Swimming and the Haboob

 Saturday we were invited to the family compound of one of the guys Andrew works with. They have a giant amazing pool in the middle of all their houses.

My kids surprised me with the lack of fear of heights and each of them jumped off the 12 foot cliff jump! Everyone except Rigdon even did a dive off! The rope swing was a hit and you can't tell but there are two water slides that come out under the waterfalls.

 Rigdon at the end of his jump. He looks like he could be standing on the water.

 Then the haboob moved in. It came up fast and we grabbed everything and headed indoors for about an hour till it passed.

I hope we get invited back It was fun!

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...

 June 29th, began the trip to Cristal and Jordan's wedding. Andrew had to stay home with Gunner for scout camp, so I loaded up Ashlynn, Mason, Sienna, and Rigdon to travel to Utah.

I was so happy when my sister in law Conessa wanted to go up with me. I"ll be honest I was  a little nervous about driving all that was by myself.

On the way up we stopped about 8 times for potty breaks. At one stop we actually all got back in the car to go and Sienna said she needed to go again! Resulting in both her and Mason going to the bathroom again. Better that stopping 20 minutes down the road.

We passed this fire as we neared Provo. The sun looked amazing through the smoke. the picture doesn't do it justice.

We arrived about 8:15 in Lehi where I dropped my children at Adam and Greta's house then drove back to Orem for Cristal's bridal shower.

I was starting to get sick the week before we had left but hoped it wouldn't get too bad. By Saturday morning it felt like I was swallowing glass and decided to run to an urgent care to see if there was anything they could do for me.  The Dr. there said there wasn't anything to do but wait it out. fine, but I was miserable.

 We got ready for the wedding, took some pictures before, and wiped the sweat off our faces. It was 100 degrees out, for heavens sake.

 Look at what a good faker I am. I was in so much pain. Dad and me.

 Handsome Mason.

 Ashlynn

 Rigdon

 Cristal and Jordan. She wanted me to help her with her hair, I was nervous I'm no professional, just a hair genius. I think it turned out great.

 The reception was beautiful, although I don't think glittery fabric will ever be used again by my dad. Everyone who helped set up had glitter in places you can't even talk about for days...

 Sienna looking cute.

 Uncle Shane and the boys.

 Waiting...

 Cutting the cake.

 And off they go!!

 Let the real party begin. Oh wait, I mean the take down.

By Sunday morning, I again felt worse. I could hardly swallow, and to top it off I endured four hours of excruciating cramps. They came in waves, I couldn't move and wanted to die. worse than labor pains. And I know what they feel like without drugs.

I still managed to get us ready and they had subsided enough to drive my kids Adam and Greta's house. We went to sacrament meeting then I decided I was too sick and they were kind enough to bring my kids home after church.

The next day still worse feeling. I couldn't believe it! Come on, when was it going to peak?!

I took myself to another urgent care and sat in the waiting room with tears streaming down my face. I had lost 2 pounds in the two days since I had been to the other urgent care. When the Dr. came in and said I didn't have strep but there was a virus going around that was just as painful if not more so and that she could give me something for the pain I just started sobbing. I was so grateful. She said it would taste bad but the steroid would ease the pain in my throat. I couldn't stop crying, all I wanted was some relief. She also wrote me a prescription for some hydrocodone. I loved her. Within 45 minutes I felt 75% better. I praised her name the rest of the trip.

 I went back to Adam and Greta's house where the kids were having the time of their lives. I saw a fashion show, and a parade.

 I hardly even saw Rigdon and Mason, they were having so much fun with cousins.

 We took the kids to the park.

 Rigdon and Daigen

 Chloe and Sienna

 Rigdon made it to the top!

 Boston, Miles, and Mason

 Miles and Mason

 Sienna

 Ashlynn and Paisey

 Of course I had to stop and take a picture at Dawn Street!

 I thought we would leave Wednesday morning but by Tuesday night I was ready to load up. Andrew was bored and lonely and dreading being alone the 4th on july. Conessa and I decided to drive all night and surprise our husbands in the morning.

And maybe we were also thinking less potty breaks if the kids were sleeping.

This fire broke out right behind Adam's house the day we left.

On the drive home we drove through some pretty thick smoke. It was about 1am and we were concerned fire was going to be licking the sides of the car andy minute. The smell of smoke was so strong and it was so thick we couldn't see too far ahead of us. It was a little freaky.

We napped in the parking lot of a grocery store in Flagstaff at 4am for an hour then continued on our way.

We pulled in at about 8am and I relished the look of shock on Andrew's face when I drove up. So fun!

Don't know that we were much company I slept a lot that day. Mason ended up throwing up all day, which made me even more glad I drove all night...

Girls Trip!!! It's about time.

 I returned from girls camp on Saturday and on Wednesday I picked up Sarah from the airport! We were so thrilled to be together. Usually we spend our time together chatting on the phone while folding laundry or washing dishes, the never ending chores.

We had decided she would fly to my house then we would leave the next day to drive to San Diego. All of our adult lives we have not been together just us. Usually I fly to her house or she flies to mine and we happily hang out together while we do the other ones chores and shuttle children around. So getting away alone was a BIG deal.

So after a day and a half of driving the children to different activities we were ready to hop in the mini and go!

Oh , wait one other pit stop. Andrew suggested that I get the tires checked before we go. I was ready to shrug his suggestion off since the tires are new. but he did mention it a few times....

We ran the mini down to discount tire where they told us it would be an hour and a half wait. Well I just didn't have time, we had to pick up Sienna for ballet in 40 minutes. So I made the decision to leave, the tires would be fine.

I dropped Sarah at the house and picked up Sienna to go to ballet, on the way back I stopped in the bank for cash... I was about to get in the mini and my eye caught something shiny on the tire, A screw!!! Oh man, I guess I have to get back to discount.

Lesson learned follow the promptings given so kindly by the hubby.

We went back and they had to give us a whole new tire. I'm so glad we didn't get stuck with a flat on our road trip to fun.

We stayed at this beautiful hotel The Grand Hyatt in San Diego. A great deal on priceline, we were on the 23rd floor with a view of the ocean, and the Gas Lamp District.

 The lobby and my beautiful friend.

We arrived late on Thursday night and the next day we headed out to walk the Gas Lamp District. There were many neat little shops and some giant flower earrings.

 We walked about 5 miles then decided to get some lunch in Little Italy. It was divine!

After that we headed for the beach. The high was 72 so it was a tad chilly, but we still soaked up some sun.

 We tried the hotel pool, also chilly. Not so much sun.

 We headed out to Outback for dinner where while waiting Sarah found the most perfect pair of shoes and I got a case for my new iphone. Very productive. then we went to the movies. We saw Snow White and the Huntsman. Snow White stunk but everyone else was good so overall a good flick.

It was so fun to not have a care in the world! We decided what to do and when to do it. It was a pretty free feeling.

 Saturday we did a session at the San Diego Temple. This is the first temple I remember being inside. Sister Hampton took me to the open house when I was 14 and it is beautiful!

 That afternoon we walked the zoo. You can see a lot of the zoo without kids.

 For dinner we headed back to the same place we had lunch the day before. We were hooked on this thin dough with cheese then another layer of dough and then topped with honeycomb. It was the perfect combination of sweet and salty.

 Sunday we walked around the gardens at Balboa Park before we hopped back in the mini to head home.

 It was such a great get away! I loved every minute of it.

Monday was back to the real world of carpooling, but we did squeeze in a foot zone before I had to return her to her family in Vermont! Yay for friends from childhood!!