Catch up!

So, I have been remiss. I have let my blogging go and for that I am truly sorry. I am sure that no one out there cares as much as I do, but it is fun to think that somewhere there is someone waiting with bated breath for an update on the hijinks of the little Gibb family. On the off chance that such a person exists outside of my sweet, childish dreams, here is an update-- complete with pictures!

We recently took our first road trip from Portland to Idaho **11 Hours** and Utah **3 More Hours**. We stopped at Bridgeport before we hit the road, to eat at Zao's and load up on essential goodies at the Sweet Factory. Macy liked the big lollipops, but her mean Mommy thought it might be too big of a mess in the car.

We arrived in Blackfoot at 3:00am (no kidding) but the drive went better than I had anticipated. Once Macy realized she was in the car seat for the long haul she resigned herself and made due with string cheese and apple juice for the trip.


Once we had rested up a little, we hit the Clawson Family Reunion and introduced Macy to some important people on my Step-dad's side of the family. Macy also started what I can only imagine will be a lifetime love affair-- with fried chicken.














After the lunch with the Clawsons, we headed up to Idaho Falls, or rather Iona to decorate the graves of the Conrad side of my Mother's family. We met up with Grandma Harding, Aunt Reggie and Uncle Ralph, KC, Aunt Cozy and Uncle Fred, Emily, Maddy, and Ally. My Mom's cousin Reed and his daughter and grandson helped us decorate and the site looked really nice! Macy also made a great new friend in Ralph and Reggie's dog, Chloe-- it was an odd friendship, but she is definitely Macy's first puppy friend!




After Iona, we met up with Martie in Blackfoot and got to work scrubbing my Dad's stone. It has been a ritual since I was a kid, but after Gerald and I got married we started doing it right. We're talking acid, and pumice. There is no stone in the cemetery that looks as good as his! It is a weird thing, it's not like he sees it, but it makes me feel good to think that we can do something to help us (and maybe others) remember him.

Here's me, my baby (but no longer little) brother Joey, and Martha. I am on my tippy toes to not look super short. :)


Bright and early Monday, Memorial Day, Morning there is no where to be but the cemetery in Malad, Idaho. And if you are interested in a good lunch and some good company, hit the Park by the church with the airplane. Every one who is anyone is there (and in true Harding form Uncle Don brought a couple complete strangers! Grandpa would have been so proud!) I should have taken more pictures, but here is Joey and Macy at the cemetery.




After we had completed the "Annual Tour of Cemeteries", we headed further South to Salt Lake and Auntie Charlene's. We had a great time with our Johnson cousins. Macy loved their dogs and even said "Kay-Kay" for Katie their Lab-mix. Molly was slow to warm up to a baby, but once she saw where her mama's loyalty was she did stop growling at Macy. To be honest I am pretty sure that the real problem was jealousy. Molly was the first dog I made friends with and has always held a special place in my heart-- I think she felt displaced by the funny-smelling-hairless-puppy-baby and was trying to let us know how she felt. I'm sorry Molly, but no one will ever take your place!


Char was the best hostess a baby (or her mama and papa) could ever hope for. She stocked the fridge with apple juice and string cheese and made a whole pile of things specifically for Macy to pull down from the shelf and mess up. She also lent us her artistic talents for a day and directed a photo shoot for Miss Macy. You can see the pix on the slide show of the last post but here are some that missed that list.





















Macy loved having the doggies and fishes, and Sarah, Carly, and Matt to play with. I should have taken more pictures! Agh! Here's Uncle Glenn and Macy playing with the fishies







Macy made several fun visits while we were in Utah. We got to see Auntie Lacy and Angi, CJ, Sachi, and Cici. It was great to see our Utah Gibb Family! We have missed them so much!!!

Then back to Idaho! For big events! My baby brother graduated from High School and my baby sister gave her "farewell" talk in church. With so much going on, what else would we do all day on Saturday, but go SKIING!??!!
Macy's first boat ride was a major success! We've got a lifer I think. Can't wait until the snoopy skis will fit her!

She didn't even mind the life jacket! She really had a ball.

Gerald and I had a great time on tubes, and I even got up once on a wakeboard! I don't do tricks, so here are some cool pix of my sibs doing fun things.
Martie caught the biggest air of the day! (Don't ask if she landed it :) ).

Joey making cool tails.
John's best air-- and he landed it!

Macy watched with Grandma and Auntie Rissa (and ate peaches). What a life!

Here is Gerald trying to throw me off the tube, I'd like to think we only came off because I let go... and history is written by those who write it. So thus it was.
We had a great trip. I didn't take as many pictures as I should have, but I think you get the idea. We got home around midnight on Sunday, a whirlwind trip, but we didn't kill each other, we had fun, and we love that we got to spend this time with our family!