Summer Vacation

My side of the family had a family reunion in Idaho over July 4th weekend. We kept wavering back and forth of whether or not we should go from many different reasons. Then the week before we were supposed to leave I started having contractions (way to early) and they got more and more severe so we decided not to go. Then I got on medication which seemed to help so about 36 hours before we needed to leave we decided to go for sure and make a full vacation out of it. Needless to say we were gone for 9 days and are sure glad to be home. It was a really fun time and I'll spare you each and every detail and just post the high-lights. One problem though...the man in charge left the first CD of pictures in Utah with family so I only have pictures of the second half of the trip. For journaling purposes I'll give a quick account of the adventure.

Friday July 3rd: Car is packed and ready to head out by 8:30am. We're all loaded up and the man in charge attempts to start to car...no such luck. He fixes the problem and we're off. But wait!!!! First the man announces that he has to make a few stops for work, the boys did not like to hear that. I tried to remind them that if it wasn't for Papi's work we wouldn't be going on this vacation. Three episodes of Star Wars and 10 hours later we arrive in Centerville Utah to stay at the mans Grandpa's house.

Saturday July 4th: (I love this holiday btw) We head off to Idaho...but wait the car won't start again...problem fixed again by head of household and we're off. One more movie, naps and 3.5 hours later we arrive at the already happening family reunion in Rexburg Idaho. Enjoyed the nice weather and 4th celebrations then headed to the hotel, well motel. Not to many hotels in Rexburg.

Sunday July 5th: The car starts!!! It's a Sunday miracle! We head back over to cousins house for Testimony meeting then off to lunch, pack everything back up and head 1hr north to Island Park, Idaho. Staying at Macks Inn...if you have kids, especially boys this is like heaven for them. Individual cabins right on the snake river, dirt, big climbing trees, a fun playground and a huge river to play in. The river is really shallow where we were staying so I gave the boys a bucket and shovel and they were entertained on the shore for two days. Not to mention the cabins have kitchens in them so you can cook your own food and never have to leave the place. One of the days we rented a quad with a couple of my sisters and #1 and a blast riding around on that. The next day 11 of us rented a big raft and took a five mile float trip down the river. The kids seemed to really like that too. They played and played with their cousins and enjoyed themselves way to much. (Again...no pictures)

Wednesday July 8th: Packed everything up and headed back to Centerville to enjoy the sites in Salt Lake. On our way there we stopped by the Hill Aerospace Museum and the boys were enthralled with all the aircraft and memorabilia not to mention it was totally free so that made it extra nice. We arrive in Centerville head out to dinner with the grandparents and then try to put the kids to bed when it's still totally light outside...Day light savings...not good when bed time is normally 8pm NOT 10pm.

Thursday July 9th: We head out to Bingham Copper Mine...again an ideal place for little boys. They got to watch the people work live and see how the largest open pit mine in the world functions. Pretty cool. From there we headed to head honcho's great great Aunts house to say hello and introduced the boys to their great, great, great aunt for the second time. Temple Square was next on the list but due to time we were only able to visit the Joseph Smith Memorial Building but we were able to see the movie they have playing there and both boys actually sat through the entire thing and really enjoyed it...especially the violent parts! (Typical Boys) This is where the new disc of pictures starts.

This is the boys with a statue of Joseph Smith...(duh, like I needed to explain that)
Looking out from the top of the Building (Trying to get #2 to smile and look at the camera at the same time is nearly impossible)

Friday July 9th: Our plan was to wake up early and head out... didn't quite happen that way. Pack up take pictures with their great grandpa:and one of them showing brotherly love...

and leave for St. George but first we make what was meant to be a quick pit stop again in Salt Lake that turned into a 4.5 hour visit of the sites. Part of the long pit stop was due to our tour of the conference center. Our tour guide was great yet a little long winded. The tour was about 1.5 hours long...despite the length the boys did pretty good and didn't seem to notice the time.

On the roof of the conference center at the end of the VERY long tour.

Next we went to lunch at a great little cafe on the main floor of the Joesph Smith memorial building. I had the absolute best chicken salad sandwich with a cranberry-orange glaze that I've ever eaten. That made the day worth it. Then it was off to the Visitor's Center at the Salt Lake Temple.

The boys loved going there and doing all the interactive things they have for kids and families. We enjoyed seeing the sites all around Temple Square and especially enjoyed the spirit that was felt. I think this trip had a great impact on our little monkeys. Again loaded in the car to head to St. George but not before making another pit stop in Provo. This stop was strictly for me. And head honcho was great in just going along with it. I had to do it...I stopped by The Sweet Tooth Fairy:
Home of the VaNIElla Cupcakes and I picked up my very own
VaNIElla cupcake...which by the way really is to die for!
I also just had to taste a few others...
I felt I had to do this in honor of Nie.

Finally we arrive in St. George spend the night in a fun Hotel, swim, have a great breakfast visit with head honcho's dad for a little while, pick up my niece and all her stuff (the van was PACKED poor girl and to ride the six hour drive home with basically a spare car seat from my other sister sitting on her head) We planned on stopping at the Grand Canyon on the way home but due to the fact of the overloaded van and over tired kids and swollen and sore mom...

we decided to skip the Grand Canyon and come home to our very cool and pleasant weather. (Not) I'm really hoping my swollen legs and feet are due to sitting in the same position for so long and not because of the delicious cupcakes I enjoyed the day before. (Just kidding...or am I?) Oh my...I can't wait to see what the doctors scale says after a very pleasant vacation!