Utah Vacation 2017

We decided to go to Utah for Spring Break this year -- instead of our usual summer trip. I liked this idea for several reasons. #1 It's cheaper to go during the "off" season. #2 I was ready for a break. In fact, if we hadn't all gone as a family, I was going to go with just Mara for a long weekend in March. #3 Our summer (gardening, community activities for the kids, etc) won't be interrupted with a long absence.

We left at 2am (no lie) on Monday morning (April 11th). I think the kids were most excited about this. They mentioned it every day for nearly a week. They couldn't wait to be woken up in the middle of the night (or was it early in the morning?) to sneak off to O'Hare. I couldn't believe they stayed awake for most of the car ride. I can't remember if Reid ever went back to sleep.

Playing in the O'Hare airport before take off

The plane was a bit hectic. Our seats weren't together (of course). And Lou pitched enough of a fit that I was stuck with her and Mara in the back of the plane. Reid and Nell sat together in the middle with Ben in a seat right in front of them. But ... ugh -- the airline booked other people in each of our children's seats. I couldn't believe it! How do you see three small children and not put them right by a parent? And even worse, apparently give their seat to someone else?!?!? It was ridiculous, but the wonderful flight attendant sorted it all out.

On our flight back home we were all grouped together in the very last row. But ... ugh they double booked my seat on a plane with at least 8 empty seats! I am not making this up. How do you give one seat to two people when there are that many empty seats? I will never understand airline seating. For example, I pay the same for my ticket as anyone else, but no matter what --- EVERY TIME -- we get the very back. I've obviously gone off on an airline rant I didn't intend to turn this post into, but let the record show in my children's youth airlines treat kids like garbage. Garbage! Even though their seats cost the same as anyone else's.

Leaving super early in the morning had it's advantages. It was nice to have arrive in Delta mid-afternoon and have some time to settle and enjoy ourselves before bed. We had another busy day of travel planned ahead of us. When we gave my mom our dates she decided to throw together a Christmas in April. She rented a huge house down by Bryce Canyon and started planning all the details of hosting her family of 8 adult children and 16 grandchildren in the rented home two and a half hours away from her own.

It was a sweet party, I tell ya. I'll have to write a separate post about it later. I'll also write a separate post about what to do with small children in Bryce Canyon (to go with my series) later. Right now I am apparently just giving a vague overview before I bombard you with more detailed and (hopefully) better organized posts.

We spent Easter Sunday up in SLC with Ben's sisters and their cute kiddos. So the first six days of our trip required a lot of traveling and repacking. It seems we are always packing for a vacation within a vacation when we go to Utah.

During the last portion of our stay we finally had four solid days to sleep and play in one home -- my parents home. Things were nice and slow in Delta, but still filled with plenty of family time and wild cousin play. It really felt like we never stopped, but it was all so relaxing anyway.

I'm having a hard time recovering and readjusting to life back in Wisconsin, but I think we are finally settled in and back into our routine. Reid was more than ready to head back to school. And Nell has fallen back in love with our hour(s) long together time. Mara started solids yesterday and is sleeping well in her crib. Coraline, well that spunky one didn't really seem to get out of sorts and she hasn't fallen back into anything either. She's always just cranky, goofy, serious, excited, and content all in a matter of minutes no matter where we are. Poor girl though, she had a bout of throw ups the night before our return. Luckily her recovery was quick and no one else was affected. She's such a spunky and unpredictable little toddler.

Vacationing as a family always makes me love my people a little more. It strengthens our bond and reinforces our tribe power. The kids were able to branch out and explore new things (from sleepovers to rock hounding), but at the end of each new adventure they always find a safe home in my arms. And for that I am indeed grateful. Love my bunch!

Stop at the Chicago Temple on our way home, Apr 21

Much more of Utah 2017 to come soon!

Thanksgiving Point Museums

My parents were generous enough to let me steal their car for a day and take the kiddos up to Thanksgiving Point. Thanks to our local museum membership here in Wisconsin we have a passport program that let's us get into hundreds of Museums across the country for free. I wish I had known Tuesday was $2 day at Thanksgiving Point, because I would have been sure to avoid it that particular day. It was kind of a zoo. I figured the high prices and midweek visit would keep people away, little did I know Tuesday is the busiest day of the week. Oops.

Thanksgiving Point is this crazy huge campus with five different museums/attractions. We only went to two of them, and still probably didn't plan enough time for both of those. You could easily get a hotel (there are several right on the campus) and stay for a couple of days. Maybe we'll do that with Daddy one year in the future (as long as we still get in for free ... and one of our days isn't a Tuesday).

The kids wanted to go to the Dinosaur Museum first. It's really the whole reason we went. My kids are sooooooo into Dinosaurs. In fact, they know so many random things about Dinosaurs that they know when I say "Utah" I'm talking about a fossil rich area and paleontologist heaven. Before our trip they regularly asked if we'd see Dinosaur bones while we were in Utah. So I figured we might as well.

The museum was very hands on and informative. The kids were constantly asking me to read the signs and tell them about the animals they saw. There were also many areas where they got to stop and explore through touch and play. 

We actually zoomed through the museum in about an hours time, and then decided to go through again a second time. That may seem strange, but I actually really liked this approach. I've found that kids always want to go through museums like this faster than I enjoy. They just want to run on to the next thing (it might be more exciting) as quickly as they can. So once we'd gone through once and knew what there was to explore, it was nice to go back through again and take time enjoying our favorite spots (and skipping over others). They were much more thoughtful the second time around. And one of the big summer camp groups that had come through was gone, so there was also more space to explore and discover. 

The second time around Reid was determined to complete one of the giant dinosaur puzzles. He picked one that happened to have many of the same features as two others. So in all honesty, it was too hard for me to devote any of my own time too. I don't enjoy things like that (at least not while I'm also keeping track of two other kids). But Reid would not give up. He even had to slowly replace a couple of the pieces I helped him with. He was determined to make that Allosaurus perfectly! I have to admit I was pretty proud in the end, even if my patience was lacking in the middle. 

The other Museum we visited was the Museum of Natural Discovery. It sounds fancy, but it's really just a kid museum with four separate "wings." This museum was much more to Coraline's liking, and I have about a hundred pictures of her that I love from this museum. You've been warned.  

The four different areas were an outdoor garden/playground/pond, a typical kid's museum, a giant indoor climbing jungle, and (as you can tell) a water area. It was the best kid's museum water play area I've ever come across. The outdoor part of the museum was also really fun. My kids loved the other two spots, but I didn't think they were all that much better than any other kid museums we've been to. 

Overall the day was really enjoyable and I think the kids had a lot of fun. I did have to take a minute and ponder the purpose of these kid specialty play places. After the museum we spent about an hour at a dear friends house, and I honestly think my kids had just as much fun playing in her yard with her kids. The museum has the obvious advantage of air conditioning, but really kids are pretty good at making their own fun when we let them. Reid was occupied by L and C the moment we arrived and he was devastated when it was time to leave. 

I tried to cheer him up by promising him his very own milkshake that we could eat as we sat on Temple grounds. But then Coraline fell asleep in the drive thru. Literally in it, I ordered her a milkshake while she was awake but by the time we got it she was passed out. Silly girl. So instead of getting out and enjoying the Temple grounds we just drove around the Mount Timpanogas parking lot a few times. The kids were still in awe at it's beauty. 

We pulled into my parent's garage 13 hours after we left. It was a long day, but well worth it. I'd definitely do Thanksgiving Point (for free) again ... just not on two dollar Tuesday. 

Airports and Airplane Rides with the Littles

Up until our flight out to Utah I would have told you I had flying with small kids figured out. I could offer all the advice you might need. I mean, look at my little helpers, carrying their own load. Airports are a space we handle pretty well.

Until I get mad at all the gate lice standing in my way at O'Hare! Gate lice are the worst thing about airports. After so many "can I help yous?" I finally just shouted, loud enough for everyone to hear, "I just need you to move so we can get through!" 

Yes, I yelled at people who were offering to help me. But I didn't want the kind of help they were offering (carrying my stroller, directing my kids, etc); I just wanted them to stop crowding the gate before it was their turn to board. Had they all been patiently waiting their turn -- somewhere far away from the gate -- we would have had no problems. 

But I still probably shouldn't have shouted at adults. In public.

Not my best moment. 

But we made it to Utah all the same. 

That picture of Coraline walking through the airport with one shoe off, milkshake in hand, backpack strapped on, and smile fully loaded will probably always be one of my favorites. She was such a happy girl at that moment. She walked the entire length to our gate, and Nell was eager to swipe her ride.

Nell got a new backpack just for this trip. Ben spoiled her and let her get the most expensive one, but she sure was happy with it. Each kid carried their own needs: snacks, a few small lap games, and extra clothes. We checked one mid size suitcase (I pack light) and three car seats. We try to keep traveling as hassle free as possible when it comes to our "stuff" and that always makes things easier.

Then there is the stuff you can't control. Like Nell's inability to leave Coraline alone while she is napping (whether we are at home or on the plane), and Coraline's desire to scream at the top of her lungs whenever her ears bother her even just a tiny bit. Those two things, like the gate lice, were out of my control.

Our flight back to Wisconsin was soooooooooo much smoother. Which is ironic, because we arrived at the airport so much later and the lines were so much longer. Yet somehow, the kids were on their best behavior. Maybe because it was early morning rather than mid-afternoon? Maybe because they had McDonald's breakfast sandwiches waiting for them? I don't know, but they were a dream. 

We flew in and out of O'Hare because it was significantly cheaper. It takes us about two and a half hours to drive there. On our way down we stopped at a lovely forest preserve once we crossed the border into Illinois. We'd packed a picnic and planned enough time to let the kids run around for about 30 minutes. There was a great playground there, and it was a perfect pit stop before making our way into Chicago. 

The flight is 3 hours (plus the 90 minutes at the airport) and then it is a two hour drive to my parents house. So our travel days are pretty full of just that -- travel. 

Despite my failings, I will still offer my advice. It is simple:

1. Pack light. Decide what you think you will absolutely need and then reduce it. For our 15 day stay we each had five outfits (baby had six), three shoes (baby had two), two jammies (I had one), four under wears, and a swimsuit. That's it. And it was plenty. 

2. Make kids responsible for their stuff. My two big kids wanted to bring their favorite stuffed animals, so I let them, but they had to keep track of them. They rode in their backpacks and the kids took them out when they wanted them. Nell carried our first aid kit (because she loves band aids). Reid carried our kindle (which they only played for 15 minutes each). The front pocket of the backpacks held their snacks and they could take them out when they were hungry. They each had a Water Wow coloring book (bought new for the trip) and a High Five magazine (that they barely touched). That (and their extra set of clothes) is all that was in their carry-ons, and they never once complained about being bored. 

Kids love to look out the window, shuffle through the seat back reading materials, watch the flight crew, and just enjoy the ride. You really don't need to pack your own entertainment. 

Little Family Getaway

Every year (usually on my birthday) Ben has a work conference down in Milwaukee. The agency allows everyone the opportunity to pay extra for a private room, so we took them up on that and headed down for a little mini vacation. I've been wanting to take the kids to some Museums down there and I thought a night in the big city might be fun for them. I have fond memories of staying in a hotel in downtown SLC every few years with my own family (between Thanksgiving and Christmas and always directly across from Temple Square).

Ben headed down Wednesday afternoon and enjoyed a night to himself before we crashed his party. Seriously, having us tag a long must have been such a headache. I'm so grateful he let us. We met him and a couple of his coworkers at a restaurant Thursday evening. We arrived about a half hour before they did, but luckily the city library was just a block away. The kids and I had a great time exploring a different library's children's area.

The restaurant we went to was a renovated train station. They even had a couple of old train cars you could dine in, so we did. The kids thought that was so fun (after Reid got over the initial fright of the bullet ridden, 60 year-old train cars ... and we convinced him it would not drive off with us inside).

That night was a little rough. Coraline fell asleep on the drive from the restaurant to our hotel, and that little cat nap was enough to keep her up until midnight. We eventually just put Reid and Nell on the floor so I could wrestle Coraline to sleep in my own bed, and Ben had a bed to himself. Reid and Nell were so enamored by the hotel they didn't even mind the floor. In fact, the next day when we went back for naps they asked to sleep on the floor so I made them a little fort and they passed out in a hurry.

They loved their first hotel experience (technically Reid has slept in two as a baby, but we haven't been in a hotel since we added Nell to our family -- a tent, yes; but not a hotel). What's not to love about watching cartoons in bed?

The two museums we visited were Milwaukee Public Museum and Betty Brin Children's museum. Our ASTC membership got us into the first for free and our ACM got us into the second at half price. Nell really wanted to go to the public museum to see the dinosaurs, which is ironic because they horrified her. I told Ben we'll have to go back in a couple years when the kids are a little older.

Reid really appreciated some of the displays. He ran from exhibit to exhibit shouting out the animals he saw. "Nell, Nell, look at this ..." He really wanted her to be excited, but seeing a T-rex feast on a Triceratops just did her over and the rest of the museum was kind of a bust for her. Of all the different floors and themes Reid's favorite was probably the Crossroads of Civilization. He really liked the mummies and the map of ancient Jerusalem. He was asking lots of great questions about how they built the pyramids and what they did with the chariots.

We saved the best part of the museum for last, the live bug and butterfly exhibit. This was pretty much the only time Nell wasn't crying for me to carry her or let her ride in the stroller.

After our nap we drove over to Betty Brin and caught a quick glimpse of the Lake. I loved seeing it smashed up right against the city. Big cities just have a way of feeling so alive and it lifts my soul! I really am a big city or tiny town sort of girl. Anyway, the children's museum was little kid zoo heaven. There were a dozen or so different dramatic play areas and once I got a fill for the flow of the area we enjoyed a good two hours running from station to station. The first 30 minutes was totally chaotic, as I didn't know my way around and there were so many large school groups that I was absolutely convinced I'd loose one of my children. Reid insisted on building a house while Nell went grocery shopping, and I was a mess trying to keep a balance between the two of them. After a few of the bigger groups left they were more inclined to stick together, but something about those first few minutes just felt like I was locked inside a kid zoo!

My favorite part was watching Reid pretend to be a newscaster. He picked up the mic and just started telling the most detailed history of the extinct African hippopotamus. He was so in character and I was so in heaven. The set up was pretty cool. There was a green screen that projected a different scene, working camera crew equipment, and a head anchor desk. He loved working the green screen.

His favorite spot was the auto shop. We spent a lot of time going back to this little play area. Nell loved taking on the roll of boss and continually handed us each a work order form while answering new customer calls. Reid was busy changing mufflers and tires. He occasionally asked for a wrench and I was happy to assist.

My favorite moment of watching them play together came at the end as I heard them shoving all their groceries into the getaway car. It was clear they were robbing the store and trying to make a quick getaway before being caught. Oh, thank you Lego city and your focus on police/criminals. It was hilarious to listen to their dialogue as they ran from the police with a car full of bread and bouquets. "We don't have time to get anymore. We have to go before they catch us. Come on, hurry up Nell. Do you have your seat belt on?"

Other fun areas included the vet clinic, the bus stop, and the post office -- which had packages marked for each of the different play areas; Reid had a blast delivering them all. All this was only half the museum. After about two hours pretending they headed over to the building/gross motor area where they could race golf balls down different obstacles, put on puppet shows, and dance their little hearts out on a light up floor.

I tried to limit my photo shots, as I realized how angry my snapping pictures made Reid while he was heavily immersed in dramatic play. Something about mom capturing the moment reminded him that it was all just pretend, and he wasn't down with that. Plus it was really hard to sneak a few good shots when they were constantly moving! Seriously, my fitbit counted some 7,000 steps during our three hour visit. And it doesn't even track the moments I'm pushing the stroller! Speaking of which, Coraline was a trooper!

Such a chill little baby. 

Reid giving us a ride on the city bus. 

Nell told Ben her favorite part was the "real pretend grocery store." I really can't get over how well done this museum was. Everything was so realistic and hands on. The kids could have played even longer than the three hours we were there. 

The entire weekend was a lovely little getaway. Pushing three kids, up hill, on a cold Milwaukee street can feel like a lot of work, but the joy on their faces is totally worth it. There's something about a break in the routine that really cheers all our spirits. 

But I was really glad to share a room with just one person last night!

Canyonlands National Park: What to do with kids

Canyonlands National Park is ginormous. It's so huge it has three separate districts, each nearly 80 miles away from the other. We visited the Island in the Sky District, which is most popular due to its close proximity to Arches National Park and Moab, Utah. The Needles District is the Southern portion of the park and the Maze District is only accessible via off road vehicle. That is how primitive this park is, you can spend days and days in the park and only see a small sliver of its grandness. We spent about 6 hours in Island of the Sky and were able to complete two nice hikes, check out a couple of jaw dropping overlooks, and spend lots of time refueling at the Visitor Center. During our time at the park I couldn't help but notice we were the only people with children. No lie. We did not see another child the entire time. Even the park ranger made a comment about that. Hikers were cheering us on ("Go Family!") and giving our kids candy (as a reward for hiking 2 miles). Since kids must be such a rarity in Canyonlands, here's a fool proof way to make sure your little ones enjoy their trip.

Explore the wonderful Educational Tools at the Visitor Center and become a Junior Ranger! I'm probably sounding like a broken record by now, but of all the National Parks we visited Canyonlands had the most crucial Visitor Center. I think it is the only place in the entire park that has running water. We stopped three times during our visit. On the third and final visitor center stop Ben sat down with the big(ish) kids and spent a good twenty minutes exploring the hands on Educational tools they offer. They have dried pressed desert plants, animal track games, artistic info on how the soil grows, and -- of course -- a park movie detailing the geology and history of the area. I really think of all the park visitor centers, this one offered the best Educational resources.

Also (I'll repeat), purchasing an item or two from the visitor center is a great way to support the park. We found an Audobon book to help us identify life in the Southwest desert. Reid loved it!

And there is a lot of fragile life in this beautiful desert
*both photos taken while on GVP hike*

 Shafer Canyon Overlook and "The Neck" offer great views of deep canyon vistas. The scenic drive through Island of the Sky is basically a drive atop a small portion of the Colorado Plateau. You can see as much of the area as your eye allows. You are at the highest points of these intense canyons and there are few words that accurately describe the wonder of it all. The Neck of the plateau is a narrow passing, just big enough to fit the road. Here you can see both sides of the canyon surrounding the plateau. It is nearly impossible to get adequate pictures of the view, so you'll just have to enjoy this one of Ben and I, proving we were there. Though there isn't much to explore around The Neck, it is worth stopping. You can always take in more of Shafer Canyon outside your car than in.

Grand View Point marks the end of the scenic drive, but not the tip of the plateau. Though the view at GVP is magnificent, if you really want to reach the end of the Island plateau you'll have to take the two mile (round trip) GVP hike. We did it as a family, Ben carrying Nell; I Coraline; and Reid walking the entire thing himself. 

Well, except for these 100 steps, where Ben carried him.

Neither my words nor my photos will do the GVP hike any justice. Ben and I both considered this one of the best hikes of our entire National Park (and State Park) tours. Solitary. Dramatic. Vast. Breathtaking. The experience will remind you there is a God. He is Grand. You are nothing. And yet, you are unique and known to Him. And if you aren't spiritual, don't worry, the experience will still shake your soul.

We had a chat on hike safety before we went; don't wander away from mom or dad!

Just taking a bathroom break off the edge of the world.

I can't imagine what it must have been like to work for the Conservation Corps and build trails like this. Hiking these parks always reignites my patriotism. I'm grateful for this wonderful country and our desire to preserve these beautiful places and share them with anyone willing and able to explore their grandeur. 

The end of the hike requires some mild rock climbing. Ben and I took turns going up to the peak. I didn't quite make it to the tip top. My nerves just wouldn't let me (even though a kind French tourist was willing to hold my hand as I finished the last five steps of the climb). After Ben and I each took our turns, Reid decided he didn't want to make it all that way and not see the very top. So Ben took him back up. He was such a trooper to do this hike with us! And his pride was all the reward a parent could ask for. 

I wish there was a way to play the panoramic shots we took. It really is such an amazing thing to have a 360 view at that final tip of the plateau. The below photo was taken near the half way mark, and the mesa jetting out from the left is the starting point. You can kind of make out the trees, but what you can't see is the whole thing is crawling with tourists.

Mesa Arch is a must do hike. If there is any chance you are going to be in the park during sunrise, make it to Mesa arch for that spectacular moment. We were there closer to sunset, but it was still gorgeous.

This hike is a short loop that will only take 20 to 30 minutes of your time. There is no reason Nell (our 2 year old) couldn't have done it herself ... but she didn't. 

Though Reid doesn't look too happy in that photo, he did enjoy the hike. He didn't want to stop playing with this log and stick he found. I love when nature is my child's playground. 

He also had a lot of fun finding Crypto bacteria. It was something we learned about at the Visitor Center. The black tips on the soil is actual fragile desert life. Watch your step! 

Headed out of the park, there are a couple stops on the spur road. We tried to catch a gorgeous sunset at the Green River Overlook (the best spot for sunsets). But the sky turned into a dud and none of the clouds had any color change. It was kind of ironic, since all our park visits had been cloudless. We tried to catch the set in Capitol Reef and there weren't any clouds, and then when we tried again in Canyonlands there were too many. Still, baby and I had an intimate moment with the Creator of all this beauty. 

Seriously, what a sweet little trooper to let us drag her all over these vast spaces. While she and I enjoyed the last few moments of sunlight, Ben prepped the other two for bedtime. And they all slept quiet soundly for the entire 4 hour drive across Central, Utah.

We did not make it to Whale Rock or Upheaval Dome, but one of those three hikes is worth trying if you have the time. The Rock is slick but does have a railing to hold onto. The Dome has two hikes, one short and one longer, but both give you a fascinating look into a crater that was likely created by a meteor that struck Earth millions of years ago. The geology of that corner of the park (both found at the end of the spur road) is intriguing and sure to engage the young minds in your family.

I am so grateful we were able to make these park visits. While Coraline and I were enjoying our moment of peace at the Green River overlook a sweet woman reminded me that one day I'll get my body back. It was an interesting comment, one I know many women take offense to. But in that moment I knew exactly what she meant. She had once had three small children she stayed at home with and cared for each day. She knew what it was like to feel worn and stretched. She knew what it means to sacrifice your body for the needs of small, demanding children. She and I both watched each other in awe, admiration, and appreciation. Our bodies, and the tiny ones we are given to care for, are truly amazing.