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Today we leave for Yellowstone and I couldn't be more excited. But first, pictures from this week.
Tuesday, Day 11: The morning was pretty chill, with a trip to the playground. But that afternoon we rode the Heber Creeper. It was a little hard with Ollie because the dude is one squirmy baby. He did NOT love the train robbers that made a visit, but neither did Rhett really. Later that night, some cousins arrived!
Wednesday, Day 12: The next day, after a morning ride, Emily took the four big kids to an indoor playplace, which wasn't as impressive as the website made it out to be. But it was enough to keep little kids happy. That afternoon we went to the Wasatch County Fair for dinner. It was a bit tough convincing the kids to wait until tomorrow for rides, but we did it.
Thursday, Day 13: My baby is 1! So excited. We did some cupcakes and presents and we all enjoyed it more than Ollie, I'm sure. That afternoon we went to the fair and rode some rides. Good times for all.
Friday, Day 14: The next day was my birthday. Because we found out Thanksgiving Point has cheap Tuesdays (thanks Angie!) we opted not to go. Instead we took Guardsman again to Brighton and hiked. Seeing as hiking Donut Falls was almost my favorite thing we've done, I was totally up for it. And man, let me just say that I love Utah. Love. Despite kids whining, despite chipmunks wanting to steal my lunch, it was awesome. That night my sister graciously offered to babysit while Chuck and went out. Unfortunately, we were stopped at everything we wanted to do. Argh. But still, a night out is a night out. And now I'm back to the good ol' odd-numbered age. Hallelujah.
Saturday, Day 15: With my parents serving a mission in Japan, we decided to have a "Japan Day." Given my parents sent us a HUGE box full of goodies (including totally cute Japanese outfits for all kids), it was an easy day to pull off. We started with some lessons on Japan (geography, language, origami, dance, stories) and then gave them the treats--some good, some not-so-good. Later that day we had fried rice for dinner. (Hey--it's close, right? We barely got them to eat it. Do you really think we'd be successful with sushi?) Again, many thanks to my parents for the Japanese goods!
Sorry folks, but we'll be in Island Park this upcoming week. If you're headed up that way, let me know and we can play there.
Next Saturday (the 11th), Emily and I are running a 10K race here in Midway. Check it out here. Let us know if you want to get your butt kicked. Not by me of course, but by others. Unless you're that good.
A couple of people have asked how it is staying at my parents' home without my parents. I think they expect me to start tearing up and say how much I miss them. But I'm just not that sentimental. Maybe because I know they're halfway around the world. Maybe because I went in to this knowing we'd be the sole occupants of the house. Maybe because I like sleeping in their bed.
I'm pretty sure it's not because we like being here without them. We love spending time with them, especially since we don't get to see them that often. Last year, when they came out to help after Ollie was born, it was so easy! All four adults noted that it was really nice and easy to have them in our small house.
The truth is, my kids are little. Little enough to still wake up around 6 a.m., if we're lucky. Little enough to throw multiple tantrums daily. Little enough to need naps and 7 p.m. bedtimes. They're hard. And if they're hard for me, their own mom who loves them more than Maverick ice cream cones (sorry McDonald's; you've been replaced), then they're bound to be hard for grandparents, even though I know the grandparents love them nearly as much as I.
However, my parents are missing out on seeing Ollie walk for the first time. They're missing out on Rhett making up words like "disastrophe." (Isn't that a great one? I mean, come on.) Maybe they're the ones that should be tearing up. Then again, I'm missing out on being driven everywhere and having meals made for me. Maybe I should be tearing up.
So maybe in four years we'll try this again...with my parents in the house. Unless, of course, they decide on another mission. In which case, definitely in four years we'll do this again.
P.S. Change of plans for tomorrow (Friday). Instead of going to Vernal, we're headed to Thanksgiving Point. Now do you want to join us?
Now please excuse us while we celebrate a couple of birthdays.
Another five days, another set of awesomeness. We're really embracing all things Utah and Midway, including Creamies. (Chuck had never had one.)
Thursday, Day 6: I sent Chuck and the boys to North Ogden to see Chuck's Aunt Mary and family. I stayed home and worked and nursed the second appearance of a wicked head cold. In the night I was rewarded with a candy-filled episode of Project Runway, which prompted me to buy the rain boots you see below. I mean, c'mon. How could I not? They were on SALE, people.
Friday, Day 7: Feeling much better, but faced with rain, we played it low-key. We visited the local artisan cheese factory and bought way-too-expensive cheese and raw milk. When Chuck assured me he could tell a difference between it and other milks, we decided to have a taste test. I'm happy to say that Chuck aced it. Later we visited the cute quilt shop because I can't go too long without buying (and then using) fabric. In the afternoon we visited a local carousel. After a mini-breakdown, we convinced Rhett to sit on this guy rather than the incredibly-unexciting bench. Maverick cone count: 4.
Saturday, Day 8: Because camping plans were cancelled due to a sick boy but because sick boy was healing, we decided to hike Donut Falls. I don't know how many years it's been since I drove Guardsman Pass, but it was awesome. And who knew that it went to Park City or Midway? Not I. After that we tried Silver Lake, but it wasn't happening so we went home for naps and Olympics. That night, Chuck took Rhett to the Demolition Derby to enjoy all things car crashes.
Sunday, Day 9: Enjoyed another Sunday of church. But this one had a Mormon celebrity: Elder Holland! He tousled Rhett's hair, and commiserated with Ollie over the pain of three hours of church. After naps for everyone, we ate dinner at our good friends' house. Good times!
Monday, Day 10: Because my parents have been so incredibly generous with us staying in their house (even allowing me to increase cable so I can watch Project Runway), we (ahem, well the boys) indulged my dad by going to Salt Lake for an oil change. While waiting, Chuck took the littles to Temple Square on Trax. While at Temple Square, Chuck earned his "I survived a tantrum in a public place!" badge. Good job Charlie! After naps and work, everyone headed to Utah's Olympic Park. Sure, it was more a winter Olympic thing, but it still was appropriate, right? It was really cool to see all the jumpers. Even Chuck wanted to take a stab at it and he's never even been on skis!
Week 1 was AWESOME, as you saw. Here's what we're doing this week:
Sunday: Church (morning), Great Salt Lake and friend's house for dinner (afternoon).
Monday: Playing at the Wasatch County Fair (afternoon).
Tuesday: Hiking (morning), Heber Valley Train (afternoon).
Wednesday: Provo Beach Resort (late-morning to afternoon). This will be without me and Ollie, however. But come for Chuck and Rhett!
Thursday: More county fair, and birthday celebrations!
Friday: Dinosaur National Monument with more birthday celebrations!
Saturday: Japan Day and more county fair.
Let us know if you want to meet up at any of these. We would love to see you!
P.S. Next week we'll be in Idaho/Yellowstone so we probably won't see you. But if you happened to be headed there as well, we'll see you up there!
You know how sometimes I complain and tell you that my life is hard? Turns out my life can be hard. But now is not one of those times. We really are having an amazing time here. A normal day is one where I get up and run and then I work until 3. (Sure, I wish I could be here and not work, but someone has to earn the dollars, right?) Chuck takes the boys out before nap 1 for a walk or just plays in the house. After nap 1, the boys usually go do something fun. They come back for lunch and nap 2. And after that, I join them for the fun. We have only eaten out once and after dinner, the boys go down at their regular time so Chuck and I have a couple hours of downtime. It really has been perfect. And here's the photographic evidence:
Saturday, Day 1: Took my dad's "thing" out and ended up at the playground. Played inside and worked on badges. Grocery shopped at Walmart.
Sunday, Day 2: Churched. Drove to Cascade Springs. Family Picture Count = 1.
Monday, Day 3: Rode on the thing. Went to the library. Visited the Homestead Crater, where Rhett was at first quite scared, but then warmed up to it. Rhett did sparklers for the first time. Family Picture Count = 3.
Tuesday, Day 4: Morning walk. Rhett learns to ride a training-wheeled bike! Afternoon at the Homestead for their Pioneer Day celebrations.
Wednesday, Day 5: Morning hike up Dutch Hollow. Afternoon trip to Park City wherein Rhett LOVED the alpine slide and got in a fight with me over who was going to eat three slices of pizza. Rhett claimed it would be he; I took the under. I won. Ollie picked up rocks, put them on a bench, took them off again. It's easy being nearly one. Family Picture Count = 4. Maverick cone count = 3.
My parents were nervous that our Utah trip wouldn't live up to all my hopes. But they can rest assured that it's already been awesome. I feel like we're really taking advantage of all that Utah has to offer, and yet we're not dead tired. We're still putting the kids down for naps and regular bedtimes, so hopefully they (and we) are all getting the rest we need.
Instead of a trip log, for now I'm going to post my thoughts on Utah, or as I've been calling it, "anti-Maryland." Not because Utahans dislike Maryland (you have to know about Maryland in order to dislike it) but "anti" in the opposite sense. Seriously, it couldn't be more different.
1. The mountains (obviously). Our elevation at my parents' house is higher than the elevation of the highest point in Maryland.
2. The roads. Even though Chuck and I don't know Midway/Heber very well, it took about one day to figure it out. I'm still driving around Maryland with a map, and I've lived there for 10 years.
3. The cool nights. I love that when you're in the mountains, nights get nice and cool. We opened windows the other night, but then learned that the noise of sprinklers awakes us, so now we've closed them again. But it's nice to know that we could open them should we desire.
4. The sprinklers. I've never seen any in Maryland. We just don't need them. Utah on the other hand...
5. The frozen yogurt. I have more options than McDonald's here. And there are more flavors. And it's cheaper. Maverick cone count to date: 2.
6. The humidity. Obviously it's lower. And obviously I love that. Although interestingly enough, it's rained four of four days. Crazy, no? Of course it rains for a second and then is done, but still rain.
7. Groceries. There is a grocery store in town and a Walmart a bit farther away. We were warned that the nearby grocery store is a bit more expensive, but when we found out that their regular-priced milk is still 25% cheaper than Maryland milk, well, let's just say it's makes me feel rich to be able to shop at the more-expensive place. Although, you better believe that we did our stocking-up at Walmart.
8. The trees. Sure, once you get in the mountains there are trees. And sure, the neighborhoods have trees that are smaller than the houses, but it doesn't compare to Maryland. While I like this in Utah because it means I can actually see father than about a quarter mile, it also means that parks here are full sun, which is certainly not ideal. Every single playground we've seen has just been open to the skies. Thankfully we remembered sunscreen AND we're remembering to put it on!
9. Fireworks. In this, the burning western United States, some how fireworks are allowed. And yet, in damp damp Maryland, everything is banned. Yes, even sparklers, if you can believe that. So this year Rhett will experience his first sparkler. What an exciting event!
I know there's more but I can't think of it now. I just can't believe how much we're enjoying this place. Other than when I'm at work, we've really had limited screen time, preferring to get out and do things, even if that means just sitting on the porch watching the sunset over Timpanogos. We're embracing all-things-Utah (including eating my mom's 12-year-old potato pearls from food storage!) and are doing things I've never even done before. We're all having such an amazing time.
Pictures later.
In an effort to try to see friends and family as much as possible during our month in Utah, I'm going to post our schedule and hope that people join us when/if they can. We know Midway/Heber/Park City are a bit of a drive for people, so we won't be offended if we don't see you. But remember that I still have to work during the day, so we have limited flexibility just like you! If I didn't have to work, you better believe we'd come to you. Anyway, here's what's happening this week:
Saturday: Today we're getting settled and doing some grocery shopping. We're hoping the transition to Utah time isn't horrible.
Sunday: Church in the morning (we're picking the closest building that has Sacrament at 9:00 a.m.). After naps, we're headed to Cascade Springs.
Monday: Homestead Crater (afternoon).
Tuesday: Down time in Midway. Maybe check out Pioneer Day festivities in Heber.
Wednesday: Alpine Slide in Park City (afternoon).
Thursday: Down time in Midway.
Friday: Great Salt Lake (morning). Then we go camping! Just think of it: camping in summer with no bugs, temps that drop below 75 at night, real elevation gain!
Saturday: Demolition Derby at the Wasatch County Fair (evening).
Let us know if you want to meet up at any of these. We would love to see you! If you need to contact me, just email me or call me. Leave a comment if you don't know my email or phone and you want to.
