Utah: June

Most of our time in Utah was really low key, just hanging out at my parent's house... which is exactly what we needed after a crazy few months of graduation, morning sickness, packing up our house and moving to New Jersey. Josh had a scary health issue arise the day of our move and the doctors he saw in New Jersey didn't clear him to fly to Utah yet. I ended up flying to Utah with the girls on my own while Josh finished a few more days of IV treatments and then joined us in Utah. It was a crazy time!

Anyway, here are a few pictures from our first week or so in Utah...

 Brynlee's first prerogative in Utah was pulling out the costume box.

 Last summer my mom and I had spend hours at the Parade of Homes, planning her kitchen renovation. I hadn't been home since any of the work had been done, so it was awesome to see how everything came together! My mom filled one of her kitchen drawers with art supplies and Brynlee certainly made good use of that! She spent a lot of time drawing at this counter and then taping up her pictures and notes all around the house.

 Tractor rides with my dad

 (I'm not sure why Bryn is wearing the Indonesian costume for the tractor ride, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised.)

Playing in the doghouse/spacious clubhouse

 Reading with grandpa

 More costumes

 Bryn was concerned that we wouldn't really be celebrating the 4th of July since we'd be up the canyon at the Clarke reunion, so we decided to have a 4th of July dinner the week before. Bryn spent all afternoon making the place cards, decorating the cups, and setting this patriotic table :)

 Jumping on the tramp with cousin Braden 

Pool time

 Decorating cookies

Enjoying grandma's books

 Snacks on the deck

Josh finally made it to Utah- Woohoo!

My parents took us out to dinner to celebrate Josh's MBA graduation. We went to Texas Roadhouse and maybe it's just that I'm pregnant but I thought it was so good! 

 Pool time/Dance party

 Sprinklers on the tramp ....one of my very favorite summer activities!

More Utah pictures to come :)

Utah: Mom's 50th

My beautiful mama turned 50 while I was in Utah and it was so fun to celebrate as a family. My mom is truly the best!

 So fun to be with my mom and sister Marie! Marie scanned tons of old pictures of my mom and we put together a book for my mom with notes from my siblings and dad with 50 of our favorite memories and lessons we've learned from mom. It was fun surprise her with the book :)

On the night of her birthday we got a sitter for the girls and my nephew and we had a wonderful child-free dinner at Cheesecake Factory. 

 (My picture of Jae and Amy at dinner was blurry...oops!)

 We hadn't all been together since 2012, so it was the best to have a fun night with everyone in town at the same time. My family is the best!

(This was also the night Marie announced her pregnancy with baby #2! She's due just a couple months after me and I'm so thrilled our little babies will be so close in age!)

Utah: Hawkins Get-Togethers

It's been nearly a month since we've been home from our Utah trip, so it's about time I update this little bloggity blog. We'll start with some pictures with Josh's fam...

Half of Josh's siblings live in Utah, so it was a treat to spend time with them while we were in Utah. I don't have pictures from all the Hawkins gatherings, but here are a few fun memories. Above is a Hawkins dinner at Cafe Rio, which is always a necessary destination while in Utah.

 Bryn was pretty thrilled about her ride in Jason's "rhino" with her cute cousins.

 Beautiful evening at the park with some of our favorite people!

 The kids (and Josh) had fun at the park :)

 Mya and I had fun getting to know my two-week-old nephew Winston. He and our baby boy are definitely going to be BFFs down the road.

 Josh with his siblings Jason, Jess, and Becky

 My girls are sure lucky to have such sweet cousins like Halle!

 Another day we had fun checking out Jess and Sterling's new house in Lehi and spending more time with the sweetest little baby around.

 Cousin time!

We had a play date at Becky's house and Bryn is still talking about her cousin Vela's fancy black car that "really drives!!"

 Lots of cute Hawkins cousins dressed as fairies for my cousin Harlow's darling birthday party.

Bryn walking the plank

We had a fun Family Home Evening with Brandon and Marilee's family at my parent's house.

Bryn and Maren were so cute playing badminton in the backyard. 

 Sarah was Mya's second mother while we were in Utah :)

 We had a fun Hawkins dinner at Jason and Brandi's house and Mya and Harlow enjoyed themselves on the tramp! Harlow is Josh's twin's daughter and she and Mya were born just a few days apart. It was so cute seeing them giggling and playing so well!

 I'm grateful to be a part of the Hawkins family and my kids are sure glad to have so many wonderful Hawkins cousins!

Family Pictures

 A few days after we got to Utah we had family pictures taken - our first time actually getting family pictures taken by a photographer! We were long overdue. 

The pictures were taken by the talented Christine Olsen (who took beautiful pictures of the girls last summer... HERE)

It wasn't ideal timing to take family pictures since we were all still a little worn out from the move, I was 20 weeks pregnant (that awkward stage where your stomach is nice and full, but not quite obvious to be a cute pregnant belly), and Mya was in a seriously grumpy mood.... we found out the next day that she had an ear infection. Poor girl! Her scowls in most of the pictures were totally warranted!

Christine was fabulous to work with once again, and I'm amazed that she even snagged a few pictures of Mya smiling!

Anyway, here are the pictures of my little family.... 

 We tried to take some pictures with just Bryn and Mya, but this was the best we got :) Bryn was trying hard to pose with her and be sweet, but Mya was not having it!

 Most of Bryn's pictures are dramatic poses and expressions like this little pose with the flower. I know I'm going to look back on these pictures and laugh at this funny stage. Unlike Mya, Bryn was totally on board for taking pictures but she just couldn't do a natural smile. She was coming up with all sorts of interesting smiles and poses :) Oh I love you, Bryn! 

I love this little crew so much and I can't wait to add another baby to the bunch in just three months!