Utah Part 2

*Sorry it has taken so long to finish this trip, but I want to still post it for journaling reasons.

On Sunday, March 15 I went with the Reese family to Anne's single's ward to list to Anne speak in sacrement meeting. She did a really great job. Then my parents picked me up and we headed to Provo to go to my Grandpa and Grandma Seethaler's old home. My Grandpa Seethaler passed away recently and so my parents wanted to go through the home to see if there was anything belonging to my grandmother that they wanted to keep. My grandma (my dad's mom) passed away when I was seven and her husband, my dad's stepfather remarried and so we didn't go there very much as I got older. It was so fun to walk through the house again. It hasn't changed much since my dad moved there when he was only 13 years old. It still has red carpet, wood paneling, green and red toilets, and seventies style furniture. It brought back great memories of playing there as a child. Some of my favorite memories include sliding down the firepole they had in a closet in the family room that went down to the garage, riding in the dumb waiter elevator from the garage to the kitchen that my grandpa had built, and being "locked" in the room size refridgerator in the basement by my dad. I lived in this house for a year when I was little and so it was fun to see my old bed and all of the places we used to play. I picked out a few things that I wanted to remember my grandmother by. She was an avid reader and had hundreds of books. I remember as a child she would bring us a box of books each time she came to our house. It was always such a treat. After we went through the house, we went to my sister's house to have dinner. My brother inherited a banjo that day had been my grandmother's. He is so talented at the guitar and music that he sat on the couch and figured out how to play it on his own. We had fun listening to him pluck out tunes for us.

Ainsley with Aunt Susie after Annie's talk

Jon on the wicker chair in Grandma's entry way, we always used to play on this chair and in the umbrella stand next to it as kids

The firepole that went downstairs to the basement-we would always beg grandpa to let us go down it. He had to remove the boards in the floor that protected us from falling down the hole

Ainsley in the dumb waiter, it still works but we didn't send her down it by herself. I remember being small enough to fit in the box with my older sister and ride downstairs in it.

My dad looking at some of my grandmother's sheles of books. My parents picked out a box for Tom because they know how much he loves books too...Grandma would have loved him.

This is the classic seventies style living room with beautiful red carpet, green couches, and goudy lamps. Love it, love it, love it
The couch I picked out to inherit...my Grandpa Butler had given it to my grandma before they were divorced. I figure I can recover it to match my future home. I wanted something that I could remember them both by.
My loving family enjoying dinner

Flower Child

My brother Jon teaching himself to play the banjo

On Monday, March 16 my mom and I spent the day sewing and scrapbooking. My mom helped me make a sundress for Ainsley. That evening we went to Five Guys Burger and Fries with my whole family for dinner and then walked across the street to Paradise Bakery to have some cookies. It was a lot of fun.

The sun dress that my mom and I made for Ainsley

Ainsley and her cousin Will at Five Guys. Will was so cute with Ainsley. I wish we lived closer so she could play with her cousins all the time

On Tuesday, March 17 was St. Patrick's day. I got my hair cut then went over to my friend Shae's to visit. Shae and I have known each other since we were four years old. She and I went snowboarding together last time I was in town...wish we had thought to go again but I didn't have time. It was fun to visit with her and her cute daughter Emmi.

One excited little leprechaun
Thanks for the cute onsie Sarah!
Shae, Emmi, Me and Ainsley-notice the girls seem fascinated with one another

Wednesday, March 18 was my last full day in Utah. My mom had the opportunity to show how to turn old boardbooks into new scrapbooking projects on a local news show called Studio Five. My mom creates and teaches projects at conventions for the scrapbooking company Imaginisce. I drove down to Tom's sister Susie's apartment in Provo and we watched it together. Ainsley had fun playing with her one last time. When my mom was done, she drove down to Provo too. My mom, my sisters Cami, Andrea, and my nephews all went to lunch together at Rhumbi Island Grill. Then Cami, my mom and I went to my cousin Ethan's bakery called "The Sweet Tooth Fairy." Megan, Ethan's wife, is an amazing cake decorator. She makes all sorts of elaborate cakes. She made an electric guitar cake for my brother's nineteenth birthday. They opened up a shop in East Bay area a few months ago and we wanted to check it out. Megan's famous "Cake Bites" have been featured on the Rachel Ray show as well as many local tv shows. (For anyone living in Utah county, go check it out!)
After we went to Megan's bakery, we went to my grandparents house in Mapleton. It was so fun because there were several of my cousins and aunts and uncle who came over. It was so good to see everyone again. Afterwards, I went to the Reese's for dinner. Annie's friend Sarah and her little boy Mason also came over. Ainsley and Mason had fun playing on the toy train together. It was hard to say goodbye to everyone. The next morning, I packed up and flew back home to Indiana. It was a great trip and I look forward to seeing everyone again soon.

Hanging out with Aunt Susie one last time before we leave

At "The Sweet Tooth Fairy" with Megan

Megan's cake bites that have been featured on Rachel Ray. They were delicious!
We tried a few different cupcakes including Key Lime, Chocolate and Carmel, S'mores, and Red Velvet...they were so yummy!

Cousins Ainsley and Caden playing together at Great Grandma Gallier's house

Ainsley and her Great Grandpa Gallier

Aunt Annie and Ainsley

At the airport on the way home. I had quite an adventure during my layover in Minneapolis. The airlines broke my friends stroller I was using. I had to change terminals, ride a train, and walk a really long distrance while trying to balance a stroller with three wheels and juggle three bags. It was a handful and I am sure I looked ridiculous. Luckily, the airline reimbursed me for the broken wheel so I could buy my friend Laura a new stroller....thanks Laura!