Utah: Mapleton

When we plan our Utah trips I am always thinking about my parents house and going to Salt Lake.  We always plan a few days at my in-laws house in Mapleton.  Every time I regret that we didn't plan more time.  It is such a wonderful respite.  It is so peaceful and beautiful.  We always have the best time.  It is truly a vacation when we go there.  Their home is so magical for kids.  I love my in-laws deeply and wished we lived closer to them.

They have been going through some major trauma over the last year, and this year I hadn't planned on staying at their house because 6 kids is kind of a lot, plus Randy was still in the hospital.  But Debby wanted us and even bought toys and food.  

She even had Gwen and Marcus stay the night!  What a grandma!  Dane and Marcus enjoyed playing together.

The big kids even loved playing with the water guns.

Evenings in her backyard are simply heaven.  I could sit on her back deck and watch my kids play for hours.

Eventually they moved to the front yard and played frisbee with Jason.

And you can always count of grandma to have "ice cream on a stick"

We LOVE and adore Grandma Herbert!

Utah: Stopping in Price

The day after school got out we all headed to Utah for 10 days.  We have a very busy summer between trek, girls camp, high adventure, football camp, etc we really didn't have a 2 week period where we could all go, so despite most of their complaining we left bright and early the first day of summer.  We hadn't been back to Utah in May ever, so I was excited to be there for memorial day (one of my favorite family holidays).  On the way to SLC we stooped in Price and met my dad and Audrey at the Price cemetery to put flowers on the grave of my grandparents, great grandparents, and my cousin Mandi. 

Then we continued onto Mapleton.
 

Last Day of School

It was Megan's last day of elementary school.  This was the 6th grade clap out.

Then the next day we had her graduation.

Last time in elementary together.  Maddie is pretty thrilled to be the only Herbert next year.

 Megan's friends Bella and Taylor

It was also Noah's last day of middle school (8th grade).  He wore a 3 piece suit his last day - because he is so cool (seriously I think he is so cool - expect he really didn't want me to take this picture, if you can't tell)

Then he did a color run.

 

Best Evening in a Long Time

One Saturday late afternoon in May Jason was in Utah helping his dad.  All the kids were home and I decided I wanted to do a family outing.  I almost talked my self out of it because it seemed like too much trouble.  Then I decided it was worth it - even if it didn't turn out good, I should try.  I had an idea and I packed lunch for a babies, some toys for the part and told the kids to grab their bikes/scooters/rollerblades.

We went to the park and spent several hours flying a kite.  I didn't know it would be such a hit but it was.  Everyone loved it - but mostly Brock.  I went picture taking crazy, I was trying to capture the feeling, you cant, but I tried.

I just loved these one's of all of them looking up

Then I biked the babies home (they ate dinner in the trailer on the way home) and then put them to bed, I had the older kids ride their "bikes" to burger king to have dinner together.  They came home with great stories about how fun it was and how they didn't fight once.  Music to my ears. It was a good evening.  I wish they were the norm instead of the exception.  But I am glad we have them when we do.