{the tew family}: August 2015

My dad, his girlfriend Jennifer, and my two sisters came to Utah to visit us

for a week this summer! They live in Michigan and it had been

almost 5 years since we last saw each other.

We were all so excited!

Guest rooms prepped and ready, and I had fun making some

little welcome baskets for them.

(Kelsey graciously gave up her room and Kraig hooked her up

with a hotel for the week! It was like a mini vacation for her...no

kid sounds to wake her up in the morning!)

Airport selfies - yay - welcome to UTAH!!

Mabel and my little sister Natalie are only one year apart so

they were instant friends! Mabel loves her Aunt Natalie!!!

Grandpa and Elliott meeting for the first time,

happy memories!

I loved seeing my sister Abby so grown up and fun to be around!

The kids adored her of course.

Our first hummingbird!! I have had the feeder hanging out

for a month or so but hadn't seen any activity. We saw one

feeding almost every day while my family was visiting!

It was so great having time with my dad to talk,

play games, and just catch up in person. Plus, he loves

old vintage treasures too!

While the kids were napping we played some Yahtzee and

Banagrams...

then we couldn't help ourselves. The apple doesn't fall far

from the tree people!!

We had a bbq that night and Kelsey and Mike came too!

I forgot to get a picture of the pretty trifle I made for dessert..this is the

evidence that is was really TASTY!!

Miss Natalie LOVED our bouncy house.

(she also doesn't love clothes!)

She is the sweetest little thing. This was the first time we had ever met and

I immediately felt a connection to her. My heart misses her little voice!

My dad gave me this crystal ball years ago...before I even

graduated from high school I think. We got it out to play with.

Creepy Mabel face!!!

Just my dad, being NOSY! Har har har

I love how you can see his face in the little bubble too.

Dancing queens!

Water painting in the back yard:

Elliott loves his aunt Abigail!!

We went to run a few errands and they all yelled when they saw the
In and Out right by our house! No tasty In and Outs in Michigan.

Burgers and fries for lunch!

When I was planning what we would do when my family visited I knew

they needed to experience at least two things: The mountains &

Downtown SLC. (Next time they visit, once the kids are older and can hike,

we will explore southern Utah!)

Silver Lake

I have been to Silver Lake so many times and it never gets old!

It's an easy trail for the kids with a cool boardwalk, we ALWAYS see deer,

and the lake with a mountain backdrop is gorgeous!

I love this picture of my dad and Abby!

Elliott had to take a dirt break.

He loved being a little explorer!

Pretty cute bunch!

Mabel collected rocks and then had me hold them in my pocket

so she could throw them in the lake when we got close.

Tew-Eason-Bolton adventures!

I am so thankful that Jennifer came into my dad's life.

She is funny, smart, kind, and patient. She is an amazing mom, and also works

full-time. Plus, I have always loved her Michigan accent!

Elliott wanted this squirrel to be our new pet.

He got so excited to see it running around!

Sister Selfie!

A deer running away from Elliott's screeching!

I could get used to having this guy around all the time.

Elliott stopped and tried to get this rock out of the crack

for a good 5 minutes. He wanted it so bad!

Rub a dub dub three wild things in the tub!

They only got to play for a little while because Elliott

POOPED in the tub!! Every party has a pooper.

A literal one in this case.

A quick stop while running errands to see the

Drake Family Farm goats. They loved Natalie!

My dad loved all the goat germs!

My dad was such a good sport while visiting even though

he was in a ton of pain. He had a tooth extracted about a week or so

before they came out, and then while he was here a bone

spur started coming out of his gums right by the extraction hole.

Sorry dad!! Thanks for toughing it out!

Fritz wanted Abby to be his new BFF!

My dad creamed us in Wits and Wagers!

Who on Earth knows the EXACT number of films that

Elvis was in?!!!???! MY DAD!

31.

These faces crack me up!

Downtown SLC
We had lunch at the Harmons downtown (because I am only slightly obsessed
with that store) before heading out to explore temple square.

A bunch of roads were blocked off because they had a HUGE

water slide running down Main Street. It looked so fun!

We got to show them the beautiful temple where

we were married!

I love the Salt Lake temple.

Checking out the visitor's center:

Makes me tired just thinking about the work it took to haul all that

granite! A labor of love that's for sure.

"Feeling the security and constancy of love from a spouse, a parent, or a child is a rich blessing. Such love nurtures and sustains faith in God. Such love is a source of strength and casts out fear. Such love is the desire of every human soul.” (David A. Bednar)

I love this girl!! I wanted her to stay forever.

Cheeeeeeeeese!

Had to take a peek at the organ inside the tabernacle!

My boys!

Elliott loves his daddy!

Temple square knows how to do flowers right.

I wish our backyard flowers looked like this!

One day we had to stop and get a picture by the slanted

credit union right by our house. My dad thought it was interesting!

It is a pretty cool building!

Holding things up:

Summer can't come to and end without eating

some of Costco's Island Way Sorbet!

After the kids were in bed Abby washed and rubbed

my feet! I could get used to this!

Even though we had to sit in the back row (to keep Elliott contained)

it was so fun having my peeps at church with me!

It was their first time attending The Church of Jesus Christ

of Latter Day Saints. One of the speakers was talking about family life

and spending time together. He read a quote that

said something like "the dishes can always wait!"

So that was my motto for the rest of the time....

we left dishes in the sink every day and played games

and enjoyed each other!!

Reading to my sister and my daughter.

Classic Fun Center
We decided to take it easy one day and go swimming!

It was late afternoon (nap time?) and we had the place to ourselves!!

Mabel Alligator Tew

Girls night shopping...

...and waffle love!!!

I don't know how she fit that bite in her mouth,

but she did!

Time to CELEBRATE the big 14!!

Birthday snuggles on the couch from the kiddos...

(Grandpa was eating a sucker and tried to get Elliott's attention with

it...he WANTED that sucker!!!)

Sleeping beauties that I had to wake up with a kiss!

Sad faces because Dad beat us at Banagrams.

Again.

We went to the mall so Abby could spend some
birthday money and the kids could ride the train!

Cutest thing I've ever seen poking out between two ribs!! lol

We broke open our geodes...half for Utah

and half for the Michigan.

Happy happy birthday Abby!!

Games that night...

this is my dad's new winning face!

More selfies...because look at us.

After this one my face took a little while longer to go back to normal...the wrinkles stayed in place! Abby told me I probably shouldn't do that anymore!

#oldage