We made it to Utah this year too. We got back from camp on Saturday September 25 about 10:30am. Scott got the whole van cleaned out and a load of laundry started while I ran upstairs and showered and dressed everyone. At 11:30am I ran to the church to help get the food out for the ward party. Scott got himself dressed and he and the kids got to the church by 12:30.
We had a snow party and it was SO fun. The activities committe had a whole pile of snow dumped on the baseball field at the church and the kids (and adults) had snowball fights for almost 2 hours straight!
[They had the kids make all the bishopric members into snowmen. I think they did a mighty fine job!]
As soon as the party was over we came home and we did more laundry. 6 loads that day!! Then I changed my clothes and went to the womens broadcast at church. By the time the broadcast was over and we had dinner and I got home, I was exhausted. A non stop day! Whew!
Sunday was a good day. Full of church and more laundry; 6 more loads! I’ve decided we take too many clothes to camp. The kids are dirty the whole time anyway, why do they need a clean pair of jeans each morning?? They just look like their dirty ones 10 minutes later!! I think we are going to have a change for next year.
By the time I went to bed on Sunday night the van was packed and we were ready to leave for Utah by 3am the next morning.
I didn’t actually leave at 3am. I got up at 3am and left a bit before 4. It didn’t occur to me till later in the trip that, according to Utah time, I didn’t actually get going till almost 5am.
I made pretty good time and rolled into Mandi’s house on Monday September 27 about 4pm. My kids were excited to get out of the car!!
We spent the evening playing, having dinner and just being chill. Of course Mandi and I had to make our get away in the evening. We ran a couple of errands. Visited with her brothers and sister and had a FABULOUS time. I’m so lucky to have Mandi as my friend and I am so glad that we get along after so many years. Of course it’s mostly because she puts up with me! (Thanks Mandi!!).
Tuesday morning came way too early after such a late night, but staying up late was worth it. Mandi got her boys out the door for school. I got my kids dressed and the car packed and then we all loaded in. Mandi took us on one last adventure to see her sister’s house that is being built. It was fun to see it. Reminded me of when I was a kid and we had a couple of houses built. We used to drive by everyday to see how much progress had been made.
[Cathy and I]
After dropping Mandi back off at home we headed to Hill Air Force Base to see their museum. The kids enjoyed Travis so much I thought they’d enjoy that outing. We met Cathy there and the reunion began. Cathy and I had so much to catch up on. It was great to talk with her and reconnect and get caught up on life.
After the museum we went back to Cathy’s. Keri napped while the other kids watched a movie and Cathy and I ran errands. We got home and I had an opportunity to visit with some of her kids. They are so grown up and so fun to be with. We figured out that when I met them, their kids were the same age as my kids are now. That’s crazy!
[Mitchell, Cathy’s oldest]
We had a nice dinner with all of Cathy’s kids but only a few of mine. My kids go to bed so early that it didn’t work out for all of them to be awake. But it was fun to play and have fun for even a little while!
After a another late night of talking and laughing and enjoying each others company, the morning came too early. But we leisurely got ready to go which was nice! I’m so grateful to have Cathy. When Scott and I were newly married it was her example and the example of her family that has helped to shape some of what Scott and I do. We will be forever grateful for that example.
Wednesday morning (September 29) we finally pulled out and headed to our friends house in Saratoga Springs. My brother lives in Saratoga Springs too so it would work perfectly. We arrived at the Salcido’s before they did. So we stopped at a park by their house.
While we were at the park, 3 of the kids had to go potty. So I called Joy, knowing that she lived close, to see if she were home so we could use the bathroom. Turns out she lived REALLY close and the Salcido’s and my brother are in the same ward. Weird really.
Once we got back to the park, Melissa showed up and we went to her house for lunch and playing and more chatting and catching up.
Since Joy realized how close we were, she stopped by on her way home from picking kids up at school. Caitlin and Daniel wanted to stay and play so they did. We left about 5pm and headed to my brother’s house. Since they live so close the kids walked and I drove.
Stay tuned for the rest of the week…..
Loved the update! Looks like Niah’s boy crazy ways are still going strong. It looks like she is trying to push Milo out of that picture with Mitchell. :-)