Utah Trip

In mid-July my sister Emily flew to my house from Chicago. She spent a couple days here in California with us - we went to the beach, of course - and then Todd took off for his two-week Army training and Emily helped me drive the kids out to Utah. It was tons of fun to see Emily (it had been 14 months) and get to hang out with her sans husbands so we could make each other our #1 for a while like old times. I wish we lived closer.

Along the drive, we visited Todd in Sacramento and played in a helicopter, then stopped at the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield. We spent the night in Reno and drove the rest of the way the next day.

We stayed at my parents' house in Smithfield. We went shopping and made jewelry and talked fashion and hairstyles. A neighbor invited us to come pick cherries off his tree. All of my siblings gathered for the weekend and we had a reunion. I can't even remember the last time all six of us were together. It's been years. Friday night we made dutch oven dinner (Southwest chicken) and cherry pie and spent the whole evening talking, laughing, reminiscing... It felt like Christmas being all together again. Saturday we went up to Tony Grove, a gorgeous spot in the mountains we traditionally camped at all growing up. We hiked around the lake and roasted hot dogs and s'mores over a campfire.
There was still snow in a couple spots! Brr.. . Hazel was thrilled. We visited my Grandma Holley and my Grandma and Grandpa Bingham. I loved having the chance to see them all. It had been a long time since I'd last seen them - 14 months (Scott and Caprice's wedding).

I went to the Salt Lake LDS Temple and had a wonderful, uplifting experience. I need to go to the temple more often.My mom watched my kids while I was inside the temple. Hazel spent the whole time playing in the fountains at the Conference Center. When I came back I found her dipping her whole head in the water. She was drenched and delighted.The next day Mom and I took the kids to the Heritage West Pioneer Center south of Logan. It was a huge hit! Hazel learned how pioneers used to wash their clothes.
She gathered chicken eggs.We visited a blacksmith shop and a woodworker's shop. And Hazel rode a pony. I was completely blown away. I thought she'd be too scared to even get on, but it was quite the opposite: she refused to get off when the ride was over! I left my kids with my parents while I went to Belize with Todd (next post!). They were completely spoiled. Jack cut a tooth, ate a ton, and learned to pull up to standing at furniture while I was gone. I missed him so much I thought my heart would break. None of their neighbors have fences in their yard, so Hazel had free reign to all their playground equipment and trampolines.

My parents set up a play station in the kitchen that kept Hazel happily occupied for hours at a time. It had a kitchen cupboard with dishes, a child-sized picnic table, and a gorgeous dollhouse my Grandpa Holley built. (They're watching fireworks on the roof.)

Mom made her a dress-up dress that she has worn every single day since.

And my parents took the kids to a parade.

(I stole almost all these photos from my mom. A couple are from my phone. I need to be so much better about getting my camera out!)