Utah Summer 2015

So far, this summer has been a whirlwind of travel, family, and Jackson taking huge steps to opening a new school.

Just days after school got out, Valencia and I got on a plane to travel to Utah. Now a seasoned pro, Vali handled the cross country trip like a champ. In her short lifetime, Valencia has now made FOUR cross country trips - Christmas, my brother Ben's wedding in March, Spring Break in Arizona and this time for my sister Crystal's wedding/summer family time. I'm sure she's due for some sort of frequent flyer bonus by now. :) Jackson did not join us for the flight because he was already out west - but in Colorado taking classes to help prepare him to open his new school - Henderson Collegiate High School (now opening in 34 days!).

Boarding flight #2

Time with the Britt's in Utah was amazing! First, we were fortunate to be a part of Crystal's union to the amazing Charles Andrew Maxwell (he mysteriously goes by about any version of his names... at the wedding he was referred to as Charles, Charlie, Andrew and probably Mad Max). The wedding allowed for us to see friends and family from Utah, Colorado, New York, Canada, Washington and Arizona and was a great excuse to hang out with my favorite high school friends! Both sets of grandparents also came for the wedding, we're at that stage when every opportunity to be with them is a blessing.

 Vali with Steph, one of my best friends 

who travelled from CO 

 Vali and Dixie with my cousin Danielle who travelled from NY

(Notice Dixie - she tried to borrow some of Vali's PJ's, but they didn't quite fit)

 Alicia, one of my best friends who threw Crystal her bachelorette party

Crystal enjoying her party

The only sad part about time with my family is that Jackson was only able to join us for literally 6 hours. Amazing husband, father and brother-in-law that he is, he drove 7 hours in each direction from Denver so he could be with us for the wedding. We cherished every minute.

After the wedding, we got in some awesome family time. Valencia cannot get enough of her cousins! She LOVES the interaction and attention. I loved seeing her with Dixie. These two are only 4 days apart and we can't wait for them to grow up to be best friends.

 Dixie and Valencia 

Shopping with the girls

Vali with her aunt Tippy

While in Utah, Valencia also switched to all solids, all the time. Say goodbye to spoon feeding, she is all about big girl food. Some favorites include hamburger, string cheese, peas, steamed carrots, watermelon and pasta. According to my dad, she is slowest eater in history. I attribute this to her still having no teeth and to being such a great eater - she'll eat anything! On a few occasions she's sat for 40 minutes in her high chair eating, laughing and having a great time. Now that we are home, she enjoys sharing with Merlin. Sometimes it's literally a bite for her, a bite for Merlin. A bite for her, one for Merlin. He's loving life.

 Chowing down on lasagna

Still eating at the changing table several minutes 

after getting down from the high chair

Back at home feeding Merlin breakfast

But I digress, back to our vacation. Let's just say that Papa and Grandma spoiling Valencia is an understatement. This girl was waited on, cuddled with and cooed at... and she loved every second of it.

 Papa is overjoyed to be with his girls

When Jackson's classes in Denver were over, he came over to Utah and we spent the rest of our trip with his family. More cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends! We were fortunate to arrive the day before his parents gave their homecoming remarks from their service mission. Herm and Norma recently returned from the small island country of Palau where they taught the somewhat newly formed government all about jury trials. Herm was the first attorney on the island to have his client be given the verdict of not-guilty by a jury.

 Valencia with her cousin Gideon and Aunt Amber

Jackson and Vali with Grandpa Jack

Valencia with her cousin Estee

Even though most of the family was there for kayaking, 

the only photos we managed to take were of these two...

While in Logan, Jackson was able to golf, play handball and summit Box Elder Peak - the highest mountain on the Wellsville range of Cache Valley. These physical feats are far beyond my abilities, and for a guy who still managed to work 8 hours or more a day while on 'vacation', it was very impressive.

 View from the trail

 Jackson's cousin Jo and a stray dog, his mountain companions

View of the valley from the top of the mountain. It's quite majestic.

We ended the trip with a fantastic 4th of July celebration and fireworks. Jackson's family has a tradition of doing family fireworks in the church parking lot behind their house. Each kid sat mesmerized as brilliant lights and loud pops filled the air. I loved seeing all of the kids' reactions to each firework as they lit up the night sky.

 Waiting for the fireworks

In the church parking lot with the Olsen family

It's always tough to say goodbye to family when they live so far away. We returned home with amazing memories and a new challenge ahead. I am so proud of Jackson and I know big things are happening as he and his team prepare for HCHS to open it's doors in 34 short days.

Because we had to share a cute little butt in the air 

Baby V's Thanksgiving Road Trip

When you're as cute and as popular as Valencia, you garner a lot of attention. You have a lot of admirers. People know you. The byproduct of that level of stardom is that people want to see you. Your fans want to squish your cheeks, hear your cooing voice, and clean your blowout diapers. Fame comes with some serious perks.

As the parents of Valencia (and we've now learned to go by that moniker, hereafter abbreviated as PoV), we did our best this Thanksgiving to facilitate meetings between our celebrity daughter and the people so eager to meet her for the very first time. It took more than 1,500 miles of driving and staying in four different locations, but we did it. They are, in chronological order:

• Aunt Holly
• Uncle Adam
• Cousin Olivia
• Cousin Ruby
• Cousin Sonoma (aka Telesca)
• Aunt Josie
• Uncle Rick
• Cousin Forrest
• PoV's Cousin Daniel
• Aunt Mandy
• Cousin Sadie
• Cousin Jake
• Great Uncle Dan
• Great Aunt Jeanne
• PoV's Cousin Nick
• PoV's Cousin Danielle
• PoV's Cousin James
• 2nd Cousin Cameron
• NY Friends Lynn Hock
• Eddie Hock
• Joseph Hock
• UT Friends Gabe Bush
• Ellen Bush

Vali & Aunt Holly

Vali chilling with her cousins Ruby & Olivia

The one thing I can tell you about Valencia is that she she does not disappoint. If you think she's cute in these pictures, then your heart will skip a beat when you meet her in real life. The people listed above can corroborate. She's an angel straight from heaven, embodied in squishy skin, busy limbs, and a face with seemingly unlimited expressions.

For us, the lowly PoV, it was a great Thanksgiving. Living on the East Coast when most of our family is out West rarely offers us the opportunity to be with so many family at once. In fact, it's never happened in the five and a half years since we moved here. But the stars aligned this year, and we were able to surround ourselves with the people we love on a day that symbolizes the gratitude we feel for our wonderful families and friends.

We are richly blessed. Valencia is a treasure. Celeste is a saint. I am tolerable under most circumstances. Family is forever. How grateful I am for that eternal truth.

The ladies socialize while the gentlemen, well...

Not something we Southerners are accustomed to seeing.

"Another adoring stranger? Better put my game face on."

Vali & Uncle Dan, laughing at the fact that they have the same hair cut.

Mandy flew all the way from Ireland to meet Valencia and be with us for Thanksgiving.

Sadie, Jake, and Merlin. Sadie, the proper lady that she is, couldn't abide Merlin's presence the first time they met. By the time we left, she was racing out the door to give him a farewell hug. #thepowerofmerlin

Jake took no time warming up to Merlin. He got a kick out of hugging and "tickling" him.

The East Coast Olsen/Kidd Crew - Daniel, Mandy, Jake, Forrest, Rick, Josie, Sadie, Merlin, Jack, Les, and Vali

Aunt Josie holding Valencia, getting a whiff of her head, which smells like baby.

Jake & Jack

Close-up of that hat-bootie combo. Ridiculous.

1,500 miles and something like 40+ hours in this carseat, and this is how she looks.