Ekins Express

Mid-December 2011 to Present Day

Such a serious title. After the time it took to upload all my pictures, I'm really not in the mood to be creative with words! So here's what we we've been up to since the middle of December...

Cousin Corbin and Brittany's wedding. They invited Matt and me to the ceremony and then a luncheon afterward at Little America. We felt quite honored to be guests. It was beautiful in every way and so much fun to see how much Corbin has grown and matured. Such a good good kid. It was great to catch up with all the aunts and uncles and to just be amidst the happiness and bliss of a wedding!

(I loved this backdrop!)

My cousins will forever be my dear friends! Everytime we get together, we just laugh and act silly. Remember this about that day Girls... "Lower the camera... no, even lower."

L to R: Brooke and Kelsey Critchfield, Emily and Melanie Rigby, me, and Lisa Rigby

Grandpa Ray loves his girls! And we all love him.:)

The little girls watching a movie at Grandma's house... L to R: Ruby, Abby, Holland, Adelyn and Elsie

With McKay hanging out on his own couch. He can only handle so many girls at once!

The annual Rigby Bingo Party was yet another hit this year. A big thanks to Grandpa Ray for choosing to carry on this great tradition and for all his daughters that make sure it happens!

Rett loves his vacuums... especially this one because it was so big!

Rita and Dad

These three kiddos had so much fun the whole time we were at Grandma's (where Hyde's and Ekins stayed). They didn't argue or disagree one time... so impressive. :)

Rett and Abby

Forgive the hair Grandpa!

Food Ladies

While everyone waited for the festivities to begin, Matt was great to grab a rope for the kids to hold on to and he guided them around the food, through the Bingo gift room, and to say hello to all the guests. They had a lot of fun doing this.

Ray and Lola Rigby's children: L to R and youngest to oldest: Natalie, Beth, Blair, Grandpa Ray, Jerry, Joyce, Beverly, and Laura. I'm sure Grandma was looking down so happy her family got together!

Emily and me

That night just our little family went to see the lights at Temple Square. It was FREEZING cold for these So. Utah folks, but we still had a lot of fun. We made a stop for hot chocolate, tomato soup, and cheese sandwiches at the Joseph Smith Building and then donuts at Dick's Market on our way home. The kids loved all the lights and it was so beautiful like every year!

This cute little man was playing fun Christmas tunes in the JSB and he let Abby play some of his instruments.

A few days before Christmas Mom took our kids and allowed Ashley, Tom and Hill, and I to do some last minute shopping at The Gateway. We had so much fun! Tom was sweet to treat us girls to some yummy chocolate at The Chocolate Factory.

I just had to include this shot... Rett could not stay on his floor mat for the life of him every night we were there. He has a high bed at home and never falls off of it (knock on wood).

The 23rd of December was Mom and Dad's 40th Wedding Anniversary. I feel really awful we didn't plan anything big for them! I tried to come up with something last minute the night before but it was late and I was really tired. So I made them this banner out of toilet paper since we didn't have the old printer paper. Hope it meant at least a little! :(

That night they wanted to take everyone out to Chuck-a-Rama for dinner. We then went back to the house and Rita watched a few kids while the rest of us adults went to the late showing of Sherlock Holmes. Good times!

Christmas Eve:

Santa Claus came! And Rett was freaked out by him! He wanted nothing from the guy except his present.

Abby was all smiles though!

All the kids opening their Christmas pj's from Santa.

The guys!

Cute little Ruby Girl as Mary

Another funny moment: this chair is missing the seat cushion and Rett apparently thought it was a toilet. So he pulled nearly every tissue out of the box on the table next to it to stick in this whole. Good thing I found everything dry! Just for pretends I guess.

Christmas Morning just our family woke up at Grandma's house. So after the kids saw what Santa brought them, we had Grandma and Grandpa and Rita join us to give and receive gifts to and from each other. It was so neat to have the one on one together and to see the excitement on both kid's faces.

Mom does such a great job of decorating the house for everyone to enjoy!

Rett LOVES Buzz Lightyear so he was pretty excited for this present:

Abby's Barbie dolls - a dance teacher and her student. Abby told me this is what she wants to be when she grows up. :)

Rita was so sweet to give the kids coloring books and stickers.

Matt needed a helmet for his new found love - canyoneering

So many new things... what to do next?

Matt and I had a lot of fun laughing one night as we put together one of my favorite childhood puzzles "Super Heroes" and eating Hi-Chews (thanks Rita for my new-found favorite candy!).

Riding the new scooters in the cold!

The day before we headed back home, Matt took Abby ice skating like he does every year. They have so much fun being together... aside from more cold!