Family Vacation

***The trip to Utah and our stay with Shannon and family***

We did it. We went on a long, over due family vacation and loved every minute of it! (well, almost) We headed out Thursday afternoon and stayed in Cedar City. The boys thought it was SO fun to sleep in the same bed together. I didn't have my camera ready that night, but I for sure got pictures in our hotel on the way home. 

We stopped in Provo and spent some time on our old stompin' grounds. We ate at the Wilk and visited one of the professors Bry did research for. Oh I miss that campus. It is so beautiful!

Next we went to J-Dawgs of course. Bry had a hankerin' for their polish dog. They are so good! We even bought a huge bottle of their sauce to bring home with us! Yum-a-lum! The boys spend time rolling down the grassy hill while Bry went and got the car to pick us up so we didn't have to hike back up through campus.

On our way out we stopped at Clayton and Dani's for a little play time. Our poor kids were SO tired, but I was glad we could stop in for a few minutes. It was so cute to see Maylee and Maddox play together. They are only a month apart!!!!

We finally arrived in Mendon Friday evening and the kids couldn't be more excited. We played and played until the sun went down...which isn't until about 10 PM up there! They played baseball, looked a the garden, checked out the sheep, played upstairs and then finally crashed. Rylee loved to hold Maylee and she had the perfect little spot for her in her little arms. All my kids got so much attention and had a ton of fun playing.

Maylee was so sweet and actually went to people other than me which was nice. Carter and Drew loved all the toy weapons and were a big fan of "killing" their cousins and having them be "zombies". On Saturday Bry got up early and went golfing with Ethan. That afternoon we went to the park and had sandwiches and played more baseball and soccer. Later on everyone except napping Maylee and me went shooting up in the mountain.

There was lots of time spent with guitars, little guitar (violin), and the piano.

Shan's kids remember Drew when he was really little...and I think they forget how big he is getting! He was always on someone's lap...even Rylee "held" him a time or two! Drew sure did love the attention!

I attempted church with the three kids since Bry was feeling under the weather. I sat down with the kids and decided I was not feeling super duper either. I left Drew with Shannon and he had a blast with his cousins in their classes. The little ones came home and took naps while Bry and I rested.

We made a trip to see Megan, their horse. We actually made two trips. When we first got there we were swarmed by mosquitos so we loaded back in the car to get bugspray and went back. Oh that horse is beautiful! I loved watching my big sister ride her out in the field on the horse. Shannon looked amazing. Ethan took Carter and Drew out for a ride and they loved it. We even got Maylee to see "Megan" when they were done riding. She loved the horse. I didn't ride since the another horse kicked Aly when she was riding and the other horses were running crazy when Cody was riding. I decided to pass on that one...

 

On the Fourth of July we went to the lake with the family and some of their friends who have boats. Drew was VERY into the boats and was SO excited to go on a "speed boat" he so enthusiastically called it. Drew spent a lot of time by the water while Carter mostly played in the rocky sand. Maylee was adored by family and friends. She was such a trooper and even let other people hold her (as long as I was not in her line of sight)! I actually got out on one the raft things with Shannon. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I was not so worried about falling off. The idea of being out in that big lake...in the water....really scared me. We never fell off though so that was nice! Maylee fell asleep while riding the choppy water with her huge life jacket on and in the arms of a stranger. It was so sweet. Carter stayed curled up on my lap covered in towels trying to nap and stay dry.

 

 

We left the lake a little before everyone in hopes to get a little rest time in before the BBQ and fireworks. We headed to a neighbor's house for the fun! Well, it would have been fun if Maylee didn't throw up on the patio where everyone was chatting and eating. Needless to say I rushed her back to the house only to find she had thrown up in her bed too and I had no idea! Poor little lady. Bry and traded off with her at the house. The boys thought the idea of the fireworks was fun until they heard the noise and I shuffled them back in the house too. It was a busy, but very fun day!

I am SO glad we had the time to spend together a family and with Shannon's family. We love Utah and have missed it so much. It was nice to be able to just play outside and relax!!!!