Family Vacay

Luckily we were able to find a small window of time that we could all take a quick trip up to Utah to visit family.  Although it was short, we packed it full of fun.  We slept in and took our time getting there, and even made a pit stop at the salt flats which we haven't done for a few years.

Matt picked up a free souvenir to take home....and a few someones just had to taste it to see if it was really salty.  Maybe a few licks by some :/

We made it to my parents house later in the evening on Wednesday. 

The main reason for our trip was to visit my parents but we also wanted to plan some fun things together since it will most likely be our only time to be all together before new jobs/promotions start.  We decided to take a trip to the local water park (something our kids have never experienced).

We found a seven peaks resort close to my parents house (it used to be raging waters, the same water park that I went to when I was in Jr. high)  They really haven't done much to upkeep it, and I was a little disappointed.  We hit the slides hard all day long.

Other than the occasional pit stop for water, we rode those slides ALL day.  Sadi surprised me the most, and was pretty fearless....she actually tried slides I was too afraid to go on. 

Later that night Matt and I had dinner with some friends I work with at SB (I neglected to get any pictures).  It was fun to introduce Matt and get caught up with all of them.  Thursday we headed to Gardner Village for the day.

It's such a cute little place with all kinds of little shops.  My sister and niece met us there for the day.  I had read about this fairy hunt that sounded like something Sadi would love to do.  Turns out it was pretty fun for everyone.

Hidden throughout the village there were 26 fairies in jars from A-Z.  The challenge was to walk around and find the whole alphabet.

We had fun shopping and fairy hunting all afternoon.

We found one of the cutest little fairies....

Once you had found all 26 fairies it was time to head to the wishing bridge.

You had to repeat the magic words as you tied your ribbon to the bridge, or your wish won't come true.

After we had made our wishes we headed to my sister's new house out in Herriman to spend the rest of the day.  My sister hosted all of my family (those who were in town) for dinner.  I again neglected to take any photos, I think I was just having so much fun visiting I forgot.

Chase and Sadi loved playing with little Knox and Aceleigh (Jake and Sierra's kids).

Since we were celebrating mine and Jake's birthday my sister planned a few fun games, and even made my favorite..cheesecake! 

Saturday was my birthday, and our last day in town.  I couldn't think of anything I really wanted to do so that morning I decided a trip to Hogle zoo might be fun for everyone.  Susan, Tori, Knox, and even Grandpa and Grandma joined us.

They were having some huge bug exhibit happening while we were there.  This might just be me biggest nightmare....

The zoo is a lot smaller than I had remembered it being.  Sadi was really looking forward to seeing some penguins...no luck.  We did get to see some other fun animals, including watching some bears playing in the water, and a live feeding of some owls (again I was so caught up in the moment no pictures).

 

I think we all enjoyed spending time with this cutie, and watching him get so excited seeing all those animals.

 

I love all these animals.....

 

 

It was the perfect weather, not too hot and even a bit on the cooler side.  We took our time seeing everything and even took in a bird show which was fun. And what kid can resist this huge water ball?

I'm not sure this is the original lion water fountain from when I was a kid, but it sure did bring back some memories.  Who doesn't want to stick their head in a lions mouth?

After a full day at the zoo we headed back to my parents house to drop the kids before heading out for a birthday dinner.  Susan and Luckie met  Matt and I for dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings.  Our waitress made sure I got a birthday recognition.

After dinner we headed back to my parents house.  We continued the birthday celebration with shakes in the backyard with Grandpa and Grandma (Grandma wasn't feeling well so she opted out of ice cream). 

As the party ended, so did our vacation and it was back on the road home the next morning. 

Not Forgotten

Memorial day we went to visit Grandpa at the Veteran's cemetery.  It was a beautiful day, filled with a sea of flags across the entire lawn.

Missing him still, and wishing he was still with us.

OUT

We are officially out of school for summer!!!  Woo Hoo!  Our last day of school was the Friday before Memorial day weekend.  We headed to school early so we could deliver some gifts to some of our favorite teachers.  We made Miss Bailey this framed quote with all her students signatures on it.

 We also made these little buckets for all the teachers to thank them for helping my kids with their "bucket list".

Then it was time for the obligatory last day of school picture with the teachers.  I love getting the first day and last day of school pictures to compare how much they have changed.  Chase saying goodbye to 6th grade, and Miss Schweisow,

and Sadi said goodbye to the best 4th grade teacher ever, Miss Bailey. 

The morning was spent at the LONGEST assembly ever....honestly it is just so many awards!  Chase was recognized as a kids court judge, honor roll, having straight A's all year, being a coder for our schools Lego robotic team, and being the only student from our school to represent the middle school's wrestling team.

Sadi got all A honor roll as well, and got a special recognition for being in Leadership.

After the assembly it was yearbook signing in the multi purpose room.  Last chance to get those girls numbers :)

Although it was a half day my kids were ready to leave before that final bell rang, and  I was more than happy to start summer.  As we left I realized that this is the last time Chase would be leaving this school as a student.  Out the door to bigger things.....

Moving Day

Saturday was moving day for Kelsey.  We headed up to Reno midday to help lug all her stuff home for the summer.  It's nice that she gets to leave after everyone else has moved out of the dorm and makes parking/moving a breeze compared to that first year moving...honestly none of us will forget that nightmare.

Her room left just as she found it a few months ago....

Room 461 ready for the next resident assistant to move it.

Next year she will be moving back to Argenta Hall where she spent her very first year on campus as a Freshman, but she will be moving in as the new resident assistant.  So leaving this year she really was saying goodbye forever to Peavine Hall.  In just 10 weeks we get to move it all back again :/

Nearing the End

With the end of school rapidly approaching, it seem the last few weeks of school become a blur.  The first week of May was teacher appreciation and we put together a little thank you for all the teachers we have (5 this year between 2 kids).  I kept it simple with some Donut coffee and donuts tied up with a little tag that read: "DONUT know what I would do without a teacher like you!"

This year I only decorated one door for the week, Sadi's 4th grade teacher Miss Bailey.  She loves the outdoors and is even in the record book for shooting the largest bear in the state.  I knew I wanted to do something with a bear.  Turned out super cute, and she loved it!

Finals were rapidly approaching for Kelsey so I made a little gift to send up to her to get her through the last hurdle of the year.

A study sack that read: "Orange you glad your almost finished".  Inside I packed some "necessities" to survive those last tests.

There has been so many activities at school I have been helping at.  The sixth graders had a painting day at school where they painted legacy tiles that I helped with.

This was Chase's finished tile...his legacy.

Once they are fired, they will be shipped back to the school and hung in legacy hallway.  This is a fun tradition they started just a few years ago.

Speaking of legacy, they FINALLY installed the marquee that my Booster board bought last year.  It looks amazing, and makes me smile every time I see it.

The leadership students put on an under the sea themed dance for the 3-6 graders.  Sadi is on the Leadership board and got to work a shift at the dance. 

Although many kids were just standing around, Sadi was tearing up the dance floor with her friends.  I had a flash to the future and her at dances quite frankly it scares me.

It seems like they cram so much into the last few weeks of school that it becomes exhausting  to keep up.  We have had career day, college day(represented our favorite), the walk-a-thon, talent show, fun in the sun, and parties for leadership, kids court, testing, and just about everything you can think of.

ONE. MORE. WEEK.  The countdowns on!

Mother's Day Bliss

My Mother's day weekend was amazing!  We rented a cabin at lake Tahoe for the weekend.  I knew about it a week or so in advance so I had been counting down the days with anticipation.  We left Friday afternoon right after Matt got off work.  He had got an amazing new job offer (big promotion) right before leaving for the day which made it even more of a celebration weekend.  We checked into our cute little two room cabin early Friday afternoon.

We have never stayed there so we weren't really sure what we were getting into.  I was more that pleasantly surprised.  We were literally a stones throw from the lake.   This is the view from the front of our cabin.

There was a bedroom with three beds (two twin beds, and one double).  It was looking like it was going to be a cozy night.

Our bathroom was hilariously small.  I could not stop laughing at this itty bitty shower.  It made me laugh later too when I was taking a shower imagining how Matt was going to maneuver in there.  There was barely room to lift your arms to wash your hair.

We had a full kitchen (tiny but with a full fridge, table and 4 chairs, and even stove and microwave).  Included with our stay was this beautiful setup: champagne and orange juice, chocolates, flowers, and a half dozen breakfast danishes.

The main living area of the cabin had a full size couch, two rockers, and a fireplace. 

Also included with our cabin stay was a gift certificate to the Beacon grill which is located right on the water, and conveniently a 2 minute walk from our cabin along the beach.  We played on the beach for awhile and walked out on the boardwalk that looked back on our cabin.

We even ran into a few critters playing under the dock.  I was totally mesmerized by these guys.  I have never seen a raccoon in the wild so I could have watched them all night.  Matt growing up in the Mt's.was less than excited to watch them very long.

We enjoyed dinner at the Beacon and the kids ordered their first "fancy" drink (Shirley Temple).  If Chase could just remember what it's called now I'm sure he will order it wherever we go.

After dinner we headed back to the cabin to cozy up by the fire and watch a movie.  There was no t.v. or Internet (which honestly I didn't mind all weekend) but we did take the laptop so we could enjoy a few classic camping movies including one of my favorites, The Great Outdoors.

Saturday we spent relaxing all morning.  I sat outside and read a book, the kids walked to the playground and played on the monkey bars and also played in the ice cold water for awhile.   Later in the day when it warmed up we set out for a hike/walk.

We started out along the beach trail.  I could not believe how high the water is with virtually no beach in some areas.  These steps that last year lead to a swimming beach now literally take you into the water.

We walked to Taylor creek where we go to see the salmon run every year and the trail to river was completely submerged.  We have gotten so much snow/rain this year it is crazy.  The snow has not even started to melt in some areas yet, so who knows if we will see a beach this summer.

Just about everywhere you looked was a breathtaking view, and I have to say it was a little sad watching the last sunset of our night there.

Sunday morning I enjoyed my breakfast by the fire (gotta say I really fell in love with that fireplace).

Sadi gave me her Mother's day gift she made in school that she had been dying to give me all weekend.  Hard to read, but it says: "This is the hand you used to hold when I was only 2 years old".

Matt and Chase surprised me with more gifts!  I was really feeling spoiled.  They gave me some spa certificates to take the girls to get pedicures and also out to eat at the Cheesecake factory.

Kelsey was unable to go with us for the weekend (it being the last weekend before finals) so she was kind of on lock down.  I was sad she wasn't able to come along.  She had sent a Mother's day package home for me with a little note and this gift "to help me step into summer". 

I have to say it was one of the best Mother's day I have ever had.  Love that I get to be Mom to these two fighting like mad little people, and the best college girl who makes me prouder every day.