Utah Family Reunion/Colton's Blessing Trip

This has got to be a record.  I've only been home from my Utah trip for 3 weeks and I've already compiled the pictures from my camera, Kristen's camera, and my mom's camera to put together this marathon post.  Thanks, dad, for taking time out of your busy schedule to burn them onto a disk so quickly!

I flew with Dylan and Colton by myself *gasp* at 6am *another gasp* to Utah for a week.  I was nervous, but the boys did great!  Dylan was a great helper in the airport pulling his little puppy suitcase and watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on the portable DVD player during the 2 flights to Salt Lake.  Colton was chill on his 1st plane rides and just ate and slept the entire time.  Victory!    

I needed to wash clothes before I packed and Autrey brought the laundry bag downstairs for me...with a stowaway: 

So happy to see G-ma!  She gave him the Vegas style shirt.  It says, "What happens at grandma's stays at grandma's."

Bath tub time in GG's spa with Ashlyn and Jackson.  Aunt Meagan showed them how to make giant soap bubbles:

Playing with the motorcycles:

Ash and Colton:

My cousin Tyler's little girl, Kaydee, doting on sleeping Colton:

Colton and GG:

GQ/Pensive Sleeping Colton:

My mom made a friend named Irma during her morning swims at the Orem Rec Center.  This friend and husband sold most of their land (that is currently the Provo Riverwoods) but still board horses.  She invited us to come and take the kids for a ride on Dunny.  We loved it!  Dylan still calls all horses he sees Dunny:

Grandma Holdaway took us boating on Utah Lake.  None of us could go skiing (Mom's back, my recent C-section, Kristen's pregnancy, Meagan's busy schedule, Desiree's recent broken nose surgery/BYU summer classes), but we had fun on the tube and introducing the kids to the orange H-board, which Dylan referred to as a skateboard.  JaNae was driving slow for the kids while we were on the tube.  So slow that another boat's wake came over the front and dumped us all into the water.  Oops.  After the kids stopped crying it was really funny: 

A little stiff in the life jacket, no?

GG let Dylan drive for a while.  Let's just say he doesn't exactly go in a straight line:

This one was taken after we all got dumped.  No one bothered to tell me my "mas-scary" was all over the place, giving the look of a black eye:

My BYU roomie, Alison Merritt, drove up from Arizona while I was in town.  She's pretty awesome, especially since she just had knee surgery.  We drove around together visiting some of our old roomies.  Sarah Godfrey, with her sweet little girl she worked so hard to get here:

Becky Taylor, prego with miracle baby #4:

Traci Purser, with her miracle twins, Liam and Logan:

We went to Aunt Elaine's house to meet up with the Manti Millers.  G-pa and the big boys:

Puppy love:

Grandma Miller meeting little Colton:

Snuggling with Norma and her warm blanket:

Hairdresser G-ma giving Dylan his 3rd haircut.  She's fast.  She was done before he finished his Creamie:

"This little piggy..."

Who knew water and bowls could be so entertaining?

Love this little goober:

Water fun continued back at GG's house:

 Cute Grandpa and GG draining the water:

 We had dinner one night at Arctic Circle.  I lost count of the number of times food and drinks were spilled, but the kids enjoyed the play place:

Autrey flew in late Friday night and went with us to the Gordon family reunion (GG's maiden name)at Vineyard park on Saturday:

I'm sure Meagan would like me to clarify that's my baby, not hers.  Haha:

Yup, Ken is braiding Desiree's hair.  Lost his Man Card for that one:

"Fishing" for prizes with my cousin, Jan:

Dylan's favorite part of the whole day was riding the various cars in the "trains" pulled by the John Deere riding mowers.  Best babysitter ever.  He did NOT want to get off: 

Kristen, Meagan, Desirae Holdaway, me, and Meechelle Talbot:

Volleyball time:

Desiree' was serving, but my camera's a little slow.  I think I like these pictures better though:

Atim serving:

Underhand, Autrey?  Hmmmm...

Desiree' going for the kill:

Tinkle toes, Ken.  It's what happens after your Man Card is taken away.  (Ken, you know I love you.  I know you can take it and dish it right back.  Bring it.)

Dylan and Uncle Atim:

Colton with Uncle Atim and his bulging bicep:

Not just for the kids, apparently:

Even GG and her sisters got in on the fun.  I'm loving the bags over their heads to protect the hairdos from the rain.  Classic:

Dylan blowing his whistle:

The Holdaway clan...at least those who could make it.  We were missing quite a bunch:

Miller crew, minus Danny:

GG and her girls: Aunt Karen, Aunt JaNae, and mom:

Autrey and Ken playing baseball after Uncle Keith's temporary golfing holes he had set up were taken down.  Ken got his Man Card back:

After the reunion we met up with the Duke's and swam at their hotel.  Colton meeting Nana:

The crew attending Colton's blessing on July 15th:

Holly was the photographer of the group shot:

Dukes:

Millers:

Millers & Holdaways:

Aunt Norma, Aunt Marilyn, Aunt Elaine, and Aunt B:

With our 2 boys, the sleepy one and the squirrely one:

He looks good in the tux we borrowed from Jackson:

The 3 Great Grandmas:

Dad and his namesake, who he calls C.D. (Colton David):

G-pa and G-ma (with their plot of land they will be building their new house on this year behind them):

Aunt Desiree':

Uncle Ken and Aunt Meagan:

Mimi and Papa:

Mimi stealing Colton's sleeping sugar:

GG and Grandpa Holdaway:

Mimi:

Colton's 2 grandmas:

Papa:

G-ma:

Nana:

Shorty:

What Dylan was doing the entire time, but you probably could have guessed that!

So glad to see everyone and have you meet sweet baby Colton!

For posterity, G-ma took notes at Colton's blessing.  Colton, these are the things your dad blessed you with:

*To know you are a special spirit, that you are loved by your family.

*To know you can go to your family for help and comfort.

*That your body will grow strong and healthy.

*That you will overcome challenges you will face.

*That you will have a bright intellect.

*That you will learn the gospel and the scriptures.

*That you will learn in your youth the value of hard work and service to others.

*That you will be an instrument to the Lord and to His church.

*That you will receive all the ordinances of the gospel: That of baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, that you will receive the priesthood and blessings of the temple.

*That you will serve as a missionary and then take a worthy daughter of God to the temple to be sealed for time and eternity.

Counsel given you:

* Learn to listen to the spirit and follow the promptings when you need guidance.

*Stay close to your Heavenly Father.