Utah, thus far! (July 7 - 11)

Saturday. Suzanne tried to get her head around all of the unpacking. The kids played in the new house. The boys put together the trampoline. Suzanne and I went shopping. It wasn't a very exciting day, but it was a good day, well almost completely...

Matthew took the girls to a park with a little creek. The had fun, they all got wet, and they saw a turtle. 

So when they came in it was straight into the bath, but you can't bathe that many girls at once. Poor Alice felt like she was going to barf, so I bathed Kate and Fiona as quickly as I could, and checked on Alice a couple of times, only to find that she had in fact barfed in the backyard, poor muffin. Finally everyone was bathed, Alice was tucked into bed with a barf bucket beside her and I hoped and prayed for the best.

Sunday. Church day of course. Alice felt great when she woke up and no one else seemed to feel badly, so that was a huge relief. Suzanne and Matthew's ward meets at 1 p.m. just around the corner. So we took our time getting ready, and were almost late! There are four wards that meet in their building. One at 9:00, another at 9:30, 1:00, and 1:30. Suzanne and Matthew's ward has primary/relief society/priesthood first, and sacrament meeting last. Jan, Matthew's Mom came over for dinner. And the girls enjoyed the little storm that seemed to be brewing and blowing, but kind of fizzled out.

Monday. Unpacking. Kids starting to get a little bored.

And family!! My cousin Tim came over to visit during his lunch hour - he works from home about 10 minutes away, and came over between meetings. So so, good to see him.

After Tim left I took the girls to the JL Sorensen recreation centre in Herriman to go swimming in the awesome pool. We all had so much fun. The pool was so awesome. So awesome! I found this picture on the net, the lazy river, the water slide, the junior water slide, it was all so great.

After swimming it was time to come home because we needed to get ready so we could go meet Sally and her kids and go for a picnic/walk/hike in the mountains. But then it started to look stormy and scary and windy and lightening, and Sally decided to come over instead. Suzanne, Sally and I had such a lovely visit, and the kids had a blast too. Sally's youngest two overlap in age with my two youngest and they all just had so much fun.

Tuesday. The plan for today was lunch in American Fork with Emma, Tanya and baby Elliott. Things went almost according to plan. We were able to see Emma and Elliott, but Emma's wife Tanya wasn't feeling well, so she stayed at home. I picked the location - Olive Garden. In my mind, family friendly, and okay. Well, not okay. I do not think I will ever go to an Olive Garden again. None of the kids liked their lunch. Mine was okay, the only thing they liked were the bread sticks. But slightly crappy food aside, we had a lovely visit with Emma and sweet little Elliott. She was so good at lunch and hardly made a peep.

After our lunch, Fiona and I went on an epic shopping trip to Smith's. We stocked up on a few things and righted a wrong... (Oh and there were several pig things I didn't buy...) (You're welcome Ken!)

On Sunday, during sacrament Kate and I realized that it was the 8th, and it was her half birthday. OOPS! We usually celebrated half birthdays with cookies or cupcakes, sing happy-half birthday, and then we're good. Well, I picked up some America Day 'seed' cookies, Kate's favourites, and we were all good! (See cookies are sugar cookies with icing and sprinkles, I can't remember why the name stuck but it did.)

After dinner - well after dinner, when it was cool enough not to die, we went for a walk around the neighbourhood. It was so fun. The sky was amazing. There was lightening off in the distance, and it was just gorgeous out.Suzanne's neighbourhood is really awesome.

 The Stake Centre being built behind their house.

 Tumbleweed.

 Fiona's bum print, because she played in every sprinkler that we walked past.

 Anna and Kate's awesomeness after "borrowing" Suzanne's phone.

Wednesday. Today was furniture delivery day. The entertainment unit was delivered. In preparation for said delivery the boys went out last night and bought a ridiculously large television. Suzanne's very good friend from her days in Queens was in Utah and came to visit on the way to the airport. After that we were supposed to go visit Sally, but it was actually not sweltering out and I wanted to go to Temple Square so we did. Oh and it was 7-11 day - free Slurpees!

It was awesome. Just after we got to the tabernacle, an organist came out and started to practice a bit. Listening to the organ - even just warming up and practicing and I was all teary-eyed. We took lots of pictures - I showed the picture to the girls that I took with Kate almost nine years ago. The girls also got to hear the acoustic demonstration - ripping paper, dropping pins, and a nail. The acoustics are amazing. One thing I heard a sister missionary telling a tour group was that Brigham Young had remembered that underneath a bridge there was an echo, so he found a bridge builder to design the tabernacle. There were six bridge (now I can't remember the words) like structures that were used to create the roof. We also learned that the building was started in 1863 and finished in 1875.

After temple square, I took Alice and Fiona and Suzanne took Kate and Alice. Suzanne took the girls to Activity Days at the church, and drive-thru In and Out burger on the way, while Alice, Fiona and I actually went to In-n-Out burger. I didn't realized that the menu was so tiny. Double burger, cheeseburger, and hamburger - oh and fries. But that's it. I thought the burger was okay. It was good, but not in my mind worthy of the reviews and devotion!

 After leaving the burger joint we went to the park. Alice and Fiona had lots of fun!

One more thing. Well, maybe two! BEN! So, he's been a little unsure of me, but as of today, I think I'm in his good graces. He actually gave me a squishy hug today - yay! Also, I've made it my personal mission to teach him to do stairs. He's doing so well. He's definitely figured out how to go down, but he's still a little scary doing the "turn around" at the top of the stairs. 

And, this side by side. I found the original pic on the blog and just had to share!

Utah - the drive - day four

The final leg! The girls and I all woke up around 7 a.m., got dressed, had breakfast, and then went over to Suzanne's friend Trisha's house again.

We hung out, said our final goodbyes, Anna and Kate got to try VR (virtual reality - they were in a shark tank) and then we left. 

We did a little mini tour as we were leaving. Suzanne wanted Joey to see the sites. We went past F.E. Warren AFB, Joey's first home. And we went past the hospital where he was born. Joey was of course born in Cheyenne in October of 2003, and they left to move to New York in the summer of 2004. He wasn't quite a year when they left and this is the first time he's been back.

After getting gas we pulled back onto Interstate 80 around 10:30. After two hours we had made it to Rawlins and we stopped for lunch.  Suzanne and I spent a few hours in Rawlins in December of 1996 or 1997? I'll have to ask Suzanne. We drove across the country (mostly Suzanne drove). She wanted to have her car in Washington D.C. while she completed the Washington D.C. seminar program. She did an internship at the Library of Congress and wrote for their publication. We had left Provo late, and hadn't gotten very far, I think just over the border into Wyoming. The next day as we headed out onto the highway we got a flat just outside of Rawlins. We were towed there and had lunch while two new tires were put on the car. We had a ride with a tow truck driver that neither of us have ever forgotten - he was such a character. He told us all about Wyoming women and how tough they were. How on days like today (a really cold December day) they would wear bikinis. And how he was told there were so many women in Wyoming, there was a woman under every tree, and then he got to Wyoming and discovered there were no trees! We might have reminisced about that just a little!

We had lunch in McDonald's, in Rawlins, took some silly pictures and we were off again.

We passed the Continental Divide. I was very excited about this. I'm not sure why, but it's exciting to me!

And then we drove. I was tired today. I found the driving long, I just so wanted it to be over. Anna decided that she wanted to be in her own van, so it was just me and the girls in our van. Both Kate and Fiona had naps, and we all just spent a lot of time looking out the window, and listening to music. The vastness is just... I don't know. In between Rawlins and Rock Springs there is just vast open land as far as the eye can see. There is nothing. Just nothing. The highway surrounded by nothing. I was day dreaming at one point of getting out of the van and just walking through a field, through the hills into nothing.

I took a number of pics through the windows and in the van.

The second sign to list Salt Lake - I missed the first one. It's always so exciting to see your destination (well close to it) finally listed!

UTAH!

I used a piece of paper towel to keep my navy blue pant leg from completely over heating, and it worked!

Just over the border of Utah.

 The vast space of Wyoming.

It's funny, we've spent the past four days driving one right after the other. Suzanne was the lead van and I just followed, mostly right behind her. A few times one or two cars (or a truck between) but mostly right behind her. Tonight around 6 p.m. when we were 27 minutes away, Kate couldn't hold on so we pulled off the highway to use a bathroom at Wendy's. At this point I had cell phone coverage and the use of google maps, so I was okay, but it's funny to me that we both made the last half hour of the journey without each other.

We did it we did it we did it! It was long, but it was great. I thought about those pioneers trekking across those hills so many times, and just felt so, so grateful. Suzanne and Matthew's house is so great! Ben was so cute. It's like he knew he was home. He was so excited. Zeus too, he just seemed to know he was home. This is going to be a great place for them to be. I'm mostly, really happy for them!

When we crossed the Utah border I was excited, we were so, so close! But then I had a moment, of "this is so far, too far" and I might have shed a tear or two. I haven't been this far away from my sister in thirteen years, and I didn't honestly think that I'd be this far from her ever again, but here it is. I'm so thankful to be in Utah, to see some family, some friends, some fun stuff, and to spend some time with my sister. Thanks Suzanne for being such an amazing sister, and for this fun adventure!

Utah - the drive - day three

Everyone slept peacefully through the night. I was so thankful when I woke up just after seven this morning, so thankful. It was cute, when we were getting ready - either Fiona or Kate asked if we could actually have breakfast today. Yesterday they had some dry cereal in baggies and water until I was sure they could keep food down and they were really fine, which again thankfully, they all are!

The hotel in Lincoln was so nice. If you're ever in Lincoln, Nebraska, I highly recommend Towne Place Suites by Marriott, you'll just have to bring your own maple syrup if you're having waffles.

We took our time this morning and left the hotel at 10:36. We only had six hours of driving to do so I was already excited just pulling out of the parking lot! I was excited for the drive today. I was excited for prairie. Our first stop was a rest stop 20 miles east of North Platte.

The phone plan I have for the US is great as long as we're near a major centre. This has been slightly problematic. I have effectively been in radio silence through almost all of Iowa and Nebraska. This means that when or if we need to stop, I need to pull up alongside Suzanne and indicate our stopping needs. Today when we pulled up along side Suzanne, Fiona was screaming "I need to pee" through her closed window. I have no idea if Suzanne could see her or not, but she pulled off at the next rest stop. The rest stops, they are awesome. This one came complete with some play structures, bathrooms, an information centre with an attendant and lots of brochures. I picked up a brochure about the Mormon Trail and it was cool looking at the map that the pioneers took. Driving these last two days thinking about the pioneers walking, it just staggers me. Anyway, after running around with the kids and the dog a bit we all piled into the vans and drove the twenty minutes to North Platte and had lunch at Wendy's.

The Wendy's was awesome. There was an older man in overalls having his lunch - he was very friendly. Some other older men in overalls came in and it was a t.v. show - this small town "what trouble are you getting into today" conversation that just tickled me. Also, there was a woman eating with a man explaining about loonies and twoonies. I pulled a loonie out of my purse and showed them it was called a loonie because of the loon. She told me she was a teacher and she was going to Winnipeg for a teacher conference. I wished her well, and she wished us a happy time in Nebraska.

After a quick trip to Walmart for Suzanne and a fill up of gas we were back on the road. I feel like after we left North Platte this is where we finally found the prairie I've been longing for. When I first moved to Lethbridge - heck, when I first visited, I thought it was the ugliest place on the planet, but then I began to see the beauty, and now, I really do love the beauty of the prairie. As Iowa turned into Nebraska yesterday there will still too many trees and too many hills. And this morning there were too many hills and too many trees. But finally, finally, I found the big sky country. I wanted to stop the van by the side of the road and do a 360 panorama. I wanted to hold my hands up to the sky and just breathe it in. Instead I drove and felt very, very happy. The wide open space was therapy today. It was glorious.

We pulled into the Fairfield Inn parking lot around 6:30 MDT, and the kids ran around the grassy area adjacent to the parking lot while Suzanne checked us in. Joey hasn't been back to his birth State since they moved to New York in 2004. It will be exciting to drive around a bit tomorrow, for Suzanne to show him "his" sites.

After stretching our legs for a little bit we piled back into the vans to head over to a dear friend of Suzanne's, Trisha Smedley. The kids got lost in her stunning home as she prepared a feast for us. She was such a gracious host, and the meal was so good, and so needed, home cooking after three days of fast food was divine.

And a prairie sunset off the back porch, who could ask for anything more. 

I'm excited for the drive to be done and for the Utah adventure to begin, but it has really been great. The kids have done really well, and driving across the country, reliving so many fond memories, it has been a delight. Which reminds me, this post isn't finished...

Okay, funny Anna bit. When we started to get into Nebraska cattle country, I did what I always do when I see cows. I point and say "cows". Anna looked at the cattle and said "Are those wild cows?" I giggled, how could I not, and answered no, they aren't wild. Then at the next herd of cattle, the same thing. I point and say cows, and Anna asks "Are you sure none of them are wild?" I now need to write a story "The Wild Cows of Nebraska".

Memories. Driving along beside a train in the prairie, when you can see the beginning and the end, and you just stay beside it for ages, and being excited because trains built the prairie and Canada - even though you're in Nebraska. Thinking of other trips back and forth with Suzanne. Thinking of Suzanne in Southern Alberta, and her wondering if dark fields were lakes. And just feeling endless and free and so relaxed.