Utah

The main reason we moved to Boise was to be central to family. We're 4 hours from Kathryn, 8 hours from my family in Oregon, 5 hours from Salt Lake, where we have lots of family, 8 hours from Josh's family in Seattle. It's perfect. So I had plans in my mind of summers spent roadtripping to all these places. Quick weekends here and there to Kathryn's. Moab with my mom every summer, camping in the mountains, and so much more. So when I think about leaving it all behind, my heart does break a little. Since we won't get to make it to Utah this summer as planned, and we hadn't been there yet, I decided to make a quick weekend trip to visit my grandma. Jayden and Sidney wanted to come, so they went down with me while Josh stayed with Tanner. We had the best time!

 

Utah, here we come!

 

I gave the kids some choices of what to do. The new aquarium was their choice. It was fantastic! I told them my cousin worked there building it and putting all the displays together, so that was pretty cool! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a huge penguin exhibit. We loved it, they were building nests, so they were busy waddling around. 

4-D show! 

 

Jayden touched a sting ray. 

Sharks! 

 

 

 

 

We got to spend some time with Grandma Lou. My kids hadn't seen her since they were babies, so it was fun for me to have them spend a little time together. They were on their best behavior. 

Miriam met us there, but any pictures we have with her are on her phone. 

This might be my favorite picture ever. 

They had fun playing with her wheelchair. 

 

 My good friend, Kylee, from Houston recently moved to Utah, so we stopped to have dinner with her at her house. Café Rio to go, of course! She is one of the sweetest people I've ever known, her kindness and patience with her children amazes me.

 We also went to Temple Square. It was gorgeous with all the spring flowers in bloom. We loved being there.

 

How can the Salt Lake Temple not be special to me? I remember going as a child with my family and hearing how my ancestors helped build it. I hope to be able to instill that same love in my children.

 

 

 

We had just enough time before it closed to run over to the Conference Center for our own personal tour. The kids had no idea we could see it in person. To them, it's just something they see on TV every few months, so to be able to stand there was pretty amazing. Jayden said, "I keep pinching myself. I just can't believe I'm actually here!" 

 

We stayed with my aunt, who greeted us with a balloon. 

We met Clayton for breakfast. We listened to his latest crazy outdoor adventure stories. He's a busy and active guy, was good to see him. 

He brought his girlfriend along, and it was fun to meet her. 

One more stop at Grandma's before hitting the road home. 

Reading stories about Grandma. 

I was telling them when I was a kid she lived down the road from 7-11. She would give us money to walk up there and buy a treat. Always Slurpees and Fun Dip. So of course they wanted to know what a Slurpee was, so we stopped at that 7-11 and got some. She doesn't live in that house anymore, but she's not too far from it. Before we went into the store, they said, "Mom, tell us if it's different inside, or if it's the same." I couldn't quite remember.

 

Slurpee approval! It was a fantastic and perfect weekend. Sidney was really jamming out and dancing to music on the drive home, it was awesome!



Utah

About a month ago my grandma got really sick with pneumonia and was hospitalized.  I hadn't seen her in about 2 1/2 years, so I thought I'd go for a visit.  My cousin was also getting married, so I was glad to be able to go and see some family and have a mini vacation with just me and Tanner.

 

Grandma Lou improved in the hospital and is now in a rehab center, working on her walking.  She is improving little by little.  She's at a great center.  She has changed a lot since I last saw her.  With her declining health, she is pretty miserable and is lonely.  I feel so bad, I wish I lived closer.  I have a cousin who goes every day and spends hours with her, she is awesome!  She has been updating every day on Facebook her progress so we can see how she is doing.  Even though Grandma is a lot different from the grandma I knew, there are little things about her that reminds me she is still my cute and funny grandma.  For instance, she might be eating her meals like a bird these days, but she finishes her dessert every time.  I can thank her for my sweet tooth.  She is lonely and sad a lot, but when she smiles and giggles a little, she is still Grandma.  She is so funny, she wasn't getting along with her roommate, so she switched rooms.  I pointed out to my brother, who is about to get a new roommate, that roommate issues never go away.  Ha!  It was funny to hear her complain about how she didn't like her roommate.

 

When I arrived one day she was getting a perm.  It was so cute.  They have a little salon, where a stylist comes in twice a week.  She was so nice, I'm glad she is being well taken care of.

 

My cousin, Danielle, got married in the Salt Lake Temple.  She was so pretty, she looked like Rapunzel.  I so rarely get to make it to family occasions, it was a real treat.

Miriam and Clayton live in Salt Lake and Kathryn came down from Idaho Falls.  She and I spent most of the weekend together.  We had a great time, it was so nice to be able to spend time together.

 

Tanner made a great travel companion.  We had a blast.

 

Before I left, Jayden asked me if I was going to see the Salt Lake Temple and if I would take a picture of it.  I missed the wedding, so Kathryn and I went to Temple Square so I could get a picture.  The kids always like to touch the temple, so I had to let Tanner touch it.

I wanted to get pictures of as many of the temples as I could for the kids, but only ended up being able to stop at the Bountiful Temple.

My high school friend and college roommate, Janean, came down to see me as well.  She married Josh's roommate, and we had the greatest time together in college.  It was so fun to see her, just like old times.

 

I spent a couple hours with my other grandparents, but didn't get any pictures there.  Tanner loved my Grandpa Mortensen, though.  He just laughed and laughed at him for no reason, and my grandpa soaked it up, it was really cute.  I also met up with my friend, Michelle, for lunch one day, who used to live here.  It was fun to catch up.  It was a really busy trip, but it was so much fun.