Lots and lots to post about

We are all moved in and for the most part settled into our house and are thoroughly enjoying all the extra space. We've had visitors for almost the last three weeks and have loved every minute of it. First my parents came down and brought some furniture and good stuff and helped us celebrate Sadie's 2nd birthday. We had so much fun and they helped us TONS and tons with getting organized and figuring out some of the more tricky projects on our home list.

Sadie enjoying her birthday loot

The day my parents left, Ryan's mom came in town stayed for a week and helped organize and helped out with all sorts of the random move-in errands. That same night she came in, Dave and Jodee Luke came to visit us for the night! It was so great to catch with close friends and get the Milwaukee scoop from them.

After our company left we decided to go camping that weekend up near Georgetown. It was this great spot up the canyon not too far off the road, but you felt like there was no one around forever. We ended up leaving a little later than planned and by the time we got there it was dark and soggy. Not so easy to get a fire going when all the ground is soggy and wet. My boy scout Ryan pulled through and we got a god enough fire going to cook up our hot dogs and s'mores (and really that's all you need right?). In the morning we hiked around a bit and then rode our bikes through Georgetown. The town has some great old houses that are quite charming. It was a fun way to spend the Saturday for sure.

trying to keep warm, notice our breakfast of sandwiches..... the gourmet pancakes and eggs kind of flopped so we ditched em and had lunch instead

some of Sadie's mannerisms just kill me. This is one of them. She'll walk around with her hands clasped behind her back or perched on her hips. She looks like an old lady when she does it. who knows where she got it from.

we came across this great estate sell and Sadie went crazy over this doll. I got some pretty sweet sewing finds myself. This doll has proved to be endless hours of entertainment. Unfortunately this homemade gem couldn't quite handle that much Sadie. By the time we got home one hand kept falling off and the face kept pealing off. poor thing.

she is a very conscientious mommy. This baby never went without her bottle.

The next week, Jason, Aimee and the kids came to see us for a few days. They brought a whole carload of fun with them and their 5 kids. Sadie had a blast with her cousins and we had a big birthday bash for the twins. Here are a few highlights.

We checked out the Butterfly Pavilion. It proved to be very entertaining.

Okay so not many pictures to document our fun withthe kids, but really there were few hands to spare for picture taking. I have a whole new respect for Aimee who can and does do everything and still has time to play with her cute kids and not lose her sanity in the mix of it all. It's a good thing kids come gradually that's all I've got to say or else I'd be down and out after a good week.

Right after Aimee and Jason left we met up with them and the rest of the Donohues at the Ranch down in Southern Utah for Labor Day. I think this goes down as one of my favorite Ranch trips. I don't know if its because we haven't been in so long, or because the whole family was there or that Sadie was old enough to run around and enjoy it all whatever it was, it was a blast. We rode 4 wheelers, played card games, ate way too much food, had picnics, played bocci, and soaked up having everyone together. I fell in love with the ranch again this trip, I'm so glad we're close enough to visit now!

Sadie snugglin with her Papa John

Tyler and Rory going at each other

Papa steve and all his grandbabies

dirty, dirty Ryan after a long quad ride

one last look at the ranch

That was a seriously ginormous post but I guess that's what happens when you only post every few months. I still need to take pictures of our house to post, but that'll have to wait till another day.