post Christmas and Utah

Things didn't stop after Christmas.

There is something very sacred about having your whole family together after the first child leaves to spread his wings.  And then the next.  And before we know it, the next.  And each of those steps makes the snippets of togetherness heavy with importance and beauty.  We had one morning all together and we didn’t do anything overly fantastic or amazing, but we were all here.  All eight of us.  And that was just a good thing to have.

Well, I guess one fantastic thing was this platter of pancakes Elle got, because pictures cannot do that gigantic thing justice!!


Max and Abby unwrapped gifts, I’m always so overcome with gratitude for the generosity of so many.



Elle took off to Spain. 
I got to drive her to the airport just the two of us and loved watching her head off on that grand adventure.  Love the pictures that kept popping up on our phones of all the beauty places she found over in that part of the world.

We tried to wrap up as many loose ends as we could here at home and then headed up to Utah.

...and helped Max and Abby move into their first home together...a little duplex they lucked out to find close to campus.

It was so fun to be there that day, excitement filling up the air.  Target shopping with their wedding credit, Costco, grocery store, Cubby’s, everyone was so excited to help and it was so fun to see their cute little place and share in the excitement they have to set up shop.  So fun to be able to watch their world of marriage and life beyond begin.

You aren't officially "moved in" until you bake cookies in your own oven so obviously we had to help them with that:)
Loved being part of the “Utah scene” of Eyres for a few days.

We did hot yoga with Sayds and Julie/Eli and Abby, hated the hot, but loved the company, and there’s just something so good about stretching and pushing your body in that way.  I love yoga, need to do it more.

Games and yummy food at Saydi’s cozy home:



Winter beauty all around:
 ...that caused stuck cars and frozen fingers, but so many good memories!

Brunch with high school friends (so great to catch up with them...love them so!),

Sledding at BCRANC with everyone + Schwartz family + Maureen...best friends since childhood.  Amy (Schwartz) lives in London and it was so fun to see her and her family when we visited there a few years ago...and so fun to have she and my best high school friend Mo who were both essentially part of our family growing up.

All mixed up together with cousins in all that beauty snow.
 I'll let the pictures tell the story because I'm out of time...