Utah

Well, this is the best that I could do with the picture. My sister got married this weekend. My last sister to be married and my little brother will be married in two weeks. That is the rest of us. Sorry world, the Grover's have been taken! :)

So this weekend we hi-tailed it down to Utah to see my family and my sister Ann for her wedding.

We took off on the 24th of July which is a holiday in Utah, it's Pioneer day. This is actually the first time that we would be back in Utah and have a chance to hang out since we left in March. I was a little nervous that I would miss it or miss the mountains. I was really nervous to see our old house and I was really excited to see my family and most of all, I was excited to see my little sister Annie.

Ann looked so beautiful! We all got together on the night of the 24th for kind of a reunion. We got together last year in the same place and lit fireworks and hung out together.

This year my grandma and grandpa Grover were able to attend. Paxton's great grandparents.

I have not seen either one of them since before Ryan and I were married. It has been at least 8 years!

My Grandma looked so beautiful, turns out she is 86 years old. It was really nice to introduce them to my children and to talk to them for a bit. I couldn't help but get teary eyed when I saw them because I realized how much I had missed them.

Then, we all hung out while the boys lit fireworks to celebrate Pioneer day and this day that we had together.

We were also able to meet our new niece Taylor. Taylor is Chris and Karli's new baby girl. She was so tiny and so beautiful! Here is a picture of her next to our sweet baby Shelbs. The difference is only 5 months!

I think they are going to get a long just fine!

My mom, grandma Grover, bought the kids glow sticks and pops. The kids ran all over the park popping and glowing and in Gauger's case, rolling down hills in the dark
Gauge and Katie sharing glow sticks (they were a hit)
Some of my family watching the fireworks.
My brothers and Ryan put on a really good fireworks show for us to see. I was getting reacquainted with my Grandpa. I still couldn't believe they were there!

Wes my little bro is to be married on the fifteenth of August. In the picture above you can see his cute little fiance Tiffany. This was the first time I had met her. She was really sweet! Turns out she grew up about a block away from my Grandparents in Santa Maria. My Grandparents know here really well.

This next picture is with my sweet Grandma. She handled this whole experience so well. She has dementia and didn't remember anything very well. She seemed to enjoy her time with us and with the grand kids! Can you believe how good she looks? She is 86!

Sweet Katie!

After our time with the family we headed back to the hotel. We chose to stay in the Marriott on Center St in Provo because it was across the street from Provo PD and I really wanted to see my girls!

When we got home it was almost midnight. Ryan took care of the kids and I took off to dispatch to see my friends.

I had such a wonderful time!

It was so good to see my friends!! I was able to vent about my new job and the differences between Canyon County and Provo City police. It was nice to see how they are all doing and to laugh with all of them. I wish that I could see them more! They are really truly the only reason that I regret moving to Idaho. I miss that job and those friends! Other then that, seeing Provo again, I couldn't wait to get back to Idaho! Is that mean to say?

The next morning we got up bright and early and got ready for Annie's wedding. She was married on July 25th at the Draper temple which just opened. It was beautiful!

Annie married Brad Taylor. They have been best friends for YEARS! Including back when she lived with me. They realized that they were in love and have been dating for the last year and a half. Brad is a really good man. We are happy to have him in our family.

The wedding was really beautiful. The Sealer explained to Ann, and reminded us, what things are said when you take out your endowments and when you are Sealed in the temple for time and all eternity.

I felt happy to be there with my family and felt happy to be reminded of what I promised when I married Ryan. I always love to be in the temple with my husband. I feel so close to him and I am always reminded how lucky I am to have him. The spirit was strong that day and Ann looked so beautiful!

I will never forget how when Brad put the ring on Ann's finger, he pulled her into him and kissed her like he loved her more than anything. It was really sweet and it made me cry! I was glad to be a part of it!

When I got back to the waiting room where my sweet sister Heather was watching my children I was knocked in the face with the worst smell I had ever smelled. Turns out little Gauge couldn't wait until the end of the Ceremony to do his business and poor Heather had to be in this small room with him the whole time she waited for us. On top of that Paxton realized at some point in the waiting room that he was actually missing the wedding and he had a break down. He was really upset to have missed the actual wedding. Shelby did the best of my three kids!

When I got into the waiting room Heather gave me the look of death... and Ryan grabbed Gauge and took off to change him. Then we waited for the bride...

My boys!

My girl!

Kyra, Katie and Paxton

Wyatt, Gauge, Kyra, Katie and Paxton

my brother John. I caught him off guard..still handsome!

My beautiful mom!

and finally, Ann and Brad

Paxton was so happy to see her. I had to have a talk with him about how when he was older he would be able to see these weddings. He asked me if Ryan and I had been married in the temple. I told him that we had and that we were married for eternity (forever). I told him that because we were married for eternity we were able to be together with our children forever too.

He hugged me so tight after I explained that to him. I think he might have understood to a point, what I was saying to him. I couldn't help but cry as I explained this plan to him and as we watched Annie and Brad walk out of the temple together. Sealed for eternity!

Annie and Paxton have quite a connection! When I started my job at Provo Dispatch Ann moved in with us for a year while she watched Paxton the days that I had work. They love each other very much. He rarely left her side!

Sexy, Sexy!

Ryan and Shelby

What a sweet picture!

Gauge took off to the top of this hill. Let me tell you a big downfall about being at a location in the top of the mountains...LOTS OF HILLS and STAIRS! The people who decided to build this temple here didn't have this in mind I am sure. In fact, while I am venting... No one should ever have to bring their children to weddings like this.

Ryan and I seriously chased and coaxed our children for hours. It was the worst time. I had no idea what others must have gone through at our wedding. In fact, Shelby was happy as a clam until that photographer decided to send us to the other side of the temple and then photograph the friends and everyone else before she finally took OUR pictures. Not only that, we had to wait for Ann and Brad to come out of the temple. I swear, by the time they got there, Ryan and I were so worn out having had to chase, bounce, warn, run after, carry and beat our children. I never want to do that again!!

It was worth it, to do for Annie, but I never want to EVER do that again. And then, at a place that is all stairs and hills, Gauge was going to be the end of me!

He took off to the top of this hill and when he realized we weren't following, he climbed over the stairs and ran for the parking lot. Ryan had Shelbs so I had to take off my heels and go sprinting straight up the hill. That Fricken Kid!!

I did finally grab him, had to keep him in my arms for the rest of the time we were there and finally, by the time we took pictures I just let him go. He missed them all because I didn't have it in me anymore.

SO, P.S. To all those, especially Jennifer, who attended our wedding with all of your children, we appreciate you!!! Thank you for being there for us and for all that you put up with while we stared into each other's eyes! We had no idea!!

But, it was beautiful! You can see the whole Salt Lake Valley from this temple!

our Niece Kyra, trying to figure out how to evade me while I snap her pretty picture

All of the Grover's. Its amazing that we all have our Spouses!

The Draper temple

After the wedding Ryan and I met up with his brother Sid and their family in Springville for lunch. The boys were really happy to see their cousins!! After lunch we went to their place and talked for a couple of hours. At about 5:30 we were to be at the reception for more pictures so we headed out and got to the reception.

At the reception we took more pictures of the family and I got to chat more with my brothers before everyone began to arrive. The reception was held in American Fork at the Amphitheatre next to the AF temple. We also got to meet a lot of Brad's family. They were very kind and we liked them a lot!

ColdStone catered and Sid and Leslie had our children.

So we did what every good sibling does. I teased Chris to no end about his children who were tired and a little fussy because I did not have my kids... and then we snuck out.

Come on, Ryan and I have not had any time together without a babysitter in almost two years!!

We didn't even know what to do with ourselves! We ended up driving around a bit and getting some drinks.

After our little get away, we headed to Mapleton to hang out with Ryan's family for a little longer.

We had a really great time with Sid and Leslie!

When Ryan and I were newly wed we had dinner at Sid and Leslie's all of the time. After Sid became a bishop and we had children it slowed down a lot. Today I felt like we had the experience back. It was so nice to talk and laugh with them. To eat Schwan man Icecream and to get to know each other again. Mean while their children totally played with the kids and let us hang out without a worry! It was really really nice!!

The next day, Sunday, it was time to head back to Idaho.

My sister Heather had bought a swing set for Kyra and wanted our boys to play on it. Ryan needed to go see our friend Dave who lived in the same area so we split and the boys played with their cousin Kyra for a few hours Sunday morning down in Payson

The boys with Kyra on her knew swing set!

They had a great time and I hung out with Heather and her husband Dave outside for a while

It was good to spend some time with them and I know that the boys love Kyra to death!

After we saw the Robbins we headed over to the Mobbs home. Aaron and Jenn had just gotten back from Church where Aaron had given a talk. We didn't hear about it until he was on his way there otherwise we would have tried to be there for it. Aaron was made Elder's quorem president. A calling that he is so qualified for and deserving of. He is a very humble man and a hard worker. We know that he will do a good job in this calling!

We were also able to meet the new Mobbs girl Malia. She was so little and so pretty! To be honest I think she looked like Alex, her sister. Beautiful! I got to hang out with Jenn, Paxton played with Boston and Ryan talked to Aaron for a little while. It was really nice to see them. I wish they lived in Idaho with us! They are some of our best friends and we love them to death. Thanks guys for letting us see you and hang out for awhile!

After we saw the Mobbs we hit the road. Ryan and I talked about our trip and mostly the feeling that we got in Utah. It became really aparent for us that we made the right move when we went to Idaho.

It was also odd to be driving to Idaho to go home. We followed the Sunset the whole way home and made it just as the sun finally went down, happy to be home and happy about the trip that we had just made.

It was a good trip, but its good to be home. It's good to call Idaho home! We love it here!!!!!

Congratulations Annie and Brad! We love you!