Just a warning: this is a doozy of a post.
Technically, we had our last-day-of-school party three days early because the kids and I left for the States! Brandon and I made the decision back when we were still in the throws of moving and getting used to everything and, at the time, it sounded like a relief to get away from the craziness.
The 10 hour red-eye to Paris went quickly--we slept almost the entire way--and although our next flight was delayed two hours, we found a play area in the airport and the time went by quickly. Our 11-hour flight to SLC went smoothly, too: I basically let the kids watch as much as they wanted and sleep whenever they were tired. (Can we just pause to acknowledge that the kids and I traveled to and from the US without mishap? Alle-freakin-luia!) My Dad picked us up from the airport and treated us to dinner at Leatherby's (in which some of us ate nothing but ice cream) and, aside from some snoozing in the car, we all managed to stay awake until bedtime. Success!
A few days later drove to Manti to meet up with Seth and fam and see the pageant in its last year. I saw it when I was younger and it was apparent that the pageant hasn't been changed at all since its creation. The kids each napped through various parts of it.
Then we headed to the ranch, via Cove Fort, and three lovely days at the Young family reunion. There have been very few instances in the kids' lives where they could come and go and play unencumbered and this was one of them. We couldn't get enough! We rode horses, fed the animals, went fishing and canoeing, shot at targets, hit a pinata, performed a skit, and got to know family we haven't seen in years. It was wonderful!
Some highlights from the rest of our time in America (that have picture proof) included....
The Strawberry Days rodeo:
Cascade Springs:
A tour of Mrs. Cavanaugh's Chocolate Factory (in which we got double samples and free ice cream at the end because we were stuck with a summer camp for the first half of the tour):
The Provo Pioneer Museum and Village:
Picnicking at Bridal Veil Falls:
An impromptu reunion with all my siblings and their families (minus Chelon--we missed you!):
A tour of Moon's Rare Books:
Our first real Independence Day celebration since moving abroad:
Visited Scales and Tails with friends:
Hiked with Mike and Keli (and fam):
The sculpture garden at Thanksgiving Point:
And so much more! It was so great to have so much cousin time, see good friends, eat amazing food (pupusas three times!) and everything else America has to offer.
With such a full summer, we were more than ready to go home to Brandon. I came back determined to like it here and thus far, it's working.
Technically, we had our last-day-of-school party three days early because the kids and I left for the States! Brandon and I made the decision back when we were still in the throws of moving and getting used to everything and, at the time, it sounded like a relief to get away from the craziness.
The 10 hour red-eye to Paris went quickly--we slept almost the entire way--and although our next flight was delayed two hours, we found a play area in the airport and the time went by quickly. Our 11-hour flight to SLC went smoothly, too: I basically let the kids watch as much as they wanted and sleep whenever they were tired. (Can we just pause to acknowledge that the kids and I traveled to and from the US without mishap? Alle-freakin-luia!) My Dad picked us up from the airport and treated us to dinner at Leatherby's (in which some of us ate nothing but ice cream) and, aside from some snoozing in the car, we all managed to stay awake until bedtime. Success!
A few days later drove to Manti to meet up with Seth and fam and see the pageant in its last year. I saw it when I was younger and it was apparent that the pageant hasn't been changed at all since its creation. The kids each napped through various parts of it.
Then we headed to the ranch, via Cove Fort, and three lovely days at the Young family reunion. There have been very few instances in the kids' lives where they could come and go and play unencumbered and this was one of them. We couldn't get enough! We rode horses, fed the animals, went fishing and canoeing, shot at targets, hit a pinata, performed a skit, and got to know family we haven't seen in years. It was wonderful!
The milking shed! It probably won't be there much longer.
Some highlights from the rest of our time in America (that have picture proof) included....
The Strawberry Days rodeo:
Cascade Springs:
A tour of Mrs. Cavanaugh's Chocolate Factory (in which we got double samples and free ice cream at the end because we were stuck with a summer camp for the first half of the tour):
The Provo Pioneer Museum and Village:
Picnicking at Bridal Veil Falls:
An impromptu reunion with all my siblings and their families (minus Chelon--we missed you!):
A tour of Moon's Rare Books:
Daniel Radcliffe's quidditch robe from the movie!
Our first real Independence Day celebration since moving abroad:
Chuck Norris at the Provo parade?!
Possibly the first year we've done fireworks without a child in tears.
Visited Scales and Tails with friends:
Hiked with Mike and Keli (and fam):
The sculpture garden at Thanksgiving Point:
And so much more! It was so great to have so much cousin time, see good friends, eat amazing food (pupusas three times!) and everything else America has to offer.
It's so hard to say goodbye!
With such a full summer, we were more than ready to go home to Brandon. I came back determined to like it here and thus far, it's working.
