.our weekend.

I took exactly 160 pictures in the last three days. 160. You will be happy to know that I did not include all 160 in this blog post. You will be sad to know that I did include about a third of them. What can I say, we spent the weekend in Sacramento and I actually remembered my camera and I actually brought it out when photo-worthy stuff was happening. Yeah me. Sadly, this post does not include the cutest cousin bath picture you have ever seen because I could not figure out how to make it modest. Bummer. Literally.

The main reason for our weekend away was because my little brother Chase went through the temple for the first time, and our whole family came in for the occasion. Us from Palo Alto, Ash and Kai from Idaho, Jord and Maddie from Utah...all four of us siblings were together and it was awesome. But of course we didn't get one picture of us all together. Here we are at the temple, but Jordan had just left.

Little Chasey is so cute. All I wanted to do was kiss his sweet little cheeks. I am the oldest and he is the baby and he will be leaving for 2 whole years soon. You would think he'd understand my plight and let me have one picture kissing his cheeks. But no. Rude. I can almost hear him saying I should consider myself lucky for having a picture with him at all. Oh brother.

He did allow me to take some goofy pictures with him though. And he does kind of look like an adult lately, which is kind of weirding me out. And he's so happy he's glowing.

Jim. Chase. And me. Papa and GG watched the boys and although I was super nervous about leaving Evie (the first time since surgery) it went really well and he was smiling and happy when I got back. Thank you, thank you for watching them and letting us have a temple date!

My padres with Chasey. It was so special to be together as a family--especially in the temple. We only wished Logan could have been there--we missed you Uncle Gogo.

After the temple we bought out Wonderful Chinese and feasted on every delicious Chinese delicacy imaginable. Yum. I think I ate my share. And Evie's. And maybe T's too since he's a picky pants.

Luckily I got a picture of Jordan and Maddie at home since I missed them at the temple. They are adorable, no?

Remember her? My favorite sister Ashleigh. It goes without saying that I'm kind of obsessed. Even when she bans me from posting hilariously amazing pictures of us laughing so hard we're cross-eyed and have nine chins.

Him smooching me.

Mema is the best, just ask Talmage or Kai. They pretty much hang on her every word and beg to be held by her. They also will eat just about anything she gives them.

Ashie and Evie cuddling outside in the "cold."

Jordan is way heavier than he looks. I tried to give him a piggy back ride and couldn't move. Maddie, you're amazing.

Kai kept saying "chase" and then sitting on this stone. I would run after him (to chase him) and he'd start crying and say "chase" again. I was so confused, until I realized he was saying "cheese!" The little poser wanted me to take a picture of him, and he sat down on that stone with a big smile on his face so I could do it. I LOVED every second of it.

Speaking of Chase, here he is wrestling with his nephews. They LOVE him. Really, really LOVE him.

I tried to be the fun aunt and take the boys to this little carnival at the mall. Epic fail. Kai was too short to ride any of the rides (except for the carousel) and sobbed. I don't blame him. But how am I supposed to be the cool aunt if he cries on my outings?

Pepa and T on the train ride. Tell me why Kai couldn't ride that ride with an adult. Ridiculous. Anyway, those two had a good time at least!

We saw two movies--the Lorax with all the kids and the Hunger Games with Jord, Mad and Chase. Loved both of them, although T spent a good majority of the Lorax scared of the Onesler and tree-murdering and I spent a good majority of the HG scared of that guy from District One and teenager-murdering. Yikes.

The goodbye this morning could not have been sadder. Why don't we live closer to cousins? Kai sobbed and kept calling out for T. Talmage would go back and give him a hug, then a kiss. They are so cute together--even when Talmage is Mr. Bossy-pants and yells at Kai about everything.

We went to Great Papa's house and it was so nice. We love him, and as you can see Talmage was excited to be there! We got to visit and catch up, and see Uncle Buck.

Uncle Buck and Evie--the smiliest twosome ever!

Some Wiggy men at Papa's house. I love these guys so much. They are special and dear to me.

On our way back to Palo Alto we stopped by the Jelly Belly Factory for a tour and some treats. Talmage loved wearing the "candy hat" and I thought it was super interesting. Although I can't understand how buttered popcorn is the second most popular flavor of jelly bean. Yuck.

Our cute little Candyman after the tour. What a sweet weekend we had!