Spring Break Utah

After our Estes Park weekend I looked at our empty Spring Break week ahead of us... I had gone back and forth about going to Utah over and over the last few weeks. I'd decide we needed to make it happen and then get overwhelmed by the drive with the boys, then get sad to not see family and then back to overwhelmed.

But after our weekend getaway, I felt like I could just do a load of laundry and put the bags back in the car, add in some snacks and download some podcasts, and we could just make it happen. Ali's house being 7.5 hours away feels pretty doable these days. And we needed to meet little Dallin!

So on Monday morning we packed back up and hit the road as quick as we could. Westin was such a huge help running this and that out to the car -- filling up water bottles, getting sleeping bags from downstairs, putting my purse in the car, putting snacks in their cupholders, loading up their pillows and blankets, on and on. He just kept coming back up to me and asking what could he do next -- the sweet kid is highly motivated by cousin time!

We made the drive on Monday with two stops, and Asher cried just a little while before each break. Little America is such a great stop with an easy nursing spot, a playground, cheap and yummy food, and easy on and off the freeway. Our other stop was a middle of the no where gas station where no one even went inside -- just nursed the baby while the boys all peed outside (except for the little one who still refuses to pee outside and has to use his own tiny potty... we gotta kick that habit this summer. Outside peeing is one of my boy mom perks that I demand we take full advantage of). 

Tuesday was a Zoo day with Ali and Logan's families, and my boys loved seeing animals and being with cousins! Wednesday we had a low key day to recover from all the driving and playing. On Thursday we all split up -- Camden had a day with Elise at Ali's, Westin and Bennett played with the Miner cousins all day, and Asher and I drove down to Cedar City to surprise my mom. Kindal was coming to her book club that day to talk about illustrating our book and then my parents were leaving to come up north and see us after that. But I drove Asher down and showed up to her Book Club as a surprise and it was really fun to catch my parents off guard like that :) Then Kindal drove back up north with me and we had 3 hours of catching up and planning and brainstorming and laughing. I always wish I had more time with her! She went up north for her brother's wedding that weekend so it was fun to combine our drive time.

Friday my parents came up and my Aunt Tanya and her family came over to Ali's as well, so we had a fun day being all together. I went to Costco with my mom and had fun seeing my book there for the first time. We stayed up late that night playing Code Names duet and I love being with my family.

The next day we made the drive home and it was smooth again! Asher did much better on the drive home.

First stop on the road trip! These kiddos really do great.

Meeting Dallin!
Made me so happy to finally hold him.

If only we could've hung out more during all the nursing hours of the last 3 months :)

I have pictures next to this lion water fountain from when I was little.
So fun to take my kiddos to the Hogle Zoo.

Ali has done such an amazing job managing NICU time and nursing ups and downs and toddler/baby weeks. She's so awesome.

Tummy time is better with a buddy.

Tummy time is best with lots of buddies.

When Ali described March Madness to Westin he said, "I can't believe no one has told me about this the last 7 years. I'm going to love this."

Colorado State all the way... loyal to Rams.

Holding Dallin through his nap while my babies napped and Ali took Westin and Bennett to shop for Leprechaun Trap supplies. One of the sweetest afternoons I've had in so long.

Manicures by Ali for all the little people.

Trapping a Leprechaun!

Westin was sleeping like this in his sleeping bag and it totally scared me when I walked by.

My kids watch shows with such posture until they're like four. I don't know why.

Loved their walk :)

Visited another store that has stocked "Savior" for quite a while.
So fun to see it for sale!
Kindal and I visited this store back during our weekend together when we were mapping out the text before sending "Savior" to print and imagined having it in there someday.

Seriously so fun to have these cuties together.

Pizza and cousins!

The Miner kids all saved their money and bought an Oculus together.
It was so fun to try!

The grandkids are wearing out these cute grandparents :)

Spotted in Costco!

Sweet boy.
So fun to have him facing forward in the car now.
He wants me to chase all the school buses and garbage trucks that we see.

The most pit stoppy pit stop ever.