Auf Wiedersehen Elder Bendixen!

Monday night we had FHE with a whole bunch of Graff's!

I love having a lot of family in Utah. When I first moved here 7 years ago I had none! Now there are 4 different Graff families out here and even one from the Rosenlof side! It's great.

We got together with the Graff side on Monday at my grandparent's to see my cousin Zach one last time before he heads to Germany for 2 years to serve an LDS mission! I was so excited to see him and his parents. They all live in PA so we don't get to see them as much as I would like. (I still wish they brought Allie. She is totally my favorite Bendixen).

Doran enjoying his ice cream.

Nathan and Benny having an important conversation about Angry Birds.

Don't mind as I massively take over my husband.

We did a lot of talking and eating, us Graffs are a loud group. But I love it. Afterwards, Nana read us some old journal entries she had written about Zach when he was little. It's funny because I remember him as a baby too. He's only 4 years younger than me but I remember carrying him around and pretending he was my son, haha. Then we sang "Called to Serve" and people started crying. Then Papa talked about how proud he is of all his grandchrildren and even more people started crying. Us Graff's are big criers too. We can't help it!
Then it was time for photoshoots with Zach. Such a lucly dog.

Proud grandparents. Then send off another grandson in a couple weeks! Yay Dallen!

Cousin shot! Jessi and Marshall are the only Utah ones missing. They said something about "home work" or "college" or something. It didn't make sense.

Poor Zach. Everyone made him touch my belly and we were laughing so hard. People from his mission are going to look him up on Facebook and think he has a knocked up girlfriend at home. Haha :)

I am so thankful for family. I am thankful that even though there are a million Graffs (my dad is 1 of 8), I feel close to each one of my cousins and aunts and uncles. It was strange to me when I met Nathan and he told me that he hadn't seen or spoken to some of his cousins and relatives since he was a small child. My relatives (both sides) are always all up in each other's bizznas. Maybe it's because we are all so loud! Who knows. I am thankful for loving grandparents who are my Utah home away from home. I am thankful all my extended family is strong in the church and that I can see off two of my "little boy" cousins on missions this month.

Good luck Elder Bendixen!! Kick some butt!