Utah!

Shortly after Christmas we headed to Utah. In prepping for the trip we had two big goals: spend time making memories with family, and see SNOW. Abby had no recollection of the white stuff, and Tayler had faint memories. Max and Alexis loved joining in, and while they remember snow, all of us were excited to see it again knowing Abby's excitement to experience it. The moments listening to the buzz of sibling chatter and enthusiasm just makes me smile. Going to Utah over the holiday season is something we've never done in our years living away from home, and although I had my fair share of grouchiness getting things prepped the day before (we were packing snow gear and wowzas that takes up so much more space!), I woke up that morning just as excited as everyone else. As we flew into the valley, we could see the snow on the mountain tops. I loved watching Abby fixated on the airplane window just bursting with excitement.

We sure loved the opportunity to catch up with family members. Seeing Shauna is always something we look forward to. If I were to sum up Shauna in one word, it'd be 'LIFT.' Each time we visit, she's sure to introduce us to a new friend or tells us about amazing things people are doing in their lives. She remembers and asks about specific details most people would forget. She is an incredible example of lifting those around her. Because of her years of lifting others, we've gotten to know Katrina (a former roommate), and although Katrina smiles every time we walk into her room, the real joy is seeing her. We are so grateful for all that Shauna teaches us through her example.

Of course the joy of vacationing to a ski destination when no one in our family skis brings opportunity to create and discover new types of winter fun. Mike's sister had the awesome idea to drive up to Crystal Hot Springs for the day. We of course all packed a picnic lunch because we were headed out for Mexican food later that evening. Turns out eating a picnic lunch in the cold of winter makes for a fast lunch! The toughest moment was when you actually took off all the layers covering the swimsuit and making those first steps before getting into the hot springs! But goodness, once we were in, it was SO fun to feel the sunshine, hang outdoors together and get a warm recharge. The kids went down the waterslide about a bazillion times, and of course talked Mike and I into giving it a whirl.

New Years Eve day we soaked in more sunshine tubing up at Soldier Hollow. Just cold enough to keep the tubing tracks fast and just warm enough that we were ready to peel off some of the layers. Oh, and the sunshine...so beautiful! The kids all had a goal to stay up through midnight with their cousins. We had a blast playing games together, eating way too much, watching the Utah bowl game (until we just couldn't keep watching it any longer!), and laughing. I don't know if I can blame it on the time change, but staying up to midnight was brutal! I probably nodded off at least three times leading up to it!

New Years Day we transitioned to my parents for the annual homemade noodles and potatoes dinner. Making this pioneer dish on New Years feels like we're welcoming the New Year with our ancestors in mind. I loved celebrating it this year surrounded by so many extended family members.

Thursday we took our older two kiddos to the Bountiful Temple! Alexis has been so looking forward to going, and we planned ahead to time this experience in conjunction with the holiday break. The temple was SO busy and filled with all kinds of awesome youth. So fun to see them just beaming. I am so grateful we were able to share this experience together and that my brother was able to join us! While we were at the temple, my parents took the younger two girls on an adventure. They took Tayler to pick out her very own set of "real" scriptures. They said she knew exactly what she wanted, even to the type of font she wanted her name engraved with. She was bursting with so much excitement that they let her bring them home with us (as an early birthday gift!). She has absolutely loved turning the pages and getting started in them with the Come Follow Me study this year. And Abby, of course talked them into a new book of her own and of course some a treat. When we met up with them, Abby had this pink box, and inside was a slice of a cookie she'd saved for Mike and I - wanting to be sure we got to try how awesome the treat was. Of course we all met up for lunch - more Mexican food!

That night we went to the Utah Basketball Game at the Huntsman Center. And boy, Mike and I had so much fun telling the kids about this place and all the memories we have of our college years together. This place will always hold a sweet spot for Mike and I. We were SO grateful that the schedule aligned so that we were able to connect with my former coach and mentor AND one of Mike's former coaches (who's now at Oregon State). The Rupps are a true example of empowering those around them, and we are so grateful for all they did to mold and refine us in the college years and cherish their friendship!

Friday was the big event - Kristen and Chad's wedding! It was simply beautiful and we were so grateful to be there, to reconnect with so many family members and old friends. So so excited for them!!

For Christmas, my parents gifted Mike and I a date night together at an awesome steak house. They even made us the reservations! It was a bit magical to spend some 1:1 time together without a pressured time limit.

The next day Mike flew to China for work, and the kids and I enjoyed one last day in Utah. The movies, playing outside in the snow, and of course more Mexican food to complete the trip!

Ft. Myers

We were so grateful to spend time together with a few of Mike's coworkers and their families in Ft. Meyers. I'm scratching my head a bit that we never took a picture of everyone together, but it seems when we're all either in the pool or at the beach, we're all beautifully unplugged, and that's a memory worth cherishing just as much as any photo.

The red tide was still in swing, and while we were in the southern pocket of it, you could tell it was around. Beyond chasing the crabs, we really didn't play "in" the water as much as we would typically. But that didn't stop us from having a wonderful time together! Kite flying, beach volleyball, and digging in the sand. We loved the accessibility of the pool! It was pretty amazing to stay at a place where you could walk in and out of a pool right next to the beach!

We surprised the kiddos with a jet ski rental and they had such a blast! Mike and I took turns taking everyone out. I loved all of their reactions and how they each absorbed the speed and the overall experience of being in the ocean differently. And it was really interesting to get out on the ocean - the water was amazingly clear, and no signs of the red tide were anywhere to be found. So interesting!

Abigail screamed and giggled the whole time - she said "this is amazing!" over and over and told me "it was like a roller coaster on the water." Tayler laughed and laughed. Alexis loved seeing the shoreline and LOVED the speed. She held on tight and wanted to go as fast as possible. Max loved everything about it and was fascinated how you could move and turn so easily on them. I think I had a permanent smile.

The view from our room that morning. The sunrise was beautiful!!

 We're all fascinated by the sea turtles this time of year. Loved this info letter from the hotel!

So grateful to create these memories together. There are so many beautiful places to discover!

June Visitors - Part 1

We were SO grateful to have both sets of grandparents come out for a visit. They arrived the day after the last day of school. On the same red eye flight. Oh those flights are brutal!

We took them to a favorite tree park - and the weather did not disappoint - it was so hot and humid! But they were great sports - weaving through the twists and turns of the path and getting a little lost along the way as our memory turned out a bit different from the actual map! 

The next day we headed west! We split up for the day and the boys went out deep sea fishing in the Gulf. It was a first for all of them, and they were so excited. I was hopeful.

Mostly for Max.

That kid has been out fishing countless times since moving here and hasn't caught a single fish. Not one. Part of me was worried he'd go out there, and everyone would catch fish but him. But the bigger part of me was hopeful - I mean in the big ocean, they'd have to have some luck, right?!

And here it is! His first catch of the day!! They were all thrilled (and relieved that no matter what happened, at least he'd caught one fish!).

They headed out to a shipwreck, and fished around this now coral reef. They said the water was incredibly clear and it was solid ocean in every direction. And then the real fish story comes in - in a matter of :20 minutes they ALL had multiple catches - big fish, a sting ray, colorful fish, spanish mackerels, snappers, blue runners, barracuda, sheepshead, lookdown - it was a constant catch all around the boat. 

This part of the story is in Max's words (since he was the one on the boat seeing it all happen!):

My grandpa (my mom's dad) caught a king fish which was pulled off by TWO black tip sharks! We couldn't believe it! The only thing left on the hook was the head of the king fish. My grandpa was ready to reel it in, but the guide said "drop the line to the bottom and try to catch the sharks!" He did, and re-caught one of the black tip sharks (about 3-4 feet long)! As this shark was pulling away - and he's trying to reel it in - out of nowhere a HUGE bull shark (it had to of been at least 10 feet long) swims in faster than lightning - snatches the shark in one gulp and gets hooked on the line! THEN it jumped out of the water - full body and landed with the biggest splash ever and totally snapped his line like a tin can. This whole thing happened in about :30 seconds. There was blood everywhere and I barely had time to see any of it as I had to put my pole down and get over there! It was the craziest thing I've ever seen! Definitely won't go snorkeling in that water!

Meanwhile...the gals and I all headed to the beach! We LOVE the beaches in Naples! The white sands, the sea shells EVERYWHERE and I love how the water is unbelievably shallow. We spent the whole day playing in the water, I loved swimming in the ocean with the girls, practicing the boogie boards on the little rolling waves, and building sandcastles.

We met up that night for dinner and headed to the hotel for an overnight stay.

The next morning we went to Sanibel Island - another favorite! This beach had been pretty beat up from the tropical storm in May, and it was completely different from what we'd seen in December. It's amazing how much the water/tides/storms will change beaches. We spent most of our time at this beach snorkeling and looking for shells of all types and sizes. It was a blast!

And here's the real reason we were so lucky to have all of the grandparents here! Max was ordained a Deacon in our church and was so excited to begin participating in the service associated with it. I love the realness of this photo. How difficult it can be to get everyone to look at the camera, Abigail holding her "treat bucket" for next week, and the excitement of that 12 year old front and center. There was so much love and light in this moment.

Keeping true with his humor/inability to hold still for a photo, this was the best "12 year old" photo I could get of him. But again, I love the realness/fuzziness of it. It reminds me that he simply couldn't hold back his excitement. He has been so excited (and patient - we delayed it a couple weeks to coordinate schedules with grandparents coming out and school ending) for this new chapter to begin. I love that he loves it and while he understands it with incredible faith as a 12 year old, I know that his love and understanding of the service of the priesthood will only continue to grow as he chooses to apply and use it throughout his life.

The next day the weather was a bit spotty, and after the beach days and full sun, the crew was ready for something a bit more indoors. We headed on a new adventure - The Frost Museum in Miami - and LOVED it! It's right next to the ocean and has an incredible three story aquarium where you can view sharks, Mahi mahi, rays and all kinds of fish from underneath, the side and the top. So beautiful! Loads of smaller aquariums are throughout and this crew loved the stingray touch pool! The entire building has an inside-but-outside feeling to it and it's one of my most favorite architectural museums we've ever been to.

Had to get a pic of their hair - they were so excited to go on another outing with grandparents and all picked their hairstyles they wanted for it! Yes there are so many crazy moments and the years of "who took my shirt" have already begun, but at the core, these gals aren't just siblings, they are friends.

We spent oodles of time at the traveling Leonardo exhibit. Oh. My. Goodness. Until going through this exhibit, I had no idea he invented pretty much everything and artwork and composing music and writing poetry were happening in his "spare time." The renderings of the human body are simply incredible. I can't say how many times I paused in that exhibit thinking about this example of man who clearly used his time wisely. There were a few moments I caught my mind thinking "gosh, what am I really doing with my time?" Yet I was reminded of a very clear principle that I am so grateful for: oodles of my time over these last 12 years has been centered in the trenches of motherhood. And while my life story may not have the discoveries of this great individual, creating and developing humans is something I hold near and dear. His work was clearly inspired in Truth and I am so grateful to be a beneficiary of his wisdom through every day life and modern-day conveniences hundreds of years later. It's cool to think how much history truly does pave the way for what and who we are today. He also may or may not have been an inspiration behind me using some of my birthday money to pick up a few watercolor supplies/learn how to watercolor book. While watercolors weren't his medium, I haven't stopped thinking about how much he dedicated his mind to CREATING. Something I'll have to write more about another time.

Some of the quotes I just loved:

Loads more from the museum that we didn't take pics of - a poison exhibit and a cool one all about flying/aerodynamics.

She adores him.

Love the real photo of this one too. Abigail couldn't slow down enough for a group photo with grandparents, and we couldn't seem to get a very good angle with the folks that were all enjoying the view of the bottom of the aquarium, nor does this really show how cool it really was, but we were there. Happy moment.