Happy 4th

Eric is a 4th year resident, as of July 1st.  Hip hip!!  Last year was a tough one, and rumor has it that things are downhill from here.  Thank goodness!

We celebrated Eric's long 4th of July weekend by heading to nearby Cincinnati.  The SF Giants were in town playing the Reds and being part of the Dockter Crew meant that we couldn't miss it.

The game was a fun.  Really long (4.5 hours!) but fun nonetheless.  The stadium had slides, playgrounds, dinosaurs, and live music.  We loved it.

We stood out in our Giants gear, but that's part of the fun.

A vacation with kids isn't really a vacation without some mishaps, right?  

This picture below isn't the best, but I had to include it because right before I snapped this Jake had just tossed a tee ball (thankfully, not a real baseball!!!)  through that little gap at the bottom of the railing.  We were at least two stories up and the ball narrowly, I mean barely-barely, missed the head of a poor Reds fan standing below.  I think I gasped, no, screamed, so loudly that everyone around heard me.  Eric retrieved the ball and we tucked it away for safe keeping.  

Then not 5 minutes later, we were just getting settled into our seats (which were in the upper deck) when Max dropped our nearly empty soda cup over the railing and onto the heads of people below.  Sweet.  I was so embarrassed.

But, thankfully, that's as bad as it got!

The game went 11 innings and the Giants lost.  It began raining just as the game ended and we hurried to the trolley and watched fireworks on the way back to our hotel.  It was a fun memorable night.

The actual 4th of July was so fun.  We celebrated at the Enz Family's firework show, which is my favorite way to celebrate the 4th.  Lots of friends...and we even had family this year...bonfire, music, fireflies, and unbelievable fireworks!  I love it!  We all do.  

I am grateful for this amazing, beautiful, diverse, and free country!  God bless America.

Spontaneous

I had been watching for good airfare from Indy to SLC for forever.  There wasn't any.  There never is during the summer.  I really wanted to make one more trip to Utah before Jake turns two and suddenly costs money on an airplane.  It looked like it wasn't going to happen.

But then...enter my sweet parents and some frequent flyer miles and boom.  We were Utah bound!  I bought tickets on Friday and we were leaving on Sunday.  So, not like me, but so fun!  I decided to keep the trip a secret from the kids.  I would love a surprise trip to Utah and I figured they would, too.

So, I secretly packed suitcases and fill backpacks with snacks and treats on Saturday night.  On Sunday morning we went to church as usual and when we got home I told the boys to go change clothes and then they'd get a surprise.  They were quick to obey and Sam and Max about exploded when I told them we were going to Utah...today!!  They were screaming and jumping up and down.  They could hardly wait!

Eric drove us to the airport that afternoon and I was prepped for a loooong afternoon with the boys, but I knew it would be worth it once we got to SLC that night.

We boarded our plane and not a minute later it started to rain.  Then came the thunder and lightening.  Lots of it.  The pilot assured us that the storm wouldn't last long and that we'd be underway shortly.  Well, shortly turned into 2 hours!  We sat in the plane, with the door shut, at the gate for 2 hours.  We didn't move an inch. The storm was huge and just didn't stop.  The boys were pretty good, but my patience was running out.  I was then informed that we had missed our connecting flight in Detroit and there were no open seats for flights to SLC later that night.  We could stay on the plane and wait out the storm, then make it to Detroit and either sleep in the airport there or get a hotel and leave from Detroit the next morning.  OR we could get off the plane and come back the next morning.

So, I obviously opted to get off the plane.  I couldn't imagine sleeping in the airport with 3 kids alone and getting a hotel in Detroit by myself wasn't real exciting either.

The boys, especially Max, were so upset that we had to get off the plane.  Max was sobbing uncontrollably. He kept saying, "Mom, you tricked me!  You said we were going to Gram's house!  You tricked me!"  Poor guy.  What a mean trick that would have been.  He had an ugly meltdown while I got us booked for a flight the next morning...that left at 5:40 am by the way.

Eric came to the airport again to pick us up and we headed home.  Max cried the whole way home.  The storm had left our house without power and it was so hot a humid when we got home.  It was such a long day and did not go at all like I had imagined.




But you know what?  It was worth it.  We made it to good old SLC early the next day (barely though...our connection was late and the boys and I sprinted through the airport in Minneapolis!)  We were there for the Jensen Family summer reunion and it was so great!

I'd do just about anything to spend time with family.  I love seeing my kids interact with grandparents, great-grandparents, and cousins.  We've got to move closer someday!

Hiking is always a must when we visit.  My boys think mountains are so cool!

Visiting Temple Square is always on our list too.  The flowers were gorgeous and I love showing my boys where Eric and I were married.

 Jake was so in love with my dad during our trip.  He always wanted to know where Pops was and was the first to sit by him and hug him.  It was so sweet!

We got lots of time with cousins.  Never quite enough though!  All of these kids get along so well!

We got to visit with my sweet grandparents a couple of times.  Sam and Max raced Grandma Carol in the pool.  It was such a fun sight to see.  My Grandma loves to swim and I think my boys get their love of the water from her.

Grandpa Ed just had heart surgery 6 weeks ago.  He is doing so well and I am so happy we could visit with him!

 -The Farmer's Market in Salt Lake is a must!  It is really one of my favorite things.  So many cool things and so many people to watch!!

I got to catch up with two sweet high school friends!  I was so glad we made it work!!

It was a wonderful, exhausting, happy week!  I loved every second.  I am so blessed!

Until next time Utah!!  We love you!