St. George #3 Spring Break

 For not normally vacationing much, this spring has been crazy. We had our third and final trip to St. George last week. We went as a family with Austin and Shawnee and Colby and Cayley to a VRBO over spring break. Matt came home from work sick on Wednesday afternoon so he just sat in a blanket whilie I packed his bag and loaded everything up. I drove down and he slept the entire way. The house we stayed at had a pool in the back yard so we spent most of our time there. The kids were able to swim for a bit the first night before bed. 

Thursday was mostly swimming too because it was the warmest day. It was nice to have the pool because some could swim while others were inside and the kids could come and go from the pool as they pleased. In the afternoon he did take us on an adventure that was a little bit of a failure. It was 45 minutes away with 10 miles of dirt road to an animal preserve. We didn't end up seeing anything. We walked a path for 20 minutes and then turned around and went home. That night we closed the pool and put on a movie for the kids. The adults all went out to the Rib and Chop Shop for dinner.  

On Friday Maggie had made a temple appointment at the new Red Cliffs temple for her, Corbin, and Miles. Cayley and Matt were going to help. I drove over with them and then took Claire and Van to a new playground. It was super fun, but the slide was huge and it scared Van. He put his arm down to stop himself and cried for the next 25 minutes that his arm hurt. I actually thought it was broken. He complained a little the next day, but after that it has been fine. After baptisms, Matt was exhausted and spent the rest of the day in his room. I took Claire and Van to the community pool at our resort for a few minutes that afternoon, but it was too cold. All they wanted to do was sit in the hot tub so I made them go back and do that at our house. 

Saturday was Maggie's 12th birthday. She had already gone shopping for her birthday, but I wanted to have a little something for her to open. She got some Fresca and a water bottle. She thought it was pretty awesome that Colby and Cayley got her a little present too. I took her to get a smoothie for breakfast because that was what she asked for. Matt was feeling a little better by Friday. We went to Snow Canyon and hiked the butterfly trail. Then we went to Judd's Candy Shop, the oldest store in St. George. There was more swimming too. We closed the pool that night for good and the adults snuck away once more for a little treat. 

Sunday was General Conference so we listened to that as we drove home. Overall it was a very lax vacation, but I think the kids enjoyed it. It was a bummer Matt was sick, but also nice there was so much down time for him to just lay and rest. I let my kids watch pretty much as much screens and they wanted between swimming, so they loved that too. 

Antelope Island

 We went out to Antelope Island for Easter Saturday. It was so nice not to have any soccer games to worry about since it was already spring break. It was a little cold, but not too bad. It was perfect weather for flying kites. Van entertained himself mostly with Quentin playing in the dirt with trucks. Claire was off adventuring with Missy and Jack loving it all. Kent was sick and had been the entire week. He pretty much just sat in a chair until the egg hunt. We actually don't do all that much at Antelope Island, but I love it. We just hang out while the dutch oven lunch cooks and then after lunch is the egg hunt. The kids love opening all of their eggs to see what is inside. After the egg hunt we headed home. Matt had to go into a service call at work and Maggie had some friends coming over for a little birthday party. 

St. George #2

 The girls had a dance competition in St. George in March. We had just made a family trip out of Corbin's soccer tournament so this time it was just me and the girls. I was not all that excited, but it turned out to be a fun little trip. We left on Thursday night and got there about 8. I let them swim for an hour before we went to bed. I forgot my swimming suit so the next morning we went and bought one before the comp. Maggie only performed her solo on Friday so we had most of the day. We went shopping and played around at pioneer park in the morning and rode the train at Thunder Junction on the way to the school. She did her solo and then we went back to the hotel and swam. 

Saturday was mostly all dance. Claire had to be there at 8 so I got Maggie ready but let her stay with Jerianne and Emmy since she didn't have to be to the school until 11. Claire danced "Jump" and then had a couple hours of a break so we went to a playground for a bit. Friday night all of Maggie's team swam at the hotel pool where some of the girls were staying. Maggie went with Emmy and I put Claire to bed early. 

Maggie is so easy at the competitions. She just does her own thing and stays with all the girls on her team. Most of Saturday was me and Claire hanging out. I did like the St. George competition for the fact that most everyone from the studio was there most of the day. The older jazz plus girls were warming up our tinys, which was cute. Maggie's team also did more together. They got a treat together before awards and just hung out a big part of the day. 

Claire was excited to get a gem at this comp as a participation prize. I also bought her a sweatshirt and Maggie a tshirt. 

After awards we were done for the night we went back to the hotel and hung out. I probably should have drove home since it was only 5, but the weather wasn't great and I didn't want to drive in the dark either. Maggie and Emmy just hung out at the hotel in the gym and between rooms. Claire and I just went to sleep. Sunday morning we ate breakfast at the hotel and then drove straight home. I was sad to miss church because I got released from the relief Society presidency and Maggie got called into the class presidency, but the weather still wasn't great so I was kind of glad we drove home that morning.