Happy Birthday to Everyone! (Part Three - the last part)

Conference Weekend in October is absolutely wonderful in Utah.  First of all, the trees are starting to turn color, and usually the weather is still holding onto the last warmth of a fading summer.  And I always love it when my birthday falls on Conference Weekend (which is about half the time, it appears). 

This year, the two Loveridge families (Mike's and Bill's) got together to spend some time Saturday at Corn Bellys, at Thanksgiving Point (first weekend of the season).  Kinzee posted some great photos from earlier in the day, but Brent and I were busy busy busy taking care of some urgent needs at home (something to do with the freezer that thawed and ruined and spoiled all our meat, and the desperate need to go to the dump, and then the pressing need to find a new suit for Brent ... anyway, we had lots going on) and unable to join them.

We did gather up some pizza, however, and fed the hungry minions before the guys went together to the Priesthood session that evening.  And then Makinzee and I took those munchkins who wanted more back over to Corn Bellys.   The sun was starting to go down, it was getting cold, and we knew the babies were not going to last.  Karsyn also decided she was done, so Stephanie volunteered to stay home with them and make brownies.

Corn Bellys at Thanksgiving Point, Lehi.   Oct. 5, 2013

 First on the agenda was definitely the big slide.  With the gunny sacks.

 The girls were into trying to do it with their eyes closed:

 Whee!!!!!!!

 Lexi got to double ride with her mommy:

 Next on the order of business was definitely that big tall scarecrow.   I was a little worried about the little ones being crushed under those big feet, but he managed to just look scary and not be scary.

 I suspect Jack has a little bit of his Grandpa Loveridge in him, the way he loves rocks.  Note to self:  plan a rock hounding trip out to Topaz next spring with all the grandkids who want to come (hopefully, with some of their parents as well).

 Everyone wanted to do the mining for ore thing.  It was really getting cold by now and the thoughts of putting my hands into that icy water without a way to warm them was not my idea of fun, but apparently I was alone in those feelings:

 Kamryn was ready to go home immediately after (she did a great job of soaking her pants), but we convinced her she wouldn't totally freeze (it was still in the upper 40's outside) to go on the hayride.  Makinzee grabbed my camera and I love the way Kamryn and Lexi are giving each other the "eye" in this photo:

 Though it was dark, and getting late, the kids still wanted to do a few more things.  I was getting really cold, but even Kamryn had moved past her chills and wanted to stay a little longer:

Duck Races!  (Kamryn beat me every single time)

 Finally we convinced them it really was time to go back to Bill and Stephanies - where...

 it was time to compare their booty from the mines.

 It was a fun evening.  But we missed Tonya and Heather and Leslie and Gardner Village.  We'll have to find another night to do that with all in tow.

Sunday, October 6, 2013 - Julie is 61!
After the sessions of Conference, the family treated ME to a home cooked meal of spaghetti and meatballs (compliments to Makinzee) and Chicken Primevera (Compliments to Stephanie - I know that's spelled wrong and may not even be the right word), along with homemade breadsticks (Stephanie, again), a delightful salad with artichokes (Leslie - wonderful), a fruit salad (delich! Tonya), and a homemade carrot cake (Yummy! thanks, Heather).  It was so fun to get together wih everyone!

Luke let his Grandpa hold him, finally.  Hmmm - is his hair really turning red, or is it just a play on the lights? 

 Tonya got a darling new haircut the day before and sported it at the dinner.

 Wonderful cake, compliments of Heather.

 Seven candles - one for each decade, plus one for the additional year.

 Everyone ... One, Two, Three - blow!   Thanks for making my day so special, all of you!

Monday, October 7, 2013 - Lunch with My Sisters, plus two....

Who are these darling little ones?   Jaime's two youngest.  My sister Connie was babysitting while the parents got away for the first time, I think, since they were married.

This one turned one year old a few days after our Olive Garden party:

 And this smarty pants is in Kindergarten.  

 Susie was on her way through town after spending the weekend at Sea World with Jason, Kara, and children.  Who would have guessed we could have all three got together at the same time for lunch on such a busy day?????

 It was so fun to visit with both Susie and Connie.  I have the greatest family in the world!

I felt like my birthday went for three days because of it all.   And then it kind of extended into last weekend in Baltimore, as well, but I'll hold onto that for the next post ... not a continuation, just simply a life goes on.   :)