Summer Break

Our annual trip to Utah this summer was shorter than usual, but still nice. Well, the first week was anyway. We stayed in Vegas for the first day swimming and playing with cousins, then drove on to St. George where my fabulous aunt Carolyn made us the best brunch ever! and we were able to spend time with even more family. Then it was on to Salt Lake where we went to a really cool dinosaur museum, had some fun dinners with family and I even did a little crafting and shopping with my sisters.


Unfortunately Miranda, Patrick, 3 of my nephews and my niece all got really sick the entire second week. Only one case of the flu, but all had fevers and/or a nasty cough. Jake also got it and was miserable most of the time as well. Somehow I took care of everyone (with the help of my sister and some grandmas) and still didn't get anything. I'm SO happy about that. (sorry to the rest of you sickies ;))

Jake was feeling a little better the last few days in Salt Lake, so we were able to take a tour through the new Oquirrh Hills LDS temple as well. The temple was beautiful (of course) and the view of the valley from the temple is pretty spectacular too. If you're in Utah and interested, I believe the tours run through Aug. 1st of this year before it gets dedicated.

Jake and I came home last week with Patrick and the girls have been able to enjoy their first vacation ever without their parents. I shouldn't be, but I'm surprised that they haven't been homesick yet. I guess with art lessons (check out their work here), special days out with the grandparents and all the time in the world to spend with their cousins it's not that surprising.

Still, I wasn't sure how they or I would do with this much time apart. I have been busy with Patrick, painting the boys room and just generally being miserably pregnant. I am actually really pleased that I am not having to worry about entertaining them right now. (that and I'm able to clean out the playroom and get rid of things without anyone objecting!) Not that I don't miss them, mind you, but I'm just not sad about it or anything...

Patrick has surprised me as well. He says he misses his sisters, but he sure doesn't act like it! He is very happy to have lots of attention and free reign of the playroom and rest of the house. I'm sure he'll be thrilled to have them come home, but for now he is enjoying this time with his mom and dad before little brother comes along and takes up some of this great attention! He would do just fine as an only child, but I don't think I could handle Patrick as the only one. He REALLY likes to be right. by. me. All the time. It's great!

Thankfully the girls will be back in a little over a week because while they have been gone Patrick has been getting pretty good at making this face. It's called the "I'm turning into a bratty spoiled kid with all of this attention" face. That's not my favorite. It's totally my fault, but still. He needs a reality check pretty soon. With the girls coming back, and the baby arriving shortly after that, I'm sure we'll all be getting quite the reality check! That's okay, I can't wait!!