First Part of the Utah Trip!

For months we have been telling the kids that we were going to go to vacation in Homer, AK this year because it was way too expensive for us to fly to Utah.  But after the finances all seemed to fall into place for a trip to Utah Nate and I decided to surprise the kids and keep talking about the Homer trip.  Nichole figured out that we were going to Utah when we landed for our layover in Denver, CO.  The other two didn't figure it out until we got to the gate in Denver and it said that we were going to SLC.  Ella on the other hand didn't figure it out until she saw Nate's mom at the airport.  She almost had it all put together in her head.  We were flying over The Great Salt Lake and Ella says we are over the water and Nate said year it is a lake and its great and its salty.  Ella said like Salt Lake City are we going to Utah?  I said what did you say Ella and she said never mind and didn't mention it again.  The kids went from pouty and frowny about going to Homer to way excited, happy, smiley kids when they realized where we were going.  Both of Nate's parents had to pick us up from the airport because there wasn't enough room for all of us in 1 car.  Then we went to Nate's parents house.  We hung out there for a while and then I went to my parents house and Nate took the kids to visit his grandparents.  Later that night Nate came and picked me up and dropped off the kids for the big day!

Which was race day!  The kids love Pioneer Day in Utah.  The kids always run in the Mapleton fun run.  Tyler and Ella ran the 1 mile with their cousin Ryan.  Natalie, Nichole, Joy, Caleb and my Dad ran the 5k.  They all did really good.  I am so proud of all of them for running the race and doing the best that they could running it.

After the races we hurried home and got prepared for the Mapleton City Parade.  Every year this little parade gets bigger and bigger.  Half of the parade is different wards and the primary kids dressed up and riding their bikes or sitting on a float waving at everyone and chanting "Throw us candy! Throw us candy!"  That parade lasted almost an hour.  Which was about 4 times longer then it usually lasts.

After the parade the kids went to the town carnival and the adults went to eat at Cracker Barrel.  The kids had a blast at the carnival.  They all came home with their face painted and fun prizes.

After the carnival we had a picnic at my parents house.  All of my family was there and it was so nice for us all to get together.  It has probably been 3 years since we were all together.  We had a nice little BBQ with hamburgers and hot dogs and all of the typical BBQ fixins.

And the kids had a blast filling up and throwing water balloons at each other. 

Later that evening we went to the park for a picnic to celebrate Grandpa Swenson's 85th birthday!  The kids ran around in the hot summer sun and enjoyed a great dinner.  They also got to hang out with all of the cousins. (Nate has 4 aunts and uncles and all 4 of them are married). He has 14 cousins and their spouses and their kids needless to say where a lot of people there celebrating grandpa!

Ella spent a lot of time decorating this play house made out of a box that Pam's new dishwasher came in.  After the picnic we went back to Pam's house.

After all of the outside sun time Natalie started feeling not very well at all.  She went to bed that night at 6:30 and slept until the next day.  She ended up missing some fun fireworks.

The next day was Sunday and we spent the day at church and then went over to Grandma and Grandpa Swenson's house for dinner.  Two of the kids favorite things to do over at The Swenson's is ride the 4 wheelers and collect the eggs that the chicken's lay.  On this trip Tyler learned how to drive the 4 wheeler himself. He had to show off his new found skill by driving everyone around the fields.  He drove me out to the middle of the field and then the 4 wheeler ran out of gas and we had to walk back to farm.

On Monday, Spanish Fork was throwing the 24th of July celebration.  Nate and the kids went to the very, very long parade and I hung out with my mom and sister.  After the parade my mom took me to The Musil's so that I could eat burgers at the bbq they put together to celebrate pioneer day. 
Later that night Nate and I went with my parents to Evanston, WY.  We went there to go to a steak house (yeah we drove 90 minutes for a steak).  The dinner was fantastic.  It started with a relish tray.  Then they brought out bread and butter.  Followed by a bowl of French Onion Soup.  Next was the salad and then the main course.  My mom and I shared our meals.  I got a Fillet Minon.  It was huge, 4 in. tall and about 6 in. around.  My mom got the snow crab legs.  It came with at least 5 crab bunches. I got a side of onion rings to go with it.  Then for dessert they brought out a cinnamon pastry.  Mouth watering right?   I can't recall going out with just my parents and Nate before.  The drive was beautiful.  We drove through the Provo Canyon.  We saw a 2 point buck standing off the side of the road.  I got to talk to my mom and dad about their childhood and I heard stories that I had never heard from them before.

On Tuesday we spent more time with Nate's Grandparents.  Followed by a trip to Price to go and see Matt and Rachel's new house.  We had dinner there and after dinner we went to the park.  The kids, Matt, Rachel, and Nate ran around and played tagged.

On the way home from Price there was a beautiful sunset.  Whenever I move to a new place I always think that the new place has the most beautiful sunset.  I have come to the realization that no matter where you are at the sunset is just beautiful. 

The following day Nate left Utah to head back to Utah and I moved our party to my parents house for the rest of the Utah trip.