Comings and Goings

We had an exciting week! Mike's brother Kyle came home from his mission, and the next day we all went to Fish Lake! Kyle was serving a two year church mission in Ventura, California. For those not familiar with LDS missions, this means that we haven't seen him at all for those two years, and only got to talk to him on the phone twice a year (Christmas and Mother's Day) and write letters while he was gone. We're so proud of him for serving a great mission, and so happy to have him home again!

Waiting for Kyle at the airport. I love the look on Mike's mom's face as she anxiously looks up the escalators, camera at the ready.

Meet your neice! Kyle said the girls didn't seem real to him until he got home.

The day Kyle came home was also Cicily's first birthday! She's so big and active, and we had a great little party for her.

Sitting in her chair opening her presents.

Stripped down so as to fully enjoy the cake, or so we thought...

However, Cicily decided to use the hands-free approach to eating her cake.

The next morning, the whole family piled into our cars and left for Fish Lake for 3 nights. We stayed in cabins, fished, and hung out as a family. Mike is the oldest of 6, 3 of us are married, 2 have kids, and we also had Mike's grandparents and cousin Matt with his 4 year old twins. There were 18 of us in all! It was a great time!

Carisa with her catch out on the boat.

Tiffy fishin'

Me and my worm. We're close.

My fish!

Dad took us girls out on the boat and was kind enough to drive the boat, bait all our hooks, and take our fish off the line when we caught them. We caught 11 fish in about an hour and a half, and a few more that got off the line while being reeled in. We slayed 'em!

Mike making a weird face, and Jenny and Kyle.

Oof!

Rachel LOVED being carried around in this backpack - I think it was her favorite part of the trip.

The married kids - us, Josh and Tiff, and Nick and Carisa.

Mike's parents with all their kids.

Nick, Carisa and Cic - what a cute little family!

Another cute, though goofy, family. ;)

All 18 of us (mostly). From left: Grandpa, Matt, Jenny, Conner, Josh, Tiff, Rachel, me, Mike, Kyle, Dad, Mom, *Bottom Row: Mason, Nick, Cicily, Carisa, Grandma (Logan, the other 4 year old, didn't want to have his picture taken).

Anyway, it was a fun, fishy weekend, and now I will spend the next two days doing laundry.
The end.