Since I wrote last ...
We went on our annual vacation with our best friends, the
Guymons from our Washington, D.C. ward. This year we went to Mike's parents place in St. George. We love Zion, but it was even better this time with our dear friends.
Emerson and her life long best friend, Sophie. They have been best friends literally since they were born two weeks apart in D.C.. They have the sweetest, most enduring friendship.
The entire crew (above).
Every year we literally count down the moments until our vacations with the Guymons (esp. E). This year in particular. It was so uplifting to spend time with these brilliant, kind, and interesting friends. Our annual vacations with them have taken us to Bethany, DE., Cape Cod, and now St. George. I am so glad they moved to the Bay Area. Mentally it just seems closer.
At Serendipity's in Las Vegas.
After St. George the girls and I went to Salt Lake to see cousins and Grandma and Grandpa at their SLC home. We were in Utah for almost 3 weeks this summer. We loved being with family and friends.
The Cousin cousins - love these guys! My sister's children are the same age as mine. We are so lucky.
Got to see my dear Boston friend, Becky, and her cute little ones. Becky and I grew up together in the Hartford Stake. When I watch E with her little friends I sometimes wonder who will be her Becky someday. I miss raising my family with her.
My best friend, Raegan's little guy, Kuper. Love that kid!
Of course no trip to Grandma and Grandpa's would be complete without seeing Troy's, from "High School Musical", house. Mike's parents live on the same small street as the houses they used for Troy's and Gabriella's houses in the movie. Every trip to
SLC we have to walk down and see the houses. I am just glad the owners are friends with Grandma and Grandpa, otherwise we might look like stalkers.
This big girl had a 5
th birthday. More on that later but we really love this funny one. So glad we get to keep her. I honestly have moments where I just look at her and feel such an overwhelming sense of gratitude that she is mine. Life with R is so enjoyable.
Grandma, my mother, came home from her mission. The girls were elated. She came right from her mission to Denver. There were a lot of hugs and tears. Even people at the airport were teary eyed when the girls ran up to grandma for the first time. We missed you, Grandma. Welcome home and great job. We are proud of you.
E's best friend from Boston and her dad came to visit. E and
Miya were inseparable for 4 years. They went to preschool together, played on the same soccer team, went to tennis camp together, had swim lessons together, were in the same class at church. They were literally together 7 days a week. They could not get enough of each other and would even had play dates after spending 5 hours together. E was elated
Miya came. Sadly, she cried for a whole day after she left.
The dads are pretty similar, both M.I.T. alum. I think the dads had as much fun as the girls. The four of them went to Rockies game together.
We went to Omaha to see this cousin. The girls LOVE their cousin. I think this picture captures the three of them perfectly. Unfortunately, I am having a hard time down loading Omaha pictures. Hopefully more to come.
Winter Quarters Temple 
In Omaha I got to see my dear friend Katie from Boston. Her husband is in business school at BYU and is interning this summer in Omaha. It was amazing to see her and her great family. Even though we hadn't seen each other in a year it was like no time passed. I am REALLY hoping that they end up in the west. Although Katie is a Boston native and thinks Boston is the hub of the universe (as a fellow Bostonian - she is SO right).
My dear dear friend Marie-Edouard came to visit for a week from Boston. It was heaven. I love this women with all my heart. It was one of my favorite weeks ever. Poor Marie-Edouard, I miss her and Boston so much that every time I talk to her since she left, I always cry. The middle picture of her in Breckenridge.
I competed in a triathlon with these friends. We trained together (and some of us still do workout together). I loved the triathlon. I plan on doing more next year.
R and Uncle Stephen. I think he was the girls' favorite part of the trip.
Our friends from Colorado, the Smiths, joined us for some of the time we were in Park City. They are such a great family that the girls were thrilled to have their friends with them for a few days. I was thrilled to have their mom with me. Here is the group at the Olympic Museum.
I was able to see a bunch of former YM, both from Colorado and home. Unfortuntately some pictures were lost. But I al going to try hard to find them.
Grandma and E. Unfortunately, we did not get any pictures of Grandpa.
Uncle Stephen and the girls. 
