oh Charlottesville i long to see you!

There is just something about being home, especially when that place is called Charlottesville. Nate and I probably say every day how much we love it here. We will be sad to leave. Which is saying something because when I first moved here - I thought my heart would never recover after leaving my family in Utah. We made some friends though, set up some roots, and now it is so beautiful to us. We've discovered so many lovely gems this place holds, and it has been placed into a treasury of beautiful memories. Since being back we've done a lot of laundry, organized some things before school starts again for Nate on Wednesday - and teaching my students, orchestra, etc for me this week. We also went swimming with our friends the day after getting back, to Carter Mountain that night with them, to a splash pad the next day, and to a beautiful lake the day after that. The next day Sunday brunch, and today ran into some of our good friends at the downtown mall while we were there to do some errands and get some lunch. We feel so spoiled to be surrounded by such great people here. We love it. Wish it would last forever.

Carter Mountain. Mason and Stan were so excited to see these guys again. Pure joy.

Mason picked some apples for us. Cutie.

Paid his tithing for the first time on Sunday.

when he gives me flowers he melts my heart. his faces :).

Carouseling with some of our friends at random downtown today.

Driving West to East

We decided to take a northern route to drive home from Utah to Charlottesville. It added on a few hours to our trip but was well worth it. We saw some cool places and some even cooler people. So happy to make it back home to Charlottesville and see our friends there!

Devil's tower/Barad-dur (Lord of the Rings) Wyoming

Story book Island. This place was the highlight of Mason's whole trip

holding up humpty dumpty is a big job

we decided to hang out in the 3'rd little pigs house of bricks

Winnie the Pooh - Mason's twin

we love Dr Seuss

this quote has my heart

had no idea bears had so much personality. they were seriously cracking us up. Thank you 'Bear Country USA' for such a fun time.

seriously cannot get enough of those cheeks!

Mt Rushmore

wild horse in the background

and this place is famous...because???

Badlands National Park

Drove to Minneapolis to see my rock star mission trainer. She has 4 boys 5 and under - this girl...nothing she can't do

CHICAGO - the prettiest big city in the US in my humble opinion...that is of course until you go a little farther south

seriously though - look at that place

Mason's diva skills - and Nate's Ancestors architecturally designed building WAAAY in the back there

Kirtland

Gettysburg

Dwight D Eisenhaur "Ike" house at Gettysburg. That guy knew a pretty place when he saw one

Yes that's another of Nate's 'Grancestors' as Mason likes to call them. No wonder Nate and Mason and Stanley are soo cool!

Philadelphia Temple Open House. Beautiful!

Reading Market in Phili - this kid cracks me up with his faces

Utah Part 2

With Nate being gone for 3 1/2 weeks, plus the week and a half after he came home we were in Utah for a LoOng time! Thanks to my wonderful parents for hosting us, for Nate's family for entertaining us, and the many friends along the way who housed us and fed us, taught us, and loved us. We feel so fortunate to be surrounded by so many amazing people. Here were just some of the highlights!

While we were in Utah, my Grandma Andersen turned 96. She is one of the women I look up to the most in my life.

visiting my sisters Amy and Emily were highlights for me. Here is a pic of me with my sister Amy and her family in Manti. She even tended our boys so Nate and I could go to the Temple together. Sweet memories.

Going to the Bean Museum with G&G Freeman. Mason and Stanley have such fun Grandparents! Our boys are lucky.

Jordan's fun idea to take us to nickelmania :). Jordan showed my boys the ropes of winning, and traded in his huge stash of tickets and treated us all to candy at the end. Thanks Jordan!

We also got to go through the Provo Temple while Nate's parents tended for us. Utahns are SOOO lucky to get so many temples close by! Nate and I take advantage while we are there.

huuuge fan of Ryan and his Yoga lessons. Ryan, you should seriously start charging! :)

Nate and I really enjoyed seeing 'The Music Man' at Sundance. It's one of my favorite traditions!

Mason had fun with the pre - BYU kick off event.

"why are your shoes so big? Are your feet really that big"? Mason was really chatting it up with that clown.

Children's Museum at Thanksgiving Point. Our first time - such an amazing place!

Helping clean cars

Making bread and learning the alphabet at the same time!

Nate's family spoiled us several times while we were there by taking us out to eat. Here is the goodbye breakfast at Kneaders. Sad to say goodbye!