Utah

I never would have thought that I would be in such a similar situation as my parents were when they lived in Arizona. (All of our family in Utah besides a brother in Southern California (even with the mom’s side in Holladay and dad’s side in Kaysville!) It was so fun and nostalgic to escape the heat and relive my annual summer trips to Utah through my kid’s eyes this week - playing at my grandma Wirthlin’s home where my parents now live, swimming and looking for forts at my grandma and papa’s house, driving up to Kaysville to play with cousins, making a trip up to Logan that is filled with so many family memories and traditions, and enjoying the beautiful Utah outdoors! Utah summers are magical and I’m so grateful that we were able to go! (And wish that Spencer could have come too! We missed him!)
We flew up on a Wednesday afternoon - I have mastered the art of getting through security and getting on a plane with 4 backpacks, 1 purse, and three kids all by myself. I consider this my greatest talent ;)

Kate woke up the first night but other than that she slept like a baby ;) All the heart eyes for my sleeping baby!




On Thursday, we drove to Stansbury Park to see my brother and sister-in-laws new house. They have a lake down the street from their house and my kids loved swimming in the nasty water with their cousins and trying to catch fish ;)

My Grandma Wirthlin was in Holladay for the day so we got to hang out with her for a bit when we got back.

Then we went swimming at my grandma and grandpa's house and ate popsicles afterwards.
 
 
 
 
 Papa tells the best stories :)
 
 
 
 
 Thursday morning, I took Jack hiking and then we headed to Kaysville for the day to play with cousins.

 Neff's Canyon is gorgeous and I can't believe that my parents are only 10 minutes away from the trail head!
 
 Jack insisted on hiking with this cowboy hat! haha



Then we went on a walk with everyone.
 
 Jack and David love playing Mario Kart and watching all of the youtube videos of rollercoasters that Isaac showed them! Isaac had already given them a virtual tour of Lagoon before we went later in the week! haha
 
Jack and David got to have a boy cousin sleepover on Friday night and they were THRILLED about it. They had a blast!

I woke up early on Saturday morning so I could go mountain biking with my dad up Milcreek Canyon. It was a blast! There is something so thrilling to me about biking - I don't care if I'm road biking, mountain biking, or on a beach cruiser - biking makes me feel so alive :)



Kate and I drove to South Jordan later that morning for Spencer's grandma's 80th birthday party. We played at a splash pad and then had lunch at Spencer's uncle's home.



They gave me these pictures of Spencer! The first one looks a lot like David to me!


 A sign of a fun filled weekend!

 When they woke up from their naps, we went swimming again at my grandparents!
 
 
 After church on Sunday, I hiked Neff's Canyon with my mom and dad. My mom turned around after 30 minutes to go back and help with my kids but my dad and I kept going to the end of the trail. It was STEEP and 7 miles round trip!







That evening we went to my grandparent's house for my aunt's birthday. The kids had fun hunting for snails and forts!
 
 
This picture of Kate kills me!

On Monday, we went to Lagoon with Isaac and my mom!
 
Isaac was excited to take me on all of the roller coasters :) It turns out that roller coasters make me sick in my old age ;) After 5 roller coasters, I had a big headache and we went back to go on the kiddie rides with my mom and kids. That night, every time I closed my eyes to go to sleep it felt like I was going up-side-down on a roller coaster! It was awful. Isaac and I bonded over rollercoasters and selfies ;) (Just kidding, he hated the selfies and I hated the extreme roller coasters ;)


 

Kate did so good for such a long, hot, day!






My mom did good for such a long, hot day too :) They even got power naps in!
 
 Jack and David had a blast!

 
 
 
 Kate was a little traumatized by this ride but she quickly recovered!

 
 
 On the way out, we ran into my sister-in-law and her family and my father-in-law!


Here's a little video of my boys on the roller coasters!

On Tuesday, we went up to Logan for the day. We ate Fredrico's with my cousin and her new husband, bought new Aggie t-shirts at the bookstore, ate Aggie ice cream, played at Merlin Olsen Park, and stopped at Maddox on the way home.

We stopped at the Admissions office and saw me and my mom's ambassador pictures.



Jack was thrilled when he found out that he was already a True Aggie!

I blogged about Jack's True Aggie night here. (Long story short - we dragged our infant out of bed at midnight to make him a True Aggie. That is what happens when college kids have babies ;)



Kate threw a little tantrum on the Quad!


My grandma grew up in the cutest little house!

Park photo dump:












That evening, the kids played lacrosse with Elizabeth.


Their Mount Olympus view is amazing and it glows at sunset!

On Wednesday, my dad and I went mountain biking one last time, we went up Milcreek Canyon for lunch with my grandparents, then we headed to the airport.


We had such a great time in Utah and my parents completely spoiled us.