June 8, 2015

Feels like home

Rich and I were talking tonight about how blessed we have been to feel like every place we’ve lived feels like home. After leaving Florida and moving to Utah it took a while for me to “get over it” if that makes any sense. Everything about Utah was just not as beautiful or as good as Florida to me. So silly but when you really grow to love the place you live, you can’t help but miss it.

Now, I call Utah home…and I am going to miss it.

I’m going to miss seeing a temple around every corner. I’m going to miss the fresh air(during the summer). Not going to miss those dang inversions! I’m going to miss my cul-de-sac!!! I swear, we hit the jackpot when we got this location. With the splash pad right around the corner, a huge back yard and a cul-de-sac in the front, every day has been awesome! Especially during the summer when the kids go out to play all day long, running back and forth from other homes in the cul-de-sac. I’m going to miss looking out in the back yard and seeing 10 kids jumping on the trampoline while others play on the playset. I’m going to miss looking on the front porch and seeing all of the little girls huddled around the calico critter house or sitting on the patio furniture eating a popsicle. I’m going to miss going back to Eva’s room(the game room) and seeing my kids with their little buddies all piled on the recliner playing on the Wii. I’m going to miss hearing Arabella playing dress-up and baby unicorn in her room with her little friends.

Utah has been so good to us. There is so much I will always treasure about our time here on Freedom Circle but I know that Heavenly Father has such great and exciting plans for us in Okinawa. I hope when our time is over in Japan that I can call that little island home.

June 4, 2015

Jackson Hole & Yellowstone

What an AMAZING weekend we had! Rich had a couple of extra days off for Memorial Day so we took advantage and took a last minute trip to Wyoming to visit Jackson hole and Yellowstone. I am soooo not a last minute person. It gives me crazy anxiety. I sucked it up and went against my nature and just went with the flow. Sure, I forgot the girls underwear but that wasn’t anything that couldn’t be remedied with a quick stop at K-Mart! See, I’m learning to be a little more spontaneous!

Stopped to get a pic in these gorgeous dandelions.

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We got to Jackson Hole and checked in to our hotel. We planned for one night in Jackson hole mostly to enjoy our hotel, swimming and dinner.

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Rich and I laughed so hard at the painting that was above the toilet. It made Rich feel really uncomfortable every time he went to the bathroom. hahaha!

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We headed out to explore and found the restaurant we had reservations at for dinner. We knew exactly where we wanted to eat because this restaurant was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

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We ordered the two meals that were featured and they did not disappoint. The pork neck ragu and the duck ramen. Duck ramen was my fave! The kids had mac-n-cheese and it was the best mac-n-cheese we had ever tasted!

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We even got to meet the chef!

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After dinner we went looking for some milk for Eva. Not so fun fact about Jackson Hole…their gas stations only carry strawberry milk. Seriously, we hit up 3 and not a single one had plain milk but every single one had strawberry milk.We finally got some milk at a grocery store and headed back to our hotel to enjoy the pool. It felt like a hot tub it was so warm. Totally my kind of poolSmile

Eva’s very first time in a pool. She was scared at first but by the end she loved it and didn’t want to get out. She’s gonna be a happy baby when we get to the beaches in Okinawa.

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Aidan was photo bombed.

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That was our day in Jackson Hole. It was perfect. We got a good nights rest and headed out to Yellowstone the next morning. It was only about an hour away and the drive was gorgeous!

Can you tell the sun was in our eyes?

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There were so many gorgeous stops along the way. Pictures just can’t do nature justice.

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Picnic lunch break. It was chilly.

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We had a little navigator! I was so impressed with Aidan’s desire and ability to find where we were and where we were going. He was very patient and it was just the cutest thing to see him navigating the map.

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First trail stop.

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I loved these little trails. They were short and sweet and so kid-friendly.

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We had the kids completely convinced that there was a dragon in there.

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Looking hard, trying to see the dragon.

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Next we hit up the waterfall. Selfies-the only way I get in the pictures.

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This next view was probably my absolute favorite of the whole trip. Again, pictures just can’t do it justice but it was breathtaking.

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The cool thing was you see the view before you know exactly what you are looking at because the sign is further down. So I hopped out and looked and it completely took my breath away. My favorite part was standing there admiring this incredible canyon and seeing other people walk up and being completely caught off guard. It was impossible to see this and not be in awe.

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We did all of that in one day and then headed to our cabin for some much needed sleep. These cabins were so cute! This was ours…well, half of it was oursSmile

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Next morning-Painter’s Pots

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This is why they call it painters pots.

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A mini volcano. It actually had steam coming out of it.

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These signs were everywhere and it freaked Aidan out. He was so worried that he was going to fall through the ground.

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Heading back to the car!

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Next up was Old Faithful

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We waited about 15 minutes for it to errupt.

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Patiently waiting…

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And then, it happened!

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After Old Faithful we hit up our last stop. I don’t remember what it was called.

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Aidan begged to take a picture.

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See Arabella? Yes, it was stiiiinky!

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What was your favorite part? video

This was the best family vacation we have ever taken in my book! I felt so relaxed now that Eva’s trach is gone and now that the kids are older it was so much easier. Being out in nature and away from technology was so refreshing for all of us. The kids might argue that but I know that we all felt so rejuvenated after those 3 days. So grateful we were able to have this experience before leaving Utah!

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