Unexpected weekend...

My friend Kristi had a fun weekend planned.  She had the Saunders triplets at her house with all their gear (pack and plays, booster seats, stroller, clothes, diapers, food, etc) while the Saunders went to Washington D.C. for Scott Saunders' wedding.  I told Krsiti to call if she needed anything...but knew she was set up well and that she and her family were ready to play with those babies and have a fun-filled weekend.  Well, on Friday the 10th, I got a call while I was at work.  Kristi was at the hospital waiting for lab tests to verify that she had appendicitis!  The babies were at her house with her son Phillip and his fiance Ashley.  Kristi did indeed have appendicitis!  I felt so bad for her!  But I had a free weekend and was ready to help...I went straight from work out to her house where Phillip was watching them, (along with Ashley's baby too!).  Ashley wasn't there...so he had four babies all by himself!  He is superman!  He helped gather all their gear up and load it in the car (I did not take the pack and plays, or stroller knowing I wouldn't use them, and I forgot their food).  He helped me load the babies in the car and as it was naptime, I went straight to their own house and beds.  I had just acquired a nice Honda Pilot, equipped with three babies for the weekend!  After naps I loaded them up in the car and we went to my house for dinner...Dave and Joel helped and we had a fun time.  Spaghettios!

 Here's serious Scarlet...I didn't have cheerios so they got Captain Crunch to munch on while I got dinner ready...

 And Porter...he's happy when he's eating...

 And Lyla...she's always happy.  They all ate a good dinner and then I took them back to their house for playtime and bedtime.  It was just easier to have them in their own beds.  I was the guest in the "spare room."  The next morning they all woke up so happy!  They just chatted in their beds and were so cute...I brought in their bottles and they seemed so happy to see me!  I took pictures to send to their mom via my phone...to say good morning...

 Sweet Scarlet...she was my buddy all weekend...she wanted me to hold her all the time and would rather sit in my lap than play on the floor with the others...it was okay with me.  Love me some baby time!

 Cute Porter...he was a trooper and never complained about anything...except naptime...I couldn't get him to take a nap on Saturday or Sunday...maybe it's a guy thing...

Happy Lyla...she always makes me smile with her happy ways and cute squeals...

 Breakfast time!  Let me tell you...you cannot feed these babies fast enough!  Porter and Scarlet are bottomless pits and I don't think I ever got them completely full!  Good thing their mom had bought a new box of wholegrain cheerios...we went through a lot of them!  That's what kept them happy in between courses!

 No matter how fussy Scarlet would get, as soon as you put her in the carseat, she was happy!  It took me awhile to load three kids up all by myself, but I got pretty good at it.  We went to my house again for awhile on Saturday so I could shower and get what I needed for Sunday...

 Several people had told me if I needed anything to just call...so I did!  Saturday afternoon Ashley W. came and helped keep them happy...she stayed and helped with dinner too.  I had asked Robin to come help with bathtime.  I knew there was no way I could bathe 3 babies by myself!

 Ashley was a great little helper...and funny too!  Thanks Ashley and Robin for helping out!

 Bathtime was fun for everyone but Porter...Lyla and Scarlet couldn't splash enough...and Porter wasn't liking it...so his bath was the shortest! 

 Lyla splashed with her hands and her feet nonstop...it was all I could do to get her scrubbed!  I got quite wet in the process...fun times!  They woke up quite early on Sunday, but I just let them chatter in the beds while I got myself ready for church.  I knew I couldn't get them ready if I wasn't ready myself.  I had to play the organ so I knew I would be handing out babies at church!  The Bishop was so sweet to come out to the car before church and help carry them in...Dave met me there too so we all got inside and then found willing people to take them.  Where else can you do that?  Love my ward family!

 After church we went back to my house for lunch.  They had all taken a little nap during church so were happy to just play with Dave and Joel.  They especially liked the piano!  We had peanut butter sandwiches and pears and crackers.  They were extra hungry after church!

 Porter was happy playing with my grandma toys...but Lyla liked my books!  I have stacks of them and she sorted out the stacks for me...as well as organizing my ensign magazines...Scarlet was happy to just sit on my lap.  Sunday evening I had Diane come over and help with dinner and bedtime.  Because let's face it, I am old and was getting pretty tired.  :)  I did love my time with the triplets though and it sure made me wish my grandkids lived closer!  That evening we found out that the Saunders were stuck in DC (on the plane on the tarmack for over two hours!) and were not going to make their connecting flight to get home that night.  They would not be home until 8:30 Monday morning.  I had to go to work, so bless Diane's heart...she stayed the night with them and got them breakfast the next morning before their parents came home...Thank you Diane!!  I let Nicole know that all was well at home and not to worry...the text she sent next broke my heart..."I miss my kids." and she put a little sad face by it...oh!  I felt so bad for her.  I'm sure it was a long weekend for them to be away from these sweet babies...

All in all it was a very fun weekend...my hubby took care of things at home so I could be where I was needed.  I'm sure he actually enjoyed the weekend because he could watch his action/adventure movies as loud as he wanted!  (In between doing the laundry for me.) Thanks Dave and Joel for all your help too!  Glad the Saunders made it back okay and I'm sure this little trio is happy to have them home and to be back on their regular schedule!  Get well soon Kristi!  

Utah trip day 9...

IHOP was right across the street from our hotel...it is one of Joel's favorite places to eat...so we decided we better go get a good meal from there before we head home!  The hotel did have a breakfast buffet which we took advantage of most mornings, but we were ready for something a little different...

Dave had a huge plate of french toast...which he enjoyed... 

 Joel had the large stack of pancakes, which he enjoyed (and almost finished the whole plate!)

 I had my favorite breakfast...biscuits and gravy!  I enjoyed it a LOT...the scrambled eggs and hashbrowns were good too...but love those biscuits and gravy!!!  And I DID finish them all!

After breakfast we had time to do a little shopping...Dave dropped me off at Deseret Book (wow, is that dangerous!) and he and Joel went the army surplus store where Eric had taken Joel a few days before...he wanted to go back and have some extra time to look...but he didn't buy anything.  I on the other hand...bought a few things!  I just don't get much of a chance to shop in an actual store...it's so much more fun than online!  After shopping we went to Eric and Randa's and got ready for Kai's special day!!

 The church is right around the corner from their house...isn't it a nice church, with that really neat lighthouse style steeple...I love it!  I wish I would have seen it at night when it was lit up...

 Kai spiffed up and ready for his baptism! 

 Carson was ready to help me play the piano...look how fast his hand was playing!

 Makayela's job was to hand out the programs...she did a good job!

 The little Farnsworth family before the baptism...

Can't believe my little brother has a child old enough to be baptized!!  What an exciting day for them both!  They look great and it was a very special baptism.  The spirit was very strong there and it is amazing to see an 8 year old so in tune with it...We were very happy to be there and be a part of it all.  The Brown reunion was happening at the same time down in Wayne County, but we had already made our plans to be here this day, and I am certainly glad that we did!  We will shoot for the reunion next year.  After the baptism Randa served rootbeer floats and other goodies at the pavilion behind the church...then while they visited with their guests...we went to make one more visit on a family member... 

 My cousin Janet!  She lived just a few miles from Eric's house so we called her and went over for a bit.  It was fun to visit with her and catch up on family news...She is the oldest grandchild on the Farnsworth side and she is the go-to girl for family history info!  I was happy to spend some time with her...one more cousin I got to see on this fabulous trip!  After all the excitement of the afternoon...Eric and Randa got a sitter and we took them out to dinner.  Applebees was also right by our hotel, so we met them there and had a very good meal!

 Eric and Randa enjoyed the "date night" out sans children and we had a fun visit.  The food was great and we left very full!!

 It was our "date night" too...and yes, Joel is usually with us on our date nights.  :)  He wasn't feeling real well and didn't have much of an appetite...so his plain hamburger didn't all get eaten, but he did enjoy his chocolate milkshake!  (He is his mother's son!)

We did go back to Eric's house to play card games one more time (we had done that a couple of times, we taught them a new game which is now their kids' favorite!) and then we said our goodbyes.  I could not believe it was over.  All the fun, visiting, traveling, sightseeing, picture taking, eating, etc. had come to an end.  Joel and Dave watched a couple more episodes of Smallville before we called it a night.  On day 10 we had our breakfast buffet at the hotel and then headed down the road.  It was a LONG day driving all the way home, but we made it safely and were grateful for all we were able to do in a 10 day period.  I will look back on this vacation as one of the best and most memorable...I would call it PERFECT.  Thanks to all who put us up, put up with us, and took time for us.  We love you all!  Can't wait to do it again sometime...

Utah trip day 8...part three...

We finished our very busy day with a swim at the hotel!  The kids had been wanting to come over and this was the first time we had a chance...Friday evening!  We had the indoor pool and jacuzzi to ourselves!  I think everyone had a good time...

 Kai was a little fish and was all over the pool...

 Makayela had to stay were she could touch the bottom...and she could just barely touch it!  She had fun on the steps and when Joel or her dad or mom took her out into the water...

 Carson loved the jacuzzi...Joel and Kai enjoyed it too...it is a good sized jacuzzi!

 Joel gave horsey rides to Kai...

 and Makayela...they were pretty fast and it was hard to not get a blurry picture!

 Randa helping Makayela learn to float...it was a very fun way to end the day!

 Eric got in too...here he is playing with Carson...

Dave and I (we don't own swimsuits!) relaxed on the lounge chairs and kept the towels available for kids to dry their eyes...and of course, for a good view to take pictures!  What a fun and busy day...everyone should have slept really good that night!  One more day and then this most amazing and fun vacation will be over...

Utah trip day 8...part two...

Friday afternoon was Kai's last day of school...and he got out early, so after lunch we waited for him to arrive and also his dad, who was taking off work early to spend some time with us.  Kai brought home medals, and certificates and goodies...but this one caught my particular attention...notice the name of his school!  Of course, I'm sure it was named after the inventor of television who is the son of my great-great-grandfather Philo T. Farnsworth...so he is our great-great-uncle! 

 I also find it wonderful the Kai likes to read so much...we brought him some Hardy Boy books that his dad used to like to read (and I did too!).  I hope Kai will continue to love to read!

 We had a cool, refreshing treat while waiting for Eric...this is Carson eating his off the table!  Cute kid...then we went to our afternoon adventure...We had the Tom Tom (gps) and knew the way to go, but for some reason we followed Randa...we forgive her for almost getting us hit by a semi!  :)  She cut us off and we cut off the semi...trying to keep up with her on the freeway, boy did he honk at us!  Not fun...but we got turned around and ended up in the "right place!"

I really wanted to take the kids and go on the train ride around the park...it is included in your admission to the pioneer village...but we arrived only an hour before closing and thinking the cost was too much, we decided not to.  Turns out it was the last day of "cheaper" prices as the summer rates started the next day.  So it wouldn't have been as expensive as we thought, and even though we wouldn't have had time to tour the village and do the activities, I wish we would have done the train ride!  Oh well...next time!  Kai, Makayela and Carson...next time Auntie comes, we are going on the train!!  And we will go EARLY!  We did enjoy walking around the park and seeing the statues and reading the monuments...and we also bought a few souvenirs in the gift shop...

 Carson (who is excited about something over there!), Kai and Makayela...

 Joel, me and Dave...where are Eric and Randa?!  Why don't we have YOUR picture?  hmmm...

 It's a beautiful monument and so fun to stand there and look over the valley and try to imagine how the pioneers felt and what they saw as they came out of the canyon there...

 All the statues are beautiful and full of detail...

 Visitor center...aka...souvenir shop and train ticket place!

 As you enter the park there are some statues representing the Mormon Battalion...on the way back we stopped at the last "must do" on my list...years ago we found this little "park" but it was raining, so we got out quickly with umbrellas and snapped a couple of pictures...in all our future trips back to Utah, we never found this again...so THIS TIME, I googled it and mapped it out so we could drive right to it!  The burial place of Brigham Young...

 It's a small, beautiful and well kept little spot, right in between houses and apartment buildings, just a block north of the Beehive house...part of Brigham Young's property back in the day I am sure...

 His grave is the biggest and sits in the back corner...some of his wives are buried there and maybe a daughter or son or two...I need to look at all the pictures again and read them...I took pictures of them all...some were quite large...

Like this one of Eliza R. Snow Smith..notice the pioneer placque at the bottom showing that she came across the plains?

 And some were very small and just able to be seen in the ground...like this one of Susannah Snively Young...

 This one was mounted on a rock...Alice Young Clawson...all together there were about 10 graves...

 Makayela rode with us on the way back so she got to pose by all the flowers...

 I love the bronze statue of him sitting on the bench...he is reading a book to a little girl on his lap and there is a little boy looking over his shoulder...there is also an open book on the bench and Makayela said it looked like a bible...Love this little park...this is almost the whole park in this one picture...Brigham Young's grave is just off to the left in the back...I am so glad we found this sacred little spot again...I'm gonna have to dig out that old picture and post it here too...across the street and down a little way was another park that used to be his property.  There is a little creek and a water wheel, and a charming bridge...They do summer concerts there...chairs were all set up for that night's event!

I love looking at all the houses in Utah, the different types of architecture and some of them very old!  This one caught my eye on the drive back to Eric's...hard to tell, but the house doors, triangular spots, and trim are all purple, and the front yard is FULL of purple flowers!  It was just so cute...I had to take a picture as we drove by!  I think when I get my victorian house, it is going to be purple too!  It had been an eventful and fun day so far, but there is one more thing we did that evening...I will make that another post...