ABQ to SLC & Back in 60 Hours

NOT recommended!

We left our driveway on Monday at 4:00 p.m. and returned to our driveway at 1:45 a.m. on Thursday. We did things like that pre-kids and even once with Kirra and it wasn't as painful as it was with Mr. Kade screeching for a banana (that we didn't have) or needing a constant supply of fruit snacks!

The happy part about the trip was that we were able to attend Blake Steel and Becky VanDyke's sealing in the Salt Lake Temple and the kids got to see Grandma McEntire. We spent the first night in Green River and then arrived in Salt Lake at Aunt Evie's house at noon on Tuesday where we had lunch, took naps, and then went for a walk. Scott's sister, Wendy, brought her kids down from Clearfield and Grandma took us out for dinner to a yummy little Italian restaurant where we had our fill of pizza.

Aunt Evie needed help picking up all the pine cones in her yard so they kids had a pine cone hunt! You make most anything into a game with little kids and they have no idea they are working. The best part for all of them is that they got a crisp $1 bill for their efforts!
Kirra LOVES her cousin, Andreanna, and could spend days and days at her side. Aunt Evie got out some of her old jewelry and the girls had a hay day. They wore their bling to dinner and everything.
Just a cute picture of our Joe Bear!
Kirra would be perfectly happy living next door to Andreanna - though I think Andreanna being 3 1/2 years older might not like the arrangement for as long.
Together for a group shot.
I think Kade is letting everyone know that "We're Done!"
Kade and baby Dallin - his closest cousin in age.
The kids had some ice cream and chocolate cake after their pine cone cleaning efforts. They were well rewarded!
The wedding reception was Tuesday night in Lindon - Kirra & Kade stayed with Grandma. It was really nice, just felt a little weird since Blake and Becky weren't even married yet! Thank goodness the wedding wasn't until 11:00 on Wednesday. Scott, Kade and I slept until 8:40 in Aunt Evie's dark basement and we had to do some serious rushing to be to the temple on time. It was a rainy, overcast day but the feeling was wonderful. We enjoyed a wedding luncheon at the Lion House and then headed back to Aunt Evie's house to pack the car and drive home and the torture began!

Travel Dialogue

I kept notes as we were traveling to and from Utah - maybe a form of keeping my sanity or just to remind me that we should NOT do a trip like that again.

We were 40 minutes into the drive and Kirra says, "I think we've been driving a long time!"

50 minutes into the drive Kade starts yelling "OUT" and tugging on the straps of his car seat and then cries, "Hold You Mama!" He is really not a good traveler!

We left home at 4:00 p.m. and Kade did not fall asleep until 9:18 p.m. that night. It was worse on the way home. We left SLC at 4:00 p.m. and it was 10:40 p.m. before Kade finally gave us some peace and quiet!

Kade kept asking to see trains and various animals as we were driving. Once we saw a field full of horses and pointed them out to him. As soon as he couldn't see them anymore he asked for "cows" and then when we didn't deliver he moved onto asking for "pigs". He became quite frustrated when we couldn't just have animals for his viewing pleasure.

On the drive home Kirra told us about a dream she had the night before - it started out as a nightmare but then "my dream got better - the monster drank coffee and then he died!" So let that be a lesson to you - monsters can't drink coffee or they die.

Happy 30th Kellie!

Kellie Vigoren is a good friend of mine – a running partner last fall, and a fellow mother of two. I enjoy her friendship so much and love that I get to share life with her!

Sometime last fall Kellie mentioned to me that she didn’t think she cared much about birthdays, but her 29th was a dud and it didn’t feel like any other day. She said she was going to throw herself a birthday luncheon for her 30th and right then and there I decided I would do it for her! With the help of Kellie’s amazing mom, Jan Roberts, and Kellie’s husband, KC, we pulled off a really fun surprise for her. We sent out 50 invites asking people to answer some questions “What is your first memory of Kellie?” and “Is there anything that Kellie has said or done that you will always remember?” The responses were amazing and I gained an even greater respect for the wonderful person Kellie Vigoren has always been. KC hired a live Jazz band for the evening - it was awesome!

Kellie making her 30th birthday wish!

Silly

Random pictures of our silliness! Scott was really late getting home from work one night so after dinner the kids and I dressed up and danced to some serious tunes. They are always wanting Fishing in the Dark but we expanded their selections that night!

Viva Las Vegas!

We love our kids. . .but being away from them for a few days made us love them even more!

Scott and I had the opportunity to drive to Las Vegas, Nevada (there is a Las Vegas, NM so I wanted to clarify we went to the BIG city) to attend Jordan Steel and Natalie Jensen's wedding in the Las Vegas Temple. It was amazing how easy it is to travel when you are only concerned about two adults and their needs. We got to talk about anything and everything, listen to General Conference, books on tape, make quick stops, and just enjoy each other. No wonder Scott and I loved to travel in our "before kids" life!

We are fortunate enough to have good friends, the Castle's, who were willing to keep Kirra and Kade for us while we went. It was the first time I have left Kade is his almost two years and I was a little apprehensive. More so, since he wasn't weaned. Yes, you did read that right, my almost 22 month old was still nursing and I so enjoyed our time together when I would actually get to hold and snuggle my vibrant toddler. It isn't really as uncommon as most people think - in the U.S. the America Association of Pediatrics encourages breastfeeding until one year of age and the World Health Organization encourages children be nursed until at least two years of age. So now Kade is weaned and I cried today as I put him down for a nap without nursing - it will be an emotional adjustment for Mommy as well!

We came home to find that Kade had done wonderfully and didn't even ask for his mommy at nap time by the last day and that Kirra wanted one more night with the Castle's. She cried when we came to pick her up, she wanted to stay longer! Guess we wouldn't want it to be any other way - they had a great time and Kirra is ready to go back next time we go on a trip.

A stop at Hoover Dam on the way to Las Vegas.

We stayed in a Fairfield by Marriott and our room was great - just kiddie-corner from the strip, but totally non-smoking and no gambling. The continental breakfast was yummy - waffles with strawberry sauce and whipped cream (there were other things but that's what I ate)! We shopped in the outlet mall - I wish we had something like that here - it is awesome!
On the Strip after a filling dinner at the MGM Grand Buffet. I wanted all-I-could-eat steamed crab legs and Scott wanted all-he-could-eat meat and we got our wishes fulfilled (oh, and our stomachs). Though the buffet was huge, the only things besides crab I ate were - Caesar salad, salmon, shrimp, fruit and ice cream - I wanted to get my money's worth in crab!
We watched the fountains at the Bellagio for about a half hour - but also enjoyed some interesting people watching. Las Vegas is a crazy (and skanky) place after dark!
The fountains and the moon at the Bellagio - love them!
The REAL reason we went to Las Vegas - the new Mr. & Mrs. Jordan Steel.

The Zoo with Papa

Nana & Papa were in town the first week of April and one of the days we got to go to the Zoo! The weather was perfect and we had a great time.

The "Picture Chair" at the Rio Grande Zoo.

Kade and Papa enjoying the animals!
Papa and his two favorite grandkids (OK, so they are his only ones - but I'm sure they're his favorites)!
Kirra and Cheesy Kade