Zermatt Resort in Midway.

So a couple months ago Marilyn informed us that on the anniversary of Mark Jone's death she was taking her family up to the Zermatt resort in Midway to celebrate family and being together and to remember Mark.  She found some great deals on city deals and invited who ever wanted to join the fun.  Pretty much none of us could turn her down. :)  It also happened to be Morgan and Kaitlyn's birthday weekend so we had a lot to celebrate.  When we arrived and checked in we immediately headed for the pool.  The kids were in heaven.  They had an indoor pool/hot tub and then a rock passageway to the outdoor pool and hot tub that you could swim through to get there.  We swam for a couple of hours and then got ready for dinner.

Our party of 22 just about gave the waitress at the pizza place a heart attack. :)

After dinner everyone wanted to go swimming again so off we went.  We swam until 10:30 and the kids were exhausted!

Joel & Lincoln

Me & Sammy

Wilson & Mark

Overtaking the hot tub.

Waders.

Marilyn, Wilson, & Wade

Zina Zee

Kate

Sammy, Angela & Dylan.

Kaitlyn & Marley

Lee & his (we think) torn meniscus.

Morgan & Sammy.

These boys were so funny with their bubble beards, but I just couldn't get Sammy to look at the camera!

Grandma & Sammy

Sammy was the only one that would hold still long enough for me to get a decent picture. :)

This boys loves the water.  He would jump in from the side go completely underwater come back up spluttering and choking and then say, "adain, adain!"

The boys: Wade, Wilson, Sammy, Lincoln

The adults had an evening meeting to discuss Grandpa's condition so I offered to watch the kids in our room.  (I get updated fairly frequently from Mark so this way he could explain to everyone else what is going on with Grandpa's health)  We had root beer and chips and then they snuggled in bed to watch a movie - but by the time everyone came to pick up their kids only 3 had managed to stay awake. :)

The girls: Piper, Zina, & Kate.

Mark and I stayed up way to late talking in Jessa, Morgan, & Lee's room.  We finally made it to bed around 2am.  I NEVER stay up late so this was a record for me. :)

Miraculously we woke up early Sunday morning  got everyone ready for church and said goodbye to the rest of the family and then drove to the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake to see Grandpa.

 Love these guys!  

Grandpa is in the ICU which doesn't allow kids under 14 back in the rooms so we had to wait in the lobby for Grandpa to come see us.  We also got there at the same time as a team of doctors so me and the kids waited and waited and waited while Mark and Grandma went back to see what they had to say.  Finally Grandpa arrived and we had a good little visit.  Since it took longer than we thought we ended up taking the Sacrament there in the waiting room with Grandpa and Grandma instead of making it back to our Sacrament meeting.  It was a very cool experience and made it that much more poignant in such a different setting. 

 Hugs for Grandpa.  

Wilson declined.  He isn't really into giving loves these days.  

He has even informed me that I am only to "blow" kisses to him.

I manage to sneak a few real ones in now and then. :)

I love this picture of Sammy and Grandpa.  They have always had a special bond.  Sammy has never ever played shy to Grandpa and has always given Grandpa the running bear hug.  It's really sweet and this time was no different.

We are hoping that Grandpa gets to come home soon so we can see him more often!

We drove straight home from the Huntsman and threw some BBQ chicken in the crock pot, some brown rice in the rice cooker and made it to the 2nd two hours of church with time to spare.  Mark prepared his lesson on the way home from Salt Lake. :)

We were exhausted after church, but true to Thomas form we headed over to Grandma's for Kaitlyn's birthday cake and ice cream.  

(The party never ends with the Thomas family).

I'm glad we went because we were able to all sit around and reminisce about our favorite memories of Mark Jones.  It reminded me of what a great thing family support is and brothers and sisters.  

So grateful for family!