mother's day weekend

Yesterday we drove down to Cedar City to my new son in laws parent's wonderful home for an open house. Tony's mom & dad are so great! They had a lovely open house for megan & tony. It was so nice. The happy couple got more great gifts to go in the basement until they return from their 12 week internship in the south. It was a great chance for us to get away after a couple of really busy weeks. I am sad to say that this is the only picture brett took- I took none. I am pictured out, totally sick of taking & being in pictures. It's true.

Now I have none to document our fun weekend.

Dang it.

Oh well, here is a run down of the great time we had.

*As we were getting ready to leave the missionary called- we planned on calling him from my parents house in but he called a day early. We were late getting on the road, but who cares...my missionary called from Chile!!!!! It was the first of only 3 phone calls we will get in the next 1 1/2 years until we go down to pick him up. He is great, loving missionary work, missing American chocolate (not for long), told me he cried when he found out about the wedding (sniff, sniff), but is happy & busy. He is especially hoping to get sent down to the volcano area when it calms down to help with the clean up. What an adventure that would be!! It was GREAT to talk to him. I love him & miss him but I am so happy that he is happy & I can't wait to get a package off to him this week.

*driving in the car with only 4 kids & a dog.

*stopping at DQ where everyone got to pick any one thing on the menu they wanted! Fun - just in case you are wondering...

jack- watermelon freeze float

hailey- georgia mud fudge blizzard

chloe- brownie sundae

trent- onion rings & rootbeer- Okay he got two things - spoiled.

*trent peeing on the side of the road & jack trying to talk him into walking up a little hill so everyone driving by could see. Trent didn't fall for it but brett did take a cute photo of his backside- I'm not including it even though it is funny.

*visiting with megan & tony's family & friends at the open house, then watching them open more great gifts! I'm telling you, they have a great thing going!

*Mother's day dinner with my mom & dad saturday night. Brett took us out for my mother's day present. It was super fun & the most delicious mexican food.

*grandma & grandpa taking us swimming even though it was late at their pool.

*brett set up our present for mom. A sweet little humming bird feeder. she is going to love watching the birds out her dining room window.

*sleeping in & then taking a nap on mother's day- nice- thanks mom

*grandma teaching the girls & I how to make the most delicious artisan bread. I can't wait to make some & put it on the cooking blog.

*driving home & stopping at Brittany's. Brett roughhoused with the dog then when we got back on the road he threw up on his blanket. Jack & hailey just about had heart attacks- such babies. Poor max had been in the car just a little too long this weekend.

*coming home- I love being home!

Thanks for the great weekend mom & dad!

Happy Mother's Day

Spring REcess In St. George

Friday morning we got up & into the car for a long weekend trip to St. George to visit my parents who moved there last June. We don't have spring break this year, just spring recess- Friday & MOnday off- lame. I can't believe it has taken us this long to get down there. But then we all know this has been a busy year at our house.We haven't been on a real family trip since Brian left. So... it was kind of nice just having four kids & max in the car.

They watched movies

While I napped & Brett did some work on the phone.

The view on the way to Southern Utah isn't too exciting but we decided it is way more exciting then on the way to Wyoming where the other Grandparents live. There are lots of little towns with fast food & rest areas.

Best of all in Beaver, Utah there is a cheese factory. Brett used to always stop at a cheese factory on family trips so we stopped here for some ice cream, baby swiss & sharp cheddar for Grandpa.

They had it all- and samples. Yum!

Trent was thrilled to see that they sold Jack Link's brand beef jerky!!

(notice the thrilled look on his face?)

We love Jack Link's commercials & watch them on Youtube all the time. So funny.

These two cuties were waiting for us!

After lunch we went to an art show downtown. It was great. There were local artists, live music & more.

St. George has the most beautiful historic district with a lovely water place for kids to play in. Trent who of course, threw a big fit & didn't want to go- loved it.

Chloe & Grandma made a hat in the kids craft area.

Cute stuff!

Trent was soaking wet before we left. It was at least 75 degrees. It felt GREAT!!

It has been so long since we have had nice warm weather- we LOVED IT.

Grandma & Grandpa have a pool house.

The kids had a ball.

While Grandma practiced for the Easter Sacrament meeting Trent kept her going sneaking over...

and hitting...

keys that shouldn't be played. (notice the tiny fingers on the bottom left of the photo?) It's a good thing Grandma is a good sport.

We played cards with them both. They taught us a new game called Golf. As you can see- we're all hooked.

Saturday morning after shopping - we found wedding clothes for Hailey, Chloe & Jack- score- we went to Zions National Park. It was gorgeous & so much fun.

We parked below the park & took the shuttle in to see everything.

The shuttles were great. They had a taped tour you listened to while watching some of the most amazing scenery on the planet.

Riding the bus was a big thrill for Trent.

Seeing sights like this in person was a thrill for the rest of us.

Of course the tour guide had many interesting facts to tell that kept Trent in constant amazement.

The kids, Brett & Grandpa hiked up to the three pools.

This is the lower pool.
Grandma & I stayed down below where the most amazing thing happened. I ran into my good friend, one of the amazing cooking blogger moms who I go to lunch with every month, Karrie. I had no idea she was going to Zions- nor did she have any idea I was going. She is so sweet & had brought me two boxes of girls scout cookies just the day before we left- thin mints & samoas, our favorite. I didn't get a picture of them because they were gone so fast. I didn't have my camera with me since Brett had taken it up the hike. What a great surprise.

I wish these pictures did the park justice, they just don't.

It was magnificent.

These cliffs are well over 300 feet high. I wish I remembered some of the facts... I do but I bet I would get them wrong so I am just a little too nervous to type them out.

We saw a climber- crazy. He/She was just a little speck way up the cliff- AMAZING.

I bet it's really fun to be there when all the leaves are on the trees. I think we had a better view with out them.

View from inside the bus- I loved the huge windows, there were even window's on the roof so you didn't miss any of the spectacular view.

My folks & I.

Now you know where I get my good looks!

(jack trying to look rowdie like trent- he turned his hat so they would look like brotha's)

We had the best time.

It was a real treat to get out of the winter weather (only 48 degrees in our town) and get to spend some real quality time with Grandma & Grandpa.

The ride home wasn't too bad. We left the wedding clothes, I guess we had to leave something.

Severe bed head kept us laughing the whole way back.

some of the highlights I didn't get pictures of...

Easter Sacrament meeting at G & Grandpa's church.

Delicious Easter dinner & card game with the WEaver's friends from growing up in Seattle who live down here too.
Thanks for such a great time MOm & DAd. We'll see you next month for the wedding open house in Cedar City!

*do you have spring break or spring recess?

*have you ever been to Zions?

* do you like girl scout cookies?

*learn more about Zion's National Park here.