Catching up...part 2 of 2

The day after school started my brother Andy, his wife, Bethany and their adorable, sweet boys arrived for a 12 day stay.  It was my brother's annual salmon fishing hoorah!  We were so excited to see them that we went up to my Mom's for their arrival.  Then we visited too late but nearly long enough...every night was spent at my Mom's visiting mostly with Bethany & the boys (since Andy was fishing) and we followed this pattern until my sister, Holly and her cutie kids arrived the following Wednesday. 

That night we had a sibling/mother dinner out at Applebee's.  This is when sisters (namely Mindy, Holly & Susie) embarrass their older brother, Todd and make their mother giggle till it hurts.  Andy was fishing but we all missed him not being there. 

Thursday night my Aunt Kitti & my Grandma Kestner arrived and stayed in our home.  Friday my in-laws arrived and so did Daniel's brother Kevin and his wife, Kelly.  Hey, hey the gangs all here...here we are together...  Funny...all the details are fuzzy now...they were fresh when I sat down and wrote part 1 just less than a week ago.  Yikes. 

Saturday morning we had our son, Robel sealed to us as an eternal son in our eternal family. 

It is always so special to have my children with me & my sweetie in the temple.  It brings me a sense of peace and assurance I cannot explain.  It is a beautiful thing.  The best thing ever happened.  Robel's missionaries Elder Warner & Elder Prawitt, who taught him the missionary discussions were both back/still in the area and were able to join us in the temple.  It was so awesome to have them there.  I found this definition plaque once that I have for each of their families that says it perfectly...

Missionary

One who spends two years away from his family so you can spend eternity with yours. 

How fun for us and for them that during their missions that our son would accept the gospel and be baptized and then they could witness our eternal sealing in God's Holy House.

Those who joined us at the temple on September 18th.

Afterwards we had a family & friend picnic in the park.  Daniel made a great slide show for him with pictures from our meeting him to every step along the way of our first year as a family of 6.  I gave Robel a "1st year at home" scrapbook.  He had asked for his own "baby book" shortly after he came home as each of our kids have one...I told him I would make him a first year home book and give it to him after he'd been home a year.

My good friends Andrea & RaeShel

My dear friends/sisters Kelli, Rhonda & Kelly

Willi & Amy

My baby brother, Andy

My brother Todd & our Mom..."say cheese".

Aunt Kitti & Gideon

My Grandma Kestner

(I'll post more photos later...my computer is getting moody and won't upload anymore tonight)

On Sunday Kevin, Kelly, Mom & Dad all went home. 

Then on Monday I drove my Aunt Kitti & Grandma to Chelan, WA...a 7 hour drive to where my Aunt Holly, and her son, David and his family live.  We had a great time on our travels.  My Aunt Holly, my Aunt Kitti and I stayed up laughing into the wee morning hours...I think my sides still hurt when I think back to how we enjoyed ourselves that night.  My Cousin David and his wife Gloria and their son Will were great hosts...we enjoyed a yummy dinner with them but let them rest as little Will was very sick.

On Tuesday Aunt Holly took me out on a morning cruise on Lake Chelan.  What a treat!  I've always been partial to the west side of the Cascades but you are convincing me that eastern Washington is has just as much beauty to offer...just in a different way. 

My sister Holly stayed in Washington until Friday morning and then I finally got a nap!  By Monday morning I was SICK!!!  Yakking, coughing, runny nose, feeling YUCK!  I stayed in bed until Wednesday when I had to get up and get things done (though sweating the whole time) then I left Thursday the 30th of September with my Mom to Pocatello, Idaho to see my brother David, his wife Marcy and their 4 kiddos. 

We spent the next three days with them watching Benjamin play football, drinking Theraflu, watching Zack play kindly with Michael, watching Alex play the melaphone in marching band, having a cough drop, picking up left items at WalMart, enjoying yummy food made by Marcy & coming up with fancy hair dos/braids for Gabby. 

When work and school called them on Monday morning Mom and I headed to Andy & Bethany's for the day (Andy has Monday's off).  What a fun day!  The kids played catch, swords (styrofoam mid evil weapons made by their Uncle Joel), rode bikes, make up games, eat Popsicles, etc.  It was a fun just visiting and chatting.  We enjoyed a fun pizza dinner and the greatest, spiciest, "Hawaiian" pizza I ever had...ok...it was a mess up but it was delicious!  :)

Late that night we headed to Holly & Darin's house.  Little Rashad & Michael played so well together we forgot they were even home when the others were at school.  Holly cooked a 6 course breakfast the next day and showed us to some amazing Utah stores...my favorite being "The Quilted Bear" that Kelly Grove introduced me to last spring.  Love it.  Also "the Porch on Main" is a Springville "must do" favorite for me. 

On Wednesday we headed back to David & Marcy's and spent a fun evening with them. 

Thursday at 5:40am we headed WEST toward home.  It was a long, beautiful day and drive home.

The whole trip I spent coughing and congested.  I really felt like garbage most of the time.  Yikes.  So, on Friday the 8th when I woke up feeling worse and with a skull crushing headache, I went to Dr. Ng and got on antibiotics for a sinus infection (shew, not contagious).  Good news...a week later I am feeling pretty darn good.  Except...this morning the cough was kind of stronger...but then again my eyes were watering & itchy and so it was probably more allergies than anything...but if it isn't gone by Monday...I'll be back in his office.

So that is the end of my last 2 months!  I am enjoying being home, decorating for fall/Halloween, getting in a routine with my kids and home work.  I am one blessed human being!  Mostly because of all of my great family.  My many thanks to all!