Carvers Visit UT/Reeve & Carver Family Reunions - September 2011

We had a great big double family reunion (Carvers and Reeves) in UT on Sept. 3-10, so we had another week packed full of fun.

My whole family drove up from CA, my Uncle Mike flew in from Hawaii, my grandparents drove down from Rexburg, ID, and my Aunt Chris and her family are already in UT in American Fork. We all got together for a Carver Family dinner on Sept. 3 at our house and I didn't get many pictures so I'm glad my Aunt Chris did (thanks Aunt Chris!). A couple days later, we met at Pioneer Park in Salt Lake for a picnic and playtime for the little boys.

I love this picture of my dad with his 2 grandsons.

The 3 great grand kids on the Carver side. That's my cousin Alex in the middle with his son Craig.

Uncle Mike, Aunt Chris, Dad, Grandpa & Grandma in the front.

It may appear I only take pictures of Jaxson and Connor when they are together, but it is more difficult to get pictures of them apart! These boys are ALWAYS together when they get the chance. They really love playing together. (I have dozens more just like these.)






Play time with Uncle Brad.


Later that week my family and my grandparents drove back up to Rexburg for a couple days. We went to Bear World and the splash pad that Brad, Connor and I went to a few weeks before (so I didn't take many pictures this time around), and it was just as much fun the second time.



Down time at my grandparents' house.


TV in our hotel the first night.

Stories the second night.

On one of the last days my family was here, we did a huge Reeve reunion (my mom's side). It was (almost) all the posterity of Arthur Henry Reeve and Mary Amelia Cropper, who are my great grandparents. It was so awesome and a very spiritual experience to have all their children (my Papa Tom and his siblings), their children's children (my mom, my aunts and uncles, and extended cousins), their children's children's children (me, my sisters, my cousins, and extended 3rd generation), and their children's children's children's children (Connor and Jaxson, and extended 4th generation) all together in one room. I know that's a little confusing, but I wanted to paint the picture. Many of them I had never met or hadn't seen in a very long time. We are all the result of one couple, and it was fun to hear all our different stories and where we are in life. It's really astounding the impact 2 people can have on the world. My mom's cousin, Rex Reeve, did a presentation on the Reeve Family history - so cool - and then we ate a big potluck lunch.






I think my family left the next day for CA. What a great trip! Can't wait until they visit again!

Claire, Sterling, and Jaxson came to visit!

A couple weekends (Feb. 12-16) ago my sister Claire and her family came to Utah for a visit for Claire's 29th birthday. It was so fun to see them and play for a few days. Connor really loved playing with Jaxson again. He loves his cousin. We are sad they don't get to play so often anymore. :(

Saturday night we met them and our cousins Nick and LaRisse at Macaroni Grill in Salt Lake. It's always fun to get together with other family. Now that we live here, we will have to make sure to get together more often!



Sunday night we ate dinner at my Aunt Chris's house. Some of our cousins were there too and, as always, it was fun to see them!




Jaxson and Connor, with my cousin's son Craig.

Monday afternoon, they came to our apartment in West Haven. The boys played, we watched "Up", and ate some chocolate treats.



Tuesday morning we met in Park City to go sledding. The kids didn't have fun at all. Not sure why they hate it so much, but the adults had fun! After that we hit the Tangier Outlets for a little shopping and a delicious treat at Mrs. Fields.


Wednesday morning we went to Hogle Zoo together before they flew out that night. I love the Zoo. And Connor seemed much more interested than the last time we went when he was 9 months old.





A new way to pick your nose?? I guess it's more efficient... cuts out the middle man?





Go Cougars!!


I was such a fun few days and we miss them! Thanks for coming to visit us family!

December was busy. Don't believe me??

Early Carver Christmas
Since Christmas Day this year was the Jeppsons', my family did ours early. So December 12 we all gathered at my parents' house for the Carver Family Christmas.


We played with the new toys for the rest of the day - warm clothes and beanies, legos, books, adorable rain boots, movies, candy, etc. etc. Thanks everyone for the gifts!

Disneyland
As soon as we knew we were moving to Utah, I was determined to go to Disneyland as much as possible. Connor and I went 3-4 times each week with our friends and family. We love Disneyland.

Small World is spectacular at Christmas time.
Connor snuggling with Auntie Ady.
Silhouette of the Smiths (Matt, Christine, and Braden).
Our friends LeeElle, Cohen, LeeElle's sister Kerilynn, and her son Jaxson (spelled just like my nephew!).

Moving
After our early Christmas weekend, we headed back home to El Segundo Monday morning for the final few days. Box hunting, packing, taping, marking, pushing, pulling, organizing, cleaning, loading, sweating, and finally driving away Wednesday morning. Fortunately, we had a lot of help. Brad's mom and sister flew down Monday morning, Brad's dad flew down Tuesday night, and some ward and work friends came to help as well. Thank you everyone! WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU!

Wednesday, Dec. 15 Brad headed north with his family, one of our cars, and the moving van. Connor and I (and our second car) headed south to be with my family for another week.

Our El Segundo home. That is (was) our window.

Reunions (and more Disneyland)
I'm glad I got an extra week with my family and they got an extra week with us (ahem, Connor). Jaxson and Connor had fun together and we went to Disneyland 3 times more.

Breakfast and Sesame Street.

That weekend, December 17-19, was our Reeve (Mom's side) Cousin Reunion. Dinner at my parents' house, white elephant gift exchange, Disneyland 2 days in a row, and eating at Club 33. Christmas trips to Disneyland is a tradition we've had since we were little.

It POURED the entire time we were there. From the very beginning, we were all sloshing in our shoes. But it wasn't enough to keep us away. We still had fun, even if it was the most miserable fun we've ever had. :)
I held Connor like this the ENTIRE DAY. If I put him in his umbrella stroller, he got soaked. He actually stayed pretty dry. I didn't. 8 hours of this and my back was killing me.
DesiRee, LaRisse, me, Ady.
The rain relented for 1 hour while we ate lunch. That was nice.
Tower of Terror. Top right corner.
Splash.
Club 33.
Tram ride to the car. Ready to go home. Done being soaking wet.

Goodbyes
The following Monday (Dec. 20) my El Segundo friends took me out to the Melting Pot. Goodbyes are so sad. I really miss these girls.

(Clockwise from left) Karen, Laura, Tanya, me, LeeElle, Amy Jo, Ginger.
Connor and Cohen in matching jammies. (Thanks John for watching them.) Connor really misses his friends too.
Christine, Braden, and Diana (Christine's mom). We miss them too.

Jeppson Christmas
December 22nd - Connor and I flew to Utah. (We left our car in CA for New Year's.)
December 23rd - Made gingerbread houses with Jeppson girls.
December 24th - Big Jeppson family dinner/party which included karaoke, lots of family, and the flu virus. Also opened Christmas presents with immediate Jeppson family.
December 25th - Merry Christmas!! Big Gotberg family dinner/party with white elephant gift exchange. I didn't go because I caught the flu from the night before (also lost 5 pounds that day). Lucky me. Brad and I opened our gifts to each other. He got me a new camera (to replace our lost one), and I got him a Dewalt cordless drill.
December 26th-27th - Relaxing and still recovering from the flu. (Brenda also got it these days.)
December 28th - Fly home to California for New Year's.

My handy work.
Being devoured a few days later.
Total destruction.

New Year's
Brad, Connor, and I flew back to California on Dec. 28 to spend New Year's with my family (we already bought these tickets to spend Christmas in Utah before we knew we were moving, so this was our "home" ticket). We drove back to Utah Sunday, Dec. 2.

Lots of time with grandparents.
The park.

The Getty.

Driving "home" to Utah
We left my parents' house at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2. We wanted Connor to sleep as long as possible before we had to stop and let him out. Well worth it - we made it all the way past Vegas to Mesquite where we ate breakfast and walked around a grocery store for an hour. We only had to stop once more in Nephi and then we made it all the way to Brad's parents' house in South Jordan. THAT is the way to travel with a 1 year old!

Our gorgeous sunrise as we passed Las Vegas.
In the state of Utah.
The blessed sight in the back seat for 80% of the trip.

We are finally here and past all the holiday craziness. Utah doesn't quite feel like home yet, but give it a few weeks. We will be starting our house hunting soon...