Ohio Visitors... Part 2 (Mike's Graduation)

Like I said in my last post, Mike's family flew out to come to Mike's MBA graduation.  They flew in late Wednesday night and then first thing Thursday morning we headed to the Bountiful temple together.  It was a special experience as we took Kurt's parents and other family names through the endowment and sealing ordinances.  Mike and Beth took their Grandparents names through the endowment, then Kurt and Shawn represented them as they were sealed together, then Mike and I got to represent them as Kurt was sealed to them as their son.  What a neat day for the Dehner family on both sides of the veil!  

It was fun to have Aunt Beth come.  Aunt Beth loves being an Aunt!  She smooches on the kids and brought them fun little gifts.  The gifts were perfect picks for each kid.  Beth knows them well :)  

We tried to find some cool things to do outside...  It's been hot!  We went to a shady creek and let the kids explore and get wet.  

Miller shared his bubbles...  And he also learned to say "buublll".  SO CUTE!  We heard his first word and it couldn't have been cuter!  

Grammie helped Meg pick out a few rocks from the creek.  

Then came graduation day!  We went early so we could check things out at the BYU Bookstore.  Ivy found a few things she wanted to buy....  

I was dying watching her walk around with the "dog-dogs".  She was one happy girl!  It may have been the cutest thing ever.  

Then we watched Mike become "Master Mike".  That's what we call him around our house now... Master Mike!  

Then we forced Mike to take some graduation photos....  

After graduation my parents took us all out to Tepanyaki Japanese Steakhouse.  It was an experience the kids won't forget anytime soon.  They loved every second of it!  

Catching shrimp!  

The noodles are so delicious.  

Check out this beautiful quilt Shawn made Mike for his graduation.  Each patch represents something from Mike's childhood, or something that reminded her of him.  Many hours of love went into this quilt and we absolutely love it!!  

One last movie before they all flew back to Ohio...  We saw The Secret Life of Pets which ended up being a cute movie.  Will seems a little happy about having the theater all to ourselves :)  Funny boy!

We sure loved having our Ohio visitors!  Thanks for your support and love!  

Ohio Visitors... Part 1

Mike is finally done with school!! Horray!  To help us celebrate, and to show their support, Mike's parents and two sisters came out to Utah for his graduation.  Kate and Miller came a few days before the rest to kick off the fun.  Here's a sampling of the fun we had....

Ivy and Miller were old enough to play together.  Such cute cousin friends.  

We went to the splash pad and let the kids run wild.  

Miles loves the babies!  Miller didn't particularly love all the attention, but he was a good sport about it :)   

My parents took us all to the zoo.  It was unusually cool that morning which made it very enjoyable!  

The bird show was by far the best part of the day.  

Even Miller and Ivy liked the bird show.  It was really entertaining and neat to see the birds fly right above our heads.  

We rode the carousel a few times, which is always a hit!

Ivy was in and out of the stroller... She wants to be a big girl and do what the big kids are doing... I wish she would just stay in the stroller... sigh.... She's growing up way too fast.  At least she has such a great big sister to hold hands with so she doesn't get lost.  

Oh no, Meg...  That bear is eating your arm....   And is that a pink bird?  Gosh, what a fun day at the zoo!   We love having Kate and Miller visit!  

Mike Studies Abroad!

Back in May, Mike's MBA class did a study abroad program.  Mike could choose between Europe, The Middle East, and Aisa.  He picked to go to Europe.  He had an amazing time and took tons of pictures... Unfortunately I can't get him to download them to the computer so I can post them...  So I'm just posting the couple I have so we have at least something documented for it...

Here's his Europe group....  They went all over Europe: Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France, England...  It was quite the trip.  Mike said his favorite place was Paris.  

Here's a few pictures...

This is my favorite picture from his trip.  Mike's roommate (one of his best buds he made while at school) snored really loud at night.  Mike couldn't take it and after 2 nights without much sleep, he started sleeping where ever he could to get away from Ben.  Usually they had to stuff Mike's mattress into the bathroom.... Doesn't that look comfy :)   Some nights Ben would make Mike a fort in the hallway.  You do what you gotta do to get some sleep :)  

The kids are used to Mike traveling, but this was an especially long trip... They missed him so much!  It does make it easier with technology these days.  Mike would call us, send us pictures and FaceTime everyday.  They were so happy when he came home.  

Mike is a light packer when he travels... He is a professional traveler after all!  He may have been the only person to go on this 2 week study abroad with only one suitcase (and it was small enough not to check).  Knowing how much Mike hates traveling with anything he doesn't absolutely have to travel with, made these souvenirs even more special.  Mike brought the kids back some fun things from London and Paris.  

The most special things he brought back were these nativity sets for my collection.  I love nativity sets!  Mike's school friends told me after they got back that Mike had to carry them around in a bag on his lap everything they moved locations. (And Mike hates carrying things... Remember the suitcase thing...)   It made me feel so loved.  The nativity one on the bottom is all silver....  Another sign of love (it cost him a small fortune :) I love them both and can't wait to put them out every year.  I will see them and think of Mike carrying them around Europe and through the airport all because he knew his wife would love them!  I have the best husband there is!  I'll post more pictures as soon as Mike downloads them!  (I'm not holding my breath!)

 

24th of July Parade

July just isn't a success until you've gone to a really, really hot parade.  

Miles got an ice cream cone handed to him by one of the parade floats...  Ivy said, "ehhh, ehhh" which means "I want that!"...  Miles was so nice and happily let her have it.  He's such a good big brother!  

Will was given this stuffed animal... He loves his stuffed animals.  He calls her Nellie and he loves her.  

The adults trying to stay cool in the shade! 

A camping we will go....

Grandpa and Grandma invited us to go camping at Trial Lake with them for a few days.  Camping in Grandpa's trailer is the way to camp!!

Here's my big eyed girls watching a movie on the ride up...  I love looking back and seeing their huge eyes looking at the movie :)  

We stopped at the fish hatchery on the way.

Grandma and Grandpa went up a few days early to secure us the best campsite, and they did!  We were right on the lake and 2 sites away from the outhouse.  The perfect site!  

Aunt Brooke came too with her boys and Jackson.  Cousin time!!  

The girls slept the trailer and the boys stayed in the tent.  Being a girl has it's perks :).

The favorite activity of the week was going out in Grandpa's canoe.  Everyone got many turns!  Grandpa has had this canoe since 1978....   before I was born!  It's been through many waters, including scouting high adventures down the snake river...  It's quite the beast and even though it's pretty beat up on the bottom from all it's adventures, it floats like it's brand new.  I think the canoe was everyone's favorite part of the trip.  

Playing in the lake...  

Getting dirty is what camping is all about and Will was the master at it.  

Warming up on the rocks like a lizard (and a little surprised his picture was being taken... Say cheese Will).  

Games in the camper.

Roasting marshmallows for smores.  

Ivy was a busy body and loved exploring the woods.  Everything is new and exciting to her.  

Mike came up a day late and the kids couldn't wait to show him the canoe.  Mike ended up taking the kids on many rides over the next 2 days.  

Ivy spent one of the days puking all over the campsite...  Daddy got there just in time to snuggle her while she wasn't feeling well.  Luckily it passed quickly and she got to enjoy the rest of the trip. 

Check out our gigantic bubbles.   There were some that were 5+ feet long.  

More games in the camper...  Rummy! 

Mike and my mom liked building "white-man fires".  The bigger the better.  

Will was so proud of himself for finding this log for the fire.  My mom didn't have the heart to tell him it was too big, so she threw it on the fire.  It took two days to burn :)  

Cousin walks around the campgrounds.  Ivy was in heaven with all the hands to hold.  She'd rotate around and give everyone a turn.  

All the kids caught at least one fish with Grandpa!  Will was so proud!  He even helped clean it out and wrap it up to eat.  

There's a naked baby behind that canoe!!  She's just getting a little sun and didn't want the dreaded diaper tan line.  :)  

Mike and I took the canoe out during nap time all by ourselves.  I love when we get time to ourselves like that.  We took turns with the fishing pole and we were both sure we'd catch the first fish... Guess who ended up catching the first fish.....  Haha!!  Look at my little Brooke Trout.  

Once I caught one, Mike felt the pressure to catch one too.  He couldn't be the only one not to catch a fish on this trip...  He looked cute while trying...  

Then it happened... He caught one.  A rainbow trout!  It was a bit slippery :)  

He thinks he won because his was bigger...  I don't know, I think mine was cuter.  

After we got home, my parents stayed for a few more days.  We decided we had to go back again.  It was just too nice up there.  

Mike packed his wetsuit and took a swim in the lake.  I bet it was at least a half a mile across and he just took off.  I couldn't stay with him in the canoe, he was just too fast.  

After his swim he needed a few casts....  He looked way too good to not take a picture.   I'm one lucky girl.