The BIG Reunion

This next part of the trip is what Birch and I had been dreaming about for months.  The Cox family moved to Utah last August 2013.  The kids had not seen them since they moved and have asked us probably two hundred times when we could go visit the Coxes.  Secretly Birch, Brooke, and I had been planning this reunion.  Brooke had told her kids that they were going to head to Cedar City to visit their Grandparents.  By this point in the trip our kids knew they were going to see the Coxes but they assumed it would be once we got to Cedar City.

This is the part of parenting that is so fun!!

So we told that kids that we wanted to stop at the Payson Temple that is currently being built.  The kids were all a little whiny as they just wanted to get to Southern Utah to see their best friends.  Brooke was running a little behind so when we got to the temple we were trying to think of reasons we needed to hang out longer.  Finally as the kids were about to boycott our trip...look who pulled up!

I just wish I had been video taping the initial reactions of all the kids.  Colin was trying to climb out the window when he saw our kids. 

Nate has desperately needed some Chase time!!!

Eli was a little unsure of what all the action was about.  I've talked to him on the phone several times but it has still been ten months since we had seen each other.

The gang together again!!!!

We mixed the kids all up in each others cars and started our travels to Southern Utah.

We made a lunch stop at Cove Fort.

The fort was built to offer protection and refreshment to the traveler. Beginning in 1847, pioneers began settling the high mountain valleys stretching from Idaho to California. They came here to worship in peace and to build homes and communities. The fort is made of lava rock, which workers hauled from west of the property. The fort is 100 square feet, 18.5 feet tall, 4 feet thick at the footings and 2.5 feet thick at the top. 

In 1867, the prophet Brigham Young called Ira Hinckley and his family to come and direct the building and operations of the fort.  Cove Fort has been restored to bring the past a little bit more to life. This is the only fort built by the Latter-day Saints in the 1800's that still stands.

Hard to hold Nate back when he is in 'Chase Heaven."

SURPRISE Kick-off the Summer Trip - Part I

Oh man, the anticipation leading up to our SURPRISE Kick-off the Summer trip was way intense.  I gave myself lying privileges to the kids leading up to this trip because they were totally trying to investigate were we were going.  They knew this trip was going to be epic because we were going to be gone for over a week (normally our Surprise Kick-off Trip is just two night's long).  I tried to keep them thoroughly confused with having them pack a wide variety of clothing.  The kids had decided that we were definitely going on an airplane (perhaps my lying priveledges might have helped them believe this idea).  In addition, they were also thinking it might be some warm sandy beach because we had brought plenty of warm attire.  

So we loaded up all our suitcases in the back of the mini-van EARLY Saturday morning.  After driving several hours the kids started getting worried that perhaps we were not driving to an airport.  I had packed mesh bags full of snacks (one for each hour of the trip -- 24 snacks).  In each baggie of snacks there was a puzzle piece to give the kids a clue of where we were going.

This was the picture that I had made into a puzzle.  (Note that I picked something that light look a bit like a beach...I know, I'm terrible.)

After about four hours of driving in the car the kids were getting a bit restless and grouchy.  Birch suggested that we let the kids play Twenty Questions.  The rule was they could not ask us something directly.  After about an hour of playing they finally figured it out...a week filled with Utah Fun!!  First stop Grandma Virginia's (SLC) and then Leah and Geoff Wright's home in Mapleton.  Then the BIG DOUBLE Surprise was hiking with the Cox family at Zion's National Park for several days.  The last stop was Matt and Jessica's house in Holiday, UT.

As soon as we got to Grandma Gina's in SLC everyone was so excited to get out of the car and go for a dip in her Condo's pool. 

Then we headed up to Grandma's 12th floor condo overlooking downtown SLC and dined on pizza.  Grandma then shared with all the kids the all about the painting that she and her late husband, Rudy painted.

We had a terrific couple of hours together and I loved every minute of seeing my kid's interact with Grandma Gina.  Then we all piled back in the mini-van for the last hour drive to Mapleton, UT.

We celebrated Father's Day in Mapleton with Leah and Geoff's family.  My kids are sure lucky to have such an A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. Daddy!

Geoff built this fun (and scary for me to watch) zip line.  The kids loved it!

Nate and Isaac playing a mean game of Frisbee.

My heart stopped each time Chloe went down this thing.  I thought of so many "what if's" that I finally had to request that she curb her zip-line appetite.

 

Chloe really is a beauty!

Alysee and Lucy loved playing together.  I LOVE seeing my kids with their cousins.

Cute cousin Kate

Monday we enjoyed the morning scouting out the BYU campus and eating lunch at the Cannon Center (think all-you-can-eat cafeteria...heaven for the kids).  We also went rappelling at Red Ledges in the Wasatch Range.  At the base there was this cool old Aztec Sun carved in to the rock.

Alex is a sucker for cute little cousins!  They all love him!

Chloe started out quite excited about the idea of rappelling.  THEN...she realized what she was actually going to do she decided that she was not at all interested.  In hindsight we should have set her up to be more successful for her first time rappelling.

Birch ended up strapping himself on as well and basically dragged down the little girl.  Let's just saw she wasn't interested in going a second time.

Nate scampered up and down this rock face.

Love me some sista' time!

I won Kate over when I offered her some snacks.

Pretty cool to see Tyler so confidently rappel.  A year ago he was trying to finish his Rock Climbing merit badge and he struggled so much with the rappel portion.  He is now so brave!

Nate and and cousin Isaac

Coop wanted NOTHING to do with the rappelling.  Uncle Geoff would have none of that so he scooped up Coop and took him to the top.

It might have taken a little peer Daddy pressure until Geoff and Birch finally convinced Coop to give it a try.

I think Coop was saying, "Not so bad."

Alysee and Lucy were like mountain goats scampering up and down.  They LOVED rappelling!

The afternoon was just as fun as the morning as we filled it with swimming at the Provo Rec Center Family Pool.  It was seriously so fun and really reasonably priced!

We finished off our visit with a quick family photoshoot.

Hard to not want to kiss this guy!

I won't even tell you what Leah was trying to do to me here.  You'd think I was the younger sister with her attacking me.

We really did have a perfect few days with the Wright family!!  They treated us like royalty!!

Best Buddies

Chloe made a new best friend the first day of school this year.  Grace and Chloe have been attached at the hip since day one.  It was so fun to find out that Grace is also a member of our church.

Chloe had a really terrific kindergarten year with Mrs. Lenihan.  I think the love was mutual.

Friends Forever!