Because these 2 lovebirds wanted to celebrate wedding anniversary #14 in Maine, I was able to spend 5 days in SLC being GIC* with 4 these cuties:
(2+14+5+4=whole lotta fun)
Silly Jilly Bean
Kyle
Elena
Jake
*Grandma's In Charge - Lucky ME!!!
I arrived Sunday afternoon and saw Brei & Kelly only by chance - they were coming up the escalator at the airport just before I headed down to baggage claim. It was serendipity, as I would be leaving before they would be back.
Sonja & Jill picked me up and we headed to Soren & Rachele's home for a BIG family dinner.
BIG, as in lots and lots of wonderful food
BIG, as in all of the local Jensen & Park clans
The food was unforgettable, the company was even better :)
Curtis had helped harvest chiles and tomatoes from the garden - they went right into some delicious guacamole Rachele was making
Roasted sunflower seeds kept me from starving to death until dinner was ready
How many kids get to help harvest sunflower seeds grown in their own backyard?!?
Rachele was taking zucchini bread out of the oven.
And there's more coming, for sure
How sweet it is: honey, honey bees and a busy bee keeper!
I helped pick the last of the raspberries - yum, yum, yum!
But I think I was cheated out of some pumpkin pie....
Brei had told me that initially Jill wasn't too happy about having her parents leave, but when Brei told her I would build block towers and play Memory all day long with her she was pretty excited.
We also read books, went for walks with Oliver, played with Baby William, and, of course, hung out with Aunt Tanja, Aunt Sonja, Aunt Rachele and Mitchell, Curtis & Aubrey.
This little man isn't going to be little for long! He loves blowing bubbles, having his chin tickled, and carrying on conversations. His smile is about 2 inches a way from becoming a laugh.
This is how some of the Bunker kids arrive home from school when their parents are gone. Hmmmmmm......
I loved having a visit from Elaine!
Shameless animal
Guitar heroes
Jake's innovative idea for "Hat Day"
Monday night after homework, piano practice, chores, FHE and prayers, everyone tucked in (just a little behind schedule).
Tuesday night after homework, achievement day activity, trumpet lesson, dance lesson, park playtime (for the 2 non-participants while waiting for lessons to be over), and prayers, everyone tucked in (just a wee bit behind schedule).
Wednesday night after homework, piano practice, and chores we had dinner with the aunties and the cousins. There were several rounds of Guitar Hero before Jake headed off to Scouts. It was a fun, relaxed evening with everyone having a good time together. Eventually everyone tucked in (quite a bit behind schedule. Oh well.)
It would have been so much fun to take the kids to a pumpkin patch or corn maze, but they all opened the weekend after I left :(
However, Aubrey, Curtis & Jill made it fun to just go to Smith's and pick some out from their display.
Will's first pumpkin outing - he stayed awake!
story behind the cop car? who did it?
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