Salt Lake

So we've been home about a week, and I'm just now getting around to blogging about our awesome trip to Salt Lake. We were there for about a week and had a blast! Sophie absolutely loved playing with her cousins and could say all of their names by the end (for some reason, Miles is the one that stuck and she calls every kid she sees "Miles" now). It was such a joy to watch Sophie interact with the other kids. I really miss that we don't get to do that more often. Luckily, she warmed up to them very quickly and was in heaven - she warmed up to everyone pretty quickly as long as Nate and I were both in the room. While we were there, we celebrated my birthday too - once with the Robinsons at my dad's and once at Jane's (for Amy's birthday too). Nate and Sophie got to meet Drew for the first time - Nate thought he was adorable but Sophie DID NOT appreciate me holding him. It was a fabulous trip!! Here are some of the highlights:

Uncle Nate & Drew

Sophie loved the piano at Grandma Jane's. She also remembered exactly where her favorite Asian cat was and went straight into the living room to play with it.

We went swimming at the Murray pool with my mom and the cousins. It was soooooo cool! There were slides and a lazy river and it was heated! All the kids loved it - even Drew!



Sophie absolutely LOVED Marley. She went completely nuts for him as soon as we got to my dad's - running around squealing, laughing. It was so funny to watch! Jane stopped by really quickly the first day and got to see some of the excitement. Sophie was always so excited to see Marley and would start saying his name as soon as we turned onto my dad's street. Marley loved Sophie too as she fed him everything she was eating (including frosting from the table - one for her, one for Marley...) and just giggled as he licked her hand.

We tried desperately to get a picture of the Howell grandkids for Grandma Jane - this was the best we could do since Maddie refused to open her eyes.


We went to the park with Grandpa Kops since the weather was so nice. The kids loved the swings and the slides and the rocking penguins.

For my birthday, my mom and I wanted some adult time with the girls. We all got babysitters and the four couples (and Drew) went out to dinner. It was so nice to actually be able to have an uninterrupted, adult converstion!

Sophie had a ton of fun with her Howell cousins. She and Henry loved the bubbles. And once Maddie warmed up, the two girls got a huge kick out of each other. They did some coloring together at the Jamesons and Maddie was very concerned that Sophie forgot them. Luckily, Maddie made sure to bring them to Sophie next time we saw them (thanks again, Amy, for having us over even though you were feeling so rotten!).

Sophie tried out the rocking chair that my dad still has from when I was a little girl. It's still covered in Amy's scribbles.

On Wednesday, we went to LDS hospital for lunch with both Grandma Jane and Munga Yoj.

The last morning we were there, my dad and Char hosted everyone for breakfast. It was so yummy! The kids quickly (and the adults not so quickly) ended up outside playing in the sun and the snow on the ground. It was the perfect way to end the trip. Thanks everyone for a wonderful trip!!!