We left Thursday at dinner time, and ended up in New Harmony, Utah late that night. We took one good stop in the middle and we let the kids play at a small park while we all ate. All-in-all the girls were very good in the car, and anxious to find out where we were going.
Here was the sleeping arrangement that first night (although Hayden slept in her port-a-crib, obviously)...
Friday morning, we walked around all the beautiful property. They are on acres and acres of land. It is stunning. I think I could live out there and be perfectly content. Kaiya was excited about all the new kinds of bugs (don't ask me where this kid came from) and she was beyond thrilled when her new "grandpa" caught a lizard for her. The kids were all excited to see the deer that roam the property, as well as the horses they own.
Later that day, we went four wheeling, and then rode horses.
Four wheeling was so much fun! Even little Claire loved it and kept chanting, "Faster, faster!" Emmie kept holding on to me and saying, "I vewy vewy bwave." The kids took turns riding with Dennis and I, and then Dennis and I took one of the four wheels out by ourselves and went to the top of "Little Mountain". You could see the whole valley from up there.
Here's Emmie on the tire swing...
Four wheeling...
I had one of my typical super-coordinated moments while we were riding horses. I'd been riding for a while and kept getting more confident and going faster and faster. I was loving it! At one point the horse was at a full gallop, and then abruptly stopped...but I kept going. Apparently the horse I was on has a little horsey friend that came out of the barn and she stopped because she wanted to go be with him. ANYWAY, I ended up with a scraped up elbow that got pretty swollen and a big purple bruise right on my bum. Even after that I'd do it again in a heart beat. We all really did have a great time!
Kaiya and Camille...
Daddy with Claire, who could not be persuaded to remove that hat all day. She kept saying, "ye haw!"...
Daddy and Emmie...
"Grandpa" walking Kaiya around the pasture. He was so good with the kids!...
Kaiya and Emmie on a horse...Emmie's mad because she wants to "drive"...
Mommy and Claire...
Friday night, we went to the rodeo in St. George. We got front-row seats, and the kids loved being so near the action. I thought it was a pretty good rodeo. I think I would have enjoyed it even more if MY seat hadn't been so sore that night.
Jillyn's mom watched Claire and McKenna at home, which was a life saver! It was so very nice of her. That way they got good sleep and we were able to enjoy the rodeo with the "big" kids...and Hayden.
The tank was pretty neat. I was nursing during its entrance into the arena, and when it shot...whatever it was that it shot...it earned me a nice little bite with THESE new additions to Hayden's mouth...
Emmie enjoying the rodeo...
Mommy and Hayden...
Dennis with Emmie and Kaiya...
Saturday morning, Dennis and Kenny went golfing with Jillyn's parents. Let the record show that Dennis AND Kenny got spanked by a woman in her sixties that is blind in one eye. She's not going to let them live that one down. While they golfed, Jillyn and I got the kids ready, and then I got to meet up with some of my family that lives in the Southern Utah area. (Dennis and Kenny came a little bit later after golfing.) Most of them I haven't seen in 2 or 3 years, so it was a lot of fun to catch up with everyone! My cousins Melanie, Jenny and Michelle and I spent a lot of time together growing up once they moved to Parowan right by Grandma. My cousins Nate and John were also there and it was crazy to see them both after so long! It was so fun to see everyone and their cute kids!
My cousin Jenny, Kaiya holding Jenny's son, Lincoln, Michelle, Cada, Emmie, Me holding Hayden, and Melanie holding Trace...(anyone notice Claire missing? I just couldn't fight her off the swings.)...
Kaiya, Emmie, and cousin Cada...
Aunt Bonnie, Uncle Steve, and cousin Michelle...
Cousin Melanie's newest little one. Can you believe all that hair????...
Grouchy Claire...
Cada, Kaiya, and Emmie. Our little posers...
Saturday afternoon, we played board games while the kids napped, then we went to the parade in St. George. It was a really fun parade, and the kids had a ball! They filled up a big shopping bag with candy, and they all about made themselves sick eating so much sugar. Naturally we decided we better go out to dinner when it was over to get some real food. The wait at the restaurant we chose was ridiculous, but we survived by getting the girls to all sing "Wheels on the Bus", etc. while we waited.
Hayden loved the parade and was kicking those slim little legs...
Mommy and Hayden...
Claire clapping...
Special Olympics Float...followed by participants on horses. Thanks to Jillyn for commenting, "Wow, Tarin, even the special people can stay on their horses."...
Kaiya yelling "More candy!"...
Jillyn's parents, Emmie, and Camille at the bottom...
Jillyn holding Claire...
Daddy and Hayden sitting by cute McKenna...
Kaiya at the parade...
Sunday morning we went to Cedar City to visit my grandma. She's never met our younger two children, and I was so excited for the girls to get to see her. Grandma J is such a neat person, and she was a huge influence in my life growing up. I'd spent many a vacation at her house, where she was the supplier of new piano music and new books. She passed down her love of music and literature to my mom and to myself, and she was the one that introduced me to "The Shakespeare Festival" at a very young age. I also credit her with my love for cheesy musicals. She's such a neat lady and I was SO happy to see her.
An interesting side-note, when Jillyn's mom asked what my grandma's name is, it turns out that years and years ago, she did her student teaching with my grandma in Cedar City and Parowan. It was so fun to talk about her with someone who'd known her so long ago. I loved it. What a small world!
Grandma with me and my girls...
Grandma and Kaiya...
Grandma with her great-granddaughters...
Kaiya was obsessed with this "lighthouse" in Cedar City, so we stopped for a quick photo on the way out of town...
A BIG HUGE GINORMOUS thank you to Jilly and Kenny for inviting us to join them, and also to Jillyn's parents for their hospitality. We had such a wonderful time, and we're so grateful to have such great friends!
Dennis and I commented to each other on the way home that you know it's been a great trip when you leave loving your kids and each other a little more instead of feeling like strangling each other. Success!
9 comments:
Glad y'all had such a good time! Cute little girls!
That looks like a very fun trip!
That picture of the girls in cowboy hats is so cute! You know, we really gotta get you in to some type of gracefulness class. Looks like you all had fun! Too bad you guys missed out on the fun we had at Relief Society though. Now you both are in trouble with the bishop! He he he, have fun with that!
Sorry 'bout your BUM! Sounds like a fun trip. I don't know how you do it with four kids, my two are exhausting. I wonder if they'll do a make up "talk'in to" class for all of us who missed sunday's special meeting, see you there!
What an awesome trip! Glad you guys had fun, you sure packed in a lot of activities!
Wow, sounds like an awesome trip! So many fun pictures and memories. And OUCH about the horse!!
I can't believe that Hayden has teeth! Crazy
Wow, you guys did alot of fun stuff. I have had some graceful experiences on horses myself, so I feel for you.
I took me a while to find your blog, but with Jillyn's help... Success! It was fun to have you guys visit and become the adopted grandparents. You have a gorgeous family and such well behaved children. Perhaps it is partially because they are all girls? That alone will present other challenges in the future. I was hoping you would have posted the video of the horse mishap. Since I was hunting lizards and missed it, how about emailing it to me?
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