Spring Break Part 2 - Southern Utah

Spring Break. Part One - Northern Utah

It didn't take us long to figure out what to do for our Spring Break this year.  Two of Kermit's nephews were engaged to be married one weekend apart with our week of Spring Break in between.  One wedding in Provo, UT the other in St. George, UT.  We booked our tickets immediately.   We were so excited for both of them and so excited that we could finally take our kids to see Northern Utah for the first time.

We flew into Salt Lake on Friday afternoon and had a few hours before we had to be down to Provo so we took the kids to see beautiful Temple Square.  We walked all around the grounds and told them all about the day we got married there almost 15 years ago. We went inside the old tabernacle and to the new conference center.  I hope that the girls will remember that day.  I wish we had more time to linger but we had to get to Provo for a dinner for cousin Elliot and his bride to be, Valerie.

 (Just enjoying the view of the most beautiful temple ever….)

 Elliot and Val were married in the Provo Temple.  Here are pictures from just after the wedding.

I think Elliot found himself a great gal!  I had a chance to visit with her a couple of times and I really like her.  Welcome to the family Valerie!

After the wedding and before the reception we had a few hours to spend.  We ended up going to BYU Museum of Art.  The special exhibit we saw was incredible!  It was called Sacred Gifts.  Amazing paintings of Christ from all over the world…some famous artists, some not. All just breathtaking.  I don't like to use the word "breathtaking" because I think it sounds silly but in this instance I cannot think of a more appropriate word.  I definitely felt the Spirit as I went through this exhibit and I think all of my family did too. You should go.  It is there until Memorial Day, so not much time.  Hop to it!

We also went to a favorite restaurant called Bombay House with the wedding party for lunch.  YUM!  A good time was had by all!

Then we got to see our very favorite Michele and Daniel! Hooray! Love these two.  We got to visit with them at their house in Provo.  Michele put together a cute little Easter Egg hunt for the girls.  We got to see their very cool house that they have remodeled.  They have great modern taste.  We also decided to take a drive up Provo Canyon to see a cute little park there so the kids could run around.  So much fun to see them. We wish they didn't have to live so far away.

 Finally was the reception that night!  (What a day!)  This is about all I got as far as pictures at the reception but all had a great time.  The food was all prepared by Elliot and Val and was fantastic!  The music was fun, the company great.  The kids played hide and seek and had themselves a blast among the crowds of Elliot and Valerie well wishers.   Below is cousin Emma with the girls.

At some point that day we also drove around BYU and let the kids play by a creek by the bell tower.  I think it was that morning before the wedding.  Yes, that was it.  Baby ducks and tulips everywhere.  What could be better.  I could not have dreamed up a more fun weekend and so glad we got to go!

Come to Zion

We were able to escape from the frigid temperatures of Chi-town this winter with a trip to St. George.  It was just what we needed!  All week we had temperatures in the high 60s and sunshine. We soaked it up.  We stayed with my parents and Erin, Rommey, Miles and Magnus came up for the week as well. What a great time!  We hiked the hills behind my parents house.  We hiked Snow Canyon.  We hiked Zion (the trail that leads to the Narrows).  And how could I forget…the kids and Kermit got to swim (their highlight)! Lots of good food and fun visiting.  We popped in on Aunt Sheron and Uncle Richard.  We also stopped by to see Valrea's old house that Tanc has now and went to see our little plot of land out at Ivins.   We are headed back in April and can't wait.  Love you Family!!  Great to be able to spend the week with you.  We'll be back soon!

Summer 2013 Kick Off

This last summer we were lucky again to be able to spend it in Massachusetts.  On the first week that we got there Kermit was gone everyday to Boston for the WWOM.   (WWOM stands for World Wide Officer Meeting, aka Partner Meetings.)  You'd think this was a bad thing but it was good! Usually when the WWOM comes around Kermit is gone for the whole week overseas.  But because it was in Boston this time he was home every night which was great!

Spouses are usually invited to the spring WWOMs but I haven't been to one since Annaliese was a baby.  This year I went for a day which was kind of fun.  I went downtown and got a massage and went to hear Hillary Clinton speak. (Though I'm not a democrat, it was still cool).  I opted out of everything else mostly because I wanted to be with the kids back home (and being pregnant I would have had to go buy a weeks worth of  super nice maternity clothes...no thanks!)

Also having his WWOM in Boston got the kids and I out and about in the city right away. (P.S. His company was celebrating 50 years!  Amazing!  Kermit was honored for being there 20 years!  Double amazing!)  One day while he was busy with his meetings I took the girls and did the children's museum  and had Kermit meet up with us at the Boston Tea Party Ship for their last tour of the day.  We literally were the only people in the tour so we got the VIP treatment.  The museum had gone through some recent renovations and we were very impressed.  They did a great job bringing the history to life.

So that is how we kicked off Summer of 2013.  Not too shabby I'd say!

Twin Teeth

Addie & Avrie  - July 2012

I found this picture on my computer and just had to laugh.  This one always does. It is from July 2012.  We were in NYC for my birthday and staying in a hotel near Central Park.  We had been wandering all over that day visiting the touristy sites.  By the time we got back to our hotel everybody was zonked.  Addie was brushing her teeth in the tiny bathroom and Avrie was in the main sleeping area brushing her teeth.  All of a sudden Avrie had this look of horror come across her face.  Her tooth had just come out as she was brushing.  Just as she was about to say something about it we hear from the bathroom "Hey! My tooth just fell out!"  No kidding these two lost their teeth at exactly the same time!   This little story always makes me smile.  This picture is priceless.

Memorial Day Weekend + the rest of MAY 2010

Guess where Kermit and I spent Memorial Day weekend!
No kids!


My old stomping ground!

(Um, that would be DC in case you couldn't see the capitol there in the background on the first pic.)

Everywhere we went we kept saying, "the kids would love this....lets bring them back." Guess we'll just have to do that. This place is such a blast to visit and is where Kermit and I spent much time dating those three years....so we'll bring the kids back for SURE!


We visited the American History Museum one day and the National Gallery of Art the other. We could have seen a ton more....except when you sleep until noon....guess we'll just have to go back!

This was my first time back since I left almost 11 years ago. I loved flying in to Reagan Airport looking down at Arlington and all the old familiar places I used to go. It took me back to a time when Kermit and I would fly back and forth just to see each other for a weekend. Here I was doing the same to see my man after not seeing him all week. (He had been there on business and I flew in to join him for the long weekend.) The difference this time is that we got to go home together rather than saying good bye! (And I just realized something....Memorial Day weekend was the weekend we got engaged! That is a post for another day but all the more reason to celebrate!)

I loved my cab ride to the hotel passing all the familiar places and beautiful winding roads. I'd live there again! Oh, how I loved DC!

That weekend there was a huge parade of veterans riding motorcycles through town. Not just a few motorcycles...thousands and thousands! Thanks to all the veterans that have served our country! We love you and appreciate all you have done!

We visited the new World War II memorial. It wasn't there yet when I lived there. We liked it, but felt it was too modern for our taste. We love what it represents. Too bad this wasn't completed sooner when more WWII vets could go see it.




We stayed at a hotel across from the White House. Hay Adams. Very cool! No pics of the hotel but here is the White House anyway.

What a fun trip! Can't wait to go again! And take the family next time!


*****
Then there was the rest of May....


We are getting ready to say good bye to our good friends the Francoms. Boo hoo! Don't leave us!Good luck to you friends!


We played in cotton wood fluff. Aaaaahhhh Chooooo! Where is my zyrtec?


Visited Brookfield Zoo. If you look close there are giraffes back there.



Checking out the animals. This was only our second time at Brookfield. Pleasantly surprised this time! We just may have to go back again soon!



Grandma and Kimmel came to town! Yes, its that time of year when grandma makes her trip back to Massachusetts for the summer and when she stops in Chi town to see us! We love it! This time Uncle Kimmel came too! We visited the Art Institute....


and Millennium Park.

We had a blast with them! We cant wait to see them again soon on their turf!

And last but not least...May brought us many a family bike rides. Loving those bikes! We get lots of smiles as we ride down the street. Dad takes the lead with the three girls behind. I ride in back to push along any slow pokes.

GREAT TIMES in May 2010~

February 2010 = Lots o FUN!

February brings many things. A few of our favorite things....Annaliese's Birthday for one and Winter Break for two! This year we spent winter break in warm and sunny, balmy and beautiful California. We were able to celebrate Annaliese's sixth birthday with family! Love this girl! Can't believe my girl is SIX!!!

She wanted a cat cake...so a cat cake we made, complete with six whisker candles!

We also went to Sea World...great time! (This was about a week before they had to hold all Shamu shows due to the killer whale attack. Um, so glad we missed that one. Yikes.)


And no trip to CA would be complete without a trip to the Happiest place on Earth!

And a happy time it was!