a few days of fall in utah!

On the 3rd weekend in September, our whole family met together for a last hurrah with kerry, austin and cedar!
we got together in park city, utah....we stayed at a hugemongous house up there....it had 10 bedrooms, 10 baths, big living area....the grandkids were so excited....and the best of it...there was an elevator....so they were pumped!  although, i had to put in a rule, immediately that the little kids good only go in the elevator with an adult...that kept them from constantly using it!

kids at the house

 

we did a lot of activities that i've never done....friday was the first day....everyone arrived (after russ and kris missed their flight and had to stay overnight in a hotel), we took off walking for the park city resort.....once there, the kids did the alpine slide....they loved it...we ate burgers at the little shack right there at the bottom...(before we left, i had everyone take a meal, to either cook or just decide where to go eat),

                                                                                                                   park city resort

then, we hoofed it down the road, hopped in our cars and drove to midway to the homestead.  once there, we swam in the hot mineral crater that is there....it was really fun....the kids loved it....that night we finished off with dinner at maxwell's pizza....

                                                                                                   owen and tommy climbing the crater

saturday after a breakfast of thinnies, we went to the olympic park...that was really fun...they have alpine slides, zip lines and a ropes course....the kids loved it...and they could do things over and over again....kristen faced her fears and went down the zip line....fun time!

saturday night we had a party of friends and family to say good bye to the davis family!  it was crazy, loud, but really fun to see all those who could come...the kids had a blast with some new friends....
after a 2am bedtime...we got up, had breakfast, then we did the 'circle of love',' where everyone said one thing about kerry, austin and cedar...why they loved them, why they would miss them etc....it was really sweet...i love hearing my grandkids thoughts...we took 1 family picture ,finally! (my kids have an aversion to these)

and i'm glad we did because we were going to take one in the canyon and it poured!  then, we ended off the day by eating at bandits in park city....that was fun...once again, i love seeing the older grandkids having such a fun time together....that's what it's all about....

we drove home by way of guardsman's pass and down big cottonwood canyon...said our goodbyes to willie and kelly's family at the bottom, then, kelly lewis' family left a bit later...russ, kristen and i stayed until monday...we hung out and then picked up new iPhones!  woohoo!!!

fast forward a week.....i went back to utah for my niece, katie bagley's wedding...flew up early on monday morning...that night kerry and i went to a wedding dinner for katie and dave...it was really nice...at the joseph smith memorial building

                                                                                                               my brother tom and julie

polly and jim

marty and dee

...tuesday morning i drove down to the sl temple, the wedding was was beautiful....afterwards, polly and i went to visit my aunt ruth....she just lost her son howard to cancer. she is so strong...i decided i want to be like her when i grow up!!! she's almost 95 and so with it!! i'm amazed...

                                                                                        stole this picture from sarah and megan...gorgeous!
that night we went to the reception which was at the tuscany...they were so lucky, it poured for about an hour in the afternoon, but, turned out to be a lovely night....it was a really nice party for them....

                                                                                           stole these pictures from sarah and megan...gorgeous!

the rest of the week i just hung out with kerry and austin and cedar...
we went to the zoo with whitney and wren...went to a lot of great restaurants....

it was a really fun time in utah, seeing the fall foliage was lovely....it gave me a hint of fall....i came home to 100 degree weather!!

adios

tomorrow we have to leave this beautiful place....costa rica is really beautiful...this area is the dryer part of costa rica, but, it still seems really green to me...we've had a wonderful time...to finish out the week....on wednesday we had a taxi (in a Huge van), take us into the town of tamarindo...it's a little costa rican town...pretty touristy because it has great surfing beaches...we had lunch, wandered a bit, saw the beach etc....took the drive back where we saw a lot of farms, skinny cows, some nice houses, some not as nice....fun to see the area

....on thursday, we took a private boat out for the afternoon...that was fantastic....i love water and i love boats!! so perfect....they drove us around to see the area and then because it was really choppy, they took us to a nice bay where we could play....there was snorkeling, they knee boarded, paddle boarded...the water was amazingly warm...like a nice bath tub...the babies loved it...we also saved a lady from canada that was having a bit of a panic attack while snorkeling....all in all, a fun day!! russ finishd out his week of surfing...the boat would take him to different spots every morning...yesterday was cool and cloudy, but, we still hung out outside...today i had a fantastic massage...then watched russie, while russ and kris had theirs...then it started pouring...after lunch we went to the kids club to let the babies play....swam afterwards...had a nice dinner...and now have to pack...so sad to leave this gorgeous place!!

kerry's 25th birthday!!

beautiful!

i wanted to interrupt this trip post to celebrate kerry's 25th birthday!!! woo hoo!!! i can't believe my baby is 25!  a quarter of a century!  where has the time gone?  i feel like it's flown by...i also feel like kerry should still be living with me...but, instead she lives with austin and cedar!!
kerry....you are a fantastic person....one that i'm so proud of...you have accomplished so much in your life...you're so beautiful...talented. you seem to pick up to talents all the time...art, candle making, flower arranging, painting, rock climbing etc...you're never afraid to try something new!

                                                                going place places...like spain

                                                                          loves to hang out

                                                                           smart mouse

                                                                           cute mom
..you're artistic, smart, creative, fun, a great wife, a wonderful mom, and a fantastic daughter....i'm so grateful to have you in my life...that i can learn from you....it's fun to watch you and austin with cedar...he's a lucky little boy to have you as his mom....keep up the great work...don't ever stop creating, learning, doing fun new things...you are always striving to do something new...i love it!!! and i love you!! i'm a lucky mom.....thanks for being my friend always....love you!!!

costa rica!

i'm in beautiful costa rica! russell, kristen, baby russ, kerry, austin, cedar and i are in costa rica for the week....we arrived on friday night....long flight made longer by a delayed plane....we arrived at the four seasons at about 10 pm...and went right to bed!
saturday morning we had a delicious breakfast...i went to the pool while the babies had their naps....afterwards they all joined me at the pool...it was a very relaxing day....not having to move much, unless in the warm water of the pool

....the kids took the babies on a walk around the resort....had a nice dinner...after dinner we went down to the beach where we lit floating lanterns and let them go into the sky...that was fun!

  afterwards, we looked for a movie to watch...no bueno....so kerry, austin and russell played an artist game of who could draw the best picture in a minute...silly and fun....

this morning we had breakfast and went to the beach...our hotel is on a peninsula and because of that we have a bay on one side and the pacific on the other....very cool...the water is warm like bath water...no problems walking into that!

we played at the beach...the boys went snorkeling...took the babies in the water....in the afternoon we drove to the golf course and took a 'trail of the giants' tour....

we drove golf carts around the golf course and saw the animals that are in the jungle there...birds, monkeys, an animal called a cortis...it was fun to do and see.....it started raining as we finished....later, i went and had a much needed, fantastic massage! kristen and kerry had treatments also...then, had a fun dinner at the bar...delcious food!  adios for now!

dearest tom

july 4th, 5th and 6th are always a little hard for me.....this is the weekend of Tom.....
the 4th of july was his favorite holiday...right after christmas! he loved the simplicity of it....just having fun, barbecuing, watching the fireworks and being with friends and family.....we had a fun day and night yesterday..had family to swim....had a great bbq and watched some great fireworks.....the 5th is always so hard because that day, 15 years ago...tom passed away....i think of him everyday...i miss him always...it's always been so hard, as the kids have graduated, gotten married, had babies...to not have him around....i truly believe that he is watching over us...but, it is hard....even 15 years later....and then, of course, july 6th is tom's birthday!  so, we try to celebrate every year...tonight i was telling gavin stories of his grandpa....tom was a fantastic man...he had a great work ethic...he was going to be the best at whatever he did.....he was funny....people loved him....he could say and do things that would get everyone else in trouble...but, he got away with it....he was so generous...loving and giving to others....it's always fun to hear of the guys he worked with, that still tell his stories....i was truly blessed to have him in my life....he was a wonderful man...a great husband....not quite a saint! but, maybe he's on his way.....you're always in my thoughts.....have i told you lately that i love you?