We had the most WONDERFUL vacation to Utah last week. It seems like the kids brains just explode when we're on vacation. Anna learned to walk, drink from a sippie cup with the valve in it, and take straight cow's milk on our vacation. Michael and Sam didn't fight the entire week because they felt so loved and so stimulated by all of our fun family and activities. Alas, it had to end and we're back home, but feeling oh-so-rejuvenated and full of fresh ideas and goals. Nothing like getting out of the rut.
Here you go . . .
Thursday- Pioneer Village with Shawn and Sarah and their pretty girls. My boys loved talking with these fun girls! Here's Michael and Kristina in the train.
We spent four hours there, felt like we just saw the tip of the iceberg and the kids wanted to stay and see more! We'll have to go back there next time.
Michael finally got to ride a pony while Sarah and Josh finally got to sit down and catch up a little bit.
This was the first day Anna had to take a nap on the go. Used to taking two naps a day in her quiet, dark room at home she was a trooper.
Here's Kristina and Kristina. We kept saying each others' names all day. Our hair even matched, totally unplanned too. What a sweetie!
After Pioneer Village we headed up to Park City to swim and have dinner at Shawn and Sarah's hotel. Have you ever sat in a hot tub with a waterfall in it? At the base of a ski lift? While holding your children and giving them kisses while the water mists into your faces? I highly recommend it.
We ate dinner in the hotel while the kids all watched The Backyardagains together.Friday- We spent in Stockton with Josh's grandparents. The boys put on a show with the ukeleles and we had a nice visit. We visited his other grandparents in the afternoon and I didn't take a single picture.
Saturday - We went on a hike to Doughnut Falls in Big Cottonwood Canyon with Becky and Brent. Besides being the most generous hosts, they spent their entire Saturday morning patiently hiking with us. Michael declared a beautiful pine tree, "The Queen of the Trees" and said he was glad Heavenly Father created such a beautiful place. He was a slow hiker, but very observant and appreciative of the scenery.
Uncle Brent lives large in the boys' memories. The whole drive there they were anticipating playing with him on his Wii in the basement. He took them there the first night and played the jousting tournament that leaves the looser dripping in water and weeping huge tears while the winner is cheered by a wildly enthusiastic crowd. When asked what we did in Utah, Sam tells people he played Wii with Uncle Brent.
Uncle Brent also got the boys these great cowboy boots and hats! Michael has worn them everyday since. He wants to take his hat with him in the van and have it nearby whenever possible. He's been playing Sheriff and defending our home against stuffed animal robbers. Sam gets to be his deputy.
Saturday we also took the kids to the Conference Center where Anna took her first steps. She'd been taking a few here and there but decided to go for something in the auditorium and walked about 10 steps. We were all cheering! Great going Anna!
Here's when I put down my sunglasses and Sam's baseball hat which Josh had to go back for later.
The south visitor's center has a model of the temple, cut away so you can see how the inside looks and is furnished. After spending some time there Sam said he loved being there and that he wants to get married in the temple one day. Michael said he knows Heavenly Father is real when he sees the temple. This is why we go there.
Michael thinks this is how cowboys shoot their guns. Hee, hee!
Sunday- We went to church and spent the afternoon with Debbie and her kids.
The boys were dying to see whether they had brought their knights, castles, and legos with them when they moved. They were in heaven playing with their cousins the whole time.
Anna enjoyed her special attention as well. That evening we had John and Linda's birthday cake back at Becky and Brent's.
Monday - We had planned on driving home but decided instead to drive 3 1/2 hours up to Rexburg to see Josh's brother Ben, Kristy, and their kids, including newborn Kohl.
Michael spent the last 30 minutes of the drive screaming that he would "never be happy again" because we didn't have any scissors in the van to cut a string off of his new cowboy boots, but Josh saved the day by pulling it off without it unraveling. Neither one of us had been in Idaho and we had so much fun with Ben and Kristy! 
The boys with their cousin Noah, who is one week younger than they are, didn't stop moving until we put them to bed at 10:45 that night. Rowyn kept right up with them.
Uncle Ben had a huge pack of sparklers and fireworks and the kids were so excited they didn't know what to do with themselves.
I'll leave you with a little glimpse of the fun and the ukelele jam session. Twice, apparently.
I love vacation. It is so RELAXING! I love taking a step back from my life to appreciate it and find ways I'd like to tweek it. Wish me luck following through on some new goals!
