Going Home--Utah 2010

Our vacation was just long enough for us to not have to rush to cram everything in, but also long enough for us to be ready to get home. We made it to Denver on the first leg of the trip. We got in too late for swimming this time. The next day we drove by Ben's corporate headquarters, where he often goes on business trips, and stopped at an outlet mall to stretch our legs a bit. When we saw that we were going to pass the "International B-24 Memorial Museum" in Pueblo, CO, we just had to stop to check it out. (You may recall that that is the plane my grandpa flew in the war, and that Ben spent 3 years creating one as an RC plane, and is currently building one again, as the first one crashed and is now splinters.)

It was rather disappointing. It didn't even have any B-24s there. At all. It did have this big plane... ...and a display about all the groups that flew B-24s, and some other aircraft, uniforms, artillery, etc. I have to say it did have a very nice, very CLEAN bathroom. I spent well over half of the time in there, with various children. (Tessa had a minor blow out--if those are ever minor; Caytie was in the middle of potty-training, and had to go three times; and Gracie and Emma just needed someone there with them.)

The last town in Colorado on the road we took was Holly. We passed it on the way there, and I regretted not stopping to take a picture, so here it is, on the way home:

We made it to Dodge City in time to go swimming. Unfortunately, every single hotel room was filled for a softball tournament that was in town. We had some sad, sad kids. We ate dinner there, and got on the road again, and the next decent place to stay was two hours away, in Not-Quite-in-the-Middle-of-Nowhere, Oklahoma. (All the Middle-of-Nowhere places were very scary!) We decided we had had enough of travelling, so we just got in the car in the morning and drove home. We made it by the afternoon. Hallelujah!

Bridal Veil Falls--Utah 2010

We went Bridal Veil Falls one day, and enjoyed the short hike, and the frigid water, and all the potential for climbing! Scott was really in heaven.

(Don't be surprised if you see a similar image on your Christmas card from us! :) )

4th (Wait...5th) of July--Utah 2010

We woke up bright and early on Monday the 5th to catch the Freedom Festival Balloon Launch in Provo. The wind had been too strong all weekend for the balloons to take off, but it was perfect on Monday. They played some "balloon games" with dropping beanbags onto targets, popping helium balloons, etc. It was very pretty, but the kids' favorite part (besides snuggling in all the blankets) may have been the breakfast from McDonald's that Grandpa provided.

Then we headed to the parade. Ben's sister Christina and her husband Justin had stayed on the street overnight to save places for everyone in the shade. I was so thankful...and actually a little chilly throughout the parade!

Watchin' the parade go by...

I thought this float was great.

That evening we went to Ben's uncle's home for dinner, birthday cake (happy birthday, Grandpa!) , and fireworks. I got to spend some more time with my brother Carl and his wife Jennie. (See, I was in Utah, too!)

My kids finally enjoyed the sparklers, and most of the other fireworks, too. (Well, all except Gracie, who refused to come outside. Maybe next year.)

I Love the Mountains--Utah 2010

We couldn't go all the way to Utah and not enjoy some of the beautiful mountains that are RIGHT THERE. We took a drive up to Squaw Peak on a windy afternoon. We were so excited to see a deer on the way up.

Gracie is the Queen of the World! I love the hair in this shot...

We also went to Canyon Glen park, where I used to go with my family as a kid when we'd visit my Utah grandparents. We played baseball, went on a little hike by the river, and enjoyed the soft, cool grass on our feet (as we stayed out of the blazing sun).

Gracie pitched to Ayden. These two became great buddies, much to everyone's surprise.

Tug-of-War: Ben against all the kids. Getting ready...

Kids pulling...

Ben's on the ground! Who knew those kids would be so strong?

Lagoon--Utah 2010

Our kids were excited to go to Lagoon with everyone (and I mean everyone--there were all siblings, spouses, fiancees, and Grandma and Grandpa--40 people in all!), but once we were there, they were less than enthusiastic to try very much. This was as adventurous as we got--Rattlesnake Rapids! They would have been happy to spend all day on the carousel. I got dizzy after one round of holding Tessa in the little bear behind Caytie. (See below)

This carousel is over 100 years old!

We got a picture of the whole family there, all decked out in old time Western clothes. (Yes, 40 of us in one picture! A very unifying experience...) We also got one of just our family. I tried to get the online link to work, but couldn't...so maybe I'll get it on here another time. Maybe not. Better yet--come to our house to see it! It's cute; I promise.

She had a birthday--shout Hooray! Utah 2010

Guess who grew up and had a birthday while we were in Utah? My Tessalicious, the sweetest baby around. We made some cupcakes to share for the occasion, that had blueberries and red stripes to look like flags. (This girl is going to have patriotic themed birthdays until she's old enough to say "Enough!") She really enjoyed her gifts, but she has yet to tell me what she would like to spend her birthday money on.

Sorry--no birthday interview for this one. :) I can tell you that she is in general a happy little girl, who enjoys the attention of her brother and sisters (for the most part) and who still really likes to be held by me or her Daddy, especially if strangers are in sight. (She got a little spoiled in the holding department on this trip to keep the crying to a minimum...) She likes to eat almost anything, especially if she can feed it to herself. She has two cute little bottom teeth that came in last month. She also said her first real word--"Boo!" She babbles other words, but she really knows that this one is part of the game of Peekaboo, and says it at the right time. She is not in a hurry to learn to walk, but that's OK--I know how fast this babyhood goes, now, especially for number 5. I'm willing to let it linger a little longer.

Fun and games--Utah 2010

We don't get to play with Utah family very often, so we packed as much in as they could. There was the Doll Fashion Show (fliers included)... Swimming in the alligator pool...

A rousing game of 'Minute to Win It" (with no pictures of me shaking a pedometer on my head or trying to eat Oreos off of my face without touching them with my hands. Too bad.)...
complete with M&M sorting. Who doesn't love M&Ms?

Getting there--Utah 2010

For our Utah Trip 2010, we decided to take a new route, and take it slow. We were really happy that we did--the scenery was so beautiful instead of so deserty (as it is on the southern route), and we (kids and adults) were much more relaxed! We left on Friday afternoon, and made it to Dodge City, Kansas a little past midnight. We decided to take a little trolly tour of the town the next day. It was pretty informative, and we learned about how it was a huge cowtown, where cowboys from all over the country would drive their cattle there to sell them. Wyatt Earp was a lawman there for a while, trying to keep some peace. Dodge City was very stinky--because it is still where people bring their cows to "fatten up" before being "processed." It's hard to see in the photo below, but there were acres and acres and ACRES of cows in these feed lots--and six processing plants in town.

After the tour, we drove until about 8 pm, and stopped in Vail, Colorado. I have always wanted to stop there, after driving through it on many trips from Tennessee to Utah and back for BYU. It was SO BEAUTIFUL. We were able to get a hotel with a heated outdoor pool, and we (meaning Ben and the kids, as I just stuck my feet in for a minute before putting the patient baby to bed) soaked in the warm water while looking up at the mountains. (It was 60 degrees outside the next morning--Scott said it felt like winter!)

The next day was our favorite part of the drive, as we went through the mountains...and also because we ARRIVED AT GRANDMA AND GRANDPA'S HOUSE!!! HOORAY! We got there just in time for Sunday dinner.

Commentary

Walking around with five children is sure to bring some stares, and many comments. I've heard most of them repeatedly--it generally starts with, "Wow, are those all yours?" and then moves to, "You sure have your hands full!" or some other variation on that theme. It doesn't really bother me, unless it is rude or all that chatting is taking my attention away from a wandering/yelling/climbing/thrashing/embarrassing child. Yes, my hands are full, but it's great, isn't it?

I got two new comments recently, and I thought I'd share...

I was at the library with all of them, starting the summer reading program. The librarian knows me and my three younger girls from story time, but hadn't met Scott and Emma. When we got our papers, she said, "Are all of these yours?" I said yes, expecting the usual follow-up. Instead she said, "You are so BLESSED!" It made my day! I said, "Yes, I am!" and went away smiling, remembering how blessed I really am to get to spend my days with five of my very favorite people on the earth, even when they are wandering/yelling/climbing/thrashing/embarrassing.

The second comment came during our very recent vacation (with a post to follow, when I have the energy for it!). We stayed at a hotel on the way home, which had free breakfast. An older gentleman came up to me as I was getting food for everyone, and said, "You two have a great looking family." I said thanks, and he said, "No fatties!" Ben and I laughed about that one for a while.

We do have full hands, and full hearts.

(Me with four fifths of my troupe waiting for Shamu)