Rise and Shout the Utahns Are Out! ...Week 1

My Family: "We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together."
~Erma Bombeck

Yes. This defines the Webbs perfectly. When I reminisce about our quarrelsome early days, I realize what a miracle it is that we're all such close friends. I can't say when the change from enemies to comrades occurred, but the transformation has meant EVERYTHING to me.

As soon as we entered my parent's condo, Ivy had to convey her dominance. Her first order of business was giving her Grandad a tour of his own house.

Is there any way to "hire a Grandma" when you live across the country from the actual individual?

She must be held to a high standard:

• She will cook for you, clean after you, and watch your kids so you can take a nap, exercise, and go on a date.
• She must pay for you to go out to eat, and go to the movies and museums.
• She will gladly watch chick flicks that your hubby refuses to watch with you.
• She allows you to chatter for hours about the most mundane experiences and is actually interested enough to give insightful, heartfelt advice.
• She will love and cherish your children as if she knows that they won't be small forever.
• She'll never expect any kind of pay or even thanks for the constant sacrifices- I need one of those!

Here's our little characters at the Utah Museum of Natural History.

There was a super cool frog exhibit- thus, the witches.

Dinosaur footprint

Here's all the grand kids. I love how each picture says SO MUCH about each personality.

Here's me with my darling pregnant sisters.

It's sad that the only time I can get a reliable picture of those squishy faces is when they're zoned on a movie. Every other second they're screaming and running laps.

The new aquarium was super cool.

Our favorite part is touching the rays.

Hyrum's favorite part of the Dinosaur Museum is always the pretend fossil dig at the very end. So, pretty much we're paying for him to sit in a big sandbox with twenty other kids.

Right by my parent's parking space is a dude who's a "luxury" car dealer. Bry couldn't resist getting pictures by these beauties (you'll have to ask him what kind of car they are).

One of the bonuses of visiting Utah is all the loving attention our kids get. All the built-in babysitters is such a relief.

Christian and handsome baby Junah.

When we came back to Virginia my kids walked around in stunned silence for a few days. The poor little ones were just looking for all their friends.

I had lots of fun showing the girls how to make bows. My mom and sisters are all so intelligent and talented- sharing some of my humble knowledge was a real treat.

One of the most paradisaical places on Earth is my parent's ranch house in Wyoming. We had so much fun exploring the property, biking, taking in the amazing view, inhaling the fresh mountain air, sitting by the fire, and staying up late watching spooky movies.


There's a saying: Family by chance, Friends by choice

I am so very grateful that each member of my family has made the friendship choice. Sharing a support group of adults with such integrity, aptitude, devotion, and just plain coolness is more valuable than I can describe with words. In the world I'm just a nobody, when I'm with my siblings I'm important. And that's all I've ever wanted.