did you miss me...

Yes, I am finally home from being gone on a 28 day stay in Utah... { warning: this might be a long post} Highlights from our trip:

[Yes, i wish that my husband could have taken that much time off from work.. in my dreams though.

Nate had a week worth of leave & met us for the last week of our trip.]

.went for the 4th of July last minute. missed the parade. Ear infection # 1 for garrett. Helped my mom move. ate at maddox, bajo, cafe rio, lots & lots of BBQ's, hires, robintino's, spaghetti factory, red robin & the list goes on. birthday party for Porter. took the kids bowling. lots & lots of snow cones. doctor visits: 1st ear infection went away but, looks like we have another in the other ear, poor garrett. went shopping to my favorite places: secret haven, rod works, tai pan, gardner village. spent time with friends & friends from med school {the buchanan's & my long lost friends the millars}. went to the ER with garrett..[note to self: don't put baby on conter when trying to give him medicine they are so fast] he ended up being o.k. but, had to get a CT scan of his head since he fell off my mom's kitchen counter on to the hard tile floor. i believe in gaurdian angels. by the way in our little visit with the ER, garrett's head was o.k. but, ear infection was not gone & for the 3rd time he had to get a stronger antibiotic... i think he is finally o.k., i hope. Strep throat AGAIN for me & a day later Marlee joined me on the fun. i promise that is it on being sick on this trip. baby shower for my sister in law. birthday party for my mother-in-law. Girls Night Out.. dinner at Applebees.. then went & saw Mama Mia. pioneer day. lots & lots of fireworks. cherry hill. layton surf N swim. helped my mom unpack & decorate. birthday party for Marlee & Garrett. fun. fun .& more fun. laughter, tears, & created wonderful memories that i won't forget!!! [i'm sure there are things that i'm missing].

Isn't it sad when this is the only great picture i got of myself on the trip. You would think being there 28 days i would get something better than this... you can see why you don't put me in charge of the camera!! :)

[it doesn't get much better cause i'm showing you ALL the pictures i took while i was there]. Next time i think i will hire a photographer :)

11:30 p.m. on July 3rd. Salt Lake City Airport. Yeah, we are finally here.

They were so excited to see grandma.. it was a SURPRISE
Marlee trying to catch butterflies...

"Mom, they are way too fast"

still looking..

Cayden helping my mom in the yard

The Birthday Party

Have some fun. Join the fun. Garrett is turning one.

Play a game. Dance Hand Jive. Marlee is almost five.

Bring your suit. Make a splash. It's Garrett & Marlee's WATER birthday bash.

{that was the invite}

The theme of the party was sharks & mermaids.

The pinata

The food was so good. we had "Submarine" sandwiches. "Seaweed" {salad}. "Chicken of the Sea"{chicken nuggets from chick-fil-A}. chips, fruit basket from [incredible edible delites]. gummy sharks, fish crackers, gummy fish & blue rasberry for the drink. We had a plastic swimming pool & filled it with ice & also put bottled water, & diet coke in it. I'm so sad cause the "shark" cake turned out so cute... the picture didn't turn out. Just imagine Jaws on the front of the cake! :)

For the "goody" bags that they took home. My mom & I found beach pails for the boys & The Little Mermaid bags for the girls. we filled them with "under the sea" toys.

{gold coins, fish crackers, glow sticks, small treasure chest, water guns, gummy sharks, stickers of sharks & mermaids... etc.

This was so fun & worth it. I found it at the Pottery Barn Kids on sale & the kids had a blast rolling it around & squirting each other with it.

Garrett just chillin at his party

Splash...

I'm having so much fun mom at my party.

Garrett loving his strawberries

Most of the boys thought they could fit in the little pool :)

opening presents...

Look what i got MOM.. i love playing dress up.

Garrett didn't know what to think about all his presents.. he just was smiling at everything.

making smores with Grandma.. that was sooooo yummy

Thanks to EVERYONE who made this trip possible & so memorable!!