Well there is lots to say about the last couple of weeks. Most of it will probably be covered by the pictures that we took on our trip to Utah. The beginning of the week was just the normal with the added work of preparing for our vacation. We were so excited to go and you kids kept asking if we could just ditch out of school and work early and go but we couldn't and had to wait until Friday after school and a shortened work day for dad to leave.
Friday (May 8th)
We got on the road and headed to Hermiston for the night. We did have to get some dinner and so we stopped along the way and got some chicken strips to go along with our fruit and veggies and pirate booty in the car. We also stopped for a potty break and ice cream a little later too. Weston loved chasing the ducks. It was fun to be together and to let it soak in that we are finally on vacation!
This is how we roll these days. Check out the little boy shorts on the antenna.
Ryder enjoying the delicious Tillamook Ice Cream Weston chasing the duckies!
Saturday (May 9th)
We weren't in Hermiston very long but we did get a little time with the Adair family before we headed out for our drive to Burley. They are so good to let us stay there and yous kids love seeing your cousins.
Cousin Time
We were so excited to start the Temple part of our trip. We decided we
wanted to see as many temples as we could on our drive from Portland to
Payson and back.
Temple #1 Meridian Idaho Temple
Temple #2 Boise Idaho Temple
Temple #3 Twin Falls Idaho Temple
Sunday (May 10th)
This was a special day because it was Mother's Day and your dad's birthday. We decided to celebrate Dad and Weston's birthdays together on Monday and so we just celebrated mother's day on the 10th. Mother's day is kind of hard for me because I really miss my mom. It just isn't the same without her and it seems like everyone in Burley felt that same way. We visited Grannie's grave and took her some flowers. We talked about our favorite memories of her and how we will get to be with her again. I am so grateful for the knowledge we have and the love of our Savior that makes this all possible. We also got to see Grandma Nona's grave and bring her some flower too. These are wonderfully important women that we miss so much.
That night we did a camp fire with my family at Roger's house. They try to do this every Sunday that they can in good weather and it is always a treat when we get to join them.
Monday (May 11th)
We headed out Monday morning fairly early but still had time for Papa to teach us a few knots and give us some new ropes to have in the car.
Weston spent most of his birthday in the car so we brought the banner and put it up in the car to make the day a little more special.
Temple #4 Brigham City Utah
Ryder likes to make sure to run up an touch each of the temples and all of the kids love the fountains.
Temple #5 Odgen Utah
We accidentally drove right by the Bountiful Temple on the way down so we had to make a decision that we would see it on the way back. It was a bummer but we knew we would have another chance to see it.
Temple #6 South Jordan Utah
Weston turned TWO today!
Temple #7 Oquirrh Mountain Utah
Temple #8 Draper Utah
Draper was the last temple for the day and that put us really close to Brian and April. To give them a little more time to get ready for us we headed to the Museum of Ancient Life (The Dinosaur Museum) for a little birthday fun. Weston loved it and so did the other kids.
Then back to Brian and April's house for a little Birthday Party Celebration for our two birthday boys!
April through an awesome party. The cake was delicious and the company was wonderful. We were all tired but also looking forward to another fun day together.
Tuesday (May 12th)
We were lucky enough to get tickets to hike up Timp and go through the cave. They didn't have any on-line for the days that we wanted this week but they had some walk up and we got them. It was awesome and we had our own private tour! We were a little worried that our hiking legs wouldn't be strong enough to hike Timp. We hike a lot but not really up big mountains. You kids did amazingly well. You sure have turned into quite the amazing group of little hikers. It was fun to be on the trail together.
Timp Cave is SO awesome. It has some really cool things to see and the history is really fascinating too.
"The Heart"
I think this might have been the only nap that Weston got today but a least it was something!
In the afternoon we headed over to the new Children's Museum at Thanksgiving Point. It is call the Museum of Natural Curiosity. It was SO fun!
Fun for everyone!
Wednesday (May 13th)
On our way down to Provo we had a few temples to visit.
Temple #9 Mount Timpanogos Utah
Temple #10 Provo Utah
The was our day at BYU! We had so much fun and loved showing you kids all of the places we used to go and the things we did and places we spent time. It was great and I think we convinced them all that this is the school for them! Jenna did ask what would happen if she got a scholarship to Stanford, and after a short pause, I told her that we could find her another family if that is what she wanted. :-)
We even got to catch up with some old friends. The Cleggs were nice enough to host us for lunch and play time and then we had dinner with Dave and Ben, the last remaining Provo branch of "The Team."
After lunch it was another temple stop.
Temple #11 Provo City Utah
We also had some time for a few more fun things that day, too! The Bean Museum and a quick visit to get some pictures with our Studio C friends! (Maybe just their cutouts but you kids were still excited!
Thursday (May 14th)
Our main reason for this trip was to be there for the Open House of the Payson Temple. We were there when it was announced and we can see the temple from the garage of our townhouse. It is exciting and we couldn't miss this chance for all of us to go through this temple as a family before it is dedicated. It is a beautiful temple. One thing we loved was the apple blossoms on the stained glass windows, it was amazing.
Temple #12 Payson Utah
It was a really windy day and we were afraid that our plan to hike the Y would have to be ruined but just as we got to the Y the sun came out and it was an awesome hike. It was fun to have Brian and April with us again. The are good to join us on all of these crazy adventures. It was SO much harder than we remembered and probably the hike we should have been concerned about for the kids. (Timp was much easier.) The kids did great though and made it to the top. Trey had tons of energy and kept ahead of us the whole time. (We think it was the motivation of the pedometer.)
Stopping at the BYU Creamy after a long hike to the Y is a must! We all enjoyed some yummy treats and relished in our victory of the mountain.
That night Dad got to play in a soccer game with uncle Brian. They had a great time together.
Friday (May 15th)
Dad started his work at REI on Friday. He is working all weekend and that is why we got to come on this awesome vacation, so we won't complain. While he was working we toured around Salt Lake with Auntie April. It was a rainy day but we didn't let that stop us. Our first stop was the conference center.
Temple #13 Salt Lake City Utah
During lunch we got a picture that was for Dad. He loves Porsche and we thought he would like a picture of us with one.
After lunch we visited the Joseph Smith Building, temple square, the tabernacle and the visitor's center.
After lunch we visited the Joseph Smith Building, temple square, the tabernacle and the visitor's center.
It is always so awesome to be at temple square. I am so grateful for my Savior and I love this picture!
We were a little bummed in the morning when we found out that the hotel only had an outdoor pool and it was raining. The plan for the afternoon had been to get back to the hotel and play in the pool. Well the blessings of weather continued because as soon as we were finishing up at Temple Square the sun came up and we decided it looked like a swimming day after all. Heavenly Father sure looked out for us with wonderful weather every time we really needed it this week.
After a nice dinner out at a real restaurant (this is a real treat, we almost never do this), we stayed at the hotel in Salt Lake as a family and it was fun. You kids love being in the same room together and even Weston joined you and everyone slept good after a fun long day.
Saturday (May 16th)
Papa Lynn picked us up on Saturday morning and we headed to Burley to play with some cousins. We stopped to see our last Utah temple that we had missed on the way down.
Temple #14 Bountiful Utah
The rest of the drive was great. I had a really nice visit with my dad. He is such a great man and I am so grateful to have him in my life. It was nice to have that time to talk and catch up and have some one on one time with him. It has been a while since that has happened and I am so glad that we were able to do that. I have always considered myself a Daddies Girl and with a dad like mine it is no wonder why. I love him!
Sunday (May 17th)
The next two days were full of family fun with cousins and aunts and uncles. We love visiting Burley and having time to be with all of the Morgan Clan there. It is hard to capture everything but I did get a few great pictures.
Playing at Roger's house
Uncle Bryce's cool remote control cars.
Allora and Jenna
Weston and Roxy? (Hillary's little girl)
Ninja Cousins
Yummy food with our favorite friends.
What a fun group of kiddos!
Monday (May 18th)
We drove all the way home today. It was a long drive from Burley but we did it and made it home in time for dinner. We did have one stop left to make and we made it our Family Home Evening for the night to stop at our last temple.
Temple #15 Portland Oregon
We talked about we got to go and see some amazing temples during the last week and we drove a long way but now we are only a few miles from home and we have a temple right here. Cooper commented that he never realized how lucky we are to have a temple so close to home but that he does now. He was even tearing up a little and I felt the spirit. We are so blessed and are grateful to live so close to this beautiful temple! It was such a wonderful trip and we made memories that we will have FOREVER!
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