Denver for the first time!

Typically we travel to places where we have family frequently.  However, with flights always being full and schedules conflicting, we have never actually flown to Denver to spend time with my brother Ryan and MaryAnn's family (we drove through on our mini-van buying road trip).  We have 3 kids all the same ages and gender, so it is super fun times together.  When we planned to get together over conference weekend I thought we would have no problem since there are 10 flights a day from DFW-DEN.  But when it got right down to it, flights filled up and I was super disappointed.  I had packed and cleaned until I realized it wasn't going to happen and I took the rest of the day off.  At dinner time I checked again and there were 6 seats available.  Typically since we need 5 seats, we wouldn't even bother going to the airport because it isn't likely, but our hearts were set on going, so we made a run for it.  At the last minute they had only 3 seats so we decided to split up boys and girls and tried to quickly divide what I would need and I ran on the plane with the girls.   As I was getting buckled and situated I started panicking about picking up the rental car, not having jackets, wondering if I had the phone charger I needed etc, etc.  Right then, Dave and Jackson walked on and got seats right next to us.  12 passengers missed the connection!  I was so happy we were headed to Denver.  The flight was great.  Mariah fell asleep and then Hallie fell asleep at the end.  

It was snowing when we touched down and it was cold in shorts and flip flops.  

We stayed up late talking and talking.  We love discussing finances and life with them.  Unfortunately, the kids were up early and the day started with lots of energy.  

MaryAnn and I went to work out and then took Jackson to eat lunch at Dayton's school.  

We went shopping at costco where Dave brought pants.  Apparently, I was suppose to pack them... He also bought a 'go pro' camera for good measure.   and I bought things to stock the conference store with.  

Dave and I went to the temple while MaryAnn graciously offered to watch the kids.  Unfortunately, on the way there, I realized my recommend was expired, which means no entry.   I was sad, but it was a good reminder that frequently, the most important things are left out in my life.  I want to put God first and it takes more effort than I've been giving it.    I still enjoyed the peace just in the foyer and the grounds.  It truly is a place of rest and worship. 

We took the kids to Daytons soccer practice, but we were all freezing cold, so we sat in the car.  Then we all went out to eat at Sweet Tomatos which is our kids favorite place since they get to pick what and how much they eat.  

Saturday, we listened to conference (if the radio decided it wanted to work) and dyed easter eggs.  the boys and kids rode a long path with bikes, scooters and trikes.  I picked flowers with Mariah.  It was a gorgeous day outside.  

We continued with conference and the kids loved earning bucks and buying goodies at the store.  

We had another egg hunt with friends of Ryan and MaryAnns at the park.  The kids also had an egg joust.   

Due to the flight loads, we had to take off EARLY on Easter morning.  (If I had known I could've left the entire suitcase that was filled with easter baskets and goodies).  Everything took longer than usual and we ran full force to our flight and barely made it on.  (BTW:  don't pack sidewalk chalk... TSA thinks it is dynamite).  Mariah took a nap and Hallie watched a movie from her own seat TV (awesome new planes!) We were back in our house an hour before conference even started.  We ate breakfast, unpacked and started listening again.  the kids were great.  

 the talks were wonderful and inspiring as always.  The theme was definitely FAMILY, which is exactly what I needed.  I am engaged in vitally important work and love God's reminder to do it to the best of my ability.  

We did a little easter basket with swim wear/gear in it.  The kids tried it out in our bathtub.  Early bedtimes for everyone helped us to catch up on the weekend of fun.

We are thankful that through the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ our family can resurrected, purified and be sealed together forever.  I am thankful to a Heavenly Father that loved us enough to make a plan to get us back to Him.  The knowledge of a Savior is important to me.

St Patricks Day in Chicago

We were so disappointed that our plans for spring break all fell through and flights going anywhere were full, full, full.  We were going to go camping, but it rained and then the rest of the week we watched flights to Utah with nothing opening up.  Finally, we went camping on Thursday night with our new friends the Pittson's.  It was so much fun!  We loved the food, hiking, relaxing and just being in nature.  It is definitely different than Utah camping, but we enjoyed it.  We headed home late Friday night (after the Friday night flights filled up again) and really wanted to go somewhere fun.  Instead of looking at flights we were so tired we watched TV.  At midnight, we finally looked at flights and discovered that Chicago was open  AND was having their St. Patrick's day parade.  So we got packed and went to bed by 1, only to wake up 5 hours later to catch the flight.  We thought all our plans were for naught when my ID went missing on our shuttle bus.  Luckily, the bus came back around and I got it in time.  

We were on our way to Chicago for the first time.   We debated using transportation or getting a rental car.  In the end, having a place to stash our stuff was an important reason to have a car.  We headed straight down town and tried to find the parade.  

Dave told me it was 'unseasonably warm' in Chicago.   Since we were just wearing flip flops and camping outdoors, I packed us all a light jacket.  We were COLD!!  We pulled our extra clothes out and wore double layers and tried to stay out in the sun rather than between the sky scrapers.  We waded through huge crowds of partyers.  It was crazy with bright green everywhere.  Lots of teens, drugs and drinking, which made me nervous, but the kids didn't seem to notice and we didn't lose anyone.  

I  was so confused by what was happening.  In Utah , a parade starts, everyone SITS and watches for 30 mins and then it is over.  This was totally different.  Everyone was standing and watching (so the kids couldn't see at all) the parade route was only a 1/2 mile long, but the parade went on for 3 hours!!  So you could come and go at will (and I was afraid we were going to 'miss' it for hours before hand!).  After watching with the kids on our necks for 5 mins, we snuck a spot in the front for the kids and they watched for a while getting some prizes a long the way.  

We stopped in for some lunch (LATE).  I was surprised that we waited until 3 with really no meal, but the kids did great!   We enjoyed warming up before starting out to sight see more.  

We walked back to the 'bean' which was streaming with people.  It was so interesting!  

 We played in a little patch of snow... unseasonably warm in Chicago means COLD to me.

We walked over to the bridge to see the river turned green.  It was so awesome.  Jackson got pulled into a street show that was actually horrible (they collected $$ and then didn't do a show).  So Jackson was disappointed.  

We walked shivering and tired back to the car.  We stopped at McDonalds for a bathroom and the kids begged for food, but we talked them into waiting for a deep dish Chicago pizza.  We ordered it to go (the wait was insane) and then took a look at the pier while waiting.  

We picked up the pizza and headed to the Residence Inn to eat and relax.  The pizza  was good, but I like regular pizza better.  We went swimming, but were so tired that it didn't last long.  We crashed!I love the comfort of Residence Inn with a separate bedroom (not to mention awesome breakfasts!)

We enjoyed breakfast and then got ready for Church.  It is so awesome to find a church anywhere.  This ward had quite a few young families and they were friendly and happy with us.  We went to all our meetings andthen the temple president offered to let us into the grounds of the temple.  so we were able to show our kids the Chicago Temple.  

We went to the first McDonald's ever and killed some time before heading to the airport really early.  

We were a bit nervous because we were having a layover in Indianapolis.  If we missed the flight there was no way out of Chicago the rest of the night, but we made the flight without problems.  A kind woman handed my girls some princess coloring pads and that made their flight so much better.  We got home late, happy we were finally able to travel somewhere.