Next up Idaho and Utah

Friday morning we said goodbye to the Roger's family and headed to Idaho Falls to visit Tammi and Frank Hopkins.  This is Will on the drive.  All the kids did such a great job and Reagan was especially great at being my helper through the entire trip. 

I managed to escape without taking any pictures in Idaho.  This happened the last time we visited with Tammi also!  Very frustrating.  We were so happy to finally arrive at our destination.  Tammi was very excited to see the kids and they warmed up to her in no time at all.  Our surprise at Tammi's house was her lack of a kitchen.  She was in the middle of a kitchen remodel and never said anything because she wanted us to come.  Crazy lady!  The kids are all too used to big projects so it was no big deal to them.  We left pretty quickly for dinner that happened to be at a huge play place for kids.  All of the kids had a great time.  Even Will played and played.  There was a game with balls that he loved.  That day Reagan started to get sick.  I wasn't feeling very well either.  Tammi made a trip to Walgreen's for us (seriously so thankful for her help!) and I was finally able to get the kids settled.  After checking weather and the storms that were headed to Utah and Idaho, we decided to head to Utah the next day (Saturday) so we wouldn't be caught in snowstorms.  This was the best decision of the entire trip. 

We had nothing but blue skies driving from ID to UT (actually the storms missed UT completely) but Saturday the kids were feeling worse and so was I.  At point of the mountain Reagan threw up from coughing too hard.  I was so glad to be 20 minutes from home.  We arrived at my parents house sick and completely worn out and with a very messy car.  My parents were ready and waiting.  My dad emptied the car and cleaned the yucky car seat.  My mom was ready to help kids.  Even my sister helped out.  This was the beginning of our sick week. 

My parents essentially took half days at work for a full week to care for me and the kids.  They normally work less while we are visiting anyway but this was more time than normal.  The kids bounced back quickly while I just couldn't shake it.  My sister caught whatever we brought also.  The kids still had a great time as Grandpa took them outside to play or played inside with them every morning and then Grandma would take over in the afternoon.  There are also twin girls next door that are Reagan's age so it was instant playmates (and actually they remember each other from previous visits so it is PERFECT)

Will, Reagan, Ainsley, Eva, and Lola

The girls and the fence between houses.  I wish they lived in Minnesota!

My exhausted Ainsley

The girls playing in the dirt.  Reagan, Ainsley, Eva, Lola, and Brooke (another nearby neighbor girl)

Bev Ash blowing her lawn.  This is a childhood memory for me that hasn't changed in 30 years.

The light post that I was constantly in trouble for hanging on or "touching" as a child.  Doesn't it just scream "hang on me?"

The random event of a little pony on a walk in our neighborhood.  The kids were in heaven.

Will had a blast playing the piano.

Ainsley started doing her own hair on our trip. Sniff sniff.  She can put in her own ponytails now. (This just kills me, not only is she only three years old but I LOVE to do hair and now she just wants to do it herself.)

Grandma reading to the girls.  They love to be read to.  Ainsley did her own hair in this picture.

The kids just hanging out and enjoying being at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Reagan playing on my phone... without permission I am sure.

How can you not love this boy?!  He is so darn cute.

That pretty much sums up our first week in Utah.  There is more to come.  Next stop is our jaunt to Wyoming.  Luckily, Grandma and Grandpa are coming with us!