Seriously, I'm SO behind on blogging. This computer has given me SO many issues and lets hope they are all fixed now. I've got LOTS to catch up on....starting back in July...
A few days after we got home from Louisiana, we were only back in Houston with just enough time to unpack, wash clothes, and repack again for our TWO week trip out to Utah!
I LOVE Utah in the summer time and I had been SUPER anxious to get out there from Day 1 of planning this trip.
I was a TAD nervous since we had never taken a road trip this long with the boys. They did GREAT. Between movies, little presents for each state we entered, treats, city markers they got to pull off each city we hit....I must say I was prepared and it totally paid off.
We got in late one evening but wasted NO time the next morning. We got to spend a few days with the Hooper cousins and did a little hike one morning. I loved it. Kent loved it. They kids loved it. I wish we had stuff like that here in Texas. Those mountains really are beautiful.
That same night, Kelli and Tanor went through the temple for the first time. It was pretty neat having all your family in the celestial room at the same time. We were all VERY happy for them.
The next day they were sealed for time and eternity. The sealer was AMAZING! He was so sweet and funny and had SUCH good advice not only for them but for everyone else there.
There's nothing like the temple.
I love these sisters of mine.
What made this day EVEN better is when Kelli dropped the news that she was PREGNANT! She's due the first part of March and we are even more thrilled that we just found out she's having a little GIRL.
We haven't had a girl baby in 9 years in the Bluth family.
We can not wait.
The next day, we loaded up and headed to Bear Lake. I LOVE Bear Lake and have VERY fun memories here. My Grandma has a cabin here and so we had one BIG family reunion with my mom's side of the family. It's crazy to think that it feels like just yesterday we were kids playing up at Bear Lake and now all of us HAVE our OWN kids. Extremely weird...we're getting old.
The kids played ALL day in the sand and water. I don't blame them.
We were not surprised AT ALL when Hudson become completely attached to the jet skis. He wanted to ride them or the boat any time he got a chance. That kid and his motorized toys....
Seriously, how pretty is that water? It's FREEZING though...something I'm not used to growing up in the south.
I was completely surprised when we convinced my mom to get pulled on the tube. It was priceless.
We convinced some of the kids to get buried in the sand. They thought it was pretty cool...until they tried to get out....
We played games in the evenings and watched movies on the lawn. I feel like the 3 days up at Bear Lake flew by and I'm already missing it and want to go back....and no that little boy on the end doesn't belong to anyone in our fam....he was trying to get someone to come play with him so he photo bombed the pic. Thank you son.
Our time at Bear Lake, may have been over but we were only a week into our trip. Sadly, Kent had to leave us and fly back to Houston. He really was missed the rest of the trip. Why does he need to run a company? My dad also had to bail out and head back to work....work smurk.
We headed out to my Aunt Deanne's to let the kids experience farm life. Again, I have SO many memories spending summers out in Corrine. Life out on a farm is so calm, quiet and laid back. Everyone watches out for everyone and your kids can just run and be kids. I was wanting Kent to sell his business and become a farmer by the time we left (although I don't know if I could make it as a farmers wife...).
The next morning we headed up to Park City to stay for a few nights at the Marriott Resort.
We couldn't have picked a better hotel because Alpine Slides are right out the door. I've NEVER done them before and have wanted to do this FOREVER.
So.much.fun.
Sweet Lan man fell asleep on the way down...yes that's just how exhausted these kids were.
Thanks to Aunt Kelli, she took both Hudson and Landry back to the hotel to rest since she was feeling yuck from morning sickness.
We got to finish the day going down the slides and coaster over and over and OVER again. Trust me, we got our money's worth FOR SURE.
Our last day in "Utah" came to a close with a quick stop off at Grandma Bennett's to say goodbye and say THANK YOU for all her hard work on our family reunion. This woman never stops amazing me.
We love her.
After our goodbyes were said to everyone, Kristin and I (and Chad) loaded everyone up to head to IDAHO. Chad was sweet enough to drive Kent's truck while Kristin and I took all the kids in Kristin's new ride (they made a spur of the moment switch in vehicles and traded their old beast for a newer fancier Denali in order to make the trip back to Dallas safely). Chad was probably the smart one to drive 4 hours peacefully in the truck.
Sickness started to overcome me quickly this day. I started feeling AWEFUL! I was trying to enjoy it all but really I just felt horrid. I'm so grateful Kristin and Chad let me take it easy and rest when possible.
Our first stop in Idaho was good old Rexburg. I haven't been back there since I was pregnant with Boston. That place SURE has changed for the better. As much as I HATED the weather there and HATED the small town, I really did miss it when we went back. Life was so much easier back then.
It was so crazy how much the school has grown and how many businesses have come to town.
It's a bombin', happenin' place!
I was even more excited to pass by Kent and my first few little homes. They still look the same. It made me miss all our friends from school who are all now scattered across the country. Good memories.
The next day, we headed up to Yellowstone. I forgot how much driving you can do in Yellowstone. That place is HUGE....and BEAUTIFUL.
I was SO glad I caught this on camera, Charlie reached sweetly for Hudson's hand and then Hudson turned back to Kristin and I with this HUGE grin on his face. Love how much these cousins love each other.
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I remember always spotting TONS of buffalo in Yellowstone. I have NO idea where they all were hiding this day because we only saw 2...yes TWO.
We stopped to see Old Faithful. Boston had been DYING to see a REAL volcano in person and when I explained to him we would be going to Old Faithful this summer, he was THRILLED. I know it's not a volcano but its the closest this kid is going to get for now. He excepted that and we sat anxiously for over an hour for this sucker to erupt.
Yes, that's me, waiting sickly in the background.
It FINALLY happened. Not quite sure if the kids were TOO overly thrilled but they were amused enough. I don't think it lasted as long as they would have hoped after sitting there for an hour.
Hudson was TIRED....and getting edgy. He laid down by Charlie for a minute and Charlie started rubbing his back...
Then Charlie decided it was his turn and Hudson returned the favor.
We surprisingly (because all the animals seemed scarce) spotted an elk and we let all the kids get out to get a picture with him. I know you aren't supposed to get too close but we tried to stay safe. By Boston's turn the elk started to walk away....you can see his rear behind the tree. And no that's not Boston being scared, that's Boston "growling"...because that's what elk do...?
Our second buffalo we saw on the way out....
For dinner that night we met my Aunt Aundrea and Uncle Jayson at their cabin in Island Park. It is BEAUTIFUL up there and it was so nice to see their new cute cabin and visit with them since we missed them in Utah.
Then we headed to our cabin we rented. The view was beautiful.
The next day is very blurry to me because I was just so sick. I know I woke up then went back to sleep for over 4 hours! When I woke up, I heard the sound of this sucker outside. Even though I was sick, I HAD to go for a spin. Kristin and I were out taking it for a spin when in the middle of NOWHERE, it ran out of gas. We had NO phone and we were WAY far from the cabin. Finally, we got lucky and a fisherman came by. We were able to use his cell to call Chad to the rescue. Thank goodness.
Then, when the day was done, it was time for us to head back home. Everyone was EXHAUSTED and we drove and DROVE and DROVE back home.
We followed Kristin and Chad back to Dallas then spent a night at their house then drove the rest of the way home back to Kent.
It was a FUN TWO weeks but we were SOOOOOO ready to get back to life in Houston.
