Late NIght Ice Cream with Abby We have really missed the Hardings since they moved at the end of March.  During one of our FaceTime sessions with the girls in May we decided we couldn't stand not seeing them and decided to drive to Provo to see them over Memorial Day Weekend.   But when we found ridiculously cheap flights for a weekend in June, we decided to spend more time with the Hardings and less time in the car and postponed the trip to this last weekend (June 13 - 15).

We didn't tell any of our Utah friends we were coming (sorry guys).  As much as we love seeing so many of our friends when we come to Utah, we just wanted dedicated time with Abby and Ivy.    That decision was a good one since those little girls definitely didn't want us out of their sights!

We landed around 9pm and Christina and Abby came to pick us up. Bike Riding to and at the church   Before they had even pulled over to let us in the car, I heard Abby yell out "Sit by me Katie"!   She then proceeded to tell me all about her day, with the utmost enthusiasm and excitement, all the way to  Provo.  If I looked up to say anything to Christina, I was reprimanded.  Little Abby was SOOO excited to see us.  We stopped in at the BYU Creamery just around the corner from their house.  And when we returned to their house to enjoy it with Mike, Abby squished right in between me and Lee and wrapped her little hand around my arm the entire time.  It was really sweet.  

Saturday morning came early and both Abby and Ivy jumped into bed with us.   When we got up it was to explore their new backyard and push them on the swings.  When it was time for breakfast Abby told us where we were sitting - Me, Abby, Ivy and Lee.  Her comment was, "now we are sitting next to our favorite buddies".  Adorable.  After a delicious breakfast we rode bikes (Abby is fearless) and hung out until mid-day when we all headed up to South Jordan for a BBQ.  (Word got out that we were in town and Pony Rides at Thanksgiving Point several other Ex-Palo Alto friends also happened to be in Utah so we all gathered for a couple of hours.  It really was fun to see people and meet the newest kids.)   But the true excitement came after the BBQ when Abby finally got to ride a pony!!! 

 In the weeks preceding our trip we would ask Abby what she wanted to do when we came.  Her answer was always "ride a pony".  So ride a pony we did.  We went to Thanksgiving Point Farm and she and Ivy not only rode a pony, but Abby also milked a cow!  She also fed ducks and mules and petted all sorts of animals.  Ivy Loving Lee It was a really fun (and full day).  Little Ivy was SO happy to have Lee around.  She cuddled up with him whenever she could.  It's really sweet and her love for Lee is one of the things I miss most with them being gone. 

Sunday was church and Abby really wanted me to go to her Sunbeam class.  So I did.  She turned to her classmate and said" This is Katie, she's my best friend".  We really did get all sorts of love from those cute girls.   After church we spent the entire afternoon outside in the yard.  We pushed them on the swings for HOURS.  We invented games, we gathered animals for the Arc (Abby learned about Noah at church), and we imagined all sorts of things.  We had a really good time and loved the concentrated time with our favorite pair of little girls. 

Fun in Abby's Arc When it came time for us to leave (after the most incredible dinner compliments of Mike and Christina), Abby was really sad for us to go.  When I told her we needed to go home because our jobs are in California, she responded by saying "there are jobs here in Utah"!  Nothing gets past her...

We really did hate to leave and we've missed them all week.  But we are excited to have made official plans to see them again at the end of August in Disneyland!!!

More picture are here.