Kent definitely knows the way to my heart! I only need a few things to make me really happy- and great food, cool weather, being outside, and NO KIDS are all on the list! Monday afternoon he planned a surprise trip away from the kids for a night. The kiddos stayed with his parents and didn't miss us AT ALL.

We went shopping and out to dinner- and then head up Provo canyon to Midway-  a quaint little "swiss" town near Park City.  We stayed in the most wonderful bed and breakfast called- "The Blue Boar Inn".

I made kent take a picture next to the Blue Boar.

And I got one next to the deer.

This was the view from the Inn!  We stayed in the "Charles Dickens" room where they had chocolates on our pillow and a little cheese and fruit tray to enjoy!  We went swimming at the Homestead mineral pools and hiked up the crater.  The next morning we ran up the canyon part way along the golf course.  It was beautiful and chilly!  I really really do love crisp cold air.

I can't even believe the breakfast we had.  It was the BEST french toast I have EVER had in my life. Homemade cinnamon swirl brioche french toast, whipped hot chocolate, and homemade fresh granola. Kent had some crazy nice steak, eggs, and potatoes.  I'm salivating just thinking about it.  The Inn is part four star restaurant so I told him we MUST go back for breakfast sometime.

Later in the afternoon we met the kiddos and kent's parents in Heber for lunch at the "dairy keen" where they've got running trains running along the top of the restaurant and toy trains to play with.  The boys were in heaven.

Ike just kept saying "woooow! woooow!".

It was soooo nice to have a break from everything! Thanks, kent!

home again, home again, jiggity jig.

Things I must do now that we are back in holy toledo:

1. despoil my kidlets afters eight days of lavish attention from oodles of family and friends. is this possible? any suggestions?!

2. re sleep train the family. The rugrats went to bed at 11 last night- and that was AFTER a long travel filled day. At least we all slept in until 9:45!

3.  somehow try and adjust to this hellish humidity. Just when I was all acclimatized and not so terribly miserable- we go to the lovely land of dry crisp mountain air-  and then return to temps in the 90s with the heat index above 100.

4. unpack, unpack, unpack.  There's nothing worse.

5. Re-regulate to not having Kent with me every second of every day!

6. and lose the fifteen pounds I gained because of constant eating!!  I already miss the good food- but at least now I won't be tempted so much!

It's going to be a rough week- but the trip was worth all of the hassle of coming home!  It was one of the nicest vacations we've had to Utah in awhile.  The time went by so fast and we loved every second.

Our first few days were full of food and family.  

 I'm not sure where mum is in this picture- but it's a good one of the fam.  We got a new little point and shoot camera while we were there- and I think that I like it.  Most importantly it's drop proof, dust proof, and totally waterproof (up to ten feet). I'm not very kind to little cameras so I thought I'd try for an indestructible one this time!

Bottom row- my little sisters Metta and Daysa- and standing up is dad.  Everytime we went out to do something I kept looking for Laney and Tayor.  We all missed them a lot- especially since she went and had her baby while we were there!

Ike found a ball within minutes of our arrival to Nannie Annie's house!

 And Zeb found the trampoline. He had been talking about it for weeks before we left.

I can't wait for a nice backyard to relax in and let the kids run wild in!  I also can't wait for my very own lawn to mow!!  My dad got a riding lawn mower and I was a little disappointed.  I love mowing the lawn but I don't do the riding thing. Zeb was not disappointed at ALL, though.

Our first night in town we went to the Lehi Roundup Rodeo.  It's been awhile since I've been to the rodeo and I loved it.  Especially since Lehi is full of real cowboys. It was quite the fashion show!

Zeb was EXHAUSTED and tried to fall asleep a few times- but he must have enjoyed it because it's the one thing he keeps bringing up day after day.   There were some motorcycle stunt riders that performed and had him wide eyed (and ear covered).

 Here's a really nice picture of auntie daysa! She watched our kiddos a gazillion times- thanks days!  I think Zeb must get his quasimodo eye from her.

And here's my little monster.  He got quite spoiled by attention while we were there and he's already had multiple meltdowns when I'm slow to respond to his requests here. It's going to be rough.

we're home!

We are finally home and EXHAUSTED!!  and while we were away- Laney had her baby!  She wasn't due until the 11th of this month - but she had a baby GIRL on June 30th.

Welcome baby Milly!!

 My favorite part of the birth story is that when the doctor had Taylor tell Laney the gender of the baby (they didn't know beforehand) he said, "Henry has a little brother!" and the doctor said- "maybe you should check that one more time". 

reasons I've missed some blogging days.

1. Zeb NEVER naps (he hasn't for almost a year) but today was out cold on the couch.  We have been going NON-stop the last three days and it finally caught up to him.  We went into extra innings last night at our softball game and didn't get home until ten-thirty. The kids were pooped, but we won :)  Plus- today we went to a fabulous pool party and played our hearts out!

Oh, and on a sidenote- do you see the new gash on the side of his head (not the old one under his eye)? It has a matching cut on his opposite eyelid.  He tried to cut his face with a pair of scissors?!?!  We were working on Kent's father's day present last week and while I was washing paint of of Ike's hands- Zeb grabbed the scissors and went nutso on me.  I have no idea what he was attempting.

 2. I've been taking care of this little creature and he's a lot of work :).  We had a relief society activity about gardening and I won this tomato plant to take home. I am NOT a gardener but I've been assured that tomato plants are very hearty.  I have a feeling that if anyone can kill one, it's me.  Although this plant has survived some pretty crazy storms already and I'm hoping for a tomato plant miracle.

 

 3. this weather. It's a beast. It kills me. Totally knocks me out.  Today it actually got to ninety and was wicked humid- so really it felt faaaaar worse.  When it's 90 with crazy rain and lightning storms- you know it's muggy. Tonight there are more crazy storms coming in so we may be in for a long one.  Two nights ago the lightning was setting off the car alarms in the parking lots!   I just hope we don't have to spend the night in the bath tub.

Wed

                                                                         88°F | 72°F

What a splendid day with a splendid family.

Happy Father's day, kent. You are amazing. 

The boys had ghiradelli's double chocolate muffins for breakfast (they are one of the only chocolate things on earth that I DON'T like!) and we all enjoyed wonderful roast beef with mashed potatoes and gravy for dinner. I don't think we've had red meat in the house for at least a year but Father's Day was a definite reason for a pot roast!  Kent also got SPOILED with presents. Zeb kept asking if it was his birthday!

 After naps we went to the 577 foundation to enjoy some outdoor time in the semi pleasant weather.

I LOVE Ike's feet in these shoes.

 

We hiked a little trail down to the river for an "adventure"- and when we finally got back to the car Zeb aptly called it "our mosquito adventure".  It was a mosquito nightmare.  Those devilish dipterans feasted on our blood.

cutest MONSTER kid ever.

 What a wonderful weekend so far. Yesterday we spent the afternoon with friends and at the best yard sale ever.  Check out this amazing costume I got for two dollars. yep, two bucks.  I'm obsessed.  Isn't he the most adorable little monster in the world? 

I asked Kent to forbid me from any more sales and he replied: "but you get such great deals!".  He better not complain when in a few years he has to call TLC and put me on the show "hoarders".  Actually- I'm very good to only get kids clothes and shoes.  I rarely get toys and don't ever buy housewares.

Yesterday we also enjoyed a fab workout and free delicious smoothies with friends. In honor of national flip flop day, Tropical Smoothie Cafe was giving away FREE smoothies to flip flop wearers. We missed it last year and I was super bummed.  This year we loved every sip of our smoothies.

This morning continued to be wonderful. I LOVE saturday mornings when Kent is home and we can all go to the gym together. He took the kiddos and I ran there to meet them.  Lately running with my double jogger has been causing some ridiculous pain problems for me- so getting in some long runs by myself is wonderful.  And it certainly doesn't hurt that this is the view from the bridge I run! I absolutely love toledo and the green and the views.

 Plus- when I ran past Fort Meigs- some sort of crazy event called "Muster on the Maumee" was going on. I did not take this picture- but I did see this man and I am very lucky to have found this picture online from the event's website.  What a costume, huh?

Thank heavens the weather has been calmer this week. It's still muggy- but I must have acclimatized somewhat in the past three years- because it isn't intolerable.

We've been spending less time at the pool and more time the park- which I much prefer.  I think the kids do to.  Zeb went under the water last week at the pool and won't stop talking about how he "can't talk under water".  I think it made him pretty nervous!

Although by the looks on their faces today at the park you'd think they don't like being there much, either!

Lately at the park Zeb has been making lots of little piles and playing "cemertery".  There are lots of cemeteries around here and we pass them frequently so we talk about them a lot.  I guess he's just translating that into his playing, but it's kind of creepy when he tells his friends that he's making spots for them to die.