Emery County Visit

So, after a fun Wed/Thurs slumber in Logan with Ry's family

we came home, refreshed, repacked, regrouped, and rethought

a second trip to Emery County to see my dada and his side of the family.

They were doing a special Saturday Thanksgiving so that EVERYONE could be there.  

Such a good idea.

We had a lot on our minds, a sick baby, and a sputtering truck.

Staying home, and relaxing for the rest of the weekend, was sooo tempting.

We went anyways.

I don't get down that way very often because they "come to the city" 

often enough that we get our fix.

Emery County is a special little place of mystery.

Maybe one day I will do a post on that little place.  

But, Ill need some pictures, believe me.  You want pictures. It is a precious, little place. 

So, 

away we went.

With a sick jackjack, a sicker truck, a sickest cold sore

and

another pan of sweet potatoes.

I'm so glad we did.  It was very worth it!

Mercy! Look at this cute little Grandma of mine!

My Grandma is cuter than yours huh?

I mean..I think so

She yells "Yoo Hoo" when you walk in her front door.

She paints beautiful landscapes

She cans, gardens, and makes jam.

She still uses a pressure cooker for roast?!

Cht cht cht cht cht cht cht cht.

Do any of you remember hearing that noise on Sunday afternoons? From the pressure cooker thingy?

She collects bells and cookie jars and California raisin and smurf figurines. 

Really.  Remember the California raisins?! Silly guys.

She would leave my grandpa for any member of Il Divo.  

And maybe sell her soul as well.  You have never met such a crazed fan!  

She is adorable.

Just look at her eyes all sparkly with pride and joy at having all (most) of her family together.

She was jubilant.

We watched old home videos, and ate an obscene amount of food.

It was so fun to catch up with everyone, and watch our kids play together.  

Cousins are the best right?

When we visit the EC we stay at my little sisser Kasey's house.

Above are my sweet little nephews Sage (7) and Maddox (5 mos)

We love staying there.  

Tate and Sage get a long great 

and despite the fact that all they did was slap and drool all over each other,  

Jackjack and Maddox love each other too.

I can tell.

Later on Saturday night we hit up the bull riding competition "downtown" 

Leave it to EC to skip the rest of the rodeo, and get right to the good stuff.

Isn't that why anybody goes to the rodeo anyways?

 Is for the 20 minutes of bull riding at the end?

I do. 

Even though the anxiety of it all gives me internal diarrhea  heartburn.

Please note the traveling bleachers behind Tatum.

I have never seen such a thing.

Curious.

Jack absolutely loved the horses and bulls.

To bad for Ryan that he had to stand with him right next to the shoots all night.

          Grandpa Kelly (my pa) and Jack Jack                                  Sisser Kasey, and Sage

I liked these family photos because of the matcher garbage can to Tatum's coat.

I didn't even plan that.

Speaking of coats, JackJack forgot his.

Ill bet he will learn his lesson next time.

(Really it was an indoor arena) (Again with the EC phenomenon's) 

Can you believe these pictures?  

This is such a crazy sport.  

If Jack ever wants to ride bulls he's going to have to find a new mommy.

He's going to be lucky if I ever let him ride one of those

 germy horse merry go rounds in front of the grocery stores.

One thing that was so cute about this night was the genuine family gathering of it all.

There are so many cute little families in the EC. 

High school sweet hearts. Old couples holding hands. 

Families enjoying a fun night out, spending time, and making memories.

It is such a slow paced, enjoy the small things, type of place.

You should have seen all of the little boys rolling around in the dirt, making mud pies, racing, roping each other, playing tag, and just being boys all around that place. 

It was so commonplace there, but more of a rarity up here in SLC.

It was cute. 

It was fun. 

And I'm so glad we went.

Even though we (Ryan) got a ticket on the way home.