Trip "Home"

Friday the 31st we started our trek back to Mississippi. My idea of leaving at 7 or 7:30 was not very realistic and we finally left about 10:30. I really just wanted to get there and not take forever doing it, I wanted to make the drive in two days. We have done it before when Ella was a baby so I figured no problem. Well with a late start the first day I knew in reality that we were going to have to make up a lot of time in order to make it. Well by the middle of day two I realized we weren't going to and a nice friend had opened their home to us if we decided to stop and not keep going. It just takes longer to do everything with two kids and they needed breaks. The first day we drove and stopped for the night in Goodland, Kansas. We were exhausted and lucky for us the kids weren't. They finally went to sleep at midnight. We have stayed in enough hotels that it should not be an issue for them to fall asleep but they were all sorts of wound up and didn't want to sleep. Too many treats and cat naps in the car can do that I guess! The second day we got up and got going and we left by 8 or 8:30 I can't remember. I have a love-hate relationship with Kansas I love how pretty all the corn fields are but I was ready to scream by the time we crossed into Missouri I was done with Kansas! We had thought maybe we would make it all the way to Southaven but then I decided no we will stop in Columbia, Missouri but my nice friend text and told us we were welcome to come to their house. We continued driving and got to St. Louis about 7 and got some dinner and went to there house! It was fun to catch up! The next morning we got up and had breakfast with the Lants and then we headed on our way so they could get ready for church. We pulled into our driveway of the house we are renting at about 4 or 4:30. It was a long drive but I feel like I am used to it now. It really isn't as bad as people say it can be and our kids did amazing on the trip (the car DVD player had been worth every penny)!  We went and got some dinner at one of our favorite local pizza places and then tried to move stuff from our storage unit. Lucky us the remnants of Hurricane Issac hit that night and we had half our van loaded with stuff when the rain started to pour and the tornado sirens started going off, so we called it a night and went home and set up our beds! It was such a warm welcome back to the south! We are excited to be back we really missed it here but sad that that week half our friends moved to various places all over the country! We are trying to enjoy our time in the South before it comes to a close, this has really become our "home" and we will be sad to leave it forever! (Not sad to leave the bugs, humidity, and tornadoes!)

We have never drove through Kansas so late in the year, the corn had already been harvested and it was dying!

The kids aunts spoiled them each with a backpack and it was full of fun things to keep them entertained in the car!

Hadn't even been in the hotel room two minutes and they both already had their hand prints on the mirror!

Driving through Spanish Fork Canyon on our way out of town, I was happy to get to enjoy a little bit of Utah fall before we left!

 

It was so fun seeing our friends the Lants! It is weird here without them! We are so thankful for them for opening their house to us for the night!

Wheeler Farm

The day before we left Utah my mom took off so we could do something with her before we left. We finished canning and freezing the remaining peaches and then we headed out. Katy and I stopped at Kneaders on our way with everyones orders and then we met my mom and Emily and Jack at Wheeler Farm. We enjoyed our picnic and the nice weather. We then wandered around the farm. It isn't as kept up as it used to be but it was still fun to show the kids all the animals and just walk around. Toward the end of it, it started to get really hot. Easton was hard to get away and into the car he was chasing pigeons all over it was pretty funny! It was such a fun day and a great way to not get ready to go!

Grandma Duzett's

Wednesday before we left Utah we were putting off packing and doing anything that had to do with leaving so we decided to go and spend some time with my Grandma. We drove up to her house and surprised her. She was getting ready to eat lunch and was nice enough to share. She made some yummy zucchini soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. The soup was so good! She gave me some yummy watermelon to eat as well. She then let the kids have all the oreos they wanted, they were in heaven! This time we had brought their swimsuits and they had a blast running through the sprinklers. They ran through for almost two hours. Grandma was so nice and got juice bars to eat which the kids loved! Then they continued playing for a little while and Andrew showed up soon after! He had gotten off early and the VA is really close to my grandmas so he met us there and enjoyed a Popsicle as well! It was a perfect afternoon and I am grateful we had that time with my grandma, it was nice to have one on one time! Thanks Grandma! We love you!

This kid drinks anything that is in his reach. It is rather disgusting sometimes!

Millcreek Canyon

The Monday before we left Utah was a crazy day. We spent the morning canning peaches, went and got things at the store for our outing and then we spent the rest of the afternoon and evening in the canyons. I didn't really prepare the kids very well to be in the mountains but I was just glad Easton was wearing brown, so everything he got on himself would not be seen or ruin his clothes! We went with my parents, my Grandma, and my sisters. It is weird to have our brothers live out of state and now us! It was the perfect night and no one was up in the canyons since it was the first day of school that day! I wish we would have gone up there a few more times this summer, I just love being up there it is so peaceful! We enjoyed roasting hot dogs and had yummy vegetables from the garden and a green river watermelon. We also did smores and roasted starburst (so yummy!). It was a nice way to spend one of our last days in Utah.

 

The kids slept in the car on our way up the Canyon and that was there nap for the day so they were a bit grumpy!

 We went to a spot that we have gone my whole life. We love it because it is secluded and has the river right off of it! As long as I can remember we always take a picture on this log, usually it is with all the cousins but since it was just us we took it anyways! It is amazing how the same log is still there after all these years (at least 15).

 When we got up there it was just us women, all the guys got off work and came up later so we were in charge of building the fire, my mom did a great job!

 Sarah wearing sweats in August, we thought she was crazy, she had just finished her first day of high school!

 Ella was so grumpy! She is happy most of the time I promise!

 Jack roasting his first marshmallow!

Thanks to my sisters for taking the pictures since my camera died after one picture!

Easton loved running up and down the trails but not as much as he loved scooting down the hill of dirt on his bottom. He was so dirty it was disgusting he got to ride how with out any clothes on!

Peaches

Our last Saturday in Utah we had lots of errands to run. We got done with those and then headed to my Grandma Duzett's house to help her pick her peaches. While we waited for my parents to come my Grandma suggested the kids run through the water after Easton was attempting to in his clothes. I didn't have swimsuits with me so they ran around in their diapers! They loved it! Easton is not afraid of anything, Ella is a lot more reserved so she didn't end up as wet!

 We picked a few boxes of peaches and took some home! She also had some plums ready too! Monday after my little sister Katy and I went to work and she canned 7 pints and I did 7 quarts. We helped my mom later in the week with the rest and she got quite a few containers to freeze and Katy did 5 more pints and I did 2 more quarts! I left it in Utah but I am excited when we finally get to eat them someday!

Brigham City Temple

The week before we left we had a chance to go up to Brigham City and see their new temple. I didn't think we were going to get to go because most of the tickets were gone and Andrew didn't have time off during the times they had tickets left for. Well my mom called and invited us to come with her the next day. Unfortunately Andrew wasn't able to come with us but I was really happy to take the kids and show them the inside of the temple. The whole way there Ella kept asking me who was going to watch her while we went inside, she was a bit confused and then told me another time that she didn't want to get married today! She said mom I can't get married today in the temple maybe "amorrow" as she says! The temple was so beautiful on the inside and reflects the town of Brigham City very well inside with all the paintings and wood work! I am happy we were able to go and see it!

 Ella still talks about how she got to ride on a bus!

 Thanks to my mom and sisters for helping me with my kids otherwise it may have been a nightmare!