Whenever we visit Utah my parents are kind enough to let us stay with them and take over their basement. It feels like our home away from home because of all the time we have spent there throughout the years as well as the summer we lived here while Scott was doing his internship. We pulled in late at night, but first thing when he woke up Miles was asking to go out and shoot hoops in the back of Grandpa's truck. Our free time was filled with all of the kids favorite activities like driving the black truck, swimming in the hot tub, playing in the bounce house, or having cousins over for some playtime.
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| Tapping into our inner cornhusker spirit by providing true Nebraska corn for Sunday night family dinner |
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| Bread making lessons from Dad. |
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| It wouldn't be a trip to Grandma's without putting some miles on the black truck. |
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| Mason has been itching to get his hands on a pocket knife for a long time Grandma is a lot more fun that mom and helped him spend the afternoon whittling ivory soap. |
Besides the time we spent playing at Grandma's house, we were able to go out and do some fun things with our Hale cousins. My mom and I were able to take all the kids up to Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point. Kennedy, Rachel, and Brynn were inseparable, the little boys had fun running around together, but the sweetest thing to see was the special relationship that developed between Mason and Kendall. Kendall had him completely wrapped around her little finger. I was intrigued as to what brought on all the special attention Mason was giving Kendall until he mentioned to me that Kendall was two just like Ellie would have been. I think Kendall filled the void of a little sister for him. I had to laugh when Mason told me, "Kendall has my silliness. She definitely got that chromosome from me!"
We enjoyed a fun production of Joseph and the Amazing Techni-colored Dream Coat at the Scera Shell with the older cousins. Everyone's favorite character was the Elvis impersonating Pharaoh and their favorite scene was the pillow fight between Potifer's wife and Joseph (thank goodness for a family friendly version.)
Of course we spent a few afternoon's at Marilyn's pool. Mason and Brynn both learned how to do front flips off the diving board. Miles was convinced he could swim by himself so I let him try... he decided he still needs help after all. Brynn learned how to dive for rings on the bottom of the pool. I'd say we accomplished a lot on those swim days.
My mom takes each of the grandkids on a one on one summer date of their choice. This year Miles went to Provo Beach Resort and played in the arcade, Brynn went to Color Me Mine and painted a Hello Kitty jewelry box, and Mason went to the Lego Store and picked out a lego set to build together. Mason also got a bonus date when the rest of us went to a jumping place with friends he went ice blocking down Cascade Hill with Grandma.
Building these memories with family is why we make the long trip.
