Trip to Utah

We NEEDED a little getaway. Craig had taken time off work to take a trip to Arkansas on Wal-mart's tab to look for housing and a new car.  Things were getting delayed with the job and quite frankly we weren't sure if it was going to work out after all.  I'll explain more in a later post....  It was a stressful situation and we NEEDED a break.  Craig already had the time off of work so we took the kids out of school for a week and went to Utah.  We hadn't been back to northern Utah in a couple years.  We tried to fit in as many things as we could in our short time there.

Day #1  Jace went to an air force museum with Grandpa Robert.  Craig and I took Brooke and Ty to Plates and Palates (my favorite food place in Bountiful) and then checked out City Creek in down town Salt Lake City along with Temple square.  Wow!  We hadn't been back since they had built City Creek (enormous inside/ outside mall with creeks and waterfalls running throughout)  It was amazing! Ty kept dancing to the music in all the stores and Brooke was beyond adorable.

Brooke wanted the necklace from TIFFANY & CO.  maybe someday

Day #2  We hit up the Bountiful Rec center's swimming pool.  The kids always have fun here.  It was Tý's first time.  Daddy had fun chasing the big kids around the lazy river and on the play structure.  Jace and Brooke are getting to be such good swimmers.  

Later that day we went to Uncle Josh's home for dinner.  The kids jumped on the trampoline and played with the chickens.  Brooke loved having someone girly to play with.  Cousins are fun!

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 I love the look on Craig's face.  He was being so funny with the kids.  They had a blast playing together.

 Day #3  We traveled down to Provo. * First stop, Legacy Hall at BYU's campus.  3 stories full of BYU sport's memorabilia.  Craig went nuts and probably could have spent 8 hours here. He was so excited to show Jace everything.  Jace was less than enthused which made Craig sad.  They will have to find something other than sports to connect with. Jace just isn't that interested yet.

 * Second stop, Jay Dawgs hot dog stand.  We had heard good things about this place and most of our vacations revolve around food that Craig wants to try. :)  I love my foodie.

* 3rd Stop Great Grandpa Brammer's house.  I don't know what it is about Grandpa's but Ty loves them ... all of them.  If you are an older gentleman and look like you could possibly be a grandpa then Ty is all over you.  It is the oddest thing.  Most little kids are scared of old people.  Not Ty.  He always wants the grandpa's to pick him up and then he gives them a luv. 

 *4th Stop Edith's house.  She was Craig's pensionista / cook on his mission to Peru.  After he got home they moved to Provo and have been so successful.  I remember first meeting them in their tiny apartment full of DI furniture.  Now they live in a large house next to the Provo temple.  She is a hoot.  I think she is one of the people I most want to be like .. I have a few.  I love visiting her home.  She always makes me feel so welcome and she has the best sense of humor. 

 * 5th stop Caputo's & Bruge's Waffles in Downtown Salt Lake City on our way home.  We met Katie there and shared dinner.  It was SO yummy!!

 J Dawgs didn't dissapoint.  Best hot dog I've ever!!

Ty giving his Grandpa's lots of luvs.

 

 Craig & Edith.  She was his cook while in Cajamarca, Peru on his mission.  We LOVE her!

 Day #4 Craig and I got to do a session at the Bountiful temple where we were married nearly 10 yrs ago.  It was so beautiful.  The Bountiful temple holds such a special spot in both our hearts.  We were able to feel peace and know that whatever happens in our lives we will be okay.  I love Craig with all my heart.  I am so thankful he is my husband.

In the evening we decorated the house for Katie for her birthday.  The whole family met at Maddox Ranch House in Brigham City for her birthday dinner.  Maddox  is one of my favorite restaurants.  It has the best rolls, raspberry butter, steaks, chicken, and prime rib.  I had the prime rib.  SO GOOD!!  My dad grew up in Brigham City and I first went there with him.  It always reminds me of him.  

When we got back we had a party for Aunt Katie.  It was such a cute party.  The kids had so much fun helping.  Brooke is Katie's little shadow.  They remind me so much of each other.  It is adorable.  I could not have asked for a better sister in law.  I love you, Katie!

Day #5  Craig's cousin Brady gave him some free ski passes so we hit the slopes on our last day.  Well, Craig and the kids did.  They had SO much fun.  Jace got the morning shift and Brooke went after lunch.  They did GREAT!!  Daddy was very impressed.    It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and there were some kids skiing in just tank tops.  A wonderful way to end our trip up north.

 Ty finally got to meet his uncle David.
He also got to meet GiGi and Great Grandpa Muir in the nursing home as well as Paula's sister Kim and all her kids.  Ty loved all of the Brimley's. ;)

 We stopped to see my family in Hurricane on our way to Centerville and on the way back.  Thankfully Aunt Jessica is out of the hospital.  I visited her there at the beginning of our trip.  She seems to be doing so much better.  On our way home we got to stop at her apartment and meet her fiance Jared for the first time and her Siberian husky puppy Stalin.  Ty snuggled right up to her.  I love my sister so much.  I feel horrible that she has gone through so much.  I'm so glad she is healing.

The kids had fun going through all of Grandma and Grandpa's inventory for their new business.  They even got to pick something out.  Brooke picked a mermaid barbie and Grandpa Johnson gave Jace his duck hunter set.  They had fun running around the house and jumping on the trampoline.  What a fun trip!!

Jessica and I have twinner hair.  Mine is just a little bit darker.  Love you, Jess!

Bye Bye Honda Accord

We sold our Honda Accord since we are moving soon.  Bye Bye to our 1995 Honda Accord.  You will not be missed ... except by the kids ... because now all we have left to drive around is our 2000 Hyundai Elantra. We call it the ugly car.  It looks horrible and drives great but the kids are embarrassed to be seen in it.  Already!?!  I thought that didn't start until middle school.  This car was AWESOME until it was stolen and crashed back in 2008 ... it just never completely recovered.  20/20 we should have pushed to have the car totaled out instead of having it repaired.  You live and you learn.  Never again.  We were happy to get $2800 for it.

BBQ

 We have missed Kristie and Derrek.  Craig watched all of the BYU games at their apartment while they were going to Thunderbird.  Since graduating their have a new home in Tempe and a new baby.  Jackson and Ty are about 3 months apart.  We had fun visiting with them, eating, and swimming.The water was a little cold but the kids didn't mind.  they jumped right in ... even Ty wanted in the water.

We had one little scare at the end of our visit.  Brooke thought it would be funny to hide when we were about to leave.  We looked all over and couldn't find her.  Having an unfenced pool I was freaking out.  The water was a little cloudy and I freaked out and yelled at Craig that he needed to jump in and check the bottom of the pool.  Luckily she was just behind one of the couches.  It was great to see them again.  It had been a long time.

Brown Bear

Brooke was beyond excited to finally get to take Brown Bear home with her.  He goes home with someone from her Kindergarten class each weekend and then the next week that person is Star of the Week and they get to talk about all the fun things that they did with Brown Bear and show pictures of them together.  Brooke took Brown Bear on her scooter.  He loved having the the wind in his fur because she is zippity quick on that thing.  She also got to tell the class about herself:  Her favorite food is pasta, her favorite color is white, she wants to be a mom and a lifeguard and a singer when she grows up, (she loves to sing songs from Les Miserables ... especially Castle on a Cloud), the beach is her favorite place to go, and she loves her family lots and lots.  We love her too!  Later on she told me that she really does want to be a mom but they do so many chores that she's not so sure now.  She loves babies but does NOT like working or cleaning. :) lol  

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AHHHH!! It's my last year in my twenties.  Luckily we had Nani, Grandpa Robert, and Aunt Katie visiting us during my birthday this year.  They watched the kiddos while Craig surprised me with a date out for lunch at Pizzaria Bianco rated #1 pizza in the USA.  We've wanted to go for a long time but hadn't because the wait to get in is too long with little kids in tow.  It was great.  We loved it.  When we returned Nani and Katie had helped the kids decorate the house for a birthday party.  I felt very loved.  Their homemade birthday banner and cards were adorable.  They helped me blow out the candles on my cake (german chocolate - my fav) and helped open my presents.  It was a lovely day.

Valentines...

Valentines ... really!?! Yes, that is how far behind I am on this blog - 2 MONTHS!!  It's overwhelming thinking about "catching up" on everything that has happened so I'll do what I can.

This year Brooke chose Barbie valentines and I picked out some awesome spy valentines that you had to decode to get the message for Jace.  They were perfect.  I felt like a good mom.  I had done something completely right in Jace's eyes and just got a "cool, mom!!" instead of complaining.  Yay for me!

The kids had fun putting together their valentines for their classmates and friends.