Visiting the Prince Family

 Our first stop on our "see the family" tour was just two weeks after our second vaccination- April 15th-18th.  We went to the Prince family in South Jordan.  It felt so wonderful to get hugs again.

William has always been such a loving, huggy kid.  I was so afraid he would outgrow that during COVID.  He didn't.  

Do you like soft tickles? he would ask, as a subtle hint.

Kenny in Grandpa's glasses

Michelle in Grandpa's glasses

More precious hugs

William was proud to take us on a tour of their new house.  They moved here in November, but we had not yet seen their beautiful home.  He was so proud to show us his room.

And the great room

When the other kids got home from school, we collected more wonderful hugs.

Hugs from Gabriella

Jaron

Grandpa fell asleep with noise all around him.  It's a Hinton thing.

and Kenny.

Kenny was excited to show us his new skill.

Michelle and Brian made us delicious meals while we were there:  The roast beef dinner included this delicious peasant bread.  I will post the recipe soon.

We had been cleaning out closets and took the girls lots of stuff, including their wedding dresses and this slip for under the wedding dress.  The kids loved playing Mother Ginger from The Nutcracker.  Out come Polichinelle children.

We love that Gabbi has "turned the corner" on her piano playing.  She now goes in and plays and plays for fun.  She is really getting good.

 While we were visiting, it started to snow.

Kenny has been taking "Let's Play Music" lesson and is amazing.  He can chord up a storm. He is so cute, singing and playing for all he's worth.

Jaron is one handsome kid.  I asked him if the girls chased him.  Now, before I tell you his answer, you need to know his personality.  He is not braggy or cocky.  He is kind of shy.  In bewilderment, he told us how this girl would look at him and giggle and then run away.  "That's just what I do to girls,"  he said, totally baffled.  Well, I'm not baffled!

Michelle is so nice to rub my feet and tickle her daddy's head.

On Friday afternoon, we went to the community center swimming pool.  It was so fun.

We brought boxes of things that were Michelle's, including a box of things that were mostly given to her by her Grandma Gabe.  

The kids loved this music box piano just like their mama did when she was little and would visit Grandma Gabe.

It was like Christmas, opening up all of the treasures and the books.

Our precious Gabriella gave us this beautiful painting.  She and her mom did a mother/daughter painting night and she gave us the painting she did.  It now hangs in our bedroom.  Gabbi is such an amazing and thoughtful gift-giver.

Saturday was a full day.  Grandpa went with Brian and Jaron to his basketball game, Michelle and Gabbi went to Irish dancing lessons, and I stayed home with Kenny and William.  When everyone got home, we had delicious egg sandwiches, then all went to Kenny's soccer game.  Kenny is on the same team as his cousin and Matthew and Brian (brothers) coach together.  What fun memories they are making.  It was fun to see Aubrey and Matthew and see their sweet family (remember we set them up!- Now, four kids later we see what a great job we did!)  This is the crew at the game.  It was cold and windy!

Kenny played goalie the first half.  Oh my, he was cute.  His dad was coaching him how to play goalie when the ball was at the other end of the field.  He was just dancing in anticipation.   He did great!  

Michelle with Aubrey and Matthew's new baby girl.

Kenny's team won 6-0 and Kenny won the sportsmanship award for that day.

I love this picture of the brothers and the cousins.

Gabbi was auditioning for a choir and sang the song, "Cups"  She was so stinkin cute.  We learned how to play cups since it is in the song.

Grandpa and Brian took the boys out back and played catch.  They had such a good time.

Gabbi got out her cello and played for us.  We loved it.  She has really progressed.

Saturday evening, we got take out from Texas Roadhouse.

We got up Sunday and got ready for church and went to church for the first time in a year in person.  

William is such a happy, pleasant child.  He especially wakes up that way.  On Sunday morning, when Jaron came up from downstairs, William ran to him and gave him a hug and said, "Good morning, sweet boy! (Guess how he is greeted most mornings?)

Love my sweet Gabbi

We sat in the overflow at church.  Ken,  Michelle, Jaron, and Kenny were two rows behind us: Brian, William, Gabbi, and me.  The sacrament was at the end of the meeting.  William was excited.   He scooted to the end of the row so he would get it first.  When they brought the water, he loudly asked his dad, "Will this water help my poops come out?"  Brian had a mask on, but I could still see his face turn red.  Several people in the rows in front of us obviously heard and were laughing quietly, with shaking shoulders.

Bye Princes!  Until next time!