To Utah & Beyond!

We finished out our summer with lots of travel, family fun and hanging out with good friends!

Hanging out with Hannah and Luke at Northpark mall. 

7/11 is free Slurpee day at 7/11. 

If you're looking for an amazing pediatric dentist in the Dallas area we love ours! This day while at the dentist they got balloon animals, or minions. 

At the end of July we drove to Utah and while driving we stumbled across this beautiful arch! We had to stop and explore! My boys have never seen an arch like this before.

My boys at the top of the arch. 

On the trail up to the top. 

We drove up to Utah with a friend from the ward and her three kids. She is the one who took this picture for us. 

 Elizabeth and Kate came to Utah at the same time we were there. The plan was that if we were there at the same time then one of us could stay with the kids while the other one helped Sadie after she had her baby. Even though it didn't work out the way we wanted it to we still had a good time and my boys had a blast. The night before we left to come home as I was tucking Caleb into bed he was crying as telling me how much he didn't want to leave, he was going to miss everyone!

Our first night there eating at Brick Oven. The boys had asked me for a balloon and I told them I didn't have cash. The balloon guy over heard me and when he came to our table I told him no and he said "I take credit cards" So I let the boys get balloons. Once the man left Caleb came to me and told me he was disappointed in me for lying to him. He thought I lied to him about not having money because obviously I must have had money if they were able to get a balloon! 

BYU Bookstore! Every time we go I take the boys and let them get a shirt and a treat from the candy counter. 

We went swimming at the Provo Rec. Center. WOW! That's a really nice place to go swimming. 

They also have a rock climbing wall there. 

One day we drove up to Salt Lake and headed to Snowbird to do some of their summer activities. We payed for a pass that would allow us to do everything. The Mountain Coaster, The ropes course, the alpine slide, the rock climbing and tram that takes you up to the top of the mountain ... and so much more. I can't even remember what all was included in that pass. Unfortunately we only got in three rides when the rain came, and it pored! Snowbird was very kind and gave us our money back! 

Austin getting ready to ride the mountain coaster. That was a lot of fun! 

About to head down the alpine slide. 

I don't remember the name of this ride but you sit in this seat and it takes you up the mountain pretty high, high enough that I didn't so much love it and then it drop you. 

Having fun with the Esplins! Before we got there Spencer asked Sadie what he could do so that Austin and Caleb would like him. Oh my goodness! He did not need to worry about that at all! My boys could not get enough of Sadie and Spencer! Sadie helped Caleb complete levels on candy crush and Spencer played with them. On their level played with them! Seriously, Dad's are so good for that! One night when we were all downstairs Spencer was playing with the boys in the other room. They must have been playing spies or something. This is what I heard "Now if they see you you'll be dead so we'll have to find a way to distract them." Yeah, that was Spencer, not one of the kids. Then a little while later the kids (and Spencer) came running in and Spencer says "To the secret hideout!" Spencer will be a wonderful dad!

Spencer, Sadie, Caleb and Austin

Spencer's family lives in Utah and they installed a brick oven into their kitchen. I have always told Sadie how jelous I am of their brick oven. One night they had us over to make and cook our own pizza's. Spencer's parents were out of town that day and so his siblings were the ones to host us. They did an amazing job! They had pre made all the pizza dough and had all the toppings out and ready to go. They had recipes we could try and a limeade station where we could make our own limeade. I was incredibly impressed with their willingness to host us and prepare so much for us. Thank you Esplins, we had a very good time! The night was fun and the food was delicious and it left me wondering where in my house I could install my own brick oven!

Just putting our pizza's together. 

Caleb's pizza all made and ready to go in the oven. 

And Austin! 

Caleb squeezing his lime to make his limeade. 

Pulling my pizza out of the oven. 

One day we took the kids to the Museum of Natural Curiosity. It's like the worlds biggest and best children s museum I have ever been to. It was beyond amazing! We got there when they opened and stayed until 5:00 at night and we didn't even see all that they had to offer. My kids loved it. I loved it. It was educational and fun. Please go if you're ever in Utah! 

This room was so awesome! They got to control the music and what instruments played at what times. And for tonights entertainment we have DJ Austin. 

How long can you hang on here? Longer than a sloth?

Climbing one of the numerous rope bridges. 

Caleb trying to fly a plane that crash landed in the rope bridges. 

Playing on the outdoor playground

Xander, Austin, Caleb and Kate in their outdoor gardens. 

Me, my older sister Polly and my twin sister Elizabeth in the beautiful gardens at the museum. 

While at the museum we noticed they had a ropes course so naturally my boys wanted to do it. Caleb as it turns out wasn't tall enough or old enough, I don't remember which, to do it by himself. He needed an adult to be with him. So I took one for the team (I hate heights) and went with Caleb. I can't not tell you how very much I would rather have been doing a million other things but I never let Caleb know. I was a sweaty mess when I was done! Caleb and Austin loved every second of it. We were up SO HIGH! WE were up in the rafters of the museum and could see down four stories. It made my whole body tingle. 

All geared up and ready to go. 

This picture can kind of give you an idea of how far up we were, but not totally. 

This was the scariest one for sure! 

We would not go all the way to Utah and not go and see Great Grandma Taylor. When we went to Utah two years ago we also went to see her and my boys talk about her often. They genuinely love Great Grandma Taylor. She was in good spirits and enjoyed having us. The boys of course had a good time with her as well. They're not shy at all around her and just ask what ever questions they want. They liked looking at the all the family pictures on the wall and had a great time visiting with her while we swung on her swing in the front yard. 

Austin is almost as tall as Great Grandma Taylor! 

 Not every child is lucky enough to have great grand parents but mine are! My dad is so stinkin' cute with these kids it's fun to watch!

Every night we were there Grandpa read books to them or told them stories. 

One day Grandpa planned and organized a ge-od hunting trip. He went and got enough snacks and yummy drinks to get us through the day and got the directions on where to go. He was all prepared with the right tools to dig and everything. It was a long drive but the boys had their cousins to play and talk with, good food and dun drinks from Grandpa and they were set. The boys have their ge-od's kept in a "safe place" in the garage. 

Xander fell into quick sand. Scarry as it was it was also kind of cool! The only casualty? A missing shoe! Austin wanted so desperately to learn more about the quick sand that he really wanted to go back and experiment in it! I told him not on his life! 

Grandpa took the boys hiking to the Y one day! 

Caleb, Xander, Austin and Frasier at the top of the Y. 

My boys the climbers saw this cool spot and of course wanted to climb to it. 

And keep climbing a little higher! 

At one point while Caleb was climbing this he told my dad "My butt is too big!" 

There they are! At the top! 

Sometimes things just don't go how you would have pictured them going and so was the case with Sadies' delivery of baby Carter. All the way from confusion from the dr's to sisters coming to hep, then leaving again before the baby was even born ... From being a week and half over due to having a c-section ... From having dreams of a healthy baby to having him be rushed out upon delivery and then intubated just to keep him alive. Out of respect for Sadie and Spencer I will let you read their blog if you're interested on what it might have been like for them. It's under Baby Boy Story part II. 

http://www.thatsadie.com/

Also, my oldest sister Rebecca wrote an excellent blog post about motherhood called Stretch Marks. You can find it here. 

http://www.1001thingstobehappyabout.com/

I ended up driving back to Texas the day Sadie had her baby and so I waited a few days and flew back by myself so she could have help for a little while. I'm so glad I did! Not only was it fun to watch Sadie & Spencer with their precious newborn and see how much they loves him but I too grew to love the little guy. 

Spencer soon after Carter was delivered. 

Carter in the NICU. 

Going home from the hospital. 

This little boy is so cute I could eat him! (That one was for you Sadie!) When I was there I loved his little pants so much and Sadie and I tried a few on him but they all swamped him. We would get them on and the lift him up and off the would fall. Sadie texted me this picture when he was finally big enough to keep some pants. on! 

Some of his stuffed animals in his room! I love that little boy! 

In between my two Utah trips my good friend Shay got baptized. 

Shay's family with the missionaries. My boys are only in the picture because Luke wanted to be wherever my boys were. 

My family and the Kearneys. 

Jaren baptized Shay! 

After I got back from my second trip to Utah we went to Austin to visit the Peterson's. I can count on one hand the number of really good friends I have, like the kind that know everything about you, seriously everything. The kind that still love you even after knowing everything. The kind that actually pick up the phone and call you on your birthday instead of just texting. The kind that tell you what you need to hear instead of what you want to hear. Anyways, you get the point. Jen is that kind of friend and we met in Wylie. They moved to Utah about four years ago and then last year they moved back to Texas, to Austin. The kids had a good time and we had a good time with the kids but the best time was at night when the kids were asleep and Jen and I could just sit and talk.

 We went to Hamilton Pools one day and it was beautiful! It was one of the last days we were there and the kids were exhausted so we didn't stay as long as we had anticipated. The older kids had a great time! A few tips for if you're thinking of going.
1. The water here is super cold so going on a day when it's really hot would be best.
2. It's a hike in, not a really long hike but long enough that it's a pain to walk back to your car for towels or food.
3. Pack an easy to pack around cooler so you have your food with you once you're down there.
4. Have enough adult chaperons for all the kids.

The trails the leads behind where there is sometimes a waterfall. There was no waterfall when we were there. 

The spot behind where the waterfall would fall. It is a big spot. Big enough that lots of families had set of their stuff back here for the day. 

The little beach area. 

On the hike to the pool. 

 We went to down town Austin one night and got dinner and then went to see the bats. I had never heard about the bats before. Under on of the bridges in Austin there lives thousands of bats and at dusk every night they all come flying out. Lots of people come out to see the bats. I really was kind of amazing, just the sheer number of them and the patterns they use to fly out.

Jen is holding Max and then Savannah is their oldest, you see Austin and Caleb and then the other girl in the picture is their daughter Austin's age named Tess. 

Some of the people come to watch on kayaks. 

Can you see the bats in the distance? The were continually flying out from under the bridge for the whole 20 minutes we stayed there and they were showing no sign of stopping when we left. It was CRAZY how many of them there were. I think Disney needs to jump on this bandwagon and make a movie called BATS. 

Caleb watching the bats on his right side, you can see the one's on his left. 

A crowded bridge of people all waiting to see the bats. 

Tess, Savannah, Max, Austin, Tess and Caleb

Tess got a cotton candy machine for Christmas and it was a huge hit while we were there! Can you see little Max on the left? He's their youngest and he was so cute I wanted to bring him home with me. 

The Friday before school started we hosted a scavenger hunt. From a parents point of view the hunt was mass chaos but the kids had a great time and had a goody bag full fun toys and treats when they were done! 

 The Last weekend before school started we headed to Allen for the day. We started out at the small but fun bike track and then went across the street to wake board at Hydrous Wake Park. Once done there we headed to Cabella's for some more arrows for Austin and then to the outlet mall to do some shopping.

Do you see the blue in the background? That's at the wake boarding park. They are literally right across the street from one another. 

This little guy has gotten SO GOOD! He genuinely loves to go wake boarding. At night when Jaren goes in to tell him goodnight I hear Caleb say "Let's talk about wake boarding!" 

Austin doesn't love it like Caleb does. He likes it and he like doing stuff together as a family but he doesn't get the same thrill out of it that Caleb does.