To Grandmother's House We Go...

So the trip home to Utah that I had been looking forward to is over just as quickly as it came. Happy news is that I am the aunt of a beautiful new baby girl. Mariah and Tyrell had their third daughter on July 16th. They named her Jazlyn Jo. Taylor(5) and Brentlee(2) like to call her Jazzie or J.J. She's just tiny and precious.

Ashlyn and I flew up on Tues. August 5th. Derek's mom picked us up from the airport and we went back to their house to have lunch and see Heather, Madelyn(4), & Spencer(2) (Derek's sister & her kids) before heading out to Roosevelt where my sister lives.

We spent Tuesday evening through Friday afternoon in Roosevelt. I was so happy that I finally got to watch my nieces barrel race. It was so much fun to spend time with the girls and for my sister and I to spend time together. Man, I should have got started having kids when I was a bit younger....I was exhausted! There I was attempting to help my sister who gave birth just 3 weeks before and broke her back in March. She is the one that kept going and I couldn't keep up.

On Friday we headed for Gunnison/Salina. Traveling with four kids under the age of five was an adventure in itself. We had to stop 3 or 4 times but finally made it to my mom's around 9:30 that night. Saturday was my cousin Matthew's wedding and it was so great to see and catch up with a lot of our family at the luncheon. We got to spend time that night with my brothers, sister-in-law, and other niece as well. There are five little girls between my three siblings and I. It was so cute to see them all together. Sunday we visited with my great aunt, grandmother, and my grandparents that live in Aurora and

(Ashlyn with Grandpa James)

then we went to my Dad's in Fayette. Lots and lots of time in the car for those four little girls! Ashlyn was such a trooper the entire trip.

Monday morning my sister had a check-up appointment in Salt Lake, so we drove up there and her husband met us at the doctor's office. She is doing great with her back. Of course she is doing way too much, but she does continue to improve. Then we all decided to go to the Hogle Zoo while we were there.

Why is it that when you are a kid everything seems so much bigger and more active than it really is? At any rate, it was a lot of fun. Ashlyn, however, was so tired that she slept in her stroller through most of it. We grabbed some lunch and then it was time to say goodbye while they went back to Roosevelt and we stayed in Salt Lake.

We met Rachel and Tonya Monday evening to chat and catch up. Although it makes dinner more exciting while trying to entertain two kids (Rachel has a 2 year old), it is always great to see them and hang out with old friends.

(Ashlyn & her Grandma Pulsipher)

Derek's parents live in Sandy so we spent the next couple days with them. It was nice to relax and not have to drive anywhere. On Tuesday Heather came down for the day with her two kids, so Ashlyn got to spend time with her cousins at Grandma & Grandpa Pulsipher's. We flew out on Wednesday afternoon. It was so great to come visit, but it was so nice to get back home too. We missed Derek so much and Ashlyn was sure happy to see her Daddy at the airport. She couldn't stop smiling and staring at him. Then, of course, she was up late that night. I guess she was happy to be back in familiar surroundings 'cause she just kept playing on the floor and squealing.

I'm sorry that we didn't have more time to spend and see everyone I would have liked to. Hopefully next trip :) In the mean time - I'm thinking of you all and grateful for your love and support! Miss you!