a few things here and there

So my dear little computer got a virus. A nasty thing. My wonderful friends, Dan and Nicole, saved my life and helped me out. Bless them. So I have returned.

I was also out of commission for a while because life is just crazy. Truly. It's just wild. However, when it got crazy this time, it was a wild treat because I had my dear family in town. The catalyst to the impromptu-visit was not so happy. My sweet Grandma had fallen and had to undergo surgery and was in the hospital recovering. We thought it was near the end and so all the family rushed to her side. Turns out she wanted the family reunion in May/June instead of August. At 92 she got a little too impatient. She's home and continuing to recover and we're still praying for her. It sure was a joy to see so many of my aunts and uncles and cousins and siblings.

We also got to celebrate bry-guy's 16 birthday! Believe it. Crazy. And true. It was a little unconventional and in the hospital waiting room, but still a success. It helped that at home it was complete with sign, balloons and noise makers.

at the hospital, the cake had sat in the window with bags and purses piled atop. so naturally, the frosting would come off.

check out how classic this photo is. honestly. classic.

oh i forgot to say that i got bry a whoopi cushion for his birthday? why? i don't really know. but it was funny. especially when he popped it. and also when we called my mom on the drive home from the hospital and bryan did it into the phone and we all laughed (even rachel, who thinks it's the most disgusting thing ever)

Erica and the kids also came up and it was such a blessing to have them in my home. Thanks to my roommates that were willing to let my family make a home in their rooms for a week. We played at one of the best parks I've ever been to: Murray City Park. Loved it. That included kite flying (I'm a bad kit flyer!), made-up-ball-tossing-game (where the penalty was doing a somersault or kart-wheel, which induced attempting to teach Kate how to kart-wheel) and yummy french fries. That evening was topped off with a visit from the Bailey-Eight and a tasty dinner---thanks heather and mike! Erica + kids+ Bry + Rach + me, also went to pirate island for dinner, one night. A dream come true. Rach and I had wanted to go here for a while. You walk in and are only slightly transported to Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland. The similarities end there, but it was a fun adventure full of pizza, bad pirate accents and skiball.

this photo is deceiving. i know the kite is high and looks like it's doing well. i have to say that the kite did stay in the air the entire time i had it, but it was dangerous and i loudly exclaimed over and over, "I'm a bad kit flyer!" as people walked around me and I just kept walking back and back, closer and within the trees.

miss brylin is a model. you say, "pose" and she does. also, funny story. after erica and the kids were back in arizona, erica told brylin that i had said she was such a good girl and was so obedient and how impressed i was at how good she was. brylin responds with, "noooo. aunt shell said i'm cute." oops. proud aunt.