A much needed vacation

A while ago we headed out to UTAH.
I'm not going to lie, I know it's not a vacation hot spot. But we had a BLAST!
It was packed full of fun parties, great restaurants, a photo shoot, hiking, shopping, snowboarding in June, swimming, and lots of hanging out with the family. 
Sorry for those we didn't get to see, but we will be back for Christmas :)

Here is an overview and lots of pictures. 

Solana's first hike, and she even toughed it out in the backpack. But she of course prefers to walk.

Solana LOVED her aunt Alina. She just cuddled her all the time.

And I love this photo because they are so posh in their sunglasses.

Lunch break and more cuddling.

Lots of lovin' couples.

Her and Einstein became best buds by the end of the trip, she would dance every time she saw him.

She had so much fun in this pool. (thanks Gigi) 

She would run into the pool, usually trip, then get back in all covered in grass. By the end she was just naked in the yard.

Seriously, snow in June! We have been sweatin' it up in Texas, and so Utah seemed like a giant chunk of heaven in seventy degrees

Adam had the best time snowboarding in the summer, except that he got the worst sunburn of his life. He called it his Freddy Kreuger face, ouch!

Solana just loved her cousin Alec, lots of hugs! 

She actually became a big hugger while we were there.

Our last day in Utah was spent at my uncle and cousins birthday party, we had a blast and it was a perfect way to say goodbye. Thanks Ross family, we love you tons!!

Birthday #2 (but she's still 1)

Did we throw Solana a second birthday party? Oh yes we did! Seriously, who doesn't want as many parties as possible.

Since we live by the Prestidge side of the family, my (CheyAnn) side of the family was unable to make it out here, so when we went on vacation to Utah, we decided to have a big family party. This party was so much fun, because she had cousins, second cousins, and friends to play with. Kids parties are the best!

Happy 1st birthday twice :)

The party was meant to be at the park, but as you can tell, it got  so windy that the food was blowing away and a storm was about to blow in. So we relocated to Logan's place.

Put the sticker on Abby!

This game was so much fun to watch, especially cause we had so many ages.

Solana enjoyed opening her presents more this time around because she was better rested. She really loved getting her first baby doll. She watched so intently and she waited for Daddy to open the box, it was cracking me up. 

"Do the chicken dance Kaiya" 

This little one is a riot! She made me laugh throughout the whole party. Everyone needs a Kaiya :)

 You tell all the kids to smile and look at the camera and this is what you get. 

Love it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET SOLANA! (again)

Pierpont photo shoot

It was last minute, but it was best idea we all had. Our family has not been all together in 14 months! So much has changed with everyone, and it was so fun to gather downtown on pierpont street and take some random, but fun photos!

Here is the whole Ross clan at its best, all 15 of us!

(Lots and lots of photos below)

Love you Mom,  you are so beautiful!

When Braden has a birthday, I start to feel old. He is the youngest of the family and has grown up so fast. And he is doing amazing! 

Braden and his girlfriend Whitney, I LOVE LOVE LOVE her!

Second youngest Hunter, and is gorgeous wife Alina.

We are praying that he goes to medical school out east, we just can't get enough of them. 

I still can't believe how photogenic they are.

Brittany, Fred, and chatty Addie. 
They had some of the cutest photos, probably cause they go so well together.

So Fred, ready for another one? 2 little ones fit you well. :)

The Prestidge peeps

Logan, Carol, and sweet baby Alec.

She is by far the happiest baby I have ever known. Her laugh is contagious!

Brooke and Dan, oh how we miss you!
We love how the photos turned out, especially since Daniel complained :)

A funny bunch of brothers. 

The Ross kids are all grown up.

Laughin' it up with mom (which is pretty typical)

My best friends.

I swear this is the only semi-normal photo of all of them.  The other photos were lots of laughing and funny faces. My brothers are best at teasing my mom and making her laugh.

Is that not the sweetest thing? I love hugs :)

Beautiful little Ross girls. They were all so cute together.

All 15 of us together again. 

Her face says it all, it was a great day. Love you Solana Gracie.

Thanks for the all the great photos everyone, it was a blast!

Is it time to go back and visit again? 

TMI?

How much is too much? 

I am not sure if I am alone in this or not, but how much information can you really put on an open blog? 

We created our family blog to document our lives, and to print them into a book and have our children read them. We also created it to keep family and friends updated about our lives. It has been a great blessings, and we have loved having it.

But then I pose the question,  what do people really read on a blog?

Some people are picture people, some are story people, and for others its just a great way to share are lives with the people we don't see often enough.

But I personally am a story blogger, I love reading all the fun stories and really knowing what is going on with others. 

I have a good friend Heather, who has a private blog, and writes the best stories about her life, they are funny, interesting, and even random (which is my favorite part) I feel that even though we see each other often, I love that I never feel like a miss a moment with her.

I want to be that open on our blog, but how much information do people really want to know? And more importantly, how much information are we comfortable sharing with the world? So do we go private and dish it all? Or keep it fun and light and stay open for everyone to enjoy?