Thomsen party

The Thomsen party continued this week at the Days Inn where they all stayed.

The antibiotics for my strep were kickin' in, so I was feeling better just in time!

We had the hotel all to ourselves, so we took over. My cousins Simon (11), Levi (11) and Harrison (9), and Bella and I played in the pool most of one day. I tried teaching them to swim while Bella splashed, giggled and flirted with all the boys. She adores them!!!

My awesome aunt Drae.

My goofy uncle Steve. (My dad's {Randy} brother)

Cousin Harrison (9)

Fiddle's and violins - Drae taught me how to play!! So fun!

Levi (11) and Simon (11). Yes - twins.

Grandma on the Mandolin and me testin' out the violin.

The boys and grandpa playing Bridge!!

Drae teaching grandma the mandolin.

Steve, Drae and their boys

Grandpa and Grandma Thomsen!

My favorite part about this picture is the decor from the background growing out of Ty's head! hahaha

Drae "backin' me up"

We like to "JAM" and get together with our music. It's fun!!

Uncle Steve recently picked up the banjo! Cool!!! I love it's sound!!!

Sittin' back enjoying the tunes.

Grandma and Grandpa couldn't hold back, so they let their dance moves free!

Bella lovin' on her uncle Gary.

We had so much fun with my family here! I feel so blessed that my strep was mostly healed by the time they came to visit. Bummer that Ty has it now, but we're on the road to recovery! 10 days of amoxicillan should do the trick!

Thanks for coming out to visit! I enjoyed your good company, good music and good laughs.

Saturday Hike

Beautiful days = GO HIKING!

Well, it was more like a nature walk, but it was still fun.

FREEZING water!

Bella threw rocks in the stream, chased a butterfly and had us carry her the whole time!

I vote we get a hiking backpack for Bella to ride in!

We want to visit Zions National Park next month, so maybe a Bella backpack is a good idea!

The air was so refreshing and Ty was so happy to get out and taste the beautiful weather! We'll be doing more of this for sure.

Exploring

What do we do on a Friday night?

Drive around.

Until we find a new park.

And some cows.

And maybe even an electric fence. Yeah, Bella grabbed it with both hands, and let me tell you - she was shocked! Okay, bad joke. She was okay, but she squealed and ran like I'd never seen before!!! It was so sad!!

I only thought it was a barbed wire fence, but I should have known by the grass line - it was perfectly trimmed on one side and perfectly untouched by cows beneath the wire.

We had a fun time though. It felt so rural and in the boonies, but we were only a few miles east of where we live!

We found a trout farm where I'm sure we'll make a visit. It's fun exploring with my Bella!!!

"WOOOK MOM! A TOW! ThERE!", says the 2-year-old.

All the cows became curious of their visitors.

Stare down.

Nothin' Like Family

My Grandma and Grandpa Thomsen and my uncle Gary arrived from Nebraska this afternoon about 5, and we have had so much fun together!! Eating, laughin at Grandpa's off-color jokes, and catchin' up. I love watching my grandparents together. They are like two chattering squirrels, pestering, flirting and in love. It's adorable, and gives me hope to be happily married like them after 54 years!!! Holy moly!!!

Then around 8:30pm, my uncle Steve, aunt Drae, and their three boys arrived from Idaho! I enjoyed playing host, listening to my grandparents banter about the details of how they first met, and watching Bella run, giggle and laugh for joy that she had three little boys to join in on her fun!

Really, Bella was the biggest show-off tonight and it was cracking me up!!! Running circles around the couch, front flipping into her crib, and more giggling than she could handle!!!

10:20pm came quick, and everyone left for their hotel beds. Bella looked like someone drugged her! It was hilarious.

My guess is she'll sleep in until 9am tomorrow. That's what I hope, at least!

Aaannnnd...that didn't happen. She woke up at 6:40am. Lovely.

Bella's Great-Grandma Marion

Kisses for all!

It took Bella a while to warm up to her Great Grandparents, but once she did, she was ALL IN!

Here's to a fun next few days with the Thomsens!!! I wish the rest of you were here!!!

Blog Therapy

Strep throat sucks.

Car breaking down twice in one month sucks.

But awesome family and friends who come to your rescue do not suck!

Camille drove me to the doctor and pharmacy, Mykel towed our car to the mechanic, Tina took Bella for 3 hours, Nicole and Courtland brought me Zeppe's Italian ice, and the husband. The poor poor husband...He gets the brunt of it all.

I think he's spent more time in the kitchen these past few days than ever before... Making me the 'tiny noodle' soup, reheating my drinks, rubbing the shoulders, doing the dishes, and catering to all of Bella's needs, too.

Thank you all you awesome people in my life!