Another Trip to Utah!!!!

Connor sure has a way with the little ones! They all love him! Here he is with cute little Harmon!

I had a fun time playing with this little girl when she would let me! She is one of he busiest, bravest, tiny things I know! So adorable, too!!

I love this picture of Makenna and Brookie:

The joy on both their faces is so genuine and real

This little girl is adorable. I love her. In my mind, we are BFF's, but in her mind I think I rank #7 or #8, after the grandparents and all the cousins. 

While we were in UT, we had to try the new Hawaiian Shaved Ice fad that has since hit a lot of the popular street corners in that great state! This is not your regular, "Snoopy Snowcone Machine" shaved ice. This stuff is so finely shaved, comes with a scoop of ice cream in it, and is topped with sweetened condensed milk.

Yes, it's delicious.

Look at all those fun girls! And I just realized how see-through my top is. Nice.

Brett and some of his bros.

As part of the wedding festivities, all the girls (minus Schaefer-- we missed you!) got a pedicure! This was Makenna's first time! She was thrilled!

Workin' the massage remote

The bride-to-be and the mother of the bride! Such a fun day!

Of course, grandmas spoil their grandchildren (and children), so Makenna got a french manicure on her fingernails. She was beside herself with excitement! I also got a shellac painting on my fingernails that I was pretty excited about, too!

We can't go to Utah without seeing our dear, dear friends, The Chaney's. LOVE them and LOVE this food truck called "Waffle Love". If you're in Utah and you haven't tried it yet, you need to! It's life-changing-delicious!

Had to get a visual update of the progress on the Provo City Center Temple. Absolutely mind-boggling on how they're doing this. So unreal!! Even the work-site was clean and I was so impressed on how even the workers treat this site different that a "regular" work-site.

Thanks to my hubby's mad packing skillz, I was able to bring my bike along on this trip. It was so much fun!!! I was able to ride with my girlfriends from Saratoga who have ridden with me since day one. It was so much fun! 

I got this picture of the view, but not another pic of me and my girls! SO MAD!!!!

I also got to ride with these two guys: Rob and Dad! It's been about 2 years since we've ridden together-- maybe 3. We rode on the new Murdock Trail and it is lovely. Had such a great time with these two. Still can't keep up with Rob!!!

Such a great time back in the great state of Utah. We were so happy to see our family and friends again. This will be the last trip back to Utah for a while. So long Utah, the beautiful!

Alyssa's Wedding!

Such a fabulous, wonderful day!!!!! 

Alyssa is married!!!!

We couldn't be more happy for Alyssa and Ben! They are perfect for each other! It was so fun to get to hang out with all these wonderful people that we don't get to see very often anymore! If we had to come back to Utah this summer for any reason, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE ONLY ONE!!! So happy it happened!

Uncle Kirt, Brett, Ash, and Ty

Despite the goofiness of this photo, there are so many people in it, I had to post!

I spy: Rob, Kim, Brookie, Mark's head, and Brett's neck

Cute cousins! We love these boys so much!!!

This little man stole my heart!

BEAUTIFUL!!!

I love how both Ben and Alyssa are hugging the nieces and nephews here!

Good shot of Alyssa's eye make-up. (Sorry, Lyss, had to post!)

Picture with all the nieces

All the Bell Grandkids

Ty, TJ and Connor

Strike a pose, boys! Jaxson's got that serious look down-pat. He gets that from Mark. McKay, on the other hand, needs to work on that serious face!

Add Makenna and Wyatt to the mix! Now Jaxson's even got the eyebrows down!!! (That's also from Mark!)

Caroline loving on Wyatt

LOVE this cute picture!!!

Wyatt and Ben's brother David. I think David looks exactly what Wyatt will look like in 15 years! Can't you see the resemblance?

Makenna was DYING to do this for Alyssa!

Cousin LOVE!

Makenna was on flower duty for the reception!

Cute Caroline and lovely Schaefer!

Ben's brothers Scott, Steven and David; Matt, Grandpa Harmon, Dad Jaderholm, Ben, Dad Bell, Brett, Ty, Rob, Mark, Bro-in-law Jaderholm

Brett looking so cute holding those flowers! Isn't that a gorgeous bouquet!?

Alyssa and Ben with all their nieces and nephews!

Me and my great cousin, Robin. So fun to see her and her family, along with her parents, too: Sue and Curtis Germany.

Life Post Rattlesnake

Our Toxicologist, Dr. Caravati, wanted McKay to have a blood draw the Monday after our family reunion was over. We decided to head back up to Utah County to stay with my parents for another day, so we could go back to Primary Children's for the lab work and be with the same team who took such good care of McKay before. 

Here we are waiting for the draw.

McKay did NOT like being poked! In fact, he said next to the snake bite, that was the worst part of all! Being poked for blood!

 While waiting, he was brought a slurpee! 

He was also brought a D.S. (What does that even stand for, anyway?)

McKay was delighted beyond belief to get to play this while he was waiting.

I took this opportunity to take pictures of his awesome cast. All the cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and friends signed it!

"Mickey Mouse Snake Charmer"

"Warning to all snakes: If you hurt Mickey this will be you! I mean it! Uncle Jefe"

Uncle Kirt's name tag!

Unfortunately, the lab work did not come back with the numbers Dr. Caravati wanted. McKay's platelet count was down to 70 (thousand) after being 143 (thousand) the Thursday night before. Doc wanted to do one last blood draw on Thursday (if we could stay in UT that long). He said if the numbers hadn't improved, McKay would need a transfusion.

So, we prayed and prayed. We knew that Heavenly Father would take care of us and that whatever was meant to happen, would happen.

In the mean time, we had a few days to hang out with some of our favorite people! 

The Chaney's are some our greatest, best, most wonderful-est friends of all time. They are a great, amazing family. We love them so, so much.

We decided to meet for breakfast in Saratoga at the new Kneaders.

Such a nice, sunny day!

Cute little Sammy created this amazing, interactive poster for McKay. Down the left-hand side of the poster were 3 'windows' or 'doors' to choose from. The top and bottom choices all revealed a menacing looking rattle snake!! The middle choice revealed a king-sized Kit Kat!!

That Sammy-girl is one of THE MOST creative and innovative people I know! She is going places!

Look at the smile on both of their faces! Love this photo! What a sweet and caring friend

Love this woman !!

The Bergmann's are also a special family. We love these guys so much and were so glad to be able to have a little dinner with them! 

Everybody has alien eyes because it's dark and we're on the porch and I'm using my iPhone for pictures!

Now, it's finally the time for the last blood draw! Crossing our fingers that his platelets were up!

Had this kind of good attitude the whole time. This boy amazed me.

AND...........we got the clear to go home!! Dr. Caravati called me and said the platelet count was up to 140 (thousand). We were thrilled! We had the ok to make our trek back to the great state of Texas!

On the way out: this amazing train station, city and HUGE gingerbread house!

Saying goodbye to this place!!! I am so thankful for such a wonderful facility with such amazing staff, but at this point, I am saying, "GOOD RIDDANCE!!!"

Had to throw this pic in.....on the way home to Texas-- about 2 hours before we got to our house, the A/C in our car gave out. It was pretty miserable, but considering what had happened the weeks before, we bore it with patience and drove the rest of the way with our windows down. The kids handled it surprisingly well. 

Here is McKay's hand 2 weeks after the bite. Still pretty discolored, but definitely less swollen.

Thanks to all of you who prayed for McKay. Miracles were witnessed, faith was strengthened, prayers were answered.