Utah Vacation: East Canyon

For over 30 years, my Bestemor (means Grandma in Norwegian) has gone to the East Canyon Resort [http://www.eastcanyon.com/] up Parley's every Summer. Growing up, my family spent lots of time there. We got lucky enough that this week is her time at the Resort. My mom got our fam an extra condo for a couple nights. (Thanks Mom- we had a great time!) We made it up in time for an awesome Sunday dinner with the Sadler family. Kathie made her yummy casserole and home-made brownies which the kids got to decorate. DELICIOUS! Thanks Kathie!
[Kathie also brought a few of my quilts that I had left here all quilted for me. They are so gorgeous! I LOVE them!!! Victoria, Glory and little Trae loved them even more. They laid on every one and would wrap up in them. Too cute! Thanks Kathie- they look so gorgeous! I owe you big time!!!!]
It was fun to visit and see everyone. (Treston & Shelley had a Bday Party for Brigham so they didn't make it up- but we did get to see them a couple of time earlier in the week) Everyone changes so much in a couple years. It's crazy! Thanks for making time to see us, guys! We sure miss all of you!

My Dad & Edette came up as well to spend some more time with us. While we were visiting and eating, Grandpa Randy kept the kids busy and happy with a little grass fight. I really think the Resort should have paid them for mowing the lawn. LOL!

After dinner, the Laroccos and Bud & Kathie had to leave, but the rest of us went for a walk around the Resort grounds. I forgot how much I like it up there. We let the kids play on the playground for a bit. They loved it! We crossed the bridge and even got to see a deer by the river. We absolutely enjoyed the crisp, mountain air! Man-- I miss that!

In the morning, my Dad & Edette let Justice, Glory, Victoria and me tag along for a scenic drive and short stop at the East Canyon Reservoir. (Everyone else was still asleep) Actually, we tagged them along with us because their car wouldn't start. ;) We made it all the way around to the damn and back. Of course, the kids favorite part was throwing rocks in the lake. Not sure the fishermen really appreciated it but hey- we ARE on vacation!!!! Throughout our time at the Resort- water was thoroughly enjoyed. Along with swimming and rock throwing, the kids also liked sticking their feet in the river and seeing the wildlife. We got to see a baby beaver and a family of ducks along with the deer we saw the first day. God's creations are amazing!

Can I just say?-- I LOVE shuffleboard!!! It is so much fun! We need one at our place. We played a couple of games- Dad & Brett vs Edette & Shay; Tauni & Kortni vs. Brett & Shay & Victoria. It was so much fun even though I think I lost every game badly! LOL! After the kids played tennis with Tauni & Kortni they tried their luck as well. Takara (aka gimpy) even came as an audience. :)

And of course, there's the pool! My fishy kids love the water! On the first night there, we went over to say hi to those that were in the hot tub. The boys (I mean Muscle-ly Men- my brother, Trave and cousin, Trae) were hilarious!! The were posing like their were in the IronMan Contest! The second picture I took (not shown), my step-mom, Edette showed them up. LOL! So funny! I really miss the fun we have together!

During our stay at the resort- my sister, Tauni made our whole family (& everyone else up there) twisted bracelets. (I'm not sure what the technique is called). They are awesome!!! You have to measure from fingertip to fingertip to get started. Well, after we did Glory's bracelet, it became tradition for her to stand in front of Tauni with her arms stretched every time she saw her. It was so funny! Tauni taught my girl's how to do them as well. Tauni let them have several skeins of floss and they were making them the rest of the vacation. We LOVE them! Thanks Sis for the little momento!

We had a blast! Hurray for East Canyon!

Utah Vacation: Utah's Hogle Zoo

This year, I bought a Year Membership to the Chahinkapa Zoo in Wahepton, ND. Part of my decision was that you can get into the Utah's Hogle Zoo for free. Since I knew I was coming to Utah soon- it sweetened the deal. Whahoo! or.... NOT! When we made it to Hogle Zoo, they only gave us half off. Dang! They said they changed it about a year ago. But I just got my pass 4 weeks ago? Oh well. You win some, you lose some, right? Irritating though. (See the money-saving gene strikes again. LOL!) But we did have a good time at Utah's Hogle Zoo. We met Treston & part of his family (they had plans to have the whole family come and then Brigham got sick- Sorry guys- we missed you Shelley & Brigham) along with his sister-in-law- Mary. Tauni & Kortnie, Grandma Karla & Ryer and Grandpa Randy came as well. Justice ditched us to spend more time with Ethan but we did manaage to steal Miss Halle for the adventure. Lots to see and lots of fun! When we got ot the zoo, we rented a double stroller which was a life-saver for the little girls. By the end- all my girls we piled in there. Good thing that my hubby is so buff! ;)

Most of us took a ride on the Merry-go-Round. {Brett got a work phone call and went MIA for about an hour so he missed it- gotta love the working man} I obviously got a little bias on my pictures but there were more kids and they all had  a blast. Although, I'm not sure "round-n-round-n-round" is my favorite anymore. Side-affect of growing older, I guess? LOL! But very cute animals. Just darling!

We did the shortened, fast version of the animals at the Zoo so that we could make it to the 1:00 Bird Show. It was great! God's creatures are pretty amazing! They had hawks, doves, performing parrots, chickens, silly penguins and eagles. They even let some audience members participate. Really cool! At the end, you got to feed the birds money and they would put them inside the donation box. If you donated $5 or more, you could get your picture taken wih ones of the BIG birds. Guess which one we picked? LOL! Isn't that Bald Eagle beautiful?? Thanks Dad for taking pictures for us. (My new camera's battery died. I was having a cow not being able to get the pictures I wanted. ARRGH!!!)

When the bird show was done, Grandma Karla treated us all to lunch. (Thanks Mom!) Then for the Sadlers boys, of course (because who wouldn't like train with a grandfather named Grandpa Whoo-whoo)--- the Zoo day wouldn't have been complete without a Choo-Choo ride. All aboard!

PS. And in case it doesn't look like it---we did see some animals and enjoyed them very much.

Lots of fun! Thanks everyone for joining us.

We had a Zoo-rific time!

Utah Vacation: Boondocks

We spent the morning with Grandpa Randy & Grammy at the Roy Boondocks Fun Center. There was so much to do!!! We definitely got our moneys worth which always makes my Dad a happy man! ;) My step-sister, Shiloh & her kids came and my Dad & Edtte picked up the Pettit kids. My Mom and Ryler made it up as well. It was quite a good-lookin' group!

We started our adventures at the Race track. Victoria & I did our one time and we were good for the day. However, Liberty and Angel probably went on it 100 times. Seriously- the people let them on for like an hour over our time limit. They must have used their cute girly powers over the guys at the gate. (Isn't it too early for that?) Unfortunately, Liberty missed the height requirement by just a tiny bit. Angel didn't mind driving though. She thinks she's ready for a real car now. Watch out people! This could be dangerous. LOL! These girls even missed lunch because of these cars. It was at least an hour and a half after lunch before they even said they were hungry. Crazy girls!

The Water Bumper Boats were a hit. They all went on them a few times. They got soaked!!!! Some seriously came off like they had just taken a shower. Gotta love water fights!

While the older gang continued their outside adventures, my Mom & I took the little ones inside for some climbing fun at the Kiddie Cove & snack-time! It freaked me out to let Glory just climb in there by herself but she loved it. And she even made it down eventually all by herself.

Several groups did some LaserTag fun! My kids wish we had one of these at our house. Maybe that could be Brett's next home project. Well.... maybe we shouldn't give him any ideas. LOL!

My two youngest girlies wanted pictures in the photo booth while we waited for the LaserTag groups but they wanted WAY too much mula for them. (Guess the saving-money-gene is hereditary. Thanks alot, Dad! LOL!) So we climbed in the booth and took our own. A little Picasa magic and whoala- I thought they turned out even better than ones we would have got from the machine. Too cute!

The one thing I really wanted to do was bowl. Unfortunately, everyone else were having way too much fun elsewhere so the little ones and I tried our luck at Rollerball instead. I just helped the girls but it was a lot of fun! The pins are all on strings. You can choose to have the bumpers come up for each individual player so Victoria and Glory were in heaven. They think they are Bowl Pros now. Silly girlies! A few of the other little kids joined us for a game as well.

I'm pretty sure most people took a turn at Mini Golf. For Shiloh, Karla (my Mom) and me- it was more like chase the kids to the next hole. ;) But at least we can say we golfed, right?

I'm exhausted just writing about all we did but that was just half of it. All the Arcade stuff was an afterthought but still a lot of fun! It was nearly impossible to have get everyone to even come and play them because theyw ere having too much fun at the other things. Everyone did take their turn at rides or ticket-winning games. And of course, everyone exchanged tickets for prizes. Yeah- more fun junk we've acquired. Lucky us! But the kids LOVED every minute of it!

Thanks Dad! We had a lot of fun! It was fun spending the day with everyone!