On the Road Again

Not long after unpacking from our trip to Illinois, we loaded up the van once again to spend our last few days of 2012 in Utah. Forest and I wanted to be there when his sister Crissy went through the temple for the first time on December 29th.

Our family arrived in Salt Lake City the Friday before--just in time for Ramona to see Cousin Aubrey and get a bedtime story from Paca. (The plot line included a princess and a unicorn, as requested.)

The next day was temple day. Ramona, Aubrey, Mika, and Connor got some cousin time at Crissy's before it was time to leave.

Connor admiring his balloons. Mika admiring Connor.

Sometimes it is so obvious that Mika and Ramona are sisters

The Oquirrh Mountain Temple is magnificent. We were able to get the whole family for a picture in front of the edifice after Crissy's session. Everyone cooperated for the camera except Ramona.

I snagged a few other photos, as well, to commemorate the special day

Crissy with her babes

Radiant Crissy with Proud Paca

Crissy with her escort Teresa

Teresa's husband was entrusted with Connor during the temple session

Following the drive back to Maria and Josh's house, cousins were reunited once again. Aubrey and Ramona got right down to business with their princess party, which included holding as many princess dolls as possible while watching a princess movie . . .

 . . . and wearing poofy skirts while admiring themselves in tiny, heart-shaped mirrors.

 Cousin Caleb was a great host. He shared one of his favorite movies, Despicable Me . . .

 . . . he shared his toys . . .

 . . . entertained us with his great sense of humor . . .

 . . . and even let Ramona and Aubrey style his hair during bath time.

Sunday morning we all met at Crissy's house for a photo shoot before church. Maria was our photographer extraordinaire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After church we had lunch back at Crissy's house

 And played with Aubrey's new pink guitar

 

 That afternoon we drove to Spanish Fork to visit my grandma Keturah for a few hours.

 

 She is beautiful.

 

Monday was Paca's last day before heading back to Illinois. He stopped by for some hugs and one more story, then took off on I-80.

Forest and Josh went skiing at snowbird that day. I stayed with Maria to supervise the crazy cousins while they quite literally bounced off of the walls (note the mattress leaned up against its side in hopes of preventing head injuries),

 had a picnic on the basement floor,

 built a fort,

 and colored pictures.

Once Forest and Josh got home, they left their snow pants on and took the kids to the park for sledding. Ramona was a little apprehensive at first, but seemed to enjoy herself once they got going.

 

Mika was happy just sitting in the stroller for a few minutes, but then threw a giant fit. Perhaps she was upset that she never got a turn on the sled?

 At any rate, the only thing that calmed her down was a ride on the swings nearby.

 Thanks, Uncle Josh, for taking us!

We turned "Tinkerbell" on in an effort to wind things down afterward. The cousins were being very cuddly and photogenic.

 

 

That evening (New Year's Eve) we headed over to Temple Square to see the lights. It was bitterly cold, but just as sparkly as we hoped.

 

 

 

 

New Year's Day we drove back to Colorado. After cramming two road trips into the month of December, we were ready to get home and stay put for while.

 

Welcome, 2013!