Griffin Time!

Our trip to the homeland offered loads of good times -- enjoying this beautiful Utah summer and the people we love and just can't get enough of.

Isaac and Brady enjoying S'more night

Henry's ridiculously huge jumbo-marshmallow-s'more

It was quite the task trying to eat it (and entertainment for the rest of us)

Luckily, he ended up with a mustache to match Grandpa Dave's.

Ellis almost rivaled the messiness.

And Milo . . . well, just watch out for Milo.

McCall is expecting Baby #1, so we made sure to give her lots of practice with babies.

I'm so excited to see Brady and McCall as parents. They are going to be the best!

Relaxing and watching the energetic ones play soccer

The pond is high this year with all the spring rain they got in Utah. I don't think I'll ever get over how much I love my parents' backyard and the view.

Isn't it a stunning place?

We decided our boys were long overdue for their first visit to Temple Square. This is where Ben and I were married, at the Salt Lake Temple. We discovered that Temple Square has changed a lot since we were last there, and it is a fabulous place for anyone to visit -- definitely the top tourist attraction in the Salt Lake area. We actually spent only half a day there, but felt like we could have spent another day or two!

Random "Vocal Point" sighting took us back to the good old days at BYU.

And, of course, Ellis loved our tour of the Conference Center. He got to see where the Tabernacle Choir sits, and we talked a lot about where the different general authorities would sit during Conference. I actually think it was a tiny bit of a letdown for Ellis, because as you can see, the regular G.A. seats are missing because they can change the set for an orchestra or theatrical stage or whatever they need for a given event. So the real President Monson spot wasn't there -- and worse -- the podium and "mikerphone" were missing! I guess they keep President Hinckley's famous "walnut tree" podium on an elevator shaft and they lower it underground when not in use. When we were walking into the Conference Center for our tour, Ellis was asking "Who's gonna conduct?" and I unfortunately had to break it to him that we weren't actually going to watch Conference. Still, I think he enjoyed the tour overall (an interesting thing to do, for sure), and then he was thrilled when we got to go to the Church History Museum and look at the portraits of all the Latter-day Prophets.

My dad recently started his really cool new job at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (he's working on the Family Search project).

We had lunch with Grandpa outside his building (check out my mom and Kati adoring cute baby Max - 2 1/2 months younger than Sam and definitely heavier!)

Touring Grandpa's office and enjoying his view (talk about taking a little break for inspiration!)

Lava Hot Springs - time with my dad's family and the two Ellises.

The boys posing like Grandpa Griffin!

Grandpa (Ellis) and Grandma Griffin - I love these people! We had such a good time visiting with them and many of my aunts, uncles, and cousins at their yearly traditional vacation spot. I have so many fond memories of this place! I wish I had taken more pictures there (especially of Ben jumping off the high dive with Brady!).

Here are my little book-worms in the car on the way to Lava. I have to give them credit for being GREAT little travelers. I think it's so cute to see them sharing a book -- they're reading Ellis' favorite presidents book. Luckily, Henry is interested in everything, so he's happy to enjoy a book with Ellis every once in a while.