While The Darlings Were Away.....

I haven't had a week, like last week...for a very long time!

The Darlings attended EFY...and The Farmer is still at home working...so that left me ALL ALONE!!

So this is how it went....

After I dropped off The Darlings, I spent the day doing errands and cleaning our home

away from home....The evening was spent with great friends and great cousins..at the

ever fantastic 4th of July party held every year at Uncle Tom's house.  The food was great...

Uncle Tom's "band" played some fun music..and we just visited and visited until the rain started.

Delightful!!

In our neighborhood..the fireworks went on late into the night.....

In the days that followed...

Shared lunch with a dear friend...ate yummy food...and caught up...

Grandma Vicki and Auntie arrived...

Made a "few" trips to Sundance...

Celebrated Auntie's birthday with the most amazing lunch at Sundance...

and then a little shopping..

(above is the herb garden at Sundance.  I thought it was so great!)

Uncle Ben and family arrived....

spent the day at Thanksgiving Point...with the farm animals and nieces and nephews

Sooooo fun!

Had a wonderful lunch at The Harvest....

(Uncle Ben and Grandma Vicki)

The Farm animals enjoyed the attention...some even posed for photos!

 

The kids loved the water fountain!

The adults LOVED...visiting and just being together!

After a great lunch....the kids discovered the most darling soda fountain known to man!

They really enjoyed the ice cream cones!

And the adults enjoyed amazing Sunday's.

The week ended with dinner at The Brick Oven with all the Family...and an amazing

Balloon man...(more on that later).

Saturday morning....EARLY....we picked up The Darlings...it is great to have them back.

They all had wonderful experiences...and made lots of new friends.

It was a great week for everyone!!

Check'n In At EFY....and Cousin Love!

After a funfilled 4th of July weekend....came EFY check-in which fell exactly on the 4th!

The cousins arrived the night before and we all loaded up Monday morning and headed for BYU.

We had cousins from Mexico....cousins from Mesa...and a great group of friends that also

came from Mexico to attend EFY.

Aunt Shauna took a moment to say a little prayer...that Niki would be able to "walk-on" to EFY since she

was not able to get in earlier....and her prayers were answered!

A whole load of teenage energy was dropped off at one time...the kids were happy...and

the parents were pretty happy too!!

PreShie returned Saturday from 2 1/2 weeks of touring in Europe...and was thrilled to be

reunited with her cousins!

They were all happy to see The Boy....

The Boy hasn't seen his cousins for a few weeks...and it was a very happy reunion!

Lots of cousin love!!

This was The Rooster's first experience at EFY.  The Boy took him shopping the week earlier...to make sure

The Rooster was "ready" for EFY.  He looked pretty cute when I dropped him off.  The Rooster isn't always

up for new experiences..in fact...he avoids them like the plague...but after many pep talks...he was ready to

go.  He told someone he wasn't too happy that his Mom had paid $$ for him to go to church for

a whole week!  I thought that was pretty funny.  The Boy quickly said that there would be alot of

"hot chicks".....tons of fun...and he would get to be spiritual!  What more could a 14 year old boy ask for??

I thought he would have a hard time when I dropped him off...but NO....he grabbed his suitcase from the car, and headed for the dorms.  When I started to follow his...he said..."what are YOU doing here???"  and even though I was really there to make sure he was ok....I told him I just wanted to snap a few last

pictures and then I would go.  It was fantastic to see him soooo excited!!

PreShie....well....she started with week tired.  She was suffering from jet lag and wasn't sure how

she would make it through the week.  She was excited to be there...just a little worried about being so

tired.  She is in the same group as The Rooster...just to keep an eye out for him.  She will make the best

of the week...I know she will....that is the kind of girl she is!!

The Boy is attending for the last time!

He was super excited to go...but really mad at me for taking too many pictures!

He will thank me someday...YES....he will!

He said he felt old...but he didn't care...he really loves the EFY experience.

And me....well I dropped them off...and drove away with a big smile on my face.

I am so grateful that they are having this experience...I too...love EFY. 

I will be a great week for The Darlings.....and for their Mother;)