Summer Visitors: Part Tres

Bruce's parents, Paul and Ruth, just departed after spending a few weeks with us. We always look forward to their yearly visits, and I love seeing the girls bond with Grandma and Grandpa. I'm going to try to sum the whole thing up in one post, so wish me luck!

Even with guests in town, we don't miss our weekly lunches at Mi Ranchito. Bruce's dad is a little bit famous for ordering water, then repeatedly requesting Splenda and lemons to make his own lemonade. Some jokes were made at his expense, and then we took the opportunity to make a photo op out of all of his discarded limes.

Kiki tried for the same joke, only with rice. Instead of "Silly," we achieved "Gross."

The girls finished up their last series of swim lessons. The last day was a start to finish disaster, with Kiki throwing a fit over improper tootsie roll allotment, and Kate getting kicked in the face. It was one of those parenting panic moments: I heard a cry that I knew was my child, then I saw her walking towards me, then I realized she was bleeding so profusely from her face that I couldn't even tell where it was coming from at first. I finally sorted out that it was a terrible nosebleed and got it stopped, but we left the PG Pool looking like a crime scene.

Grandma and Grandpa left us to go to Jackson Hole for a few days, and in their absence we went to Lagoon. Bruce's work paid for the whole company to go for the day, so we felt a little bit spoiled.

As usual, Kiki loved anywhere she could play with water.

We decided to just hit Lagoona Beach so we could ALL swim.

We went to Pioneer Village- the church there was the church in the town where my mom grew up (Coalville).

We rode the Ferris Wheel...

...the girls loved the rides...

...and Kiki's largest disappointment was that she was too short to go on the Colossus. She's a brave one.

My mom and I took the girls to the Gateway for shopping and more fun in the water.

Jack and I took the girls and Porter on a picnic. No pictures of anyone, but I did manage to snap one of Kiki's extra long tongue.

Freaky, no?

On Wednesday, Bruce's brother James, his wife Tiffany, and their new baby Hudson were also flying in. Prior to picking them up at the airport, Bruce and I brought Kate up for a "grown-up dinner" with my sister-in-law Jill.

Jill is a tiny gal: Those are Kate's hands compared to hers.

We ate at Squatter's, which was delicious of course. We narrowly avoided an epic war and ordered TWO molten chocolate cakes instead of just one.

Kate, Me, and Jill

August 19th was Paul and Ruth's FIFTIETH wedding anniversary. Look how happy they still are:

We celebrated their anniversary with dinner and a play at Sundance.

It was so cold.

Tiffany, Kate, and Hudson

Tiff bundled and bundled Hudson until only his eyes were showing.

The Anniversary Party

Kiki ate an entire hamburger, a chicken breast, and then hit up the Sundance employees for extra cheese slices on the way out. I guess mountain air makes her hungry.

Sharing hot chocolate for warmth.

On Sunday, I uttered the words that no one EVER wants to hear:

"Everybody be ready early because I want some pictures of us looking decent!"

Ironically, my camera lens had a smudged on it, so even though we all looked decent, the pictures still turned out crappy!

Oh well, at least I tried.

Don't you just want to squeeze him? It's baby Hudson at 9 weeks, and I'm pretty sure I'm his favorite aunt.

Bruce and James are 16 years apart yet amazingly similar. It's like they are twins separated by a decade and a half.

Although I imagine that Bruce looks at James and mourns his lost youth, and James looks at Bruce and fears the years to come.

Kiki continues to turn on that charm she is famous for.

She insisted on wearing a sequined dress with fringe for 3 days in a row, and when Grandma asked for a picture in it, this was the pose Kiki delivered:
"...and if you don't like that one, Grandma, how about a little of...

...THIS?"

Kate, Kiki, and Hudson

I must tell one anecdote. Bruce's mom is famous for little verbal slips, like announcing to the Relief Society that a spa night is coming up and all the ladies should bring their vibrators (when she really means massagers). Anyhooooo...

Bruce was barbecuing some chicken, and he remarked that it didn't cook quite evenly, and I was trying to tell him that he should have pounded it, but for some reason I couldn't come up with the word "mallet" or "meat tenderizer." Ruth spoke up, "A meat beater! I use mine all the time!" and continued to speak at length about how she beats her meat.

I nearly choked. Bruce couldn't stop laughing. She has no idea (until now, I guess) that she was the source of such humor for us.

Our guests departed this morning. Before leaving, Tiffany helped Kate pick out her first day of school outfit (in Tiff's defense, the turquoise leggings were Kate's last minute addition). "Now that looks like an outfit that learning can take place in!" Tiff exclaimed. Moms are so lame when a super fun aunt is in town.

Official First Day of School Photos.

At Mrs. Hatch's classroom.

Kiki insisted on her own school picture.

Get used to that desk in the hall, Kiki.

I've got a feeling you'll be spending some time there.