checking-in....

....takes on two meanings right now. 


First I realized I haven't checked-in at all since we've been in Utah! We've been here since July 20th and have had an amazing 4+ weeks. Absolutely wonderful. Full of swimming, sun, family, fun, cousins, get-togethers, friends and chocolate covered cinnamon bears. I love being able to come here to visit. It does not feel like home, but I love coming to a place so familiar so I can drive without looking at maps and knowing where to get good food. Did I mention Cafe Rio in the above list?! Their new mint lemonade was amazing, and a new love along with my favorite salad.  The only thing I didn't want to try was the worm that Bryson found and enjoyed.....even after he washed it I could not be convinced to try that delicacy!

Totally opposite of yucky - look how sweet! Madeleine loved being an older cousin who was called upon to hold the babies.  She was in baby heaven!  

I haven't had consistent internet access - my mother doesn't believe in it. Okay - just kidding! My mom just doesn't use it - so she doesn't have it. Good for her - a tad bit exasperating for me. So I visit my in-laws and let the kids play here and jump online to catch up...but usually it's been to do PTA things which are more than in full-swing and causing me to have slight heart jumps every few hours. We start school in 3 weeks and there is a lot that is being done...but so much to still do.

Which is why - I'm checking-in tomorrow to fly home....a week earlier than I had planned, and I'm taking the kids back with me. Which was totally not planned. I mean they are our kids - so of course they were going to come eventually! I have some friends from college coming next weekend for a girls get-together so the kiddos were going to stay here for the weekend spending time with my mom and Nana & Papa Lord, then my mom was going to fly them home. However, we couldn't nail down a schedule where my mom could reasonably fly them out - life is too exciting with a zillion things going on...and most importantly - Bryson missed us. Terribly.

And we miss him. And are ready to wrap up an amazing 7 weeks and go HOME. It's so incredible to me that as much as I can't wait to leave the city when school gets out, my body and mind needs to go back after a break. It's our place. Our abode. And we do love it because it's where we are supposed to be right now. I'll probably not love it so much mid-January --- but for now, I'm missing our city.

Ta-ta for now...I'll post again and catch up on the summer adventures when we land and get SOLID Internet back. Whew - I've missed that. Until then...here are some quick pictures to enjoy.

   

 

a glimpse....

We are really enjoying our vacation thus far - even the heat which took us by surprise.  Wow - is it hot!  I forgot there is no spring here - it's already summer and we almost melted our first day at Sea World!  I think that's why we had no problem putting the beach day after that and having a down day today enjoying the pool at the home we are renting...and tomorrow we'll try going back to the park, this time armed with ice cold water bottles and a plan of attack on how to stay in air conditioned buildings as much as possible!  

I have loved watching these faces the past few days....

....more to come.  so much more!