Reaping the Utah Benefits...

In Ohio, I rarely saw family. I made the two-hour drive to Carissa's house in Cleveland, but because of gas prices and such, I reserved those trips for times that I was especially homesick...or when Jeremiah was in finals mode because trust me, he's not so much fun to be around during that time. So now that we are in Utah, I love being around family that I missed so much! I see Josette, my mother-in-law, at least three times a week and Kory and Ana Lee make random visits to our house at least weekly. My parents have even visited, which always makes me happy.

I was lucky to have my Grandma Betty and my Aunt Cathy visit from Colorado this last weekend. They were up in Sandy visiting my Aunt Wendy and Uncle Lorrin and their kids, so I drove up with my own kids (what's three more kids in a chaotic house, right?) to see them. Grandma baked the best bread ever- even Hayden, who is not a bread fan (seriously, is this kid really mine?!) is in love with this bread and has yet to refuse it. She also gave us some homemade strawberry jam, with strawberries that Wendy's girls picked over the summer...so thanks Paige and Ivie for all your child labor! I love seeing my grandma, we've always had a close bond and she's so laid back and easy to talk to - she's also good at telling it like it is, which can be refreshing, funny, or obnoxious, but I love it about her. She is just an awesome lady. And I haven't seen my Aunt Cathy that much, but it was good to see her. Sometimes when I looked at her I could have sworn she was my mother, so it was nice to cuddle up with her and feel some of that homesickness for my own mother go away. Cathy has always been so funny - take a look at our picture, she's wearing feetie pajamas! I think Aubrey has a pair just like them!

I seriously need to get Paige and Ivie to babysit for me. After an hour of crying and clinging to me, Aubrey stopped crying to go play with Paige. It was like a miracle. Really.