they just picked up right where they left off. Well even better then how the left off. It was so cute watching them play & have full on conversations with each other.

Best Buddies!

These two pictures make me laugh! I love their quirkiness.

Liam & Weston didn't know each other in Buffalo since they were so tiny, but having heard their names & seeing each other on skype they were quite familiar with one another as well.

Steph had a breakfast with a college friend that morning so me & the dads took the the boys on a little hike up to Pepperwood Falls.

Collin was quite the hiker. He sure blazed up the trails in a hurry. Poor Gavin hasn't done much hiking since there really isn't much to hike down here in Florida and he was struggling to keep up with Collin.

But they made it & loved playing in the waterfall.

Travis & his boys

These two were quite content just sitting on the rocks observing or maybe meditating? :) So peaceful to be surrounded by mother nature.

Me & my boy Weston rocking our shades!

Love my little family! Such a blast doing something fun outdoors. Especially when we don't get this kind of experience in Florida. We sure love our Utah mountains!

**Saturday was also Doug's brother Dave's wedding day. So after our hike we had to clean up & start getting ready for the ceremony & reception. (Separate post on the wedding**

That night after the wedding & putting the boys down we were able to sit up & visit late into the evening with just Steph & Travis. My absolute favorite thing to do. No distractions from children, just good quality catch up time. I know I've said it already, but I simply love that we can just pick up where ever with them & it's like we've never been a part. It also makes me realize how much we miss this wonderful family!

Sunday morning they went to church & to see some sites with Steph's brother that lives in SLC. In the afternoon we met up with them at Temple Square.

Poor prego Steph was pooped out by the heat by the time we got there. She just collapsed onto the grass. Not being dramatic at all. Haha! The heat was killer in Utah. Like 103 degrees every day. Ugh! Being prego in the heat is no bueno.

Playing in the reflection pool.

Soooo good to be joined together again!

I posted the double picture of Gavin & Collin hugging & throwing props on Instagram. Steph's sister Marcie commented asking where the picture of me & Steph doing the same thing was. So we decided to give it to her. Haha!

Love me a good Steph squeeze!

We are such goofy dorks & I love it!

Isn't she the prettiest prego lady ever?! So stinkin cute & stylish.

Our husbands thought we were pretty ridiculous, nothing new there really. They decided to imitate us with their own selfie. I about died of laughter when I saw this picture. These two crack me up!

But they miss each other too & are too macho to be all sentimental about it. Love these two men!

I love to see the temple...

We hit up Trolley Square for some dinner at Rodezio Grill. The Evans' have never been before & wanted to try it out. Steph is a new woman with this pregnancy. She normally doesn't eat red meat so I was shocked when she suggest Rodezio. But we didn't complain as we hadn't been there together since one of our first dates & love it. :)

So much yummy food! We all had fun eating & trying new things.

The boys were all such good eaters. They ate & ate until their tummies were big & full.

So full that they had to belly it up together. Silly boys!

The boys had a ball bathing together in the tub. Not much room in there with these four cuties.

When the boys were down we had some dessert & chit chat again late into the evening. It brought back so many memories in Buffalo where our Sunday evenings were spent doing just that.

Monday morning we decided to go on another hike up Bell Canyon. While getting ready Doug found these two crazies!

Hiking Bell Canyon

Our little cowboys taking a break.

They thought standing on the tall rock was pretty cool!

Another quick break in the shade. Almost there.

We made it to the reservoir & oh my how beautiful is that?!

We were the only ones up there, well except for these guys. There were plenty of them.

The boys. Steph & I are seriously outnumbered here. Glad she's bringing a little girl into the mix to help us get some more girl power!

Me & my bestie

The cool water felt way too good to keep pants on. Haha!

Cute Collin. I sure love my boyfriend!

Gavin had a hard time staying still on those slippery rocks. He fell all the way in, but thankfully loved it! Such a cute boy.

Liam on the other hand didn't love being fully submerged. It took his breathe away every time Doug would dip him in. Haha!

Collin & Gavin by a little waterfall on our way down. Such a fun morning with our best friends.

We got cleaned up & ready to head back downtown to City Creek. While waiting on everyone I found these boys hiding under Grandma Shaws peach tree.

It's pictures like that that take me back to my childhood. It's what summer is all about. Friends, sunshine, green grass, fruit trees...ah the love for summer!

We shopped around a few stores at City Creek. We stayed the longest in the Disney Store. This is how I found these two. How cute are they? Oooing & aaahing over some toy together.

We got smoothies for lunch & watched the fish in the ponds. And by about 4:00PM it was time for the Evans family to head home. :( We said our goodbyes not knowing for sure the next time we will all be together again. Gavin got pretty emotional not wanting Collin to leave. I'm afraid he got his sensitive side from me as the two of us were crying in the car driving away. We were so happy that they came to visit us & are so grateful for their friendship. We love them dearly!

Oh, and we love this delicious green chile chip dip that they brought us from New Mexico! Oh my goodness, it's addicting! Yum. I'm so craving this now that I'm posting it.