My DEGN family

The first morning we were there I took my father-in-law's car (😎) and drove Bronson and his cousin, Jacob up to Logan to go to EFY for the week.

 We stopped to buy snacks and they also wanted hot sauce and saran wrap and I decided not to ask why. Knowing their pranking-personalities I'm sure they had plenty of plans in mind.

 While up in Logan by myself, I took to the time to visit my Dad's grave. It was beautiful and peaceful looking at the mountains behind that are right by my childhood home. Did I mention I was BY MYSELF?!?!? After the trip from Arkansas to Utah in the car, I was DEFINITELY due some "alone" time.

 That night we went over to my sister's house to meet up with a bunch of my family. This may SEEM like a lot of people but we're actually missing 23 here. haha.

 My family haven't seen the twins since there were three months old, so they were quite the attraction.

They seemed more interested in my mom's dog, Daisy.

My sister planned a game where two of the older boy cousins wore a shirt with treats taped all over them. Camden was one of them and they had to run through the yard to avoid the little kids trying to get the treats. They didn't get very far. haha

 Have I MENTIONED seeing my kids with their cousins is the BEST part any trip to Utah?!?!

 Here is Aleeya with my sister's daughter. Even though they are two years apart (Aleeya is short, I know), I can't get over how much they look alike! I love it.

 I don't think it is POSSIBLE for Kellyn to hug her cousins any tighter. She's so lucky to have girl cousins her age on BOTH sides of the family.

Plus Kellyn has always had a little extra love to share I think.

 My sister Sarah came out to help me after I had the twins. So she calls them "her babies" too. I love anytime I see her with "our" babies.

 These next two pics are my favorite. I have two sisters and these pictures have our daughters in them. The bond I have with my sisters is the best.....so seeing it passed down to another generation makes my heart explode.

 After a night of being the main attractions....my babies fell asleep with lightning speed!

My little brother couldn't make it to our family get-together, but he made up for it in taking Brooks and my boys cat-fishing.

Don't be too impressed, my brother caught that fish.  Here's everyone + my nephew Caleb (holding the fish)

 Clearly Royce was pleased handling a fish that huge.

We drove to UTAH!

I know, we are CRAZY, but we did. I think the hardest part of planning for this trip was convincing Brooks that he would survive the driving part. ha! I drove most of it anyway and thankfully he had books and studying to keep him occupied. Sometimes Wynn required holding my hand to handle being in her carseat that long.

We would find parks along the way to stop and eat. This was where we stopped to eat yogurt parfaits for breakfast that first morning in "somewhere", Kansas.

 Brooks of course made some physical competition with Bronson. I can't even do ONE pull-up!

 There were cool wind-thingies the whole drove. One of the kids commented they were "creepy". What? At one point in Colorado in the trip Bronson looked out the window to "nothing" and commented, "No WONDER people smoke weed here there's nothing else!"😂

 The babies were pretty good troopers though. As I look at this picture we must've had some sort of miscommunication.....because that is ILEY in the front seat closest to the driver. And we made it a point to have the louder and more demanding twin (Iley) in the second seat as much as we could. DOH!

 Our first night for dinner we stopped in Denver, at Brooks' mission president's house. Brooks LOVES these two people and it was my first time meeting them. What a choice and uplifting couple they are. And GRACIOUS to host us. PLUS, their South African accents were fun to listen to as well.

We (meaning "I") made it to Laramie, WY that night to sleep. After going to church that morning we made the last part of our trip to Utah. Stopping quick at a rest area that had bison (?!) for yogurt parfaits again.

 We made it to Brooks' parents house late afternoon and man, was that GOOD to see everyone there! One of my favorite parts of being there, is just hearing Brooks' laugh when he's around his family. It's a constant sound.

 All four brothers with their families were there. I love seeing the kids with their cousins.

 Having not met Uncle Casey much, these girls sure warmed up to him fast. Probably because he looks and sounds the most like Brooks.

 I had these "twinado warning" onesies made before our trip. They definitely lived up to it on our stay at Grandma's. Also, Wynn's face 😍😍

Shirts, shoes and clothes in general seem to be optional at Grandma and RA's for the cousins.

And Brooks definitely didn't waste time in showing his nephews who was boss.

 Thankfully, Uncle "Bug" just snuggled my kids and didn't need to show them anything. 😀

 The boys..... (and I'm not sure what is up with Emerson's hat......hopefully it wasn't worn in public)

And there was ping pong...... LOTS of it.

 Kellyn just LOOOOOOOVES being with her cousins. She just GLOWS when she is around them.

RA holds quite the special spot in my girls' hearts as well. Especially Aleeya.

I love this picture of RA with Kellyn jumping to him.

 Speaking of RA, he also got to go to the temple with Emerson when he went through for his first time while in Utah.

Talk about a dream come true for Brooks to be with ALL his brothers in Utah.

 Not only that, but it was the FIRST time the WHOLE family has EVER been together for a picture since everyone has been married. It definitely merits a picture. (Bronson wasn't there though)

This one is my favorite picture because of Kellyn and Elle looking at each other and just GRINNING!

                                                  👆👆

HAPPY 4th!

Our traditional funnel cakes and berries for Independence Day! 

 Brooks had to work at the ER on the 4th of July night. But don't feel TOO sorry for me because me and the kids planned our roadside fireworks tradition. Which.......kiiiiiiinda feels more fun when the person that thinks "you mind as well just burn your money" (when it comes to these roadside fireworks) is not there. 😂

We put the babies to bed and went outside in front of our house (in the background.....duh.....the van is the dead giveaway). The older boys loved taking care of all the lighting.

 Royce wanted the "sword" firework SO bad at the fireworks store so I got him one. Turns out that Royce thought it was a little hot on his hands. 

 Besides sparklers there were a lot of fireworks that made for some good "Jack me nimble Jack be quick, Jack jump over the candlestick" type ones that Emerson in particular enjoyed. I think he only managed a few burns for the evening.

And only ONE burn mark on a pair of shoes for Camden. So I call this 4th of July a WIN!

 There's a reason why this holiday is my favorite. Fireworks + family is pure magic.