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 Last Sunday we had ANOTHER tender mercy when we were able to drive just 45 minutes north of Ali's and pick up our van. The other counselor I serve with in Relief Society was driving to Utah for a quick trip to go to her granddaughter's dance recital. My Relief Society president had texted me asking if I made it to Utah safely, so I told her we were safe but not super efficient :) She knew the other counselor was making a quick trip out, so she had her call me and on their way our her husband drove my van out to Utah. That was so so kind and so so helpful. Breaking down with kids has always been a fear of mine on my many a solo road trip, and even though we had a lot to figure out with this drive, I am so grateful we were always safe and always had such kindness and helpfulness around us. And my boys are rock stars.

We got a few more things done with Kindal on Monday, and made our drive back to Fort Collins on Tuesday. Other great parts of our Utah time were more days playing with the Miner cousins, seeing my Aunt Tanya, working out with Ali while our kids crawled all around us, and feeling so grateful for her when on my busy days in Utah the only food I'd eat were all the healthy things she'd put right in my hands. She was just beyond kind in taking care of me during a trip that I know was pretty inconvenient for my family since I just had so much going on. Our drive back was super super smooth -- we only stopped once the whole drive. We went back to the car shop in Rawlins and paid for our car and thanked them again. I knew he wasn't going to send me a bill so we just stopped on our way back, and he admitted he was never going to. People are so nice.

This week back in Fort Collins felt good to get back on top of things at home (to the extent that we ever are... always so much to do still around here but house projects are on hold). The boys loved going back to school, Michael was much happier to have a house full of craziness, and my favorite part of the week was getting my first dose of the Covid vaccine. Woohoo! It made me so emotional -- people really do amazing things.

We have a pond near our house that was drained this week and it was full of some easy picking fish that attracted a ton of bald eagles. We went by with Camden the day after we got back while the older boys were at school and we saw 13 bald eagles in just one tree, plus some others in distant trees. They were picking up fish and fighting with each other here and there and they are just so fun to see. It reminded me of Alaska. I love how they sound like Dolphins. We took the older boys back later in the week and they liked looking through binoculars and getting a good view of the bald eagles. We took our van in to get in tip top shape and also had the missionaries over for the first time in months and months -- they still have to take dinner to go, but they at least are now able to come inside and share a message with us. We found out one of them knows Michael's sister Pam and her family really well back from their time in Houston. Such a small world.

On Saturday Katie and Ryan brought their boys up and it was so fun to watch those cousins go go go! So many boys, and Camden and Finn are going to be keeping up in no time.

They LOVE stories from grandpa.

We gave the kiddos at our photo shoot some fun temporary tattoos and Westin loved having me put them all over his belly and arm haha.

Pizza Monday! This has been going down for years, Michael and I used to eat pizza with this cute family on Mondays when we were dating and engaged. They're so cute.

Miner party! Both babies are into practicing taking steps right now and it was so fun to watch them try.

So many eagles!

The squirrels here are aggressive..

First dose!

Ok, this kid right now... we can't even handle his sweetness.
We're obsessed.

He loves to empty the contents of my baking drawer and put them all throughout my kitchen.
The vanilla is his particular favorite to relocate.

This memory. Love the Woolfs.

Go Westin!! This kid. He's so great.

Eagle eyes

Cousins came up on Saturday! Soo fun.

He kept reminding me of the caterpillar on A Bug's Life when he was scooting around in this snowsuit.

And Bennett looked exactly like the kid on Home Alone when he runs home to set the traps.

Making valentines all day on Sunday. Such sweeties.

Camden always wants in on Zoom church meetings.