vacation from our vacation

Warning: lots of pics, and yes some are blurry since they are taken with my phone.

It's been really hard to just sit around and have people cook and clean for us while we relax by the pool. It's just too stressful, Grant and I needed a vacation from it. We packed in the car with my sister and her four kids and headed back to Utah. My parents and brother's family met us there too. It was SO nice for Grant and I to be back in our house at Provo. We were able to visit neighbors, eat at the Provo bakery and Grant enjoyed playing with his friends which was fun for me to watch. The first day there we toured Temple Square. If there was ever a time that I wanted pack up my family and move to Salt Lake it was that day. It was so lush and green compared to the desert and I just loved looking at the beautiful mountains.

The next day we went to Lagoon. I wasn't sure how Grant would do but he really enjoyed all the rides. He didn't quite master the bumper cars, unless you consider spinning around in circles and occasionally getting smashed into, mastering the cars. It was fun having all the cousins (besides Jordan) there with us.

The next day my parents took the older grandkids to Mount Rushmore and the rest of us headed to Colorado. We stayed a day or two there just hanging out at Grandma's and enjoying the cool weather. Just your normal 'wearing wigs and not pants' kind of day.

Then we drove down to southern Colorado to see my extended family and meet back up with my parents/kids. I hadn't been there since 2007 so it was wonderful to be back in the valley. This was probably the highlight of Grant's trip, this kid was in heaven. My family is all potato farmers and live right by each other so we'd just swim at one house and go ride tractors at another etc.

Climbing the potato hill

helicopter ride

working hard

After that my sister and I drove Heber AZ to spend the 4th with her family. David and my brother in-law drove up and met us. We were tired from traveling and just wanted our own beds but it was fun to spend the 4th in a new area and watch an amazing firework show.

Now we're back and trying to take advantage of what little time we have left here. This summer has flown by as usual.

long overdo

You know those blog posts that you just dread writing? The update on a new baby that is now 3? Christmas...which was 8 months ago? You just feel too overwhelmed to even begin. That's how this has been. Heaven knows I have the time to blog these days but I've just been too lazy I suppose.....

So we moved to Phoenix the beginning of June. Perfect timing right?!?! We're just here until the beginning of August, David is doing an internship at PetSmart's corporate office. He is really enjoying the experience and it's nice to not have him worry about studying. 

What do Grant and I think of it? I'm not going to lie, it's a little slice of heaven most days. Unless it's super crazy hot than it's basically the opposite of heaven! Honestly though, PetSmart hooked us up in a Hilton Homewood Suite. Sounds kind of miserable at first but when you really think about it it's pretty awesome. The most cleaning I do everyday is put my dirty towel on the floor! Done. I don't have to worry about utilities and can crank that ac way up. They make dinner for us Mon-Thurs, sure it's your typical large group Costco type food but hey it's free, and they have a decent breakfast everyday too. Grant and I hangout at the hotel gym and swim almost everyday. We've made friends with the staff and also another intern wife and child. How many opportunities do mothers have to just spend 100% of their day with their children? No cooking, no cleaning, no job. I'll admit some days we get bored and wish it wasn't so hot out but I'm trying to just take advantage of this time with Grant. 

My sister lives on the other side of the valley but I've probably visited her more times in one week that in a whole year! I love having little cousins around for Grant. One of my best friends from high school lives here too so I've been able to spend time with her as well as friends from WI. 

This is how we spend most of our days. He's turned in to quite the little fish and has a pretty sweet tan line. It's been a fun summer.