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Sunday, Day 16: Just a fun picture of a quartet of handsome grandsons with homemade matching ties. My sister and I couldn’t resist. After sacrament meeting, we made the drive to Mack’s Inn.
Monday, Day 17: After Sunday’s long drive, we decided to stay close to the cabin. This was easy for our family because Rhett got a pretty wicked fever. We did manage to visit Big Springs when Rhett was under the influence of drugs, and therefore feeling better.
Tuesday, Day 18: Yellowstone! In addition to a half-dozen elk, we saw tons of geysers and hot pots, some we got to see two times when we were lucky enough to meet up with cousins.
Wednesday, Day 19: After yesterday's long day in the car, we opted for another local Mack’s Inn day, complete with hiking and boating. While boating, Rhett wanted nothing more than to sit on a canoe seat and row, but after he bonked my head multiple times, he was forced back to the floor. After the boat trip, Rhett played in the water like he’s never done before. It was nutty.
Thursday, Day 20: Because we had so much fun in the park on Tuesday, we decided to go back. We stopped first at Gibbon Falls, then to Norris (where we ran into cousins again!) for a hike to see the largest geyser in the world, and then to Canyon. Lastly, we took drove through Hayden Valley to see (and hear!) a few hundred buffalo. Ollie and Rhett both managed to sneak in naps while we were out, which is a miracle for these boys.
Friday, Day 21: The day to return "home." The adults spent the morning cleaning up the cabin, and the kids spent the morning dirtying themselves. It got so bad we couldn’t allow them into the house. But they enjoyed running around the cabin and dropping dirt bombs. It was awesome.
We bribed Emily and her family to take some pictures of us. This was the grand prize winner.
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.
