Fun Times in Utah

After finally arriving in Utah with John and Alison's three boys after a weather delay and being sent home overnight, George was already there since he had flown in the night before.  We stayed with Kevin and Angie and their four children, along with Cameron and Anne and their four children, and Kent and Natalie and their three children.  We're very fortunate that Kevin and Angie are such wonderful hosts and allow us all to stay together so we don't have to waste a single minute coming and going from other places. 

I hadn't seen little Cannon since February when I went to Washington and George hadn't seen him since December, so we were really anxious to see how he was doing.  It was so hard to see him breathing so heavily.  When he gets a cold, he can hardly breathe.  He just struggles.  Respiratory problems are one of the main concerns of Menkes children. 

Do you see how dry his little lips get because he has to breathe through his mouth so much?  But lucky for us, Natalie puts some great lip salve on that sweet Candy Baker sent.  Thank you, Candy!  Amazingly, as he stayed in Utah for those couple of weeks, his breathing got better.  The dryer air seems to be better for him.

With this many grandkids together, we decided to take the kids to a new little park near Kevin and Angie's home.

Jaxon and Ethan both played Kade.

While the boys played tennis, the girls went to the playground.

They had all brought their swim suits and decided they wanted to get wet in the play area. 

Literally, they about froze to death--do you see that snow still on the mountains?

Little Gavin had fallen out of his stroller a couple of days before, so he really had a skinned up nose. 

Everyone loves to hold him because he is such an easy little guy and loves everybody. 

Then the boys and the girl, plus Grandpa George and Uncle Kent got a baseball game going.  It was great . . . 

Grandpa George pitching to Jaxon.

Now to Ethan.

For a little three-year-old, you can't believe how well Mason hits--but you can never catch him because he never runs the baselines.  He is so funny--we all just laugh!

These two cousins are so close in age--and very competitive!  But they have so much fun together!

Now Kent pitches to Grandpa George.

Run, Grandpa George, Run!

Hannah is ready to bat.

She hits the ball just great and takes off running. 

She gets all the way home, then sits down on the sidelines clear over by where I am.  The next person at bat (I really can't remember who that was) didn't hang on to the bat and it came clear over and hit her on her back.  We were all so surprised!  But Kade, being the great brother he is, carried her back to where the moms were.  "She ain't heavy. . . she's my sister."  Anyway, it did end the game. 

After dinner, the kids all went swimming next door in the neighbor's pool.  Koda thinks Grandpa George is the greatest and always wants to sit on his lap or lick his face.  Sitting on his lap is fine--licking his face, no way!

About that time, Carter showed up at the pool.  He and his family have moved to Orlando, but he flew back to Utah to get his braces off.

The kids were so excited to see him!

Look at those beautiful teeth!

After the kids got out of the pool, they played in the yard a little more.

Then, Anne had planned for an ice cream sundae party.  She even had little signs for each of the toppings.  The kids loved it!

And I think Grandpa George was quite a fan, too!

It was finally the end of the day, and beds were made everywhere in the house!  The boys all slept in the family room.  I don't know what time they finally got to sleep, but that's what slumber parties are for, aren't they?  Not really for slumbering, right?!  Anyway, at least the adults all had a restful night ready for the next day.