Family Fun in Utah

It was wonderful to help decorate for Shalee's wedding reception in Draper, UT. We had a nice reunion with Sue's family, who we grew up with in NJ. Everything was so organized and the colors just popped. It's always fun to see my little brother Chip's family when we visit Utah. Morgan and Alexis didn't do there traditional sleepover because school had already started. We'll make up for it next year. Morgan did make a new "cousin" friend - Tiffany (Sue's brother Kevin's daughter). They met and two seconds later they were glued as friends forever. Shalee looked beautiful and we are glad they live close to us in Washington.

Being at Grandma and Grandpa's house in Provo is great when you can share the house with cousins. Morgan (in the middle) with her favorite Oregon cousins, Jessica (blonde), Brooke (Brunette) and Logan (laying down). We have been lucky to live by Jim's youngest daughter Julie and her husband Bob for the past nine years. It's been fun to have "family" by us. We are sad that they have now moved to Utah but we are happy that we will continue to see them in the summers when we visit. Highland is lucky to get this great family - they laugh a lot and enjoy being with each other. We will miss the impromptu talent shows, sleep overs and Thanksgiving dinners together. Our best wishes to them in their new home and in making new friends.

This is the Place Heritage Village in Salt Lake City was really fun. Here Morgan (front white shirt) and Lauren (back tall one) had to recite their times tables in a school house being sure to do it properly - notice the hand positions and standing when speaking. It was great because the teacher stayed in character the entire time. Next to Morgan is her new friend Alli from Florida. As a matter of fact we all fell in love with this young lady and offered to adopt her but she she said she wasn't up for adoption.

Morgan was thrilled when she found out she could go horse back riding at the Heritage Village. She rode Banjo and even though they only went in cirlces she was happy to have her cousin Josh and Alli ride with her . Lauren was a good sport since you could only ride if you were under 12. There were over 50 homes/buildings and activites to do. One of the favorite was getting ice cream at the Hotel Utah. What a great way to show how Salt Lake looked when the pioneers came and settle it. Great day with my brother Mike and Sue and Josh and their Florida Friends Kerry and Alli. It's always great when our kids can make memories with family.

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Later that evening Tara came up from Provo to have dinner with all of us at the Mayan. It is an amazing place. It has been renivated inside and the diving show is breathtaking. It's like a dinner and a show at family prices. Best deal in town and the food is yummy! We sat right by the railings and the divers looked like they were coming right at us - we were all holding our breaths until they hit the water which was only seconds but it felt longer! It was great to have Tara for another night. We had been in Provo for four days and went to Seven Peaks, did some shopping, had lunches together and she showed us her office and we met her boss Janet and some of her co-workers. They love her at Vitalsmarts and she enjoys her job. If they would just relocated to Oregon it would be perfect - well for me anyway.