Lo&Ko, Lex, and Emmett visit + Mar's last day of school.

I'm a little out of breath, I've done so much catching up lately hahaha.

Lo&Ko drove in on May 22nd. Lex and Emmett hitched a ride.
It's been so fun to have so many out-of-town visitors in such a short time.

Shi and Kody's main reason for visiting was for Peyton's graduation from the Air Force Academy.

Remember these pics? Most likely not. They were taken after Peyton's first year at USAFA and right before Shi left on her mission. Circa 2015.

Wednesday, May 23rd
Peyton had a couple extra tickets, so Mar and I got to tag along. I know I've posted similar pictures from the last USAFA graduation we attended, but it's still such an amazing sight, I couldn't help but take pics of it again. And we had a little different vantage point this time.

I don't think the pictures do this entrance justice, but believe me, it's pretty impressive.

Then came the long and slightly boring part... the speeches, then the presentation of the graduates. Nearly 1000 of them. Luckily Peyton was among some of the earlier names, so we could people watch and do other unimportant things (like get a sunburn Kody?) while the rest of the names were read.

Peyton is at the top of the ramp on the right in the above pic. I snatched the pic below from one of her FB posts, taken within the same few seconds.

Once it was finally over, the Thunderbird show started immediately, which was awesome. When we attended Dakota's graduation, we had to wait a long time for the show to start. This was the reason I wanted Mar to come (she missed a day of school for it, darn it). I was so happy that she found it as impressive as I did.

I can't resist sharing a couple video clips. They still don't quite capture the awesomeness of their show, but it should give you an idea.

I love this pic I snapped of Peyton once she finally made it up in the stands where we were sitting. 

 

It definitely is quite an accomplishment! Congrats to Peyton!

While we went to the graduation, Nae and Lex and the babies went to the zoo.

That day also happened to be Kody's birthday... so we celebrated that evening.

I had made his requested Better-than-SexAnything cake.

 I'm totally cracking up over Lo's face in the above pic. Hahaha.

 Friday, May 25th

Mar's last day of school.

So many people have posted first day/last day pics, so I looked hers up.

She's going to love that she was wearing the same thing both days haha.

Last day of 11th grade...

... and first day.

 Lex had scored a free ticket to the Taylor Swift concert that evening, so I got to chill with my buddy Emmett. We had been shopping at the outlets prior to Lex heading out for the concert, so Emmett was cranky and DONE by the time we got home, he gulped a little mama's milk (via the bottle... so glad he takes one) and snoozed with the dogs for a bit.

 He was such a good baby the whole evening. I love this little mug, even if it's milk-crusted. We sat on bench swing on the porch for a bit, and Emmett expressively chatted with his adoring Gigi.

Lex said the concert was amazing. I was so glad she had the opportunity to go.


Meanwhile, while I was chillin' with Emmett, Nae, and Evie... Bill and the rest of the gang (Tay, Kody, Shi, Mar + her boy... friend) went to a Rockies game.

Kody had never been to a MLB game before, and he loved it, even if they were sitting in the Rockpile. It was the perfect summer evening, and they all had a good time.

Saturday, May 26th

Lex was exhausted.

So was Lo and Kody, so we had a pretty low-key, lounge-around-the-house-and-sleep day.

Once everyone felt rested, we got up the gumption to make a Walmart run for trip snacks for those who would be traveling home the next day, AND for movie treats. We are an exciting bunch.

I chilled with Emmett again while we waited for the sun to go down. I seriously need to up my selfie game... such blurry pics.

 Once the sun had gone down, we set up an outdoor movie in the backyard.

(This pic doesn't really give you any frame of reference haha... but I promise, it was cool.)

Mar had done a "drive-in" movie with her friends on our driveway a week or two before this, so we gave it a go in our backyard. It was SO FUN (except for Lex, who just couldn't tolerate the little grass bugs floating around... and landing on her haha). We decided that we would have to do more of it over the summer and invite some friends and neighbors to join us.

Sunday, May 27th

Lo&Ko, Lex, and Emmett loaded up the car and headed back to UT.

I loved having so much family here the past few weeks! I love it when they come to visit! We will be back in UT a couple more times this summer, then perhaps not again until next year. I'm hoping most of us can get together around Christmas, and we have a Goldsberry Family Reunion at the end of December -- hoping most can make it to that also. 

So much to look forward to.