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We had a couple slow days in Cedar after the nonstop busy book weekend. This was our boys' Spring Break -- you wouldn't know it, since two weeks ago we were in Florida and last week we left to Utah. But NOW is actually the time they are out of school :) So we had a few days to get our energy back then made the 10-hour drive home to be with Michael for the last few days of the break. It felt really, really good to have these busy weeks go so well and be behind us. Florida and the market were both huge mental loads on me the last couple months but in the best way. I loved planning for them and I loved experiencing them, and I love that we are looking at a couple months where my only travel plans don't involve the boys -- Asher's going to start taking one nap solidly (he's still struggling to not need two) and going to sleep through the night more consistently, I just know it.

Cedar City gives life to my soul. I grew up in the best town! And I love that my parents are still in my house. Lots has changed but a lot also hasn't. Pictures for this week!

Blurry but this kid.
So clingy after I left him for all of Friday and Saturday days for market stuff and book signings.

Bracket time.

Camden LOVES to push Asher.
Camden loves to do anything for Asher.

My cute mom.
Love our trips up to let the boys play at South Elementary.

Just remembering one of the too-too-early mornings with this one, on our travel days.
I was so sick after two full days of talking to people. My throat was shot, my cold that was allllmost coming on for days before came on full blast, and traveling alone with the kiddos is what it is.
But my mom took Asher this morning and traded me for a cup of hot tea and I know she has a lot on her plate right now with how sick my dad has been ever since getting Covid. I was just really grateful to be in Cedar City and be with my parents and have a few days there after book plans to just be there before heading home. I love trips to see them.

Helped them get some grandkids up on the wall. 
Even future baby girl -- she'll be here in June! Elise is so excited to have a little sister and I can't wait to go help with them when Ali has her baby.

So much love for grandma.

So much love for grandpa, too.
My boys feel so bad he feels so sick, but they love playing with him in any way he's up for.
Westin LOVED sitting down at the computer with him and typing up all the NFL teams in alphabetical order and then highlighting them by conference.
Haha that sounds so silly -- but that is truly Westin's love language. Just time, and time spent talking about what he loves, and organizing, and making things. It was just sweet.

Then another one-stop drive home on Wednesday, in Fruita. They did two 5-hour legs again.
Asher was sad our last 20 minutes but that's it. I love these travelers of mine.

I love chicken nuggets.
And I am really over chicken nuggets.
That tells you we've been traveling a lot.

We did shows for the first time in years because now we have an older and a newer iPad, so everyone could watch. We've always just done podcasts since getting the van, which we did do for more than half the drives. The boys were awesome.

And tired :)

The dog ate my paint sample.

Speaking of...

Green milk! Must have been a leprechaun.
A leprechaun who forgot it was St. Patrick's Day until 10pm the night before and did this one little thing before going to leprechaun bed!
But we did have a stashed box of Lucky Charms for the big day too so it turned out just fine.

I love this shot of Firefighter Camden and Bennett washing windows. Slow days at home with theses kids all home are my favorite.

Shelley sent us a fun package full of holiday pillow cases and Camden LOVED this Paw Patrol book she added.

Opening our Florida Coconuts

Snuck away for a lunch date!
A mystery shop, ha. He thinks those are funny.

Camden's first unassisted drinking fountain drink. Milestone.

Luna found this toy, We don't know where. It's here very favorite thing in the whole wide world.
It's not one of our children's, it's an actual dog toy. I think someone threw it in our backyard for her and it has made her life. She walks around just holding it, like a pacifier. 
And we support Luna having a pacifier. 
Thank you, stranger.

Sweet Cedar Sunday

 Our summer days have been so fun. The boys do a great job with their checklists and it drives all the need-to-happen things without me feeling like I'm nagging. I am really loving lifting weights again each day. It wasn't fun waiting to be able to do that again and I'm hoping to make some noticeable strength improvements and keep up with these boys!

On Friday we packed up and headed west, this time with Michael, who so often doesn't get to come on our road trips with us. We felt brave enough to take the 70 (a 10-hour drive to my parents) since we were together, where I usually take the 80 if I'm solo (a 7-hour drive to Ali's). 

Asher was pretty good but I did go back and nurse him while he was in his carseat during every single stretch so we could fit some longer legs of driving in. Camden wants to talk about every single truck, car, plane, tractor, cow, deer, sign, "blue jay" (there's never really a blue jay?) that he sees. It's super cute for the first 10 minutes of the day haha, and quickly turns exhausting, but then randomly cute again when he gets super excited. Like when he saw a transporter and it just blew his mind. "There's a truck! There's a blue car! There's a big truck! WHY DOES THAT TRUCK HAVE SO MANY CARS OH MY GOSH!" It's fun to get reminders from kids about how they see the world. Cutie.

We made it to Cedar on Friday in time to take the older boys to see the fireworks show at the Utah Summer Games opening ceremonies. I loved going to that growing up. My dad would typically be involved with his radio station, my cousins were usually in town playing soccer games, my friends loved seeing each other during the summer there. It was just always a fun summer night and it was fun to see the boys have fun there with their Miner cousins. 

Saturday we played at the school, played with the water in the ditch -- I remember sending so many sticks and leaves under my driveway and running from curb to curb to catch them and my boys loved it too -- eating at Brody's, playing at the church while Kindal and I practiced our musical number, meeting Carter and Kindal for ice cream that night with Asher and Rosie, and enjoying time with my parents. Kindal stayed over until after midnight that night plotting future illustrations for our next book -- it's so fun to plan together.

Sunday we made it to 9am church with my parents for possibly my last Sunday in the church I grew up in. They are tearing it down at the end of this year due to earthquake safety reasons, and not rebuilding. Kindal and I played a piano-violin duet of Be Still My Soul and we both loved playing together. It's been years!

Michael started to feel sick Sunday, which was such a bummer. We'd had so much sickness the couple months leading up to this trip that I had just really, really hoped we could sail through family time with good health and have as much fun together as possible. But I guess it's also a blessing to get sick when you have the time to rest. 

Please note the water balloon in the pocket.
You just never know when you might need one.

Michael took Camden to pick up Kolaches and bring them to a dental office.
We had a little taste test, blueberry won.

That's a four-boys-two-week van tetris game.

Not much of the trip looked like this, 
but some did. Some did.
The boys in the back listened to the Purple Rocket podcast for the entire drive.

Looking too big in that restaurant high chair.

Cedar in time for fireworks!

I used to call my friend Tiffany and say, "There's water in the ditch! Come play!"
It was such a thrilling thing back then, and I just loved that my boys found it thrilling too :)

Sending sticks and leaves endless times.

Lunch at Brody's with all my family is a little taste of what heaven will be like.
Cheese enchiladas, street tacos, my favorite people.
Chips and salsa.
Heaven.

Always needing an Asher hug before they go to sleep.

Camden was so funny at church.
He was so concerned about Grandpa up on the stand. I guess he rarely sees the serious side of Grandpa.
"How'd Grandpa get up there? Why is he mad?? Is he ok? What's he doing!!!"

Asher fell asleep on Kindal during church, he already loves her as much as I do.

Kindal and Rosie came over for chocolate malts after church.

This church building will always have my heart.