{my first meeting of Hattie}

Heather and Ryan got in late the night we got to Sun Valley.  Dang it!  (They were partyling in Vegas, by the way.)

I got up early the next morning and walked over to their condo and forced my way in to meet this beautiful little girl.

here are the pics of her looking at me asking, "who the CRAP are you? And why, oh why, did you wake me up, lady?"

:)

{hattie+buggy}

i just needed 5 minutes, and that's all it took to get cute little Hattie in my parents' little buggy.  Isn't she just the cutest?  And yes, she was totally safe, I promise!!!

LOOOOVE her.

{ruby girl}

I had not seen Ruby since she was 1 week old and now she is just shy of 2 years old.  I can't put into words how sweet this little girl is!!  It makes me so sad that I don't get to enjoy my sisters' kids more than just once or twice a year.  

Ruby girl,  I love you more than words can say and I can't wait to hug you and squeeze in a few more months!

{sisters}

because my brother, Tom, loves my camera and his sisters so much :), he took some pics of us. Yay, we love sister pics!!

{lots of other fun stuff in Sun Valley}

Clearly, I am the family photographer on vacations :)
I began noticing no one else had their cameras, and I'm guessing that everyone thought I would just document the trip...ha ha.

Here is my cousin Layne, with his fiance Rachel--so cute!

{swimmin in Sun Valley}

and saving the best for last...and, NO, these are not leather pants! Dad decided to get in the pool with his jeans on.
Believe me, these photos will be a blackmail-worthy when it comes to Dad's 60th birthday!

{on the way to Sun Valley}

It took a few vans to get us all up to Sun Valley.  Isabella and I were in the minivan with Camille & Holland and Ashley, McKay, & Ruby.  Everyone was so good, except for Izzy.  She told Camille off a couple of times and let everyone know they were mean.

We stopped in Twin Falls to see the gorge and took potty breaks in Old Navy.  By that time, our car had downed mini Charleston Chews, chocolate-covered tootsie rolls, Skittles, and Thelma's Frozen Lemonade.  See?  I have to eat all this stuff cuz they don't have it all in VA!

I tried so hard bringing Ruby home with me, but McKay wouldn't let me.  I swear, she is the cutest, sweetest little girl--I couldn't get enough of her!!!

{1st night in Sun Valley}

We ate at the usual pizza joint and then waited by the car for Michele and Ash (who ended up going home in another car and we didn't know it :))  Anyways, we got a few pics of these cute kiddos and then Camille finished off the night with a nice bubble bath with 3 cute little girls.

{hattie & buggy}

i just needed 5 minutes, and that's all it took to get cute little Hattie in my parents' little buggy.  Isn't she just the cutest?  And yes, she was totally safe, I promise!!!

LOOOOVE her.

{UT trip}

i am going to try my best to post all these pics in the order that they were taken.  my mom flew all my sisters to UT to help celebrate her 60th birthday.  it was such a great trip.  i can't believe how much fun we all have together.  that is one thing that is so great about have so many kids (maybe the only thing :)), is that we are all best friends---fingers crossed.

the day before we left for Sun Valley (the best place on earth), we had some time to hang out and go to a few of our favorite places....Cafe Rio, Pace's, and DownEast.  I eat like a cow when I go to Utah--why are there so many great place to eat??

At Pace's, we treated ourselves to a fresh lime Rainbow: a little Sprite, fresh lime juices, slush and vanilla ice cream.  Seriously, it is to-die-for.  

{leaving for UT to par-TAY!}

I am so excited to say that tomorrow is finally the day Isabella and I will be traveling to UT to celebrate my mom's 60th birthday.  We just can't wait.  This trip has planned for a long time and its going to be a blast.  All of my siblings will be there with their youngest kids, so we are all going to have a great time.  We get to spend the weekend in one of my favorite places ever, Sun Valley, Idaho.  We had a tradition of going there every May since I was young, and I have not been there since before I was married!  

I just thought I'd post these photos with Isabella and my mom because even though we live so far away, Isabella ADORES my mom.  My mom is magical about forming these amazing relationships with my children that she only gets to see a few times a year.  Olivia, Jaxon, and Izzy all hold a very special place in their hearts for Grandma Joyce!

{lucky me}

that's it...I am the luckiest mom.  i have three happy, beautiful children that i love more than anything.  its always fun to see how my kids make Mother's Day so special.  Olivia spent the whole morning decorating the table and making me breakfast.  She made my favorite--toast and cereal with yogurt.  (I am not a big breakfast food fan)  Jaxon gave me lots of kisses and Izzy just spent the day being extra cute.

Sabe treated me to a wonderful pedicure and we found some fun things for the house.

These pictures were taken at my in-laws house on their wonderful porch.  A porch so big, you could live on it.  It was a beautiful day and I am so glad I was able to spend with so many wonderful moms.

what's a post without a picture of miss Isabella?