Julia Goes West

You all know that Greg rarely gets vacation, so when a cheap flight came up to SLC, I decided to brave the airlines with just me and Julia. She really wanted her own seat, but unfortunately all the flights were full and she had to sit on my lap. I think she really missed her alone time, as did I. She was really good on the flight, but I missed my napping and reading time. When is she going to realize that life is all about me and not all about her?! :)

Ready to fly!

My first visitors were my cousin Justin (who looks just like both of my brothers who look nothing alike...don't ask me how that's true, it just is) and Angie and their three kids! Justin and I are only two days apart and are "twin cousins!"

Angie holding Julia - her kids wanted a piece of the love too!

Skyler and Julia met when she was a month old in Atlanta, but they enjoyed each other more this visit. They are three months apart, and can you tell what Skyler is eyeing?

With 3 big brothers, Skyler had never seen so many bows!

Lea and I took the kids to the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City across from Temple Square. Oh, Danny would have been a good pioneer! Look at those pushing skills! 

Speaking of pushing, one of my favorite exhibits at the museum was when Danny disappeared into the Men's restroom for 30 minutes and an old man offered to watch the Men's door while I had to go in and wipe him. That was awesome.

Julia seems to have enjoyed herself too!

My wonderful friend Susan met up with us for lunch!

On Saturday we went to the Payson Highland Games. It was pretty awesome watching these Scottish events. Julia seemed more interested in the grass...

...than in watching this amazing woman hoist and throw a log!

On Sunday the Utah Saville's (which consist of Lea's fam, Brian's fam and my parents) took a walk along the Jordan River.

Proof that Shayne is just a big kid. Yes, he stole the bike from Danny.

Three Generations

Shayne helping Danny ride his tricycle....or better phrased as: Shayne getting a free ride

Beautiful Devri pushing Julia

Ha, ha, I got out of pushing the stroller again!

Michael and Danny are best buds.

Maggie walking Michael

Beautiful Utah, where the weather was 80 degrees the entire week. Amazing!

Utter chaos all.the.time.

Lots of kids rolling around here

Danny was super good about playing with the babies

Papa and Julia - she'd never seen such big fingers and was fascinated!

Devri, Brian, Michael and Julia

Oh my gosh, who stole my baby and put a happy Buddha in her place?!

Julia borrowed Lea's extra car seat...it was a tad bit big

Michael loved meeting his cousin

The night before I left, Lea graciously allowed me to have an open house at her house to see friends

Heidi, who has been featured previously on my blog as one of my amazing oboe friends

Julia's great-great-aunt Lorrie. I'm so glad our trips coincided and they got to meet!

Dedee is a very special friend that was going through IVF around the same time as me and really encouraged me on the discouraging days!

My Aunt Martie (Dad's sister) and Skyler

My Cousin Cindi

Um... what can I say but "That's my dad!"

Emilee, Adrian and Eli. Adrian and Greg served missions in Berlin together and I hadn't seen them in years. This was my first time meeting Eli, and I have to admit he did not like it when his mom held Julia!

Julie and Julia

Cousins Todd and Joni

LauraDawn - I taught her oboe when she was in middle school and now she's married. Sniff, sniff...I'm getting old!

Barbara and I used to work at Summerhays together forever ago. I hadn't seen her in 8 years!

Stormi and Rick are very good friends from my BYU days, and now that they live in Pennsylvania I NEVER get to see them. Fortunately, our trips to UT coincided this year!

Francis and Randy Wadley - great family friends from Topeka. I'd like to say they came all this way to see me, but it just wouldn't be true.

My beautiful Mom

And for some reason I didn't get many pics of the woman behind the scenes - my sis Lea! After spending a week in her shoes I only have more admiration for all that she does in taking care of her 4 boys. 

For now, I'm happy to have just one little girl though. :)

And as a bonus I had a 2-hr layover in Phoenix and got to see Tammy!

Tammy has also done IVF so pictured here are 3 petri dish babies - aren't they just perfect?!

Coming to Utah!

Hey Utah blog stalkers out there, Julia and I are coming to Utah this week. We are having a "Come and Meet Julia" Open House at my sister's house in Lehi on Tuesday, July 17th. If you would like to come by just let me know and I will give you the details!

Go 4th!

We love the 4th of July in Peachtree City! It all begins with the parade in the morning.

And this year we wised-up and brought the Sportsbrella. We became part of the parade because every other float participant would give us the thumbs up and say, "Great idea!"

Julia loved the parade too. I love that her feet don't even touch the ground when sitting on the curb.

We had Rich Marsh join us too since his family abandoned him for Europe.

My two favorite people!

Yes, it's true...I don't know what's happened to me. I put bows in my daughter's hair and I buy matching shirts for me and Greg. It's almost embarrassing!

My wonderful friend Susan made this adorable 4th of July tank for her!

I always love me a good marching band! 

This golfcart won first place, I think. 

And this golfcart was "Christmas in July"

Julia got lots of candy, which we stole from her, but she did like these beads someone threw at us. Can't you just see the intent studying of all the crazies in the parade? She loved it so much she refused to take a nap.

After two barbecues, we went to West Point Lake to see the fireworks on the lake.

"I'm Popeye the Sailor-baby!" How did she know to do this right when she got on the water?

What you can't see underneath this lifejacket is that Greg forgot Julia's pants. So now she had a wife-beater tank and no pants. I think if we'd given her a beer she would have fit right-in in LaGrange.

Okay, so now its obvious that she was Popeye because the lifejacket was too big. This is Aaron, Alicia's little boy, and I think he imprinted on Julia. Seriously.

Beautiful sunset

Boats were all lined up waiting for the show

Too cute to be embarrassed by the matching outfits!

Watching fireworks on a lake was definitely spectacular. Unfortunately LaGrange's fireworks show wasn't even close to being as amazing as PTC.

Julia LOVED the fireworks. It was like her favorite Baby Einstein toy that has flashing lights times a million!

And today we tried swimming again. She sure looks adorable, but she sure hated the pool. 

Now I have a husband and a baby that I can't get to go swimming with me. It's like they're vampires or something!

Cutest Post Ever! Bows, Bows, and more Bows!

Yes, there are no repeats.

No, I do not know who this person is that keeps putting bows in her daughter's hair!

She's a lean but not green, musical, moving, kicking machine

 This is where she started out at the beginning of her nap (notice the excitement about the mobile)!

And this is where she ended up after the nap.

I think she knows she did something wrong...

 Cutest outfit ever...

Thanks, Susan!

These rubber duckies are awesome because they light up in the water. 

One duck in the water - she smiled. 

Three ducks - she cried. 

 She knows they're coming to get her.

Luckily she's an excellent kicker and can keep those glowing ducks away!

Not quite a social recluse yet...

I was ready to be a social recluse, but Julia is such a party animal that she invited over all her friends on Saturday.

Julia, Jonah and McKenzy

These girls like the younger boys....3 weeks younger

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This is what we like to call "North Point Singles Ward - The 2nd Generation."

All of their parents knew each other from the single ward days.

 We're such good friends we had our babies 4 hours apart!

Almost exactly a year ago, Yvonne and I sat on this very couch and lamented about our infertility. Life can sure change quickly!

Ashley (not pictured Jacob and Savannah)

Brandon, Ashley and Aria

Crystal and Dalan

Technically Crystal is the only one who wasn't in the North Point Singles Ward. Alan managed to import her from Idaho via marriage!

Heather and Jonah, Yvonne and McKenzy

Watch out for the McKenzy - she has already got her eyes on Jonah!

Hailey LOVES Greg and wants to marry him, but since he is already married to me she has decided she will just dote on our baby instead.

And we took Julia swimming for the first time. Although she loves the bath, she didn't seem to be a huge fan of the pool. We'll have to keep working on that.

Greg dressing Julia up like a boy/Univ. of TN fan