Our Family Summer Vacation Part 1

Our journey began around noon on Friday, June 30^th. We headed north and stopped in St. George for the night. Saturday morning we went to a fun park, rode a train, played on the swings, slides, and in the water. The water was ice cold which felt wonderful given it was crazy hot out. Elise and I enjoyed the water the most. The kids also played in a music area. Overall it was a fun park. Then we hopped in the air conditioned car and headed further north. We stopped in Scipio at a free petting zoo next to a gas station. We have stopped here previously and the kids have loved it. Unfortunately this time after having a great time with the sheep and goats, we went to the giant rabbit area and almost immediately Elise was stung by a bee on her face. Within 30 seconds Connnor was also stung. So we turned around and exited immediately. This was a first for both of them, and luckily neither one of them had a bad reaction. They enjoyed an ice cream cone and we were back on the road again. Around 5 we pulled up to Drew and Emily's house. We stay at their house whenever we go to Utah for Thanksgiving and well whenever we're there. Emily and Peter are cousins. Their kids are almost exactly the same ages as our kids and they get along well.

 

Sunday, we went to church and then over to Aunt Janet and Uncle Richard's house. Peter and Connor loved playing with their toys. Richard showed Connor a car he was working on and then showed him a bunch of license plates he had collected. Connor was thrilled to see so many and to hear the stories behind each one. Richard gave Connor two of his plates...he can't wait to put them on the wall in his room. Sunday night we went to Great Grandpa's house and chatted with a few of the families that came.

 

Monday was a whirlwind day.  Breakfast was at Janet and Richard's then we went shopping at Smith and Edward's-a type of surplus store that Peter loves going to. Then we headed over to a splash pad to cool off and enjoyed some lunch. Then it was off to Sea Quest Aquarium where the kids had a blast feeding all of the animals-little fish, big fish, parakeets, tortoises, spitting fish, bat rays, etc. I thought it was better than Sea World and significantly cheaper. Then we headed over to Maggie's 4^th birthday party. It was a Frozen theme, with ice block sledding. The kids had a great time, but were beyond exhausted when we left. (No one got a nap today and at least two normally do.) It was late when we all got home and then the neighbors set off some fireworks...which made it hard to go to sleep at 10pm.

 

Tuesday we woke up tired, dressed in our cute 4^th of July attire and went off to watch a parade. The kids perked up for some candy and then came back and tried to stay in the shade. After the parade, we went to a carnival got our faces painted, played a couple of games and then headed home tired and hot. Some of us took a much needed nap, while others prepared for the dinner that evening. Peter made milk can supper in two dutch ovens, and Emily prepared the beans in another. We enjoyed 4^th of July dinner at Brent and Lisa's with many of the families. Then we were off to a park to watch the fireworks and then back at home the kids had fun with sparklers. The neighbors two doors down where also setting off more fireworks. Actually several neighbors were setting off fireworks so it was hard to sleep, but everyone was exhausted, so the booms were kind of like white noise to them as they drifted to sleep before midnight.

 

 

 Wednesday we said goodbye and headed off to Colorado.