Utah week 3

We have made it back home to Las Vegas.  It still feels a little strange calling Nevada home...especially after just leaving a wonderful trip to Utah filled with lots of family and friends.  However as soon as we saw Dave/Daddy we definitely felt like we were home!  Our last week in Utah was just as busy and fun as our first two weeks.

We started our Final week off meeting these two fun ladies, Aunt Nancy and Bonnie, at the children's museum in Salt Lake.

Once James woke up the kids had a ball!!

James was too 'busy' to look at me, even for a moment....But Maddie hammed it up!

A couple of days later my mom took us to the This Is the Place Heritage Park.  I had not been there since I was a teenager.  I couldn't believe all there was to do there.  

Maddie, Granddad and I.  It was so great getting to spend time with my sweet Granddad.  I just love him so much.  He is so much fun and kept me laughing everyday!

James LOVED the mini village.  We had to trick him to leave.  And after being at the park for over 4 hours he still wanted to go back and play in the "baby houses".

"Peek - eee - boo!"

Oh my little Maddie and her 'firework' pig-tails.

Crawling on her hands and feet

 The park has pony rides.  I thought James would LOVE this.  However, he wanted nothing to do with it.  The first time he freaked out when I went to put him on the horse.  So we put Maddie on instead.  She was a great sport.  

 The petting Zoo with the baby goat that followed us everywhere.

 This turkey was really into Maddie...Maddie didn't quite return the fascination.

 After James saw Maddie and a couple girls around his age ride he had to have a turn...then another, and had to ride the other pony, he was NOT happy to get off when it was time to move on!

 Mini-train ride.  James again was not excited for this one to end.

 Panning for gold

James with a replica of the eagle in downtown Salt Lake that was carved by his Great-great-great-great...grandfather Ramsay.

 We had a Ball at the park I want to go again with Dave!

 For our last weekend we had our First Annual Johnston Olympics. 

 Here are most (but not all) of the competitors.  

It was a BLAST.  I can't wait for this to become a regular tradition.  I really could (and should) do a separate post for this one. We started off by running a 5k.  My sister-in-law basically killed us all in this.   I was happy to take 2nd. Then we had several events that we each chose including; push-ups, bum-wars, leg wrestling, arm wrestling, cartwheels, a sprint....and I am sure there is more but I can't remember off the top of my head.

It was so much fun being together as a family and goofing off.  It was also fun having all the kids/cousins playing together.

We were also able to see the Witches at Gardner Village.  My mom and I love going to see the witches and I have had to miss them quite a bit since living out of state so when we found out they were being put out the Saturday before I left town we went out of our way to go!

 Cute mom and Maddie.  She is the Happiest little baby and boy does she love her grandma!

 My brother Dallin and his wife live really close and were able to meet us there.  These are their handsome boys David and Carter.

 James loved checking out the witches, but this is the only picture I have of him looking at a witch where you can see his cute little face.

 My brother Dallin and I are very....passionate people.  People (the rest of our family) often misconstrue our conversations as being argumentative, when in-fact we are usually agreeing with one another in a rather boisterous manner.  My mother did a rather good job capturing one of these conversations while we were walking through the village.  No we are not arguing.  This is just how we talk.

James and a pumpkin.  

Our final night the kids and I went back to Orem to Celebrate Grandpa Phil and Uncle Jerry's birthdays.  It was a yummy dinner and lots of fun playing with the cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles, but I forgot my camera!  So you will just have to take my word for it.

Overall we had a GREAT time in Utah.  Thank you to all our wonderful family and friends who went out of their way to see us, play with us and make it such a fun trip.  We miss you all, but we are happy to be home with Dad!!!!!!