Utah

I took a couple days off work and drove to Utah to pick up the kids.   Zach and Maddie had a lot of fun at EFY.  They went to Logan this year.  To us, EFY is just one of those things that I think is worthwhile to make happen.  They gain so much from it in so many ways, and they are dealing with so much junk in their lives, I feel they NEED this. 

That said, they loved it.  Despite the lack of pictures :/

Other than that, some of the other highlights were-

teaching grandpa how to take a selfie on his new iphone,

visiting with their grandparents and aunts and uncles, (Grandma and aunt Amy somehow escaped being photographed)

spending the day with Will,

Maddie entertaining grandpa (and the rest of us) with her musical talents,

meeting one of Nick's former companions, the former Elder Josh Hatch,

visiting the One Man Band Diner, the place where Zach FINALLY tried fry sauce and has been obsessed ever since.  We go back there every once in awhile as a pilgrimage of sorts...

and last but not least, the kids FINALLY got to meet their brand new little cousin Ben. 

There hasn't been a new baby in the family since Christopher, and they've been dying to meet this little cutie.   I mean, look at these baby pictures.  It was killing us to not hold him and kiss him and squish him.

And then it was time to go.  I miss those lazy days of summer when I would spend a month or so in Utah, but I will take what I can get.