Utah Highlights

We enjoyed four weeks in Utah, running around visiting friends and family at every chance.  There was a lot of GO GO GO, and certainly not enough sleep, but we enjoyed our stay and loved seeing everyone again.

Picture highlights:

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Travel Highlights

The flight to Utah was a sure test of endurance and patience:  Jakob screamed and fought putting the seat belt on; Molly cried when Jakob screamed; Molly fought sleeping which made her an over tired, screaming mess; we struggled through two layovers; Molly gave me a bloody knows right after take off; we arrived in Utah at 11:00 p.m. (1:00 CT time) and didn't sleep well.  It was rough.

Fish lake
We had to adjust to altitude-I was out of breath walking from our tent to the bathrooms; Molly got a stomach bug and was sick most of the time; the kids woke up multiple times during the night with no where to go; we saw a bunch of foreign cars on the highway; the boys had some luck catching fish this year; Jakob was nervous to go on the boat (maybe next year); the weather was horrible: rain, wind and even snow in the mountains!  There was one warmish day, but the rest was jacket weather.
American Fork
We listened to an orchestra at the amphitheater near the Timpanogus Temple; chased kids around; Molly played with an older lady's walking cane.

Whiting Campground and Family Pictures
Grandparents tried to find an appropriate campground for small children; the water runs OVER the roads; kids loved riding bikes; enjoyed a glow stick presentation; went hiking and Molly tripped and chipped her tooth; bug bites-poor Molly; food assignments (pancakes, bacon and eggs, and OJ); making forts with Grandpa Rowan's game; popping bubbles; listening to Jimmer's fate in his NBA career; crazy neighbors got kicked out for multiple offenses (and destroyed their campground out of anger); and Molly rolled off the air mattress in her sleep. We got our family pictures taken near the amphitheater in American Fork later that afternoon. 

Visiting the Salt Lake Temple and Grandpa/Grandma Lewis
Parked in SLC then took the Trax Train to the temple grounds; saw lots of missionaries; parked right next to a fire hydrant....nice....; visited grandparents in Bountiful; kids were overtired and ornery and I didn't know what to do with them; Uncle Spencer & family and Aunt Camille & family visited too; Molly loved eating the M&M's; red velvet cake from Costco and ice cream; and ballroom dancing to the piano.

Breakfast Greeting
I met with my good friends from Southland.  We all taught together at one point...now most of us are doing other things. 

Orem
Danny and I ate at JCW's then went to the Owlz baseball game.....without kids.  It was great.  They won.

Combined Birthday Party in Brigham City!
The Brigham city temple is gorgeous!!!  We saw Cars 2 with the three oldest; the kids played with toys (Jakob fancied the Rusteze lego toy) and took a tour of the house; kids fought over balloons; celebrated birthdays for 4 people; ate pizza; opened presents; ate cupcakes and ice cream (my cupcakes had altitude issues); and visited the new office.

Family Reunion
Swimming with cousins; received family shirts and ate dinner; kids didn't eat much (all weekend); Jakob played with trains and cars every chance he could; service projects: wash grandparents cars and put in a water feature; devotionals; bounce houses; popcorn and snow cone machines; The Skit of The Century; Jakob's awesome tantrums; good desserts; Minute to Win it-Rogers Style-games;  water balloon fights; grandpa/grandma's attacks with the spray bottle; and lots of great company.

Fourth of July
Danny, Jamie, Jenny, Kelly and Kristy ran the Freedom Run 5k; Danny placed 3rd in his age group; Freedom Parade-mixture of rain, clouds and hot weather; subway for lunch; Traverse Mountain festivities; Jakob got his face painted (shocker!); bounce houses; food; bluegrass music; a little girl kept cutting in line and I called her on it (she still kept doing it); and watched and heard fireworks across Utah Valley--AWESOME!

Historic Wheeler Farm
We got bird pellets to feed ALL the birds; the geese were the most aggressive; fed apple slices to the goats; Uncle Jason got the turkey to gobble; the kids loved the little tree house and wagon ride; candy at the store; and ate at Su Casa for lunch. 

Dinosaur Museum and Mapleton
We toured the Thanksgiving Point Museum of Ancient Life.  The kids loved all the activities: stegosaurus puzzle, digging for bones, sand and water table, and dinosaur displays.  We then drove to Mapleton to help make a rock wall for Larsens; Hot dogs, chips n' dip, pasta salad and Cheetos for dinner; and played Mario kart on the Wii.

Grandpa's Cabin in Heber, UT
Danny met up with us after work; Dairy Keen (cheese sandwiches and cherry cordial Shake!!); we saw animals: deer, moose and an all-too-friendly squirrel; four wheeler; Jason's canon Rebel; M&M's (molly literally ate them off the ground....she loves M&M's!); hiking; bowling; pizza; hooking up direct TV; Molly mysteriously fell off the bed without a sound; the kids ran around the deck and climbed up the trees through the hole; Grandma's breakfast; mice and ANTS; and an outstanding BBQ!!!

Uncle Kregg's Birthday
Swimming; awesome hamburgers; rain and cold wind; 3 dogs;  adults acting like kids again; cake and ice cream; and a late night.

Brigham Young University and Dinner
Museum of Art; Book store sidewalk sale; bagels; J Dogs; feeding the ducks; turtles; and a picture of the cousins.  We ate spaghetti and cookie ice cream sandwiches with the Rogers later that night.  YUM! 

Flying Home
The flight home was fantastic.  The kids were great and they took a couple naps.  Our flight was delayed an hour and a half, but we still got home at a decent time.

 Yay for Vacation!