Family Ties

So, the morning after Christmas, Emily and I got up at the crack of dawn and boarded a plane to Paris where we boarded another plane to Salt Lake City to see this gal get hitched.  Mi hermana.  It had been almost two and a half years since I had seen Mary!  The last time I saw her was when we were at the Pizza Factory in Orem where I gave her a big hug good-bye as she was about to enter the MTC.  

Crazy, eh? 

 So, there was no way I was going to miss this shindig.  But there was also no way I was going to bring the whole family, even though I wanted so badly for everyone to be there.  The expense+winter weather+jet lag+little kids just seemed like a bad combination.  So just Em and I went and left Ben behind in charge of C and J.  Em has proven herself to be a good little traveler, so I was happy to have her as my companion.  

This was like Em's favorite thing at the airport.  She doesn't have much endurance when it comes to strenuous physical activities such as... walking.  So, she was happy to ride on this.  

Back in the land of milk and honey… the gals went and got manicures the day before the big day.

The is my awesome sister's big red van.  She has five kids.  She has no shame when it comes to sportin' this thing around.  So, my younger bro watched all the little nieces and nephews during the ceremony and then brought them all up to meet us at the temple.  What a guy!

Em played with cousins for five days straight.  She was having the time of her life.

My mom's expression is the best one in this.

Just the eight of us

And the four sistas.  I look the youngest, right?

All the grandkids minus C & J :(

My cousin Leanne and me.  And no, I'm not pregnant.  Bad camera angle, I swear.  

 The plane ride home was a little rough… arriving in Germany at 8 a.m. which was midnight in Utah.

But Em did great.