A Day of Sky High Fun!

Tuesday was another beautiful day and we were set for fun!  Unfortunately Tawni woke up with the flu so spent the day at home.  We sure missed you friend!

We were headed to Snowbird for a day of adventures surrounded by beautiful mountains!  The evening before Lisa and I had stopped at a local gas station to purchase drinks that we could use for discount coupons.  Heh – we sure did look funny!  $8.00 of drinks saved us $80 at the gate.  That works!

J and I packed the kids into the vehicle and set for the mountains.  The girls were adorable in their matching outfits and the bonus was how easy it was to spot them.

Our first ride of the day was a gondola up to the top of the mountain.  We ended up at 11,000’.  BEAUTIFUL!!!

Sweet baby H.  She reminds me so much of Hannah when she was a baby!

Hannah trying out the bungee trampoline.

Mountain Flyer fun!

Even H got in on the day of fun!

Three beautiful, amazing little girls!

Hannah loved all the rides but the zip line was my favourite by far.  It was a great ride but I think I enjoyed watching and hearing my little girl enjoy it as much as riding the ride!

All too soon our time with Tawni and her family ended…for this visit.  We’ll get together again for sure!   There were hugs all round before bed the night before we left as we needed to leave for the airport early in the morning.

Thank you so much  for welcoming us into your home Tawni!  We can’t wait to see you again….either in SLC or Toronto!! 

Utah Bloggy Bash Reunion!

Monday evening Laurel and Jay hosted a wonderful reunion of bloggy friends at their beautiful home!   If I counted correctly there were 11 families there, all of whom I’ve met in the past and we enjoyed reconnecting.  There was room for the kiddos to run, play, swing and draw with sidewalk chalk while the adults got reacquainted as some of us had not seen one another in a number of years.  I first met some of these families back in 2007 and then again in 2010.  Seeing them earlier this week was a treat and an evening that will be treasured! 

I will be forever grateful to God for the precious friendships He has created through this blog!  Little did I know back in 2005 when I wrote my first post how life would change and friendships around the world would be born!  We all share this and are so, so blessed!

Hannah in turn is blessed to share friendships too with her Chinese Sisters who live far away in miles but close in our hearts.

Laurel’s oldest daughter McKenzie is an absolute gem and took a shine to Hannah.  McKenzie will be a senior in high school this fall and was a star with the younger kiddos organizing games and helping them whenever needed.  Hannah thought she was awesome!

Playing Red Rover.  One little gal ran up to me during the game and asked, ‘Are you Hannah’s Mommy?  She’s strong!’  LOL!  Yup, small but mighty.  She enjoyed this game until she and a little friend had a head bonk. 

After that we decided to move the kiddos inside for a little quieter play.

Kenzie, thanks for being such a great friend to the younger kiddos and especially for the way you cared for Hannah!  You are a sweetie and Hannah talked about you as her friend the following day.  Heh!

Back in 2010 I met Circe at the SLC bash for the first time and a friendship was born and we have kept in touch since then.  It was wonderful to see her again and get caught up in person rather than only via our blogs and emails!

Lisa S from Georgia was there too and it was great to see her and her talented daughter Maisie.  Sadly we had too little time together and I forgot to take pictures.  Argh!

One picture we were able to capture was a group pic of the kiddos together.  Aren’t they beautiful?!!

Thanks again Laurel and Jay!  It was great to reconnect with you!  Thank you for opening your home to us so that all of us could share some treasured time together!

Who Want to go Fwimming?

(We are home now but I still have UT posts to get up so will be playing catch-up for the next couple of days)

Tawni’s little H can’t quite say swimming yet but she clearly gets her point across when we talk about going ‘fwimming’ at her Grandma’s.

There were a lot of us so Tawni’s husband J helped ferry us to Grandma’s house.  Our car took a side trip to pick up Cafe Rio for lunch.  Mm….delicious Mexican food!  Something that is hard to come by where we live.

After lunch the kiddos were super excited to get into the beautiful pool.  Can I tell you every pool should have a mountainous background?  It’s breathtaking!

Baby H and Em were the first down the slide.  She wasn’t crazy about it as you can see but did go back for another slide later in the afternoon.

The boys were all crazy on the slide and alternated between being silly and seeing how far they could get their splashes to go in order to get Mom and Catherine wet!

O showing us his sunny smile!

G spinning into the pool.  G was by far Hannah’s favourite and she had such fun with him!  The funny thing is that she couldn’t say his name and after trying out a variety of names she settled on ‘Cave’ so Cave he was for our entire visit.  LOL!

Even Av

and Hannah got in on the slide fun!

Tawni’s boys are such great kids and amazing with their baby sisters!  Em and H. 

This little step was H’s favourite spot and she sat here playing with dishes for a long, long time and at times Hannah and Av would swim over and join her.

They would also swim behind the waterfall and enjoy some chit chat time together.  Such a beautiful pool!

This pic made me laugh!  E enjoyed teasing Tawni, Sue (Tawni’s friend) and I mercilessly that afternoon.  Sue had water poured on her more than once but we got E back by throwing a glass of iced water on him.  Not to be outdone he tried to hug each of us when he was soaking wet!  Love the look on Tawni’s face!!

This picture wins for the sweetest of the day.  Before we had to scramble because a thunder storm rolled in, H cuddled in and rested with her big brother.  Awe!!!

We Miss You Already GG!!! xoxo

Today we said goodbye to GG.  Hannah and I are still in UT but we were with the family in our hearts and prayers.

He has been Grandpa to me for well over 30 years and GG (short for Great-Grandpa) to Hannah since the day they met!   Oh how I love this picture!  It was taken the day after we came home from China and was the first day that they met one another.  Can you say, ‘Love at first sight?’

I knew before we left on our vacation that it would be a miracle if Grandpa were still with us when we returned.  Although he wasn’t able to talk and often slept through our visits, I stopped for a quick chat on my way to work each morning the last week we were home.  Last Thursday in the early hours of the morning with his family around him, GG breathed his last.  He is now in the arms of Jesus and is whole again!

Grandpa was a man of God and touched the lives of more than we can count.  His home was open to all; his heart was open to hear anyone’s concerns and His prayers called you into God’s presence each time he lifted his voice in prayer.  He was a special man to all who met him, but most of all to his wonderful wife and 3 amazing daughters!  This picture was taken today as they celebrated Grandpa’s life at his memorial service.  Oh how he loved his girls!!!

Daddy and daughter love.

There are so many precious memories of Grandpa!  Back in 2009 when he was hospitalized for an extended period of time, he and I spent each evening together.  We did some crazy things like bake in the cafeteria and ate more than our fair share of donuts, ice cream sundaes, blueberries and pie together.  Precious, precious times – even though I’m sure there were some times that he thought, ‘We’re going to do what??!!!’    He just went with it and we shared so many happy evenings together.

From the moment they met, Hannah and GG were smitten with one another and loved sharing time together!  Each Sunday she would gently take his hand and lead him to the lunch table.  When asked who was going to say grace, she’d immediately get a big grin on her face and happily shout, ‘GG!’

I wasn’t sure when I would tell Hannah about GG’s death and thought I might wait until we got home from our vacation but I was really teary this morning and didn’t want to concern her.  We were snuggled in bed and it seemed the perfect time to share that GG was now in heaven with Jesus.  She was sad for a bit and we talked about different things  but then she said with a big smile, ‘Mommy, GG will always live in my heart!’  Awe!!  Yes baby, he will! 

Tonight she told one of her little friends in the car that her GG was now in heaven and that he had a new body that could run and play!  GG played the saxophone and when we were at the San Francisco airport last week we saw this display of saxophones so we took a picture for him.  He didn’t get to see it but I know he would have liked seeing his baby girl in this pic.

As I was looking back and finding pictures today I found this little video of them playing together.  It captures their love and relationship so well! 

We love you so much Grandpa and we miss you already!!  xoxo

‘Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvellous deeds.

Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come.’

Psalms 71:17-18

Grandma and Grandpa.  They shared 69 beautiful years of marriage together!

Praying for you Grandma, Nana, Auntie Japhia and Auntie Joy.  We love you.  xo

Our Utah Trip Has Begun!

After the change in plans and airport locations, Hannah and I were on our way to Salt Lake City to visit Tawni and her family!  As always it was super hard to say goodbye to Auntie M, Uncle TubaDad, Ro and Ree. 

Once on the plane Hannah was tuckered and fell asleep the moment we began to taxi from the gate.

As our plane took off I snagged this picture of a couple of the planes that had been diverted to this airport due to the crash.

I will admit that this trip I listened more closely to the safety demonstration, ensured our seatbelts were securely fastened and our luggage was pushed well under the seat.  How many times have I heard these things and not really listened? Not this day!

 

 

Our 2nd flight was made extra exciting when Mommy gave Hannah her first ever gum.  Oh my, what a treat!

Hannah and I never travel light and this trip was no exception.  The black bag is clothes handed down to Hannah from Ro and Ree and the box is more clothes for another friend who lives in SLC.

Tawni and Em picked us up and the fun began!  After a good night’s sleep the girls were up and made fast friends.  Hannah and Av coloured and did puzzles. 

Sweet baby H (who was sporting similar bed head to Hannah) was not impressed to be left out.

After supper the kids tried out a dancing video game that had Mommy in splits!  Hannah followed moves on the screen and then it created this little video.  Oye – not sure where she learned how to do this but as her mom I’m officially frightened of her teenage years!

It was a beautiful evening and we hung out outside for a while.  As the kids were sitting on the lawn J suddenly yelled, ‘Sprinklers!’  LOL!  They scattered!  Well….except the little girls.  They were thrilled to run through the sprinklers and get soaked.

Fast friends

Baby H enjoyed the water too.

Post water play = pyjama time!

Lots more fun adventures to come over the next couple of days as we’re here!  Tawni also has 3 amazing big boys that Hannah is completely smitten with.  I’ll be sure to snag pictures of them tomorrow to share with you.

We love vacation!!!