We LOVE Wheeler Farm!

Okay, so it might just be me that loves Wheeler Farm... but I take my kids (and usually some cousins & friends) every time we visit Salt Lake... rain or shine. My Grandma lived off of Vine Street nearby and my mom grew up with the Wheeler kids. She even has pictures of Mr. Wheeler pulling she and my aunts and uncle on a sleigh behind a horse!

Wheeler Farm has always intrigued me. I love it! It's beautiful! The grounds surrounding are shady and green, the small creek is cool and refreshing, the animals are well taken care of and the heritage of the farm fascinates me! Bringing life back to the basics! George and I talk all the time about being able to own and live on a farm... it's one of my wildest dreams! George has always loved that idea, and I think we could easily recruit Ruby. However, Rich and Lulu, we may have a hard time convincing! I can't remember Rich ever visiting or wanting to visit the farm with us and Lulu's eyes start to itch, and she starts to complain within the first few minutes... City folk!

Seven Hours At Hogle Zoo!

My sister Sam and I decided to take the kids to the Zoo last week... we spent seven long, hot, filthy, smelly hours visiting the animals... it was a blast!

It was Ruby's first true time at a zoo (I'm sure she doesn't remember her earlier visits). She loves animals so much and truly was amazed at seeing them so up close and personal. She stood watching the monkeys with pure astonishment!

George, Allie and Morgan loved the rare, white alligator and even talked me into an extremely, squeaky souvenir version, which I regretted on the ride home :)

Miss Memphis (Muffins) kept Sam running by behaving like a wild animal... she's in that 18 month old busy stage :)

And Lu, who is not much of an animal enthusiast or one for being dirty, definitely enjoyed her cousins company and her share of frozen treats! All in all, it was a fabulous zoo trip with lots of laughs and memories!

George's Birthday Rocked!

This is what a nine year old looks like! Our dear old Georgie Boy turned nine on Friday! Nine! How is that even possible?! This was the first birthday since George turned three that we have spent back in Salt Lake. It was so fun to celebrate his special day with family!

George had a great day which started out with a cousin sleep-over, Grandma Dee Dee's chocolate chip pancakes and a treasure hunt to find his birthday gift... Rock Band! He and the cousins rocked out all morning long! That afternoon we met Aunt Sam, Morgie and Memphis (or as Ruby say's "Muffins") down at Liberty Park for the Aviary, a picnic and some splashing in the Seven Canyons! George and Morgan even got to feed fish to the pelicans at Tracy Aviary... a real birthday treat... yum!

Later that night, the Morgan's and Butlers all met over at Mill Hollow for presents, cake and ice cream, and movie in the park! It was the perfect end to his first day being nine! Happy Birthday Bud!

Ladies Luncheon with the Rich Girls!

We had a "Ladies Luncheon" at the Zinn Bistro with our good friends Melissa and Kate Rich! It was an afternoon reserved for ladies only! Lunch started with some lady-like conversation over hot, spiced, apple cider...yum! A large basket of their homemade pastries was served and we could have easily made that our lunch, but that wouldn't have been ladylike. Kate ordered tomato basil soup and Lu had a Chinese chicken salad. Both girls brought their best manners, remembering to put their napkins on their laps and keep elbows off the table!

It was such a fun afternoon with my big girl! Lulu has always been a little lady and loved the special treat of a ladies lunch without little sister Rubes!

Hiking with the Lovealls!

There are few things more perfect than a beautiful day, gorgeous views, dear friends and great conversation... and that's exactly what we had on our hike up Alta with the Loveall Fam!

Jill and Byron have been our dearest closest friends since our wedding. We have spent endless early morning bagel/coffee runs, late night Iceberg or Pace's Dairy Ann treat-stops and even a few nights at some of the windiest places on earth! They are always good for a mix of hilarity, sincerity and extremely dirty jokes!

We have been through a lot with the Lovealls. Jill and Rich were old timers together at the Gap and I helped Myron open his wildly successful restaurant Porcupine Pub & Grille (http://porcupinepub.com/). They helped me eat my way through my pregnancy with George and then, once he arrived, spoiled him like he was their own. We crossed our fingers for years as they tried to start a family of their own, and cried the night they told us they were finally pregnant with Jones. Later that same night, our tears of joy for them became our own, when I took a pregnancy test at their home and we found our we were expecting as well! Jones and Lulu were born exactly one week apart, in the same hospital and in the same room!

Four months later, we moved from Salt Lake to Portland, Oregon. They have since had Maggie (3 yrs), and we have Rubes (2 yrs) and we try to see them as much as we can when we're back in town. Our lives have definitely become more hectic with our growing families and we constantly talk of how old we are getting, but we can still count on them for a sick sense of humor and true friendship. Leaving Salt Lake was like leaving a piece of ourselves behind. Aside from our families, it's the Lovealls that will always have part of our hearts!

Fourth of July at Brighton

Spending the Fourth of July in Brighton has been our family tradition for years. Both sides of our families (and ol' childhood friends/neighbors) meet up at Brighton, Utah for an early morning pancake breakfast and small town parade! Every year we decorate wagons, bikes, scooters and my Pop's old Willies Jeep for a loop around the little town! We love soaking up the crisp mountain air and the amazing views! I truly don't know who loves it more the kids or the adults!

These are some pics of all the fun: Abbie, Morgan and Lulu! Us Butler/Judd girls lovin our pancakes! Memphis, Morgan and Ruby on the parade route! George and Allie roaming free!