Utah Trip Day's 5-7

On Wednesday we went for a hike up to Stewart Falls.  It took us a while to find where the trail started but we didn't give up.  It was 2 miles in and 2 miles out.  Not the easiest hike but the girls did great.  It was well worth to get to the falls.  Everything was beautiful. 

I can see why people love Utah.

 Stewart Falls 

 McKenna saw her sisters go across the water and she had to join them.  She didn't realize that the water was FREEZING.  She was crying the whole way back.

 Almost across

 Livie enjoying the quiet and peaceful sound of the water.

 Maya doing what she does best - exploring.

Relaxing before we head back.

 

After we got back we grabbed some dinner to take back to the hotel.  We ate, rested and headed to the hotel pool.  The girls only lasted a short while since they were so tired out from the hike.  Not to mention that we had been staying up every night playing.

 

Thursday we spent the day at the water park with the Olsen's.  They had the Pass of all Passes as well so we all took advantage.  The girls had a great time. 

 Look at all these cute kids.

During the week, I got a text from Alexa.  She sent me this picture of herself before a dance she was going to.  Made my day.  I was really missing her.  She sure is growing up.

After the water park we came home, cleaned up, ate and met the Olsen's at another Pass of All Passes place.

The girls wanted to rid on this little ride over and over. 

I think she's having fun.

Maya was the only one that wanted to try the rock climbing wall. 

 Waiting in line for the go-carts.

 Look at this cutey - Crew

 Jeannie and Reese 

 Livie and Me

 Maya and Hayden

 

 While the big kids played Laser tag, McKenna jumped back on this and couldn't get enough.

 One last ride before it was time to leave.

 Jeannie, Crew and Me.  Love this lady.  She is so much fun and I don't know anyone that wouldn't agree with me.  I always feel like not time has passed when we get together.  Thanks Jean, for taking time out of your busy schedule to play with us.  I can't wait to do it again.

Since Tim had to fly through Salt Lake for his trip, he had to fly back home through Salt Lake.  He decided to end his flight there and spend our last night with us and help drive back home.  Which I was thrilled.  So Friday we headed up to Salt Lake to do some more site seeing and pick him up from the airport. 

The girls standing at the doors of the Salt Lake Temple.

 The girls wanted a picture with these flowers behind them.

 And then with me also. 

 We toured the Beehive house and then on to the Church History Museum which was really great.  I wish we had more time.  We'll definitely have to go back. 

 Maya and McKenna were in charge of the camera.

 A replica of the ship that the LDS saints took to get to America.  We were told that the captains loved taking Mormons because they were so organized and easy to travel.

 A small bunk to show where the families slept on the ship.  Except they slept more than one person like McKenna is showing here.

 Great picture, McKenna.  Have I mentioned how much I love these girls.  I can't believe how big they are getting.

 They had a children's area that was all about the Book of Mormon.  The girls go to dress up and dance around and see themselves on the screen.  I had a hard time getting them out of this room. 

 After picking up Tim we headed over to my brother, Bart's house.  He is in the middle of adding a whole other floor to their house.  Such a huge project, I was overwhelmed just by looking at it.  He's very capable and I know it's going to turn out great.  They will love the extra space.  We left the kids home and the adults went out to eat.  It was nice to have a moment with just adults after being with the girls by myself for the week.  After dinner we took the kids over to a park by Bart and Marie's house.  It was great.  So much space to run and play with green and mountain's all around.  I loved it.  The kids had a great time.  We played a little hide and seek, catch and just sat around and talked.  I was so glad it worked out the way it did.  Marie was at girl's camp all week so I had planned on getting together with them Friday so I could see Marie and the girls that were at camp.  Then it was even better that Tim was able to come with us. 

Here's cute Grace.  Isn't she cute?  She's so much fun.

 Tim enjoying the nice cool evening weather - much different from AZ.

 Andrea, Uncle Bart and Olivia

 Porter (I think.)  Gosh, this was a few months ago and their kids grow up too fast, I was always afraid I would call the younger ones by their older siblings names because that's the age the older ones were when I saw them last.  Ugh!  Time goes by so fast. 

Anyway, isn't this a great trick?  He's in gymnastics now, are you even surprised?

One more day and our trip will be over.  But I'm going to bed now so I'll have to post it later.

 

Utah Trip Days 1 - 4

We started summer off real quick.  The week after school was out we headed up to Utah.  Alexa was going to EFY (Especially For Youth - a church program up at BYU for kids 14-18.  Lot's of motivational classes, activities and dances.)  Since she was going up to Utah and most of our girls haven't been to Utah we decided to make a week of it.  We first went up to stay with Grandma and Grandpa Gibb in Prescott to shorten the length of the drive.  The girls always love going up there.  On Saturday we drove up to American Fork and stayed with the Dad's life long best friend, Marque Trosper and his ADORABLE family.  It was so great to see them and they were so hospitable.  We spent Saturday evening and Sunday with them.  They live in a great ward - we felt very welcome there.  As you can tell by the picture, Maya fell in LOVE with their baby, Dax.  And McKenna and Leah acted like they had been friends for years.  I just hate that we live so far.  It felt like visiting family.  Marque and Sarah were so gracious to let us stay there.  We just wish Tim would have been with us but he had to work.  Marque and Sarah even made sure that we could see more friends.  Jason Valderrama (another childhood friend of Tim's) and his family came over Sunday evening.  It was so fun to visit with them and again the kids just got along so great like they had known each other for years.  Such a great start to our trip.  On Monday morning we got Alexa over to BYU to check in for EFY, said our good byes and headed off for lunch.  Then we headed to our hotel where we would be staying for the week.  Before we left I got a groupon called the Pass of All Passes.  I couldn't believe what a great deal it was.  We were able to do so many fun things while we were there.  Monday evening after dinner we went over to a mini golf place and got to do all the fun attractions there (for free with our passes.)

Livie and Dax playing (the few times someone else got to hold him besides, Maya.)

Livie playing with Dax.  I could just eat him up, he's so darling.

The girls, Leah and Dax

Tuesday ended up being kind of a fun surprise.  We found out that Tim's work trip changed and he would be flying through Salt Lake.  So we headed up to Salt Lake on Tuesday to spend the day site seeing and touring the temple and whatever else we could fit in.  We picked Tim up and had lunch with him. 

Maya was the photographer so I'm not sure about what all the pictures were from.

This picture is in the Salt Lake Temple visitor center. 

 These girls are so darling.  It was so fun to walk around with them and I think they loved everything we saw.

 The Tabernacle.  We didn't get to go in because the time we were taking the tour was the same time someone was rehearsing for a concert so we couldn't go in.  Too bad.  Just another reason to go back.  It's been years since I've been there.

 Seagulls.  If you don't know much about Mormon History, this is one of my favorite stories.  The fact that Seagulls showed up in Utah, of all places, was a definite miracle.  So glad Maya took this picture.

 While we were on our tour of Temple Square there was a couple who were not members that were in our group.  It was so interesting to listen to the tour and looking at it from their perspective.  I appreciated all their questions and also loved that they had a genuine interest and not a Bible bashing sort of attitude.  They seemed to know quite a bit but still had those questions

of things they've "heard".

 I seriously need the gardeners they have on Temple Square.

 Back in the Visitor Center

Olivia

 McKenna

 This must have struck Maya.  It's fun to look back at these pictures and see what Maya enjoyed.

 Then we toured the Conference Center.  Such an incredible place.  President Hinckley had quite a vision.  It's amazing all the work that went into this place.

 Beautiful artwork everywhere.

 I have always loved this picture but the size of this was incredible.

 Inside the Conference Center.  I love that any organization can come and use the center for concerts or whatever they need.  The only requirement is that they abide by the same

standards the church does. 

 On the roof of the conference center.  I wish I would have taken notes of everything they told us.  Just the roof itself was amazing.  All the trees and water features. 

 AND the view of the temple from the roof top.

After the site seeing in Salt Lake we headed back down and visited my dear friend, Jeannie Olsen and her family.  We met when we lived in WA.  We moved to Tucson, and then they came a while later.  Then we moved to AR and a few years later they moved to Utah.  But we have kept in touch.  Some of my very favorite people.  I couldn't go with out seeing them.  Again, the kids seemed to have a great time with friends they hadn't seen in YEARS.

 And McKenna!  Sadly I guess I didn't take any more pictures that night.  Not to worry.  We got to spend more time with the Olsen's during the week.  More pictures to come.