Spring Break in Utah

Warning: This post contains lots of pictures but that's what happens when you spend almost a whole week up in Utah.

My parents invited us to come up for their spring break. I was totally up for it since we usually go up for a quick weekend and just don't seem to get everything done that I would like. I pleaded my case to Quincy and he said that I could go. It turned out to be a good week to go since he had work and had to write another talk (life of a high councilman.)

Day 1: Travel day and Brick Oven Pizza

I was kind of nervous about the ride up since I have never taken the kids anywhere by myself longer than an hour. I had fruit snacks, sippy cups full of "juice", children's cds and a portable DVD player within arms reach. They did great and we only stopped once in Filmore for a potty break, M&M's for the kids, and a Pepsi for me. The only problem we encountered was Lucy was right in the sun and didn't like it. She finally got inventive and put up her Olivia book as a shade protector and feel asleep.

Lucy enjoying freedom on Grandma's playground after our long car ride.

Lucy had fun with her cousins. Kadence even let her play doctor on her.


Ella and Lucy playing peek-a-boo. If only we lived closer.

That night we had Brick Oven pizza, one of my must haves while in Utah. It seemed to start our week long eating extravaganza.

My mom made my favorite 3-layered cake for dessert.

Someone else decided it was their favorite too.

Day 2: Grandma Camp, Zoo, and Costa Vida for dinner.

Before I had even got there we had planned to go to the zoo on Tuesday. The weather man put a damper on our plans with a good chance of showers. My mom being the party planner that she is had a back-up plan. She pulled out a complete dinosaur party with crafts, games, and prizes for all.

Jensen helping all his cousins do sand art.

Lucy trying to play pick-up sticks with dinosaur bones.

. . . until Jensen showed her really how to play pick-up sticks.

I turned around and he had thrown them everywhere!

Grandma Camp was a success but a picture of all the grandkids was not.
How come my kids always have to cry right when we pose for these?

Kayley, my niece wanted to make the three girls dresses. She even used her own money to buy the fabric. She has been working on them for awhile with help from my mom. While we were busy with Grandma Camp she took the girls and got them dressed. They turned out so cute. Thanks Kayley and Grandma for the fun summer dress. (Lucy is so ready for a nap at this point.)

After Grandma Camp it hadn't rained yet, so we loaded the car and headed to the zoo. It ended up being perfect because everyone else stayed home and we had a lot less busier zoo. The weather man was full of it too. No rain. The kids loved it of course.

Second attempt at a grandkids picture. Someday.

Lucy looking at the baby elephant. He was pretty cute.

My cute parents that took such great care of us during our visit.

Day 3: Shopping, lunch at Costco, Bunco and dinner at Red Robin.

I had to go to the mall to get Jensen a shirt for their pictures so Mom and I took my nieces to the mall. After we had pizza at Costco. This Costco had homemade gelato so good. Maybe it's a really good thing I don't live up in Utah just for that reason. The girls wanted to play Bunco which we did while the kids were having their nap. Later that night I picked Red Robin for dinner. By this time my pants were tight!

Tayla and Lucy at the mall.

Day 4: Pictures, two lunches and Museum

Not sure why this has become a tradition to get my kids pictures taken while we are up in Utah. I think I like my mom to help me and/or suffer with me. I will post the rest of these later since this is already a super long post. You can look at this picture and tell who didn't want to play along this time.

After pictures we were worn out. We had a light lunch with my sister at a pasta place that is Cafe Rio style. Then I met my friend Kim for lunch without kids at Kneaders. (so nice!) Later Mom and I decided to head to BYU to see if they would let us in the Carl Bloch Museum. He was an artist that painted pictures of Christ that the church uses a lot. I pulled the I'm from Vegas card and they still wouldn't let us in. It was too full. We went to the bookstore for a Jimmer shirt and suckers for the kids. We tried again and the lady let us in this time. We spent about a total of 10 minutes inside. My children thought it was fun to hear their echo in the quiet museum. I gave them their suckers to quiet them down but then they would just lick and then yell.

Day 5: Craft sale, lunch with Maria and dinner at The Smoking Apple

(Not sure why we don't have any pictures of this day. I think our cameras were worn out.)

Mom and I hit a sale in the morning. We always seem to do damage at those sales. After we went to meet Maria for lunch but ended up just getting Little Cesaers and meeting her at our house. Later someone mentioned dinner. We thought we were still full from lunch but we went anyway. I am so glad we did. They had the pulled pork sandwich I had been craving that I didn't get at the fair. They also had sweet potato fries. Fabulous! I am still dreaming about those things.

It was the perfect ending to our eating extravaganza!

Day 6: Heading Back to Vegas

The ride home didn't go as smoothly as the way up. Lucy made one mess after the other. Once I turned around for a quick look and she had a red goopy mess due to a fruit roll-up. She was covered head to toe in it. I am still finding red stuff in the car. We made it home eventually and couldn't believe that our week was over. We had so much fun (still didn't get to somethings) and can't wait till we can do it again!