July 2017 in Utah

While I've been partying in Utah all summer, Bryan has been slaving away in San Antonio.  We bought a nice sized home in Converse that needed a little TLC.  Bryan arranged to have the house painted and some sheet rock repairs before he got there.  Then afterwards, he has arranged for carpet installment, granite counter tops with under mount sinks and new appliance.  He has put in new floors, tiled the bathrooms and kitchen/pantry, installed toilets, and cleaned up the yard.  Plus, he has been going to work full time.  He is amazing! It looks soo much better than what it did online.  There was a lot of different colors throughout the house.  Btw, we purchased this place without ever seeing it! 

Floors and carpet

Paint job and carpet

 Finishing up the floors

 Meanwhile, this is what Rebekah and the girls have been up to.  On the 4th of July, we hiked donut falls in Big Cottonwood Canyon.  The girls did most of the walking on their own.

 Kate learned how to make Mormon jello.

There was a fireworks ban in my parents neighborhood, so we went to some friends in South Jordan to celebrate the holiday.

Crazy morning hair and a HUGE scratch on her face from a fall on the cement. 

 We spent a lot of time at all the cool splash pads in Utah and Salt Lake county.

 Pegasis at Highland Glen with my neices.

 Splash pad fun.

I visited SLC capital building for the first time.  I had a meeting with one of my representatives to discuss taxing sugary drinks.  He did not go for it, but that it okay.  It was a great learning experience and I got an A+ in my class.

 Ahlborn Family Reunion part I at Bear Lake, Idaho

 We got to celebrate Jane turning 2 at the family reunion.  Lots of helpers with the presents and eating cake.

 Jane had another birthday party at the local splash pad with my side of the family, plus Amy.  We had lots of cupcakes, lots of presents, and lots of water.  It was perfect.  Jane loves Moana and she looks super cute in her Moana dress.

 Amy, Emma, and Alice

 We celebrated Pioneer Day (July 24) hiking up Stewart Falls in Provo Canyon.  The hike was a little long for the little ones, but they did it and I am so proud!  We went with Dad, Kim, Norah, Zander, Linsey, Daphne, McCartney, and Ezra.

 Grandma turned 100!  She had an amazing birthday party at the Garden Park ward in SLC and so many people (younger than her) came to visit.

 Ahlborn girls (Amy's two, my two, and Michael's two)

 Kate and her cousin Alecia

 I got to visit with my BFF's from high school.  It was so nice seeing them and catching up.

 My parents' neighborhood pool had a Moana party with a real live Moana.  She was amazing and danced for all the littles.

We had a great July!

America, here we come!

Bryan left for Captain's Career Course for 9 weeks and I decided it would be fun to visit all my family in America while he was away.  Unfortunately, we were waiting on Jane's passport and scheduled a flight a couple days after he left.  My dear friend, Abby, took me and the girls to the airport.  I survived almost 25 hours of awake time (only 15 hours of flight time) with my little monsters.  To be honest, they were actually great.  Kate enjoyed her own personal television/movie player.  Jane happily slept in my arms and crawled on the plane's floor.  I prepared myself for many breakdowns and tears, and it was anything but that.  I also was very grateful for a plane ride during my kids waking hours.  I think I would have been more stressed if I had to keep my children asleep while everyone else was sleeping. 

Anyways, we made it to America safe and sound.  We have been adjusting to time change and routine change and all the big cars, stores, and roads. 

 I put Kate in gymnastics at the local recreation center and she is excelling. 

We've gone sledding with grandpa and cousins.

Kate sledding by herself.

 We have visited the ice castle in Midway and took pictures with the Frozen cast.

And watched Koko practice her bobsledding.