Road Trip!

Road Trip!

May 30-June1, Jr. Jr., Jet, and I made a quick weekend trip with my sister and her family to California because...

MY LITTLE (younger) BROTHER GOT MARRIED!!!!!!

It was such a quick trip, traveling from Utah on Friday, wedding stuff on Saturday, traveling back to Utah on Sunday. The only day we didn't spend any time in Utah was May 31 which is National Utah Day. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!

We met my parents and two of my brothers who traveled from Oregon and we all stayed in a house together for the weekend. 

Jr. Jr. and Jet both got to visit Nevada for the first time since we drove through there and stopped for lunch. 

We brought Jet's pteranodon wings for the trip and he loved wearing them both in the van and flapping around at the house we stayed in.

I got to meet my brother's fiance/wife for the first time and see that my brother is so in love. I am so happy for them. 

 

Saturday was a wonderful day. Jet was so well behaved in the waiting room at the temple with Jr. Jr. and his cousins while I went to the sealing. Jr. Jr. told me Jet didn't say anything while I was gone and when I got back he was quiet and whispered requests. I wonder if he could feel the Spirit there. It was beautiful. Outside for pictures, he also did well. No running off, he followed instructions from the wedding photographer. I am so proud of him.

I'm also proud of my brother for making such a good choice.

It was nice spending time with my brothers. Paco got to meet Jet for the first time. Jet has seen "Paco videos" at home but they hadn't met yet.

The reception was so nice, too. Jet again didn't run off but stayed by me. They had pizza so Jet got several slices as well as other foods.  

There was dancing. There was juggling. Of course there was juggling. It's our family. I love that I have a new sister-in-law who juggles with her juggling husband.

Some of my cousins came from Utah and Wyoming for the reception. That was great. 

It was a beautiful day. And getting married on National Smile Day is a pretty awesome thing. 

  

On Sunday, I said goodbye to Jr. Jr. because he traveled back to Oregon with my parents and my brother. It was his turn for the grandparents trip like Nichole and Jr. both did in previous years. He had a great time and my parents loved the time with him. 

Since we were traveling with my sister and her family, I had nieces and nephews part of the time in my van and my sister actually sat with me the last leg of the trip on Friday. It's a great time for chatting when you're traveling all day.

On the way back to Utah, we stopped briefly to get pictures with Donner Lake (after making all the jokes about not stopping while going over Donner Pass... just in case).  

Once again we stopped in Nevada for lunch. 

 

When Jet and I got home, Jeremy surprised me with an omelette bar. I got to choose the insides I wanted and he made me an omelette. My sweet husband. I love omelettes... and I love my husband.

It was a quick but very nice trip and I'm so glad we went to support my brother and sister-in-law and had quality family time.

Weddings and Receptions

I mentioned how at the beginning of the month, we missed a wedding reception. In the middle of the month we had two to go to.

On Friday, Nichole, Jet, and I attended the wedding of our friends. 

Then we went home and gathered the boys from school and came back for the wedding reception. Jeremy came at the very end (because of work) but was still able to be there in time to wish them well. Earlier he did record a message that I was able to share with them because he didn't know if he'd be able to make it at all. It felt good to support these friends.

 

Saturday found us at another reception for a young man (not too young) from our ward and his bride. This time our whole family was able to go.

Summer Reading!

Since I'm so far behind with catching up, I'll share all the things I'm going to post about library Summer Reading programs in one post instead of splitting them up like I do most years.

We again participated in Summer Reading programs at Orem Library and Provo Library.

Jeremy again created balloon sculptures for Orem Public Library's Summer Reading Program, "All Together Now."

Jet had fun saying Hi to the characters Jeremy made. 

While he was building, Jeremy and Lucky found some of Jet's toys lying around and decided to have a little fun. 

It was Lucky's idea to color coordinate.

 

I took a few kids to the kickoff event. They had activities and different booths to go to with free stuff and prizes. Jason Fun did another magic show.

Provo City Library had a kickoff event this year. I took all my kids to that one. The ballroom was full of games and activities to get into the swing of Summer fun.

We did a few Provo Story Trails, although after a while there were some repeats of past years so it kind of fizzled out because we were so busy with other things. 

"How the Beaver Got His Tail" at Lions Park.

"The Toothpick Warriors" at Paul Ream Wilderness Area. This is where we traditionally play "Three Bill Goats Gruff," but not this year. The river was sooooo high.

The kids and I went hiking to the Alpine Poppy Fields again. It was closed last year so we couldn't go but we got to see them again this year. And got to check things off for Summer Reading activities.

We also spent plenty of time doing activities at both libraries.

We did some take home activities from the Orem Library.

The last day of June was busy with activities we were able to count toward Summer Reading. 

I took some of the kids to the Museum of Art at BYU to do a library activity there. They had a display of quilted art. Amazing. If you look from far enough away you wouldn't be able to tell the pieces were sewn, but looking up close, you can.

 

Then we went to a Provo Story Trail. "The Goat Faced Girl" at Spring Creek Park.

 

That evening, Nichole and I went to watch Derek Banks in concert again. It was so nice to hear him playing the piano. He did an encore of Clair de Lune which is one of my favorite pieces. It always makes me think of my grandma because she used to play it on the piano.

 

When we got home from the concert, Jeremy and I headed to the tail end of a wedding reception. We had to get the bride and groom their present later because while Nichole and I were at the piano concert, my three year old got a hold of the present we were going to take and ripped the wrapping paper off of it and lost a part that went with it. Sigh. We got it to them eventually, though.

After the reception, Jeremy and I were able to do some service. We had jumper cables so we were able to jump the bride and groom's car. Sigh. We wish them a long and happy marriage (with less car trouble).

 

O.K. I changed my mind. I'm going to make this into two posts since it's long enough just talking about June Summer Reading activities. Sound good? Sounds good to me. Tell you more later.