Aunt Kylie planned a trip out to visit Babi’s new house in
St. George for the first time over Nevada Day weekend. And while she was hoping for a quiet relaxing
weekend, she decided to invite Olivia and I down to join her for a Girls’
Weekend. Liv was so excited about the
idea. Just a few hours before Liv and I
were supposed to depart, I noticed our Acadia was dripping antifreeze (a
problem has resulted in us seriously considering buying a new car). Luckily, Steven and Diane were kind enough to
let us drive their car down there. We
drove down Thursday evening after she attended a birthday party for her good
friend Kaitlyn. For the first road trip
ever we tried out a book on tape. She
was pretty excited to log all those reading minutes and finally win the big
prize in class for reading the most minutes.
I checked out Matilda on audio book from the library. We both enjoyed it. I was honestly surprised how much Liv liked
listening to it. She was totally
engrossed for the entire drive to and from St. George and now she is of course
dying to see the musical. Liv also
enjoyed this trip because for our entire stay Liv and I bunked together in the
bunk bedroom. The only problem was the
fight over who got to sleep on which bunk.
I of course made Olivia sleep on the top and smaller of the bunk beds which
did result in an exhausted fit the first night.
Here she is on the floor with the hello kitty sleeping mask Babi had
left in the room too tried to stand, but too stubborn to take the top bunk
readily.
The whole bunking together scenario also resulted in a bit of melt down when we got back home as well with Liv claiming she was now too scared to sleep alone. Friday am, Mom and I went to a yoga stretch class while Papou stayed back with Liv. When we got home, Babi presented Liv with a little foam castle kit to assemble, and after finishing that, Liv and I worked on some homework until it was time to pick up Aunt Kylie from the shuttle drop off that she took from Las Vegas. Aunt Kylie came bearing gifts one for each day for Liv, some herbal Chai tea and neat cup to brew the loose tea in for me, and a fort building kit for the boys (good thing for that because upon arrival back home they demanded a surprise I had brought from our trip—and without Aunt Kylie I would have been sadly empty handed).
The second day, she gave Liv a book to make her smart. It was a picture book about 10 amazing American women. And the last day right before we headed home she gifted Liv a gift of strength—a wonder woman bracelet that Liv has not taken off since. Liv reveres Aunt Kylie and it wasn't long before she looked like a mini Aunt Kylie stealing her hat and jewelry and sipping a Starbucks.
Shortly, after Kylie arrived we all headed to an appointment for pedicures that Mom had reserved. Liv made sure to don her sunnies like the rest of the girls in the car.
The nail salon was run by a bunch of Filipino ladies and in true Filipino fashion they had a karaoke machine that you could sing to while getting your pedicure. Liv loved that! Now she wants a karaoke machine at home. She sang L-O-V-E and Edelweiss and had everyone in the salon ooing and awing. After our nails were all prettied up, we grabbed some lunch a Viva Chicken (I love that place), and then headed to see Thriller at the Tuacahn.
The dancing was incredible, and I can definitely say I have never seen a show quite like it. Olivia actually really enjoyed it. There were parts I found disturbingly too real with suicide and rape and murder and they had all these high school dance kids dressed up like zombies wandering around and spooking people, but it was an enjoyable show and a gorgeous setting.
Saturday, we had planned for a hike in Zion National park. We were going to do something Olivia appropriate, but she was quite vocal about the fact that she didn’t want to go on a hike and instead wanted to go swimming. Papou offered to stay home and take Olivia swimming, so then I (perceiving an opportunity) convinced everyone we should hike Angel’s Landing instead. Oh boy was that a hike! I actually totally loved it and felt the incredible views were well worth the effort.
The whole hike was gorgeous hiking through red rock canyons and the fall leaves were all turning and beautiful.
The last stretch of the hike ascends a very narrow and rocky cliff where you have to hold on to chains for safety.
It was honestly nutso and a bit scary especially with passing people in both directions. At first Mom and Kylie were not sure they really wanted to do the last little bit, but when I suggested they hang out while I run up and finish the hike real quick, they both decided to join me. Poor Mom injured her knee on the way down and limped for days following the hike. But, honestly, I feel like that was a bucket list type hike and the 360 degree views of Zion at the top were well worth the effort.
I’m glad I got that hike accomplished with them because I know my terrified of heights husband will never do that with me, and I would be a panicked mess with any of my kids on that hike. Then, all exhausted we climbed down the mountain.
When we got home, George had made a wonderful lamb chop dinner made by George. He and Olivia had a great day at the pool and doing homework and taking a long afternoon nap. That night Mom and George introduced Olivia and I to the game Mexican train. Then, the next morning Liv and I got in the car and drove home. Here's Liv ready for the drive home:
Back at home I know Derek and the boys attended the Halloween Haunt at their school. He took them to a BYU football game on Saturday, and I know they really enjoyed tossing the football back and forth on the grass during half time.
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