The Great President's Day Migration

Someone made the comment to me that we always seem to be traveling somewhere and going out of town.  I feel a bit spoiled, but it is sort of true and a large reason for that is my Mom’s move to St. George.  I mean we didn’t go down once this summer (too hot and too pleasant up by us to be intriguing), but all fall and winter whenever we have had a 3 day weekends or the kids had a day off it was too easy only being a 3.5 hour drive not to take off down to St. George and Grandparents and warmer weather.  We have loved loved having them closer and a place to stay in sunny St. George.  So with President’s Day approaching, we decided it once again sounded lovely to sneak down to St. George.  The only slight problem was that the rest of Utah County had the same idea.  I felt like we were part of a great migration.  The roads were so busy and we stopped to grab dinner in Fillmore on the way down and had to wait a half an hour for a burger king burger (not worth it)!  But once in St. George and down in Sun River we pretty much avoided the crowds and had a pleasant time.  We borrowed Dr. Gill’s bike rack so we could take the kids bikes down.  The first day we let them ride up and down Mom and George’s street (they were all a little rusty having not ridden since summer).  Then, the kids and dog loaded into the golf cart to take London to the dog part, Derek and I rode bikes—easy on the way down and a bit of a work out up the hill on the way back.  

Then, Derek and George hit the golf course and Mom and I took the kids to the pool. 

Nay and Benz drove up for dinner to the kids delight and were talked into spending the night against their original plans.  

Carter attached himself to Uncle Nathan—once he knew he was coming he didn’t want to eat, or do any more fun activities until Uncle Nathan arrived.  As soon as he walked in the door, he grabbed his hand and pulled him into his bedroom to play Minnie mouse matching and was by his side and on his lap for most of the rest of the evening.  

Mom took this opportunity to celebrate Geroge’s upcoming birthday and roped me into making his favorite cake Czech apricot cake, which is actually pretty simple and delicious despite it appearing a bit liked a bunch of fried eggs.  

We all kept referring to it as “egg goop cake” and Benazir literally thought it was a fried egg on top and politely pushed it around on her plate with her fork afraid to take a bite while watching all the rest of us thoroughly enjoying it.  When she finally discovered that it was actually an apricot on top and not an egg, she gladly decided to brave some bites and found out that it was indeed as enjoyable to eat as the rest of us let on. 

Camden is still set on playing the guitar someday and was so excited that Babi had a guitar for him to have "guitar lessons" on all weekend.  He would take it out multiple times a day to practice and was delighted when Uncle Nathan actually played it for it.  I pulled out my rusty guitar skills and played a few cords as well.  Can't say I disagree with his thought that knowing how to play the guitar and having a guitar would be awesome.

 The next day, Derek and the kids and I went to church Terri and Randy Allen met us and attended with us.  The kids excitedly all ran out of sacrament to primary (all except Carter who wanted Dad to stay with him for just a bit and then did great).  There were two other 3 year olds with them this time.  At first, Liv was sad to have to share the spot light with them, but they decided to make her class president for the day in charge of handing out all papers, and helping with the littles and calling on people to say the opening and closing prayer—so she basically loved that.  They put together this coloring kit for each kid and they all excitedly colored all the pages most of Sunday and on the drive home.

 

After church Terri and Randy came over for lunch and we got to visit with them for a bit.  

Then, Mom, Nay, Benz and I went to see a few of the parade of homes houses.  It was fun to hang with them for a bit sans kids.  Derek and George took the kids on a bike ride on the bike trail close by and then on a hike.  Then, we had dinner with Nay and Benz and said our goodbye and sent them back to Las Vegas.  In the morning, we had breakfast at the golf course grill with Babi and Papou.  Then, we stopped by Mark and Mary Robinson’s house.  Mary spoiled the kids with snacks and treats and the kids had fun playing in their game and toy room.  Now, we are part of the great Exodus back to Utah County on the drive back home.  The kids seem just fine with the extra two hours it took us to get home.  They belted the Greatest Showman Soundtrack the whole way home.