Thursday, July 03, 2008

We Love Visiting Utah & We Love Coming Home

What is it about traveling that makes one (ME) want to eat junk and shovel things that normally wouldn't cross my lips into my mouth like there's a famine or something? I think I gained 5 lbs during my car time alone and I really wasn't even hungry....just had the need to munch. It wasn't from carrots and celery, obviously. Try peanut butter cups, grape licorice (so it looked good at the gas station), trail mix, pretzel flipz and lots of DP. Traveling and DP just go hand in hand. Of course it wasn't diet DP, silly.

Is it boredom? Couldn't be...I had 4-6 kids in my car at any given time. We played every version of "I Spy" we could think up, (Izzie would say "I spy something green and white...everytime) and of course, we sang songs, played a kid-homemade version of mad libs, and the alphabet game which is all fun until you get to "Q" and are stuck for like an hour--did you know that hardly any license plates sport the letter "Q"? At least the ones that we passed. Until Curt sped past me...his "Q" on his CA plates broke the lull. I'm sure he thought we were all cheering for joy just because he caught up.

Does shoveling empty calories make time pass more quickly? Perhaps. The trip up took a little longer than usual...thanks to my new driving skills. I flipped into neutral whenever I could and kept it at a reasonable speed and sported 18 mpg in my over-loaded, ginormous Escalade ESV. Yup, pretty proud of myself for conserving precious gasoline and $$$ that I later over-spent at my great Utah shopping spots.

We took new family pics...haven't seen them yet, but I've been told they're great. Katie is amazing so I know she worked her magic.

We visited all our favorite spots...ate out more than we should have...shopped way too much...and got our fill of hotel time and hotel pools. We now command two rooms since we burst at the seams with just one--I try not to think how much we spent hoteling it for 9 nights. All in the name of vacation. I think we need to buy a condo in Utah--it would seriously pay for itself in time.

It's always fun to visit our Alma Mater, BYU, to see how things have changed. What a beautiful campus and the bookstore is better than ever. Brayden attended BYU Football camp for a couple hours each day the first week we were there. Shameful...I forgot to give Curt the camera to take pics of Brayden in action. Ooops. I introduced my kids to mint brownies...they liked them just like they like any other cheap chocolate, so it was three bites for me, one bite for them until they were gone. Rude, I know. The kids enjoyed the skate park...in 105 degrees. We lasted maybe 30 minutes before moving on.

We were able to visit with our friends, the Ogdens in between their Mexico & Powell trips--always a highlight of our Utah trips. McKenzie & Rachel have known each other since McKenzie was 18 months old...I don't think anything will separate those two-they love each other like sisters. And Monson & Seth have the same quality relationship...boy-style, without all the parting tears. It's always great to reconnect with Amy even if the time was spent chatting while I ironed our family photo-shoot clothes and made flowers for the girls' hair while she folded their clothes and got ready to head to Lake Powell. We are always saddened when we think about the great friendship we left behind next door in American Fork.

Camping was great. I cheated, maybe that's why. I slept in the motorhome with my mom, Lexie, Izzie and Vivie so my little girls wouldn't get eaten alive by mosquitos. I know, r-o-u-g-h. The boys and Kenz tented-it for two nights and their arms and legs prove it with all their bites. My mom did an amazing job planning and carrying out our Brower Family Reunion at Palisades Lake. Complete with horse/buggy rides, square dancing, lots of good food, games, water activities, a family sacrament meeting and plenty of hot Utah summer sunshine. Wow, I just realized that no one even played Rook...now that has to be a record for any Brower gathering. Monson's baptism was the crowing event for our family...I'll post about that on its own. My kids found new and great friends in their Boston cousins whom they haven't known very well or seen for quite a while. It was fun to watch those relationships

flourish, especially between McKenzie (9) & Christina (turning 12) and Monson (8) & Thomas (9). It was the first time my siblings and their families had been together and spent any measure of time for 4 years...we were only minus one sister-in-law...we missed you, Brooke! There are 16 grandkids in all, 8 boys and 8 girls and one too early to tell on the way. Trying to get a pic of them all was a hilarious feat. It was great seeing some of my cousins, aunts & uncles that showed up, as well as their children.


We cut our Utah trip two days short after the reunion, but had to stop and give a quick hello to a few friends on Sunday afternoon...the Clarks, Williams, and I had to do see Mitzie, even if for two minutes. We headed to Vegas for a few nights and a change in scenery. I'd visit 115 degrees any day if I could always stay at the JW Marriott! It's nice to feel pampered and spoiled in your surroundings, isn't it? Curt worked while we played at the pool for a couple of days. We all got quite an education as we visited the Vegas Strip after dark...won't do that again. Wow, it's changed since the last time I was there. "Just look straight ahead" was our motto. I hope our boys aren't ruined and don't have any nasty images burned on their innocent brains.

When you (by you, I mean ME) can't handle yourself any longer and tempers flair over little things, you know vacation with six kids is just done. We left Curt working in Vegas and made the trip yesterday...it reached 122 degrees somewhere along the way. I wish I could say the kids were always truly the angels they appeared to be in front of the strangers that stare in amazement, judgment, or whatever (outside of Utah, of course). I love the little 'Bless You's' that come from especially the older folk as they count each head. Truly it is so difficult yet rewarding (at times) to raise six children in this world that we live. I guess we sometimes just do the best that we can. I make no excuses. But I realize that 'routine' is just as important to me as it is to my kids...we ALL need it, especially that bed-time thing when I can finally breathe a sigh of relief, kick up my legs and relax for a few minutes. And Vivie is whining at me right now from her high chair downstairs as everyone has abandoned her. Computer time is apparently over.

10 comments:

katierasmussen said...

Glad you made it home safe and sound! It was so fun t see you and your sweet fam. The pics are beautiful. I'll e-mail you a browser within the next couple days!

Michele said...

Too much fun. You are going to need a vacation from your vacation. Where can I find grape licorice. I will need some for our road trip coming up in a week. Glad your back. Need help with the laundry?

Amy Proctor Timmerman said...

I have been wondering where you were! I needed a Shay fix! Did you have fun at Rod Works for me?!?

Emily said...

I really don't know how you have the energy for the traveling/juggling six kids/etc but it looks like you were able to pack a lot into your trip and it was great to see you all!

Jan Kate Brower Arnell said...

It was fun to see all the Menzies (minus Brooke). Your mom did an amazing job.

queenieweenie said...

So glad you're home! Wow...you did a LOT.

I'm totally laughing 'cause we just drove home from Vegas and I at a Krispy Kreme donut, Hot Tamales, lots of diet coke and some random peppermint cookies! SO NOT on my diet! Oh well.

Can't wait to see you and PLAY!

Sims Family said...

We had to giggle at the Thomas and Monson thing. So cute!!!

Heather said...

It was so much fun spending time with your family. Mattie loves your girls! And, I totally hear you on the eating junk on vacation! I think I had gained one pound so far in this pregnancy, until I headed to UT. I was drinking soda all of the time and eating who knows what! At least the sicknes almost subsided all the way while we were there! Glad you guys had such a great family vacation.

Julie K said...

Shay, I am so with you on the mindless munching of sweetened snack treats while in the car. I spent the entire month of June busting my hump to lose 7 pounds and gained 5 on our trip to Cali and back. Wish we could have had two hotel rooms--we squished into a different room each night for 6 nights and it was.......okay. We got all the unwanted attention too for our brood. Well, we made it. We had such fun having the Menzie's visit. Way way way to short, but bless their hearts they were in that car 28 straight hours. I do not know how Becky did it.

Pierce Family said...

What a fun family reunion! I loved seeing all the pictures you and Julie have posted.

Viviana's Journey: A Video by Emily Menzie