Another Adventure

After D.C. we hung out in Utah, bonding with family galore.

Grandma and Grandpa Patton had watched our four busy boys while we were away and were still willing to host us for an additional week upon our return - they're Saints.

The Beloved's sister Rachael and her family were in town from CA so we were able to party with her brood and also The Beloved's sister Ruth's fam as well. We're talking 15 grand-kids under the age of 12 living the good life at Grandma's house. Always a party.

The Beloved's mom filled our days with well planned activities that made her grandchildren's lives complete.

 - water fight at the park

 - movie theater all to ourselves

 - folk fest

 - Joseph Smith Memorial Building where we saw the Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration Movie. Phenomenal. 

 - Movie Night

 - Girl's Night (the boys had a boy's night too - but being that I'm a female, I have zero photos.)

Our own little family when and toured the Ogden Temple which was breath-taking.

The Beloved's Mom purchased journals for each one of her grandchildren. She would gather them together in the evenings for scripture reading and then have them write about their day and their thoughts afterward. She is pretty spectacular. - plus (Lou says) she makes him breakfast every morning - which is a really sweet deal.

Visiting Angel Grandma's Grave

Bowen, Arrow :)

The Lou - Dog

Cousin Ethan and Moo

Moo and Grandma

Cool Aunt Rachael embarking in a water fight with her daughter and 57 children

Little C, Kaden (Caden? - why don't I know how to spell it?), Rachael

Little C going around and around

The Beloved spinning him fast

The result of being spun - :(

Grandpa and Grandma with the kiddos at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building

The Beloved dying his sister's hair. Oh - tender.

Enjoying a movie all to ourselves. No need to hush kids or anything - loved it.

Ogden Temple

A little too sunny for a photo

A horrible picture of the Folk Fest - but my kids really enjoyed it. Ruth and Dave even took them a second evening and invited them to sleep over. Seriously - I have the coolest relatives.

Girl's Night Photos - 

my niece's silly aunt (me) made them try on all sorts of accessories. So fun.

But they totally loved it. :)

Movie Night!!! Look at all those humans!

Grandma leading them in scripture reading.
See their journal's on their laps?
Amazing.

Oh the Places You'll Go -

When The Beloved and I spotted my mother near the baggage claim after arriving in D.C. my first words were -

You're here - You're real.

And then I squeezed her tight and introduced her to her granddaughter. 

Oh, it was so, so good to see my parents and jump into their missionary world for a moment.

It was the perfect mix of history, reminiscing, love of the gospel, different culture, current events, and bliss.

Let me list some of my favorites:

 - basking in my parents company and meeting so many of their new friends they love and serve so perfectly.

 - D.C. Temple - Heaven on Earth - many of the pictures in this temple include the founders of this great nation. 

God and America undeniably go hand in hand.

 - being present during a live senate session where 97 senators cast their vote re: assistance to Israel

 - Eating, eating, and more eating. 

 - Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Washington Monument - all of these men had an outstanding awareness of their Creator and our country's need for Him.

 - The Vietnam Memorial - so sobering.

 - The Titanic Memorial

 - Engulfing my mom's homemade enchiladas

 - playing Farkle even though The Beloved was the Grand Champion

 - Being reunited with my Dad's little twinkle in his eye

 - Watching our baby love on both my parents

- Bonding with my favorite guy - The Beloved

- Laughing at my Dad order food from McDonald's (it's a terribly involved process) and also later when he said, - I don't know why they're honking at me, I'm only trying to do an illegal U-Turn. :) - Oh my, so funny.

There are too many fun adventures to mention but the biggest and best was watching my parents serve the Lord.

Matthew 25:35-36,40

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me

 Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

That is what my parents are doing in D.C. - wrapping people up in their arms, sharing the Savior's love.

It doesn't get much better than that.

I want to be like them when I grow up.

It's going to a fun flight! I sense it.

They Meet.

My parentals apartment -

Lincoln Memorial

The Baby - always oberving and checking the world out.

She spit up on her outfit and was a bit cold so Buckabu covered The Baby with her sweater.

Washington Monument

My Dad and The Beloved

The Ladies

At Senator Risch's office waiting for our tour guide to show us around the Capitol building.

The Dome of the Capitol

The star in the center of the capitol floor denotes the point from which the streets in Washington are laid out and numbered (totally stole that verbiage)

Brigham Young

Ronald Reagan

Our pass authorizing us to observe the senate session

Inside the Dome of the Capitol

Playing finger games with Papa at lunch - The Beloved and I ate our first pupusas.

Lincoln's cottage

The Beloved's favorite quote at the Jefferson Memorial.

Jefferson Memorial

Korean War Memorial

Library of Congress

The Library of Congress is Beautiful

Titanic Memorial - this is a hidden beauty that my parents led us to.

Another going out to eat photo - this time we're in Georgetown.

Out to eat, enjoying the view at a Chinese restaurant.

See the temple? It looks easy to find - it's not.

Visitor's Center

Hot game of Farkle. Whoot whoot.

We laughed and laughed and enjoyed each other so. The Baby sat on my mom's lap the whole game.

On the flight home we had a layover in Phoenix for a few hours so Erin snagged us for a little lunch! Sweet!

We flew into Utah to pick up our kids from The Beloved's amazing parent's house and one of my other sisters happened to be driving through! Hurrah - it's pretty fantastic being able to see my parents, and two sisters, in three separate states in the same day.

 The modern age is cool.

There's Shanny!

It's so nice to getaway but it's so nice to come home -
we were ready for a little R&R.