a 10-day adventure in salt lake city

We just got back from quite an adventure in Salt Lake City. Our dear friends, the Andrus’, let us crash with them for 10 days. I’m pretty sure they need a sign that says “ANDRUS hotel”. They were fabulous hosts and we had a great time in their beautiful home.

We typically fly when we go to Utah but we needed our car this time so we made the trek. It was a long drive to/from with Mr. Ryan. Nate has turned in to a great little traveler but Ryan is not enjoyable. Wes had to fly home to work for 3 days so the boys and I had a little fun while he was gone.

We had lots going on while we were there. We have great friends and family in the great state of Utah and we love visiting them. Plus, there are so many things to do that we can’t do in Vegas. It went a little something like this:

FUN WITH THE ANDRUS FAMILY

We always have a great time with Ryan, Leslie, Millie & Tyler. This year was no exception.

. Ryan/Wes golfed twice.

. Leslie and I got to do some shopping. We always go to Gardner Village which is a favorite. We found some great stuff this year!

. Leslie introduced me to a fabulous chicken salad sandwich at Village Baker.

. On our last night, the Andrus’ made a fabulous homemade dinner for us. It was delicious.

. We played outside a lot.  We loved the cooler mornings and evenings!

It’s amazing how fast this . . .

can turn to this.

. We enjoyed lots of fireworks almost every night put on by their neighbors for the 24^th of July.

. The kids did pretty well together – as well as any four kids 3 and under will do when they are together for 10 days. After a few days, Tyler just started running away from Ryan which saved him from a few injuries!

Millie & Nate called this “Happy Tyler Day” where Tyler sat on the chair and they loaded him up with toys.

. We got a few decorating projects done around the Andrus house which was fun.  We got Leslie hooked on spray painting anything and everything!

. Tyler and Nate’s birthdays are one day apart so we did a little birthday present exchanging.  Millie gave Nate a watch – he’s been wanting one for months and was so excited when he opened it!  Thanks Millie!

 

MARZ FAMILY BB-Q

For years my dad’s side has had family reunions. But for some reason they decided not to this year so my sisters, my cousin Ashlie and I decided to do a casual family BBQ instead at my Aunt Leslie’s. Leslie has an absolutely beautiful backyard so we ate and chatted with extended family for the afternoon and in to the evening. It was great to see everyone. Nate had a blast with all of the kids and Ryan caused as much trouble as possible.

 

 

VISITING GRANDMA FLORENCE

While in Salt Lake, we visited my Grandma Florence a number of times. She recently moved in to an assisted living facility so we went to check out her new home and visit with her. On Sunday night, all of my mom’s family and our family met at my grandma’s place for dinner. My mom ordered in Red Butte – one of my favorite restaurants & we visited with my mom’s family.  Nate’s been asking to visit Grandma Florence for months and months so he was pretty excited to be able to give her a big hug.  She loved it.  Isn’t she a cute lady at 94?  Seriously, she’s an amazing woman.

I love my Aunt Michelle. She was so cute with the kids. 

 

HOGLE ZOO

I grew up going to the Hogle Zoo so I love taking my kids there. My mom was able to join us this time which was nice. The zoo added dinosaurs throughout that my kids loved. One even spit water! Both boys loved seeing the animals but Nate thought it was all amazing!  Ryan walked around growling almost the whole time. 

 

 

AN AFTERNOON AT MY COUSIN JEN’S HOUSE

My sister, Ali and her family stayed in SLC for the majority of the week while Kyle was at BYU soccer camp so we all went up to Kaysville to spend an afternoon at my cousin Jen’s house with Aunt Tina. Jen blew up her big water slide and Nate, Zeke & Vinny played and played and played on it. They were total boys and kept getting more and more daring with their jumps/slides. Nate had a blast playing with all of the kids there and I always enjoy catching up with Tina & Jen. Nate even got to ride their “cabin car”.  It was his first time driving one – he was a little crazy at first but got the hang of it pretty quickly!

 

GATEWAY DISCOVERY CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

We had a little “Las Vegas friends” reunion at the Childrens Museum! Leslie and I took all of our kids [after a pitstop at Banbury Donuts downtown] and met our friends Nancee & Michelle at the Children’s Museum. We were all in the same ward in Vegas for years and all three of them moved back to Utah so it was fun to get together. The museum was a little crazy. The older kids had a blast and we had a hard time keeping track of Tyler and Ryan!  Ryan LOVED the water feature thing they have with boats, etc. He was SOAKED.  I turned my head for 5 seconds and the kid was climbing in to the water!

Ryan now says “cheese” for the camera.

 

BEE’S BASEBALL GAME

Ryan A. had tickets to the Bees baseball game through work on Tuesday night. Wes was in Vegas that day but Ryan was brave and took a tired Nate and Millie to the game while Leslie & I enjoyed dinner at Village Baker with little Ryan & Tyler. Nate had a great time at his first baseball game. The next morning he kept singing . . . “Take me out to the ballgame.”  Thanks again, Ryan!

 

DINOSAUR MUSEUM

We met my cousin Shannon and her kiddos Ella & Zach at the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point. The boys had a great time digging for fossils and building with sand and dinosaurs. I always enjoy seeing Shannon – it was nice to catch up!

 

KIM’S WEDDING RECEPTION

It turned out that Wes’ cousin Kim was getting married while we were there, too. So Ryan & Leslie were nice enough to let us put Ryan to bed at their house while we took Nate down to Orem for the reception. Wes had a lot of family in town for the wedding – including his parents – which was fun!  The reception was on a golf course & they had little putters for the kids to keep them occupied so Nate had a blast!

 

THE POOL

We took the kids to swim at a really fun pool in West Valley. It was a little chilly with the wind at first but turned in to a great morning in the water. Nate & Ryan LOVED the park in the water. Ryan has no fear and went straight through a tunnel and was underwater until I could get to him. Once again, another heart attack for this mama. Nate & Millie thought it was really fun to watch the adults go down the big water slide so we took a few rides down the tube!

Nate loved the kid water slide.

And this one is for my sisters.  A picture of me on a water slide. :)

 

FARM COUNTRY AT THANKSGIVING POINT

Our kids love Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point so we made our way down there. Wes’ mom was able to join us to spend some time with the kids. They sure do love Grandma & Grandpa G!  Both kids loved seeing all of the animals.  They especially loved the pony ride!

                    

             

 

We had another great vacation in Salt Lake.  I love visiting up there in the summer and fall.  Thanks again Ryan & Leslie!