Vacation within a vacation

While we were in Utah, Eric had a week off of work, so we decided to live it up! We were going to spend a few days with my Uncle Steve and Aunt Carol at Island Park, but they had to cancel last minute, so we were up to our own devices. We had already booked a motel in Idaho Falls, so we decided to still head up there and then see where the road took us. Luckily, we have really great friends who have really great parents and they offered us their cabin by Greys River, about 45 mins. out of Alpine, WY. It made for a WAY better vacation than anything we would have come up with. But first, Idaho Falls...

Our zoo pass was reciprical with Idaho Falls Zoo, so we decided that it was a must do. Who can pass up free? The zoo was really small and really smelly at times, but it had some neat animals that we don't have at our local zoo.

The monkeys were by far the best (and the stinkiest!). They had several different kinds that were close enough to see and they were quite entertaining. We stayed at one window for a long time watching a baby monkey pull, pester, and jump on all the other monkeys. Kind of reminded us of Ian!

The kids really enjoyed brushing and petting the goats.

The "nest" ended up being one of the most entertaining things there. I'm not exactly sure why, but the kids loved it. They spent a lot of time playing in it.

I even got to "hatch" them. Good times!

After the zoo we met up with my Uncle Brent and Aunt Hevenlee at their house for dessert. Brewster, Jade, and their spouses came also. They had way more dessert than my poor little post-IHOP belly could handle, but I did my best! It may have been what prompted my Aunt to ask if anyone in the family was expecting.... We had a really nice visit and I'm so glad we were able to go.

On the way to Alpine from Idaho Falls we were told that we had to stop for the traditional square ice cream. Whoever thought to buy a square ice cream scoop was a genius. It's amazing how the shape can up the price so much, but the kids thought it was really cool.

The Scherbel's cabin was perfect! It was exactly what I wanted for a vacation. Running water and electricity with no one else around. Awww.... Kassie's parents were wonderful. They drove the hour and a half from their house to haul up four wheelers for us and let us in, then went back home to wait until they had to drive all the way back up to bring everything back home. They even provided towels, bedding, and all sorts of other camping accessories for us. Packing and unpacking is bad enough when you have the fun in the middle. They did it all for us without any of the perks. Great people!

We decided we wanted to roast hot dogs and marshmallows the first night, so we told Ashlyn to get to rubbing sticks - we needed a fire. She immediately obeyed and worked very diligently at her task.

Thankfully Isaac came along with some matches!

The mountains were so green and beautiful.

One of my favorite things to do in the mountains is build forts. Luckily the kids liked the idea and after some hard work and some compromises on my part (why can't they see my vision?!?), we had the best fort ever.

But by FAR, the kid's favorite thing to do was ride the four wheelers. They had a perfect field by the cabin where the boys rode and rode and rode.

They thought they were pretty big stuff.

I thought they looked like pretty small stuff on those big four wheelers!

One morning we went out exploring, Eric and I driving, with two kids each. We had a lot of fun spotting all the deer and wildlife, but were super excited when we spotted a moose.

Some of the roads were a little tricky, but we all came out alive!

We would stop and hike every now and again. There was a trail we really wanted to hike up, but this creek went right over it. There had been record snowfall, so there was a lot of water running swift and high. We never took a picture of the river, but it had no bank in most places. This little creek was running quite swiftly and was deeper than it looks. I wasn't about to cross it.

Trail or no trail, we were all loving the outdoors. We played around the creek for awhile until we found a fairly fresh bear track, then decided we should move along. That happened the night before, too, only that time it was a mountain lion track and our four wheelers were further away. I picked up a big stick for our walk down...

I thought Ian and Ashlyn would get tired of riding after a short while, but we were gone for over three hours and never heard a single complaint. I think Ian could have gone another three hours. He loved it! Eric showed him which button to push to shift and he became the official shifter. He got it right every time. We thought it was pretty impressive.

When Ian wasn't on a four wheeler, we'd find him in the garage on the tractor - if he could get in. Regardless of his poor broken heart, we kept the garage closed most of the time!

When we weren't enjoying the beautiful countryside, we read books, watched movies, played games, ate, and just loved being together. Thanks again, Scherbels, for making it all happen. We had a WONDERFUL time!

A little bit of BIG

Ian has officially decided that he's one of the big kids. He trucks around like he's king of the world and keeps us all laughing a good portion of the day. His most important duty, that he takes very seriously, is watering the garden every morning. He wakes up way too early these days, but if I try to ignore him and sleep on the couch, the morning goes south really fast. I learned that if we head out to the yard first thing we have a much better day.

Ian is not a fan of big swimming pools, but big puddles he loves! I'm slowly working him into bigger waters, but until then - thank goodness for monsoons!

These last few days we've been running him ragged. He's been missing his morning nap completely, and we really haven't even given him the opportunity for catnaps in the car. He just couldn't keep his eyes open for lunch. I think this might be the first time he's fallen asleep in his highchair. Poor tired baby! Of course we got a few laughs out of all his head bobs and "nobody's home" smiles.

He sure is a fun kid!

Happy Fourth!

Happy Fourth of July! We decided we should start the day's celebrations with a family bike ride. HOT - but worth it!

Eric had found some jumps in the desert out by our house that he wanted to take the boys to. After riding a few miles, taking a few breaks, and chugging lots of water, we found some jumps. Not the ones we were looking for, but fun all the same.

Eric showing the boys how it's done.

They were pretty excited to get some air with their front tires.

I was pretty excited to not fall off my bike! I don't have the bravest of hearts when it comes to these things.

Ian was loaded in the trailer most of the time, but managed to "smile and point" a ride out of his dad.

Ashlyn started out on her bike, but after only half a block, we decided to park it and throw her in the trailer, too. She didn't mind so long as she got out every now and again to play.

It was pretty exhausting! And did I mention HOT? Luckily we had popsicles waiting at home for us!

That evening we invited a few families over for hamburgers and fireworks. There were ten adults and twenty kids. A little chaotic, but a lot of fun!

Ashlyn was terrified of the fireworks last year, so it was a big deal for her to light one this year. She agreed only if Eric would swoop her away as soon as it was lit.

I was too busy enjoying the party to take very many pictures.

Here are all the kids, minus two.

We are so thankful for the country that we live in, for the freedoms we enjoy, and especially for the men and women who sacrifice their lives to secure these things for us. Happy Independence Day!

Salt Lake City

Finally! My in-laws were coming and I was leaving - for a whole week! Just me and Eric, all by ourselves, with no whining, crying, demanding, wiping, you know, the usual. A trip to SLC was just what I needed and I was ready to go. As anxious as I was to go and see Eric and have a little freedom, I was surprised by the sudden attack of separation anxiety I was having. You'd think since it had just been me and the kids all day every day for the last two months that I'd be jumping on my airplane without a glance back, but I have to admit that it was a little lonely eating my sandwich and reading my book all by myself in the airport. My eyes got watery several times and I hoped I would be able to make it through the week. After all, between all the whining, etc., there was a lot of hugging, playing, laughing, tickling, whomping, and plain ol' good conversation (well at least as good as it gets at this age), too. I kept waiting for the couple next to me on the plane to ask me all about my family, because I was ready to fill our trip with the exciting details of my four children, but I couldn't draw them out. I tried and failed. But don't worry, I managed to shove my phone in their face as we were getting off the airplane to show them a picture of our recent egg coloring. They didn't ask to see it, but I could tell it's what they wanted more than anything. :) I think they were just shy...:)


However, most of my anxiety left me when I got to baggage claim and there was Eric with my suitcase and a beautiful bouquet of tulips. It was soooo good to see him in real life! Skype is wonderful, but nothing is as good as the real thing.

He started my vacation out with dinner at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. The view was so fabulous! We had to keep switching seats so we could each have turns with the best shot of the temple. SOOOO pretty! He then took me to a concert at the tabernacle by the Temple Square Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square. Eric leaned over to me and asked if the choir was like the farm team for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Right after that the announcer said that this was the practice choir - those trying out and the first years - of Motab. Kind of funny!

The next morning was Easter morning and we went to "Music and the Spoken Word" with the real Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It was pretty amazing. The prophet was even there. He was way up front and I was way in the back, but when he waved, I'm sure he was looking right at me. :) Another resident working in Salt Lake for a few months invited us for Easter dinner, and with a nap in between, it was a great day!

The rest of the week was just nice. Eric still had to work during the day, but I would wander around and sightsee or hunker down and read (it snowed!) and then we would play when he got home at night. One of the best parts was going and doing as we pleased and staying out as late as we wanted. "Want dessert before we head home?" "Sure! We're not paying a babysitter!" Wednesday evening Eric drove me to Provo to meet up with my sisters for Women's Conference. It was WONDERFUL! It's nice to check out from real life every now and again and receive the motivation to check back in!

We drove home Friday night, but even that wasn't too bad. Kimberly didn't trust me to drive and Cari shoved me in the back because I was younger, so I stretched out and slept the whole way. Travel is much better with them than my kids!

I had such a great week and was so excited to see my kids when I got home. They thrived, my in-laws survived and I came home rested, rejuvenated, and ready to take on the world. Thanks again, Bill and Debbie!

Sorry no pictures - they're stuck on my phone and I left my camera at home...

While I was away...

I saw my in-laws for a whole 10 minutes on my way out of town. I picked them up at the airport and then they kicked me to the curb. I'd written an extensive list of activities, lessons, food preferences, entertainment options, etc., etc., and hoped that it would be enough, because I was out of there! Ashlyn had thrown up a couple of times that morning, but was acting totally fine the rest of the time, so I thought it was nothing (she semi-often does weird things like that) - kissed them all good bye and wished Bill and Debbie 'good luck.' Unfortunately, it wasn't "nothing" and my list was flushed down the toilet, along with everyone else's lunch. Ashlyn did fairly well the rest of that day, but it hit everyone but my father-in-law, one by one (and at one point 3 - Isaac, Carter, and Debbie). I've been told that my father-in-law deserves a medal of honor for courageously holding down the fort. I still haven't gotten many details about their week, but I was left some pictures to enjoy.

The sick room

After recovery, I think these next two pictures were taken to prove that the kids actually did some of their duties (or in Carter's case - doodies!:)) Gotta love the pooper scooper!

Whatever went on, I'm pretty sure Ian was the main entertainment. I was so proud when I saw the picture in the dryer. Although annoying now, he'd been working up the courage for some time to go in, but could never quite talk himself into it. Nana turned her back and when she turned back around, there he was!

Shoes are his thing these days.

Nana and Ashlyn had a girl's day out on the town. They went shopping and out to lunch. Ashlyn came back as a beautiful bride.

Instead of waking up early to make it to the airport (they flew in and out of Phoenix) when it was time to go, they took the kids to a hotel to have some fun. They loved the swimming and who can resist watching TV in a hotel room? Wait...someone's missing. Where's Ian?

Oh, there he is!

The kids loved having Nana and Papa there. There's no one they'd rather have clean up their puke than their grandparents! :) It wasn't exactly the visit that my in-laws had imagined it would be, but they were troopers and are VERY much appreciated!