The Best One Yet!

I have to say that this trip home to Utah was probably our best yet!  We had so much fun, and it was all perfectly organized...the first four days with my family, the last four with Nate's.

We took off on Friday, July 8th after Nate worked half the day.  It was a long drive, and poor Bridger was not havin it!  He's never been in the car for very long trips, and has an extremely hard time falling asleep in the car.  He loves his bed!

We got to my mom's house around 11p.m. and went right to bed.  On Saturday morning we just relaxed and let the kids play outside.  My mom filled up a swimming pool for them and got out some water balloons.  It was great!  They really enjoyed the balloons!

Bridger didn't play in the pool, but he had fun sitting outside with us.  Chewing on my mom's thumb!

Bridger loved Scrappy!  

Later, my mom and I took the kids to the park to play.

They brought their scooters along with them and after playing on the playground for a while we went for a walk.  They had been eyeing a skate park that wasn't far from the playground so we went to check it out....

Brynlee and Gracen were pretty brave and really liked riding down this ramp.  It was really hot out, so we didn't last long.  Then Gracen and Brynlee found the drinking fountain and thought it was fun to play in the water.

That night, my mom watched the kids and Nate and I went out on a date with my sister and her fiance, Cordell.  We headed down to Ogden to the Junction and started out the night with a rock climbing wall.  

WAY harder than it looks!  I thought it would be easier...not so much!   After attempting a few climbs, we decided to take a break and have dinner.  We went to Iggy's to eat and then back to climbing.  I finally figured it out and was able to make it to the top once!   Nate couldn't help but tease me and my wimpy ways, but by the time I got the hang of it, I just didn't have the strength to get to the top more than once.  Sadly, there were little children there that were just zooming up the wall over and over.  

It was great spending time out with Nate, Amy, and Cordell!  

Sunday was a relaxing day that ended with a bbq at my sister's house.  My family was all there, good food, good company, it doesn't get much better than that!

Monday we rode the front runner(commuter train) down to Salt Lake with my mom, my sister, and my niece Shyley. 

Brynlee and Shyley

My mom and sister, Amy.

 We went to Discovery Gateway.  Brynlee and Gracen loved it!

We ate lunch at California Pizza Kitchen...yum!  Then took the kids over to the fountain to play.  

Gracen crashed on the ride back!

We ended the day at a Raptors game (baseball) with my Sister and her family!  It was a blast, and Gracen was a huge fan!  He loved it!

Tuesday we packed up and headed down to meet up with my good friend Kassie.  It was great to see her and her family!  I grew up spending lots of time with Kassie.  She and her family are just like family to me!   Nate met up with one of his good friends for lunch while Kass and I took our kiddos to a splash pad to play.  That night we went over to Kassie's sister Stephanie's house for dinner.  As always, it was so good to spend time with them!  

We spent that night at my sisters house, which ended the 4 days I had planned.  

Wednesday morning we were off to spend time with Nate's family!  Every year they go on a family camping trip and this is the first time in about 4 years that we'd been able to go.  They've been going up to Lava Hot Springs for a couple years now.  We stayed at a great campground, Big Springs, with lots of trees and plenty of space for all the kids to ride bikes and play!  

On Thursday we went to Lava to go swimming!  It was great there.  We all enjoyed being in the water, but the kids were especially having fun!  Gracen and Brynlee both had on their life jackets and after a while Gracen got brave and quick.  He was found just a few feet away from us flirting with some teenage girls.  This boy is Trouble!!  He was just loving it!  Brynlee did great too!  She even attempted the small slide a couple of times.  Bridger loved the water!  He just floated in a tube (when I wasn't holding him) and splashed around.  

Friday was fishing day!!  The guys and some of the kids (which included Brynlee and Gracen) got up early and headed out to Chesterfield Reservoir to fish on Grandpa's boat.  The rest of us met up with them later in the morning.  Brynlee and Gracen had fun fishing they both got to catch a couple fish.  Gracen caught a big fish!  It was about 20" and he was pretty excited about it!

We went and visited Old Chesterfield and bought a few penny candies at the old store.  Later that day, Brynlee gave in to cousin pressure and taught herself how to ride a bike!  She was so excited that she figured it out, and I was so excited that we didn't have to teach her!  She just got it, and it didn't take long!  

One of the few pictures I have.  A walk up to Big Springs.

We really enjoyed this camping trip!  It was so fun to be with almost all of Nate's family. (We missed the Gerritsens!)  The kids all played so well together.  Brynlee and Gracen always look forward to seeing their Grandma and Grandpa Thompson and playing with their cousins!

Saturday night we drove down to Springville/Mapleton where we spent the evening visiting his Grandma and Grandpa Thompson and Grandma Fackrell.  We enjoyed being able to see them and spend time with them.  We are grateful that our kids have the opportunity to know their great grandparents, and feel blessed to have them in our lives!

Brynlee and Gracen playing in the tree and tire swing at Great Grandma and Grandpa Thompson's house.  

Sunday was the dreaded ride home...other than some terrible traffic near Vail, Colorado, a huge rock chip in our windshield, and Nate and Gracen getting stuck in the men's bathroom at a gas station, the trip went better than I had anticipated.  Bridger figured out how to sleep in the car seat and didn't cry much at all!  

I just love our family!  We had such a great time and enjoyed every minute we got to spend with everyone!  Even though it was a short visit...it may have been the best one yet!