Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Pizza in the Mountains

One night we had some more time to ourselves, so we spontaneously headed up American Fork Canyon for a picnic.  Thirty minutes later, we were in the mountains--love it!!  Since we hadn't planned this trip ahead of time, we stopped and grabbed a pizza on our way through town.  After a pizza picnic :) on the ground (since all the picnic tables were occupied), we enjoyed exploring a section of the American Fork river.
  Cooper loved throwing rocks in the water.
  We could see trout in the water in a few places.  Nate had already been fishing through here the week before, or he'd have had his fishing pole out for sure!
 My point and shoot camera just can't capture the beauty of this canyon.  This was another of those moments when I didn't know what was more beautiful, the mountain scene on the horizon, the river, my family, or the canyon on the drive out.
 This little guy is pretty cute though.
 We had fun dangling our feet over the water.  Nate went to the truck for something, and Cooper and I sat on the bank and threw rocks of various sizes into the water.  He enjoyed seeing which ones would splash the biggest/smallest, what kind of sound each would make, and also floating sticks and leaves down the river and watching until they disappeared out of sight.  Nothing like an evening in the mountains to calm your soul after a very fun, but very busy few weeks.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

We belong in a zoo!

Our last week in Utah, we decided to visit the zoo, despite the hot weather.  Elephant Encounter was beautiful, and Coop loved seeing the elephant.  He was just a little too hot and hungry for a good picture.
 Say cheese while a million other people try to do the same thing!
I do have to say that the new Otter/Seal/Bear exhibits were AWESOME.  We got to watch the seals and the polar bear swimming in their exhibits.  The grizzly bears were also in the water, all three of them splashing each other and playing.  I've never seen a polar bear that close up before, and swimming in the water, no less.  That was one of the highlights of our visit, for me.
 After so much needed lunch and air conditioning, we were feeling refreshed and happier, and started off on the carousel.
Camyll with her two little monkeys: Calvin and Jaisie
 Cooper and Mommy
 Coop was excited to ride this Boa Constrictor or Python or whatever kind of snake it was.  He'd just watched Disney's Jungle Book the day before, and was calling it "Kah, the snake."
Calvin, who doesn't like his picture taken, was even smiling for the camera.
 Jaisie was in sensory overload, I think, not knowing what to look at.
 After walking all over the zoo, getting hot and tired, we ended on the train ride.  The kiddos (and adults) were happy for the rest.
Grammie and Jaisie
 Cooper and Mommy
 Camyll and Calvin
 Afterward, the kids all conked out within a few minutes of getting in the car. It was such a fun zoo visit.

Willis and Maxine Mower "Reunion" 2012

We wanted to get together with my Mom's brother and his family, and I guess we can call that the "Mower" reunion, since we're all the direct descendants of Grandpa and Grandma Mower.  Didn't dawn on me until just now that we had more of a reunion than a get together, since there were 26 of us.  We were only missing Bryt and Liz and their kids [boo hoo :(].
Since Boyd and Kaylene's family always drive down to AF to get together, a few of us adult kids decided it was our turn to drive north and visit them.  My poor cousin, Shelisa, who is such a good sport; I invited the whole family to her house, without her even knowing because she was out own town on vacation until just a day or two before the date.  But I knew with their great yard and kid-friendly stuff, we'd have a good time because the kids would be happily and safely occupied.  Sure enough...
Between the slides coming right off the deck...
and the trampoline...
the kiddos were in heaven!
That left some time for the rest of us to visit (and eat).  They made my favorite--Hawaiian Haystacks--in honor of us being there.  So sweet (and yummy)!  It was my goal to take a picture of everyone there, so here we start with Ben rocking out with Jaisie. 
 Tyler and Foxy
 Austin
 Aspen and Jaisie 
 Alan (my Dad) and Uncle Boyd
 Jason (Poulson) and Camyll
 Me and Camyll
 Alex, Jayson and Ben
 Stettsen, Austin, Cassady and George
 Shelisa and Nate
 Tonee (with soon-to-be baby Oakley) and Aaron
 Aunt Kaylene
 Terry (my Mom)
 And the kids: Cooper, Calvin, Jayden, Tyler and Keslee
The only one not pictured is Aunt Cheryl Tarbet, who joined us later after I'd put away the camera to just enjoy visiting.  We had such a great time that we probably over-stayed our welcome, but we just didn't want to leave.  Since they're so few and far between, these kinds of get-togethers are never long enough.  Thank you, Ben and Shelisa, for your hospitality!!  We gotta do it again!

Monday, August 20, 2012

City Creek and Cousins

Of course, no trip to Salt Lake City would be complete without visiting the new City Creek Shopping Center.  It is a beautiful mall with some spectacular landscaping and water features (like the stream throughout with big rainbow trout in it--crazy!).  Being a landscaper's daughter, I was more interested in seeing the design than actually shopping at the stores.
We did pop in to a few stores, including one with WAY over-priced kids clothes.  But I do have to admit that Cooper looked dapper in this leather jacket and hat.  Window shopping was fun.
 True to form, City Creek had some great water features.  Cooper had to go touch the water at this one.
Jayson and Anna and their kids all met us there, and Cooper and Alex played at the splash pad for a bit.  Coop though it was AWESOME that Alex showed him how to slap the water just as it was shooting up.  Every time they caught the water and slapped it, Coop giggled with delight.
  Wet much?
We had a memorable time eating lunch with Jayson and his family.  My big brother cracks me up!  It was so nice to hang out with them, just us.  Not many chances to do that any more.  Afterward they invited us to their house, since Mom and Dad were hosting a friend's wedding reception in their backyard.  So we stowed away hanging out with Jayson and Anna at their house.  Nate had to visit urgent care that night for poison ivy he'd gotten while fishing one night, but other than that, it was a very relaxing visit.  Such a nice change of pace from our crazy busy trip!  Thanks Jayson, Anna, Alex, Aspen and Tyler!
P.S. I love that Coop pronounces Alex "Addicts," Aspen "A--pen" (reminds me of a--choo!), and Tyler "Ty-wer."  He "Wuvs his tousins!"

Barbies, Boys and Dates

 Grammie has Camyll/Chelsey/Cassady's old Barbie doll house in the guest room at her house.  At first Cooper was confused by this little house that is only just taller than he.  He wondered whether it was for climbing onto the roof, and then jumping onto the bed, something he tried repeatedly and earned repeated time-outs for.  I had to explain to him that it's for pretending to play house, and showed him the different rooms and furniture "like ours."  He's such a boy!  Can you tell we have nothing of the sort in our house?!
Sometime after, we were in our room and I noticed him putting the baby in the crib, and putting the blanket on, the Mommy kissing the baby good night, and then going to her room, and putting the blanket on.  That was his favorite thing to do--tuck them in bed.  Well, it's a toss up between that and playing trains with the furniture (see pic below)... At least the grandsons have figured out how to play with those girl toys!

Cooper and Calvin were such a pair!  One day I was babysitting Cal for Camyll and after lunch we went out back to play.  All three of us ended up on the double hammock.  As we were swinging, Cal was playing something.  Suddenly he popped up and shouted, "I gotta go to work!"  I said, "Why Cal, what you gotta do at work that's so important?"  He thought for a second and said, "Celebrate!"  I said, "Celebrate what?  Do you know what it means to celebrate?"  He said, "Ummmm, work!"  So I turned to Cooper and asked him if he knew what it meant to celebrate.  Coop said, "Eat food!"
So there you have it--apparently Calvin's parents are great examples of a good work ethic, and all Coop's parents do for a good time is eat food.  Nice.
They really did crack me up.  This kind of nonsense was non-stop with them.


 Many times we'd be driving somewhere, and I'd notice the beautiful mountains and spectacular sunsets.  Oh how I've missed those sunsets!!!  We just don't have anything like them in the South; I think the mountain silhouettes make it extra breathtaking, that and the fact that there aren't a million trees blocking your view.  So one night driving home on the freeway, I had to snap a shot.  Picture isn't anything near like it was in person.  Boo hoo.  Guess I'll just have to remember them in my own memory.
 Quick--take a picture!!  Since I've been a stay-at-home mom, there have only been a few times I've gone an entire day without putting on some makeup, but there are FEW days when I do more than a ponytail or messy bun with my hair.  It's just too hot outside, and I'm too busy cleaning and/or chasing my toddler around to do much else.  What's the point?  Seeing me with my hair actually "done" is like spotting a jackalope.
Well, while in Utah, since we had free babysitting (THANK YOU CHELSEY AND STETTSEN!!!), Nate and I went out on an actual date, and I actually did my hair and put on some nice clothes.  Nate hates having his picture taken, knowing that more than likely it'll end up on the blog, so I snapped one of myself that night, since it's a rare occasion that I get done up.  Had to capture the moment.
Our date was WONDERFUL.  We went to dinner at Epic, our most favorite restaurant of all time in Utah.  After not being there for 3 years, the food hadn't changed a bit, which we were ecstatic about.  After dinner we didn't want the night to end yet, so we drove out to the Oquirrh Hills Temple and walked the grounds, since we'd never been to that temple before.  It was a beautiful night with perfect weather, no bugs, a gorgeous sunset, and fireworks going off all over the Salt Lake Valley, so we sat and watched our own private fireworks show.  In honor of being in Utah, we ended our date night with a treat at Cold Stone.  Nate was skeptical that it'd still be open since it was after 10 pm.  I was like, "Are ya kidding?  We're in Utah, the ice cream-eating capital of the world!!"  And true to form, we were met by a line nearly out the door.  I love Utah.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Family Night: Bowling at Jack n' Jill's

While in Utah, we had a few nights to spend as a family, meaning our own 3-person unit, without anyone else.  One such night we chose to go bowling at Jack n' Jill's.  We bowled in the dark with glow in the dark pins (hence the terrible pictures from my phone).  Coop loved bowling, and with the help of the rack and the bumpers, he bowled almost as good as us, which isn't really saying much, I guess, since we both barely broke 100.  But we sure had fun doing it!
 Go Coop, go!
 Here's our little goof entertaining himself between frames. 
 No visit to the bowling alley would be complete without playing at the arcade.  For not having video games or playing any computer games at home, Cooper is surprisingly good at some of these, especially the "driving games" like this one.  He will NOT let you help him.
 Well that's a skee-ball strategy that's sure to earn you some extra tickets...
Knock 'em, Coop! 
Ahhh...family night.