Summer in California: Part I

Hazel and I flew to California on May 27th and didn't get back to Hattiesburg until July 2.  It was so fun to be home with family in the California sun (and out of the Mississippi heat and humidity).  We went swimming, camped at the beach, played with cousins almost everyday, saw Chris' aunt and uncle, visited some friends, and had a family reunion in St. George.  It was so fun, but we definitely missed Chris and wished he could have been there with us.

The first weekend we were there my dad and I took some of the kids to a Kiwanis event in Redlands, called Touch-a-Truck.  They had a bunch of big trucks (like a bus, fire truck, tractors, etc) from the city that the kids could climb around and look at.  It was crazy hot that day but we all had a good time. 

Jorli in the fire truck

A little blurry, but here's all the kids in the burb.

Hazel driving the bus.

Adios Chris

Chris got a research grant from USM and was able to go to Ecuador for 6 weeks to work on his thesis.  Hazel and I went to California while he was gone so we wouldn't be all alone in Mississippi, but we sure did miss him while he was gone.  He left on May 20th and got back July 2 (the same day that Hazel and I flew back from CA).  He had a great time down there and met a lot of really cool people but it was a long time to be away.  This was Chris' third time visiting Ecuador, so the country has a special place in his heart.  The first time he went was when he was 17, with his brother Tyler.  They were visiting their dad who was stationed down there with the Air Force for a few months. The second time he went was the first year we were married.  We went as a kind of belated honeymoon. This third time was his longest stay for sure, but his brother Tyler was able to fly down at the end to spend a few days together exploring the country they visited as kids.  I only have a few of the pictures he took on his trip, but his thesis is going to be awesome and I can't wait to see the finished product.  

Saying goodbye to daddy at the airport.  So sad to see him go.

 His research is on land use change in Otavalo using repeat photography and interviews.  He re-took some pictures that a professor took back in the 50's and its really cool to see the what the land used to look like in the 50's compared to today.  These are just some of the pictures he sent me while he was gone, but it is so beautiful down there.  

This was the hostel he stayed at in Quito for a few days when he first arrived.  Something got messed up with is reservation though, so when he got there at nearly midnight (after flying all day long) they didn't have a room or bed for him!  He ended up just sleeping on the couch in the common room for a few days before he headed up to Otavalo.

Looking down on Quito

Outside Otavalo

The hostel he stayed at in Otavalo (the same one we stayed at when we visited in 2012).

Love my handsome husband.

A Trip to Utah

At the beginning of May we had a fun, family-filled weekend in Utah that included a wedding, a baptism, and a baby blessing.  It was so nice to be back in Utah and celebrate these special occasions with our families. 

On the plane, headed to Utah

Hazel and Chris at Grandma June's house in the sun room.

We met up with Chris' friends Neal and Garret.  Jack came too and entertained Hazel.

At the SLC temple waiting for Ali and Spencer to come out.

Devery, Grandma June, and Boston at the reception.

Blake and Austin making silly faces behind the barn.

Austin and Blake must have gotten it from Chris.  He's always making silly faces when I want to take a family picture.

Hazel and her daddy.

The Foster clan after Addie's baptism.

Me and baby Boston after his blessing

It was so nice to go back to Utah and see everyone!  Spencer and Ali's wedding was beautiful and we are so happy to have her in our family.  We are so proud of Addie for choosing to be baptized, and it was so fun to meet sweet baby Boston for the first time.  Living away from everyone makes you really appreciate the times you are able to be together.