To Utah for B's Farewell

 After Grandpa and Brad's visit to Columbus, the kids and I got to visit the rest of the fam in Utah while poor Ben had to stay home to start his fourth year.  That's right, FOURTH YEAR!  It has flown by.  But that is a post for another time.

Sammi discovered that she likes DVDs.  And what we call "pretties".  She pulled some ribbons off her birthday boxes (which were fastened together in big loops) and she instinctively knew they were supposed to be decorative.  It was the cutest thing to see her toddling around, finding her pretties, and meticulously draping all 3 on herself and then deciding she was beautiful enough to continue on with whatever 1-year-olds have to get to.  I loved the little pleased look on her face as she showed them off to anyone that would look.

 She's very good at playing Angry Birds with Aunt Nat. (While wearing pretties)

 What would a trip to Utah be without a ride on the train at Hogle Zoo?  A complete and utter failure, I tell you.

 Sammi likes trains too, but I think mostly because E does, and she yearns for his approval.

 Nat was mistaken for Sammi's mom a couple of times.  I can see the resemblance, can't you? 

 E and part of Grandma in front of the train.

 Mmmm...those cheeks, that double chin, that NECK!  I want to kiss them all.

 Little monkies

 One of my proudest moments as a mother so far occurred in Utah.  Sammi discovered purses!  So stinkin' cute.

 Sammi and her good buddy Grandpa.

 Grandpa is always up for playing outside.

 E discovered that he fits in the little narrow window by the front door.  How useful!

 Grandma J surprised Emerson with a special trip on the Heber Creeper...or Heber Valley Railroad if you want to get technical.  You should hear E say "Heber Creeper".  It's funny.

 Nat and E with the engine

E even gets cuted out by Sammi and can't help but maul her.

Grandma, E, and Uncle Brad on the train.  He discovered that he's very terrified of train whistles when they are close.  Emerson, that is.  Not Brad.  He dove into somebody's arms every time the train whistled.  Well, not just anybody's...they were always arms belonging to someone in our family.

E's proud little face with the conductor INSIDE the engine.  The conductor was so nice to give E a little tour of the engine and to show him how everything worked.  E didn't say much, but you could tell he was thinking about it all and filing it away for later use.  He thought he was the luckiest boy in the world when he got to see the engine couple up to the train cars.  He described it like this "The engine bashed us just a wittle bit (with fingers demonstrating a small amount) until it coupled up!"

The reason for our visit was to attend Uncle Brad's farewell and to see him one last time before he left on his mission.  We had a great ten days with the whole family and Brad did a wonderful job on his talk.  We're going to miss seeing him for the next two years, but are so proud of him.  We're glad we got to spend so much time together as a family before he left.  Thanks for flying us out yet again, parents!