Utah to Colorado trip

 On the way up to Utah we stopped several times so the kids and the dog could stretch their legs. We stopped at 5 Guys for dinner and SubZero for dessert! Then we took a nostalgic tour through Provo. It was really fun to see all those places again after 8 years. We were surprised, but glad, to see that the motel we worked in was shut down thanks to all the rennovation the south side of Provo is going through because of the new temple.

The next day we dropped Brad off at the shop and the kids and I spent all day outside. First we went on a hike.

 Then we found a park

Then we hit up Walmart, had a picnic in Liberty Park, used the bathroom in Rumbi Island Grill and met up with my old roommate Megan at the Gateway!

Then we picked Brad up, left the dog with his employee, ate sushi and got a ridiculous amount of ice cream at Iceburg.

 Friday we decided we had spent plenty enough time outside, so after dropping Brad off we went shopping. First we went to the nearby WinCo (I love that place, Tillamook for $6!). Then we went clothes shopping and hit up a morning movie in 3D.

Brad only needed until 1 to finish up the training so we picked him up, hit up some lunch and a park. Then we headed off to see Grandma and Grandpa Nelson

I was completely amazed by Grandma and Grandpa. They are in their early 80's and still working their farm. While we were there Grandpa walked out to his field and moved the sprinklers...he's 83! They are vibrant and amazing and I hope that I'm as healthy and with it as they are when I'm 80.

Saturday we got up and went to the Dinosaur National Monument. It was so cool to see all these amazing fossils!

And then we enjoyed a beautiful drive through Colorado, stopping at grocery stores for Brad to check out for work.

 Grand Junction, CO

 Delta, CO

Ridgway State Park

Ouray, CO

 Durango, CO

Today

 I'm gonna be perfectly honest and say that the mornings have been fun recently, but afternoons have been difficult in our house. It's like I've turned into Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This morning was lovely. We went to the library and played and generally enjoyed each other's company. And then after lunch I just got cranky...I think it was the state of the house that's really been bugging me. So I put everyone to work. Will vacuumed, cleaned bathrooms and did the dishes. Ruth took out trash, swept and mopped (which was the biggest job since the floors were grody and most of the flooring is tile). Claire cleaned windows and picked up toys. I did counters and washed pots and pans. Holy Cow! It felt so good to work all together and to have the kids work really hard. They usually complain and slowly trudge about their work, but today they really went at it. Afterwards we read the BFG and watched some cartoons. Bliss. (Bonus: Soren spent this whole time in his kennel without barking or whining!)

A Day Out

We went into town in an attempt to see a dollar movie, only to find out that they no longer play dollar movies at the theater we went to... So we headed over to the aquarium. On our way we saw that they catch and release pond rents paddle boats! 

 Then we stopped to play at the playground and eat our picnic lunch

 By this point we were super sweating and not enduring the 95 degree weather with very much grace. We were SO relieved to reach the air conditioned aquarium and enjoy the fishes.

On the way home we stopped for some groceries and salt water taffy. I was really glad to have such a pleasant day with the kiddos.