Utah Bound for Thanksgiving - 2013

We drove to Utah for Thanksgiving this year. It was so much fun and it was really good to see everyone again so soon after Tutu’s funeral. We stayed with Olivia and her sweet family for five days. It was glorious to have Joe the whole time! We had a wonderful time together as a family. We ate a ton of delicious food, spent a lot of time with our awesome family, saw Frozen & Catching Fire, and we were able to celebrate Emma’s First Birthday! It was a great, and relaxing visit. I’m so glad we were able to go for the Holiday. We love seeing our Utah family.

Here are a few photos from our visit. Enjoy!

I promise we were parked. We were waiting for the boys and Bonnie to return from the bathrooms. She just needed a break from her car seat. She did SO well on this trip! Gwen is an awesome traveler.

Travis & Jake watching the iPad together. Olivia had us stay in their newly finished basement. It was pretty sweet! They seriously had THE softest carpet ever! I could have slept on the floor, it was so comfy!

Jr and I were in charge of the drinks for the big day.

Chillin’ with Jr, Kimball, and Emma.

My Sweetheart! He hates getting his picture taken.

Gorgeous Tia & sweet Emma!

Watching TV

I swear, Luke is Todd’s mini me!

All the kiddos, eating downstairs!

Isabella, Travis, Luke, and Enoch.

Lawry ; )

The conversations that we have with family can be so fun.

Cousins! Joe & Stephen

I love these girls! Maddie & Moana

Gwen was so tired but she wanted to be where the action was.

Getting ready to go see Frozen!

Sweet Gwen

Travis LOVES getting his photo taken, doesn’t he?

I love my three kiddos!

This was just before we headed back to Colorado. Travis really wanted to stay with Izzy.

Cuties.

Gwen’s sweet car ride hair!

I love the windmills. I just love them!

So pretty.

Once we got home from the long drive, Gwen got undressed and just relaxed. She slept so well that night too.

This happened while we were driving home. I was actually the one who drove through it – 60 to 70 mph winds! It was horrifying. I kept praying that we wouldn’t get blown off the rode. Then I checked the news the next day and saw this photo, awful! So scary. I’m so grateful it wasn’t us!

Denver Art Museum for Odyssey of the Mind - November 23rd, 2013

Our long term problem for Odyssey this year involved art work. Specifically, a replica of an actual cave painting & 3 pieces of our very own art work. So of course we visited the Denver Art Museum to give the kids a few ideas of what they could do for art work. It was a really fun day; the kids did well and had a blast! And it was pretty cool to find out that one of the jobs Joe is over seeing is the Denver Art Museum! So neat!

The kids making crowns and/or headbands.

Posing with the finished product!

Love these two.

Preschool Thanksgiving Celebration - November 22nd, 2013

Travis & Adriana were Indians for their Preschool’s Thanksgiving Celebration. They were SO cute. They sang a song too. I love that they sing so much in preschool!

Cutest little Indians around!

They enjoyed their feast: Chicken nuggets, rolls, and apple juice.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Using my Littles for lighting tests - November 21, 2013

Getting ready for photo sessions at home is always fun. Travis & Gwen love to be my little lighting testers. I love these because they always seem so relaxed because they know the session isn’t actually about them so their personalities just burst out of the photos! I love it. Travis was very obliging this time and wanted so many photos! Gwen just ate up all the attention.

And this is my favorite! haha. Love these two.

The Family Visits for Tutu - November 2013

None of these photos are amazing by any means, I just wanted to capture a few moments of our family celebrating Tutu. It was wonderful to see everyone and to have them all in our home. We just loved seeing them all so much. The funeral was gorgeous and well done. Everyone worked so hard during the entire process. It really was wonderful to see everyone working together. Here is a fun photo of Joe, Grandpa, and Naomi!

The siblings, planning out the details.

Enoch hanging out with Uncle Soulee Jacob

Travis and Uncle Sterling.

Gwen & Emma

Evie & I chatting it up over some ice cream.

Cousins

At one point, we had EVERYONE up stairs in the front room. I was surprised we all fit somehow!

The day of the funeral, all the great grandkids were making cards for Tutu.

Maddie & Tia

Tutu’s casket. It was so pretty with the blanket draped over it.

All the great grandkids.

Grandpa with his Children.

The infamous “Cousins” photo. Soulee, Sarah, and Joe were all born the same year.