Winger Family Staycation

First the first time in 10 years, all of Zach's siblings would be in Utah for a little reunion and we were so excited to see everyone! I hadn't seen Chris & Jaimee and their family for about 3 years and it's been awhile since the CA sibs had visited and they all got to meet baby Boston! 

It started with families trickling in on Sunday (Father's Day) so we headed down to Provo for dinner. Jaimee and her friend had most of a big roast dinner started and Cathy and I helped with whatever else was needed. It was so delicious! Roast, mashed potatoes, big puffy rolls, salad, and corn. It has been a long time since I had such a big meal! I loved it.

We ended up outside at 9pm watching the kids dance and do gymnastics tricks until after the sun went down. It was such a fun perfect night and there really is nothing more that I love than watching Georgia run around with her cousins and fight them off as they all vie for her affection and tried to carry her around like a baby. We love them so so much, all 40(ish) of them! 

The next day, we headed down to Provo again for the traditional dinner at Tucanos! Zach has eaten there too many times to ever get excited but I still love it every single time! I get so excited for that tasty meat and grilled pineapple. 

Here is Frank & Gramps twinning in their awesome Costco shirts :) haha he said later that night "I won't be shopping there for clothes anymore..." too funny!

Dinner was delicious as always and then all the kids ended up outside playing by the creek there. Georgia wanted to walk along the edge of the stone wall the entire time. Until we found the entertainer at the gazebo stage area. Then the grandkids were dancing up on the platform along with the musician and Georgia was teasing everyone, dangling kisses and playing hard to get with her Uncles. Sometimes she would give kisses and sometimes she would fake them out. Silly girl! 

The next day we met up in Pleasant Grove for the Strawberry Days rodeo. 

 Georgie has really come to love Papa over the last few months and he is so sweet with her.

 Love this picture!

 I can't help but laugh at her completely blank stare throughout the entire night:

 Hahaha

And the best one:

She don't even give 2 cents about momma's picture taking!! Cracks me up. You know I'm sitting behind that camera calling her name and smiling at her. NOTHIN.

She was so wiggly, she would hardly sit still for more than 3 minutes.  

 Especially with Aaron trying to eat her and get giggles out of her all night.

It was a pretty chilly night actually and I'm glad I brought warm clothes for me and the babes!

 The rodeo was fun and the strawberries and cream were delicious but I was glad to take Georgia home finally about 9:30, she's such a handful these days and didn't want to stay put on those bleachers.
We had a BBQ & swim party at Jared's house in Highland one afternoon. It was so nice to have so much family around to cuddle Boston, I actually got to go swimming with Georgia and she loved it despite the pool being crazy packed with a million cousins!

 Her face cracks me up hahaha:

 Sometimes I wonder if she's a happy child....

hahaha. 

Here's a better one:

After swimming, Zach got to play a game of baseball with some of his brothers at a nearby park - something he loves to do! He loves sports and hardly ever gets to play them anymore. After watching the game keeping Georgia off the field and trying to pacify her with the iPad (a no-go) we headed over to a nearby snow cone stand. It was actually really good! They had the sweet and condensed milk and ice cream and all that. 

Hangin with my boy (because he hates his carseat).

Another night spent at the Provo house ended up in the creek across the street after some hilarious dance & lip sync performances from the kids. My nieces and nephews have some serious dance moves... one of them was invited to be on the set of Yo Gabba Gabba for some dance scenes and they had to cut most of her out because she was "too provocative." She was 5!!! So funny. 

I gave Zach one specific task as they headed out the door - don't let her get wet. If she goes in, take her clothes off. Her clothes came off. After they got wet. -_______-

Playing peekaboo:

 She always put her hands over her eyes (or somewhere close to that area) whenever we say "Where's Georgia???"
There she is!!!

My little water baby loves the water! No matter what the temperature!

Friday was family picture day. I had an outfit in mind that I was going to squeeze into but then decided I wanted something that actually fit and was comfortable for these pictures, especially since it would be so hot. I ended up going to the mall last minute that morning and finding an outfit. I had one hour to find something and I found it in the last 15 minutes. Phew! We also had to go to the mall that day for Zach too because he's not capable of picking out a red & navy blue shirt by himself. Turd. Seriously, I asked him like 5 times to send me a picture before he purchased a shirt and he wouldn't - sure enough, he brings home a magenta and cobalt blue shirt. BOYS!

Chandice and baby Cruz:

The twins are so so big! Such chunks! They look like little sumo wrestlers haha. I loved their outfits SO much but man they must have been sweating, so glad I wasn't dressed in sweats that day :)

The kids love Georgia Bean. They wanted to hold her and play with her and make her sit in their laps the whole time. Poor thing, she's just so independent right now. I'm pretty sure she is being strapped down in one of the cousins lap as she's screaming to be let loose in every single shot. Oh well! At least Soren (about 2 years old and the closest in age right now) wasn't a happy camper either haha! He had a death grip on a handful of sticks and was having a meltdown over letting them go. Kids! Who needs em! They just ruin pictures! Haha ;) good thing we love them so.

The ever elusive family photo... 5,000 photos and not one where everyone is happy.

It always amazes me when I see family pictures and little toddlers are smiling... I realize just how hard it is to get smile out of them! 

These pictures are just too funny... not our day!!

Such a happy family of 2! The rest are miserable! Haha

And this little gem is for you Kelly.

Hahaha Georgia's face is just PRICELESS. Such a funny picture. I'm sure we'll be sharing that one for years to come.

After family pictures we all headed to a park nearby and ate dinner and hung out. 

A cute picture of all the babies.

Beverly, Cash & Cruz, and Boston:

So many babies and no doubt more to come!! 

The afternoon was beautiful. So warm and the sun stayed up past 9:30 and everyone stayed till it was dark! The kids were having so much fun. I love summer days like that especially when you get to share it with family and your kids get to play with their cousins!

Another swim day at the Provo house:

Georgie got brave and loves to walk as far as she can into the deep end before drowning. Then screams no over and over when you drag her back. It's fun.

Sweet hair. 

 Love these two. I was dying to get out of the heat and into that water but I forgot my suit.

I really wish I had more pictures of all the cousins, there are just so many of them, it's kind of a mad house, but they are so darn cute. Sadly, the only picture I snapped if of my love affair for these amazing salted caramel corn puffs. To. Die. For. My mother in law always finds the best treats! I literally picked myself up 3 massive bags at Costco. THREE. Zach was like, did we really need 3????? The answer is YES.

 Everyone stayed until Sunday and then headed home after Boston's baby blessing except for Chris and Jaimee and their family. It was fun to spend more time with them since they are the only family we don't get to see for years at a time (they live in Pittsburgh). Side note... their kids are so rambunctious! The most active of the cousins for sure. What do you expect when their dad is a former NFL player?? Their oldest is 13 going on 18. He's soooo tall and strong for his age and dominates in sports. He's such a sweet and handsome kid too. They all are so good looking and talented and sweet. Aubrey, the youngest (3) was obsessed with Georgia but the kind where I had to make her she didn't squeeze her to death on accident. So funny!
This was a cute picture right before Aubrey wanted to lock them in the toy closet without the lights on.

Then they built a "boat" and only girls were allowed in!

This pretty much sums up Aubrey: 

Just a big blurr of energy that girl!

And even Lincoln (6) loved her & Boston and kept wanting to hold Boston. I am always surprised when I see boys wanting to love on little babies, I would expect them not to care at all, but they totally do. They are so sweet! 

Kade playing with Georgie:

It was so fun getting to see them again and kind of sad not knowing when would be the next time.. a year, two, three? We are always praying they will make the move to Utah someday and be closer to us. We will slowly convince people to move here and suffer with us through the winter and the summer heat!! I'm really starting to like it here... :)