Park City 2013 Getaway At The Hyatt Escala

Scott and I had the opportunity to get away for 5 days in August. Let me just say that although we do feel like it is a priority to get away together, we don't do it very often or for very long. Luckily, Scott's mom was willing to fly into town and hold Grandma Camp for the kids. Scott and I traveled to Park City, UT, which only takes 3 hours in the car. It was so much fun getting away. We hiked a lot. Rented Mountain Bikes, attended the Salt Lake temple, shopped, ate great food, sipped lots of Hot chocolate and went to a movie.

We rented our Mountain Bikes at Cole's Sport and they are my favorite bike rental shop. The prices are reasonable and they get you in and out quickly. We biked for two days. Riding the lift at Park City Resort is so much fun and the trails are fantastic. We were covered in mud from head to toe because it poured rain on us. It made the experience even better because we were freezing and laughing so hard and eating tons of dirt. We left our car at Cole Sport and rode our bikes back to the Hyatt Escala.

I strongly recommend staying at this Resort. The prices were great for this time of year and the suite was amazing. We had so much room. I took a few pictures so you can browse through them a little, but this place was updated and nice. It was very clean, easy to get to, great pool, wonderful hiking, and the bathroom was AWESOME. It is located right next to The Canyon's Resort.

I didn't do dishes or laundry or make a bed or pick up a mess for 5 blissful days. Scott and I are pretty tidy and it reminded me that most of our messes come from the kids.

Spending 5 days with Scott was so beyond wonderful. We were able to do all the things that we love and we took advantage of every second together. Vacationing with your best friend is such a blessing and we appreciated it even more because we don't get to do it very often.

The good news is that the kids missed us and the house was in great shape.
The bad news is that I'm already itching to get away with Scotty.

I.
Love.
Him.

New York City Through My Lens

I haven't posted any pictures from my New York Trip for a while

so I thought I would share a little

GLIMPSE..

I didn't spend one second shopping, dining out, or seeing a Broadway show.
I wanted my first trip to New York to be full of sounds, smells, color & people.

I only had about 48 hours to take it all in.

It was Magical.

New York City: Day {1}

Friday night I left my house in Blackfoot, Idaho at 7:00 PM. I drove as far as Malad, Idaho and pulled over to grab a Sub. Why I tried eating it while I was driving is beyond me. When I arrived at the Salt Lake City Airport I had and olive on my boob and a tomato in my lap. {Seriously I am an idiot}

I was really hoping that the flight wouldn't be full so that Wyatt could sleep in his car seat, but alas, it was not to be.

We boarded the plane late, took off at midnight and then the baby rocking, bouncing, cooing and praying began. Let's just say that it was a LONG flight. Wiggs was pretty good, but we don't call him Wiggles for nothin'. He lived up to his nickname and only sleep for a few minutes so we were pretty darn tired when we arrived at JFK.

The good news is that I was on a TOTAL high as soon as I got off the plane. My mom begged me to take a TAXI, but I am too stubborn to listen to my mom, and too cheap.

It was sort of an adventure figuring out where I was going, taking the Air Train, then getting on the J. Getting off at Penn Station, trying to find the Red Line, getting yelled at by someone who didn't have all his brains working properly {dear soul}, finally finding the Redline, taking the 3 to 110th, carrying my stroller up the stairs with my HUGE backpack on{I packed light} and my camera bag and my purse and my carseat and my baby ALL AT THE SAME TIME, and then arrive at 55W and 111th. It took me 2 hours to get from the airport to Johns Flat. 

Sometimes being cheap, and trying to still rebel against your mother backfires. {poop}

I made it though! Wahoo.

John met me outside and it was so good to see my baby brother. 

John gave me a CAMERA LESSON right when I got there. He helped introduce me to the features of my EARLY Christmas present. I haven't mentioned it yet, but Christmas came early for me this year. My Sister-in-Law {Anne Robert} is an amazing photographer and was in Mexico at a workshop and shooting a wedding in DC while I was in NY. Bummer I missed her.

John spent most of his time on the computer. We don't call him {Computer John} for nothin'.

I played with this cute little niece of mine and then caught a quick nap before we ventured out.

Here is a picture of John & Anne's apartment. I thought it was SO cute.

Here is my lovely mom and darling Eden crossing the street.

Our first stop was Penn Station at 34th again. I felt like a pro and totally navigated us around.

Everything looked so yummy.

I started the Day with a Bagel and it was delish. YUMMY.

We ended up getting rerouted on the Subway and it took us forever to get to the financial district and Ground Zero. I pretty much spent most my day on the Subway. Sad.

Occupy Wall Street idiots were everywhere. They were a bunch of stinky hippies. I know that sounds harsh, but it is true. I felt like I was at Woodstock.

The park was filthy and filled with tents and garbage. I took this picture two nights before they kicked them out. I feel that there are just other ways to make a point.

I felt bad for the officers. How boring.

Such more important things the city could be paying for than a bazillion officers keeping "the giant sleepover party" under control.

Here is a photo I took across the street from Ground Zero. These are some of the officers that lost their lives. It is still so touching to me.

I will NEVER forget.

There is just such a HUGE hole. These buildings took up so much room. It was hard to really get a perspective before actually being there.

One more shot of Occupy Wall Street.

Here is one last photo. This is the exact same picture. The dark one is the original. It looks like it is leaving to the Left a little. The right one I lifted the exposure and it looks like it is leaning to the Right. Weird.

We took the Subway again to Clinton Street and went to a little bakery for Dinner. It was Yum. John met us there for dinner.

It was a good day, but TOO much of it was underground.

Day Two MUCH BETTER. Coming soon.

Hard Choice?

Today I head back to the Urologist to have a scope. They will send a tiny camera into my bladder to look for holes, stones, foreign tissues, etc.Today should most likely confirm what I already know. And then hopefully I am on my way to getting everything fixed. Yippee!!!

I'm seriously not looking forward to Surgery though. If I'm going to have major surgery I want it when I am delivering my 5th baby. My deepest wish is that I will get well enough to be cleared to have another baby.

I really don't like the option being taken from me. And yet I know that I can't risk not being around for the beautiful children I already have.

I thought that this cartoon is pretty funny and pretty real.

Have you worked out lately?

Have you?

Don't wait until it is too late. Take control of what you have control over.

And the biggest news of the day is that.....

I am going to New York Next week!!!!!!
I am so excited! I have never been and even though I will only be there for 2 days...I don't care!


Wahooooooooo!!!

My mom asked me if I wanted to go with her. She will be there for three weeks. And guess what, I booked a ticket, which is so  not like me, and I'm going. I still can't believe it. 

Do you want more kids but have been cautioned not to have more?

Have you been to New York?

If I only have two days and it is my first time, what should I do and see? 

Credit Card Fraud = Horror...American Express Blue = Love.

Last month Dominic Cifarelli  and Morokath Redman used my credit card to rack up over $6000.00 dollars in Airline tickets. I'm sure you can imagine the anxiety and the panic that I felt when I opened up my credit card statement.

Oh.
My.
Word.

It amazes me that people are okay with being so dishonest.

It totally blows my mind.

Maybe they didn't have a good mom like I did who made them walk back into the grocery store at the age of six and return the stolen candy-bar. Or maybe they just need a Bishop that looks them in the eye's every year and asks them if they are honest in ALL their dealings.

I just don't get it.

Needless to say I felt violated.

So I called up American Express to try and resolve the issue and their customer service was EXCELLENT.

Not only did they treat me like I was the victim, they didn't blame me or try to ask me a million questions. They just thanked me for my ongoing membership and took care of it all for me.

Took.
Care.
Of.
It.

People, this really happened. Like, in real life.


They just took care of it for me.

What?

Amazing. And I promise that this is not an advertisement for American Express. But I will be a Member for Life.

AmEx = Love

Liars = Stoopid (with two o's)

PS. I found this crazy lady picture on the web, but I think it kind of looks like me if you don't look to close and if you blur your eyes a little and if the room is dim. ;)

Jackson Hole Day Trip: Escape the House Work!!!

A few Saturday's ago I woke up and told Scott that we should go do something.  

This was secretly my way of escaping the HOUSE WORK that had built up all week.

 It was a brilliant plan, and a fun, spontaneous day trip.

Our half-way point was here at the Rainy Creek Gas Station.

 It is famous for it's SQUARE ice-cream.

I'm not sure why it is so hard for Dylan to get excited about putting his arm around his sister. First photo was before I threatened him with no ice-cream. Second photo was a little better.

Now days, I'm starting to look at my family and and loving how our numbers have grown. I wish there were twelve of us, but my body and my age just might not be able to make that happen.

Bummer, Cause we are CUTE.

Okay, so I know that this toilet picture is having you all gagging. 

Rest assured that I did all the dirty work for her including lifting her on and off the toilet and wiping.  

She did not want to stop eating her ice-cream.

2 year old's and ice-cream EQUAL:

OH.

My.

MESS.

Scott likes to tease me that he is feeding Wyatt big boy foods.

Wyatt is my smallest baby.

And on behalf of my aging back.

Thank.

You.

This drive is so beautiful. The farm land, mountains, rivers.

Peaceful.

Our first agenda was food when we got to Jackson.

This is Kate before she was fed.

My family gets so grumpy when they are hungry, including Mr. Peterson.

My kids eat a lot.

Remember they just had ice-cream cones an hour ago.

Kate ate lunch and recovered. 

Doesn't she look better after being fed?

Or goofier. 

Is that a Word?

Serious Poser.

Remember how I said that my Family eats 

a

LOT.

Here are a few totally disgusting photo's of 

Dylan consuming lunch in about 

10 seconds.

And you can't go to Jackson Hole without the famous 

Antler Arch photo in Town Square.

I stayed in the car with a sleeping Sawyer and fed Wyatt while

the older kids took a hike with Scott. 

It ended up being a SHORT hike because Dylan's stomach was doing 

cartwheels and he came running down the mountain with tears in his eyes, yelling

"I need a bathroom, I need a bathroom."

I drove him to the only one I could think of and we made it back just as Scott and Kate were coming down the mountain.

The drive home was so beautiful. I tried snapping some photo's but the mixture of a broken camera and dead bugs on the windshield made for terrible pictures.

And now would be an appropriate time to tell you all that I saved our family from hitting a deer.

Scott thinks I am a nagging side passenger, which I am.

But this trip my keen eye and cat like reflexes saved us.

Thank you to myself.

Are you a Nagging Side Passenger?

Ever had Square Ice-cream?