Fathers

Happy Father's Day!
I am grateful for MANY fathers today. First to Mike who has provided our family with:

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SEVEN Fantastic years of Fatherhood

{Papa Zeke} 

Paul has given me years of hard work, patience and prayer as he worked to raise my Mike. He continues to be an exemplary father and grandfather.



{Grampster}

 My Dad, another Paul, is of course who I am most grateful for on Father's Day. He has always been my biggest fan and supporter. He faithfully calls me, gently gives advice and is truly a 'grampster'.

{Grand Fathers}

Grandpa McKean, and example of leadership 

Grandpa Ray, my favorite sense of humor 

Grandpa Lowell, a fantastic listener

Papa Campbell, unconditional love

The McKeans Come

The McKeans (and a few Sherwoods)

My entire family plus Nona were able to come down for the weekend of Kai's blessing. Mike's parents had just returned from Colorado so they didn't come back but we felt their love and support. This was the first time since my mom's cancer diagnosis that we were all together. Everyone else had been home at Christmas, but I was too close to my due date to travel. We made the most of being together by taking family pictures, celebrating Jeremiah, (my nephew's), 2nd birthday and of course Kai's blessing.

Nona and Kai getting in a little snuggle time.

Our Eternal Family of 5

Annabelle, a cute and sassy big sis 

Asa, a little unsure

Kai, snugged up & sleeping

The original plan was for some family members to share a hotel and some to sleep here. As the special weekend got closer and closer everyone said that they would rather sleep at our house. No one wanted to miss out on the fun! So we slept all 14 of us at our house and it was fun, so long as privacy wasn't a priority.
With Jeremiah and Asa both loving trains we had to take a trip to Desert Breeze park. They have a carousel and a train to ride. It was the perfect thing for little boys!

Don't be fooled by their expressions, they really liked it.

Trudy made the train pieces of cake at home and then frosted them here. As you can tell, Jeremiah was thrilled! 

It was really fun to see Jeremiah and Asa together. They are only 4 months apart in age and I am hoping that they will be good buddies. Every now and then we'd catch them doing something silly like this and we'd laugh.

My mom stuck around for the rest of the week after everyone else had to head home. We didn't actually take any pictures of her stay, the kids had colds, so she just helped me take care of them. We made chicken noodle soup, lots of smoothies and went for long walks in the neighborhood each afternoon for fresh air. I kinda wished we had been able to do some fun things but maybe a low key week (while keeping Annabelle home from school) was just was we needed. I just wish we hadn't sent her home with our sickie germs.

January trip to Utah

After our awesome time in Colorado we drove out to Utah. On our way out my sister-in-law Trudy and I left early in the morning with the kids thinking that with stopping to stretch and feed the babies that the men (Mike, Adam and David) would catch up before we made it to Provo. Unfortunately for the boys their later start caused them to get caught in a storm in the mountains and then just as they came out of the mountains and were about to pull into Grand Junction my brother's car stopped working. After a day and a half in Grand Junction they rented a car and joined us in Provo. I felt pretty bad that they weren't able to repair the car but so grateful that Jeremiah and Trudy had ridden with us and weren't stranded. It was also a huge blessing that the boys weren't in the storm in the mountains, that they had cell phone reception and that they were so close to Grand Junction, which is probably the biggest city between Denver and Utah Valley.

It was great to show Annabelle Temple Square

Anyway, so Mike was given an extra week off of work so we decided we would love to see our grandparents in Utah. Now that the Sherwood Grandparents moved to Orem 3 out of our 4 grandparents live in Utah (Nona is in Colorado Springs). Since we hadn't been to Utah since last February no one from up there had met Asa, we had a great time introducing him to his great grandparents.

Clockwise from top left: with Grandpa Sherwood, Grandma Dana,

Grandma McKean, Papa Lowell and Grandma Sherwood.

I think Asa and Grandpa Sherwood, 3 generations apart from each other, have quite a resemblance. Just look at their smiles, checks and chin. Maybe it is just the lack of teeth, hair and the presence of love but I loved seeing these two together. There was lots of giggling exchanged between them. Grandma Sherwood is so lovable as she chats and teases Grandpa a little. Not to mention she plays a mean game of Rummy. She put Mike, Grandpa and I to shame on our card playing one afternoon.

Grandma Dana and Papa Lowell have been so sweet to us. We were glad to be able to visit Grandma as she is still recovering from hip surgery. I can't imagine trying to learn to use those muscles again after such an ordeal but she is glad to be home and grandpa is helping her along.

Annabelle needed to get some wiggles out so she and Grandpa went on a walk and I am guessing she did a lot of the talking. Great verbal skills, that girl.

We got to visit with Grandma McKean twice (or old Grandma McKean, as Annabelle calls her) while we were in town. She and Asa hit it off right away. It seemed like the moment he saw her he got excited and wanted her attention. Even while we were sitting in the living room talking Asa would reach over and want to hold her hand. I almost think he recognized her or something. Maybe Grandpa sent some love her way when Asa joined our family.

We were warmly welcomed by some of our aunts and uncles to stay with them while on our trip. It was so nice to be able to stay with family, spend more time with them and our cousins. I think Annabelle must think she has a dozen aunts and uncles as they treat her like their own little niece. Thanks for welcoming us into your homes!

When we weren't partying hard with our grandparents we went to temple square, had dinner at my great Uncle Bob's house and Mike took some pictures for David and Clara. They are going to be so great for each other. I guess it is odd for me to think of my younger brother being old enough to get married, but it's happening. They get married April 24th in the Draper, Utah Temple. Maybe if we are lucky they'll end up in Arizona (fingers crossed).