Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Gone WEST!!

For the Thanksgiving Holiday we lived it up and spent 10 days out west! We flew into SLC on Friday night....late night...the kids were CRAZY on the airplane (Gordon and Oscar didn't sleep on the first flight and well into the next one...on the other hand Elllie didn't sleep at all until the captain announced the final descent in to SLC...that's when she finally fell asleep--it was 1:30 am Eastern time--and she had only had one nap that day!!! ahhh!)! Steve threatened to cancel all upcoming trips--including Christmas...and in desperation said to me across the aisle..."I am NEVER flying with "them" again!" but memories are funny things and the trip to FL for the wedding and Christmas are still on!

Upon our arrival at 11:45 pm local time, we were met at the airport by Uncle Donny (over from Australia) and Uncle Matt...they were here to pick up some of the luggage we brought out with us for Uncle Mike..who was moving (we checked 3 additional bags for him including a GUN!!...what a headache at the airport...we almost missed our flight!) For our stay in Utah we were put up in the lush accommodations at Chez Dowdle & Maison de Munns (thanks guys!!) Next time we are also going to book at least one night at the Maughan Mansion (it was SO FUN to see you Meghan!! I just love you!)!!

In Utah we hit some (not all unfortunately!) of our favorite places!
BYU Bookstore (go cougars...next year will be our year!)We got new gear for the kids in sizes that fit, paraphernalia for our cars (I know it's cheesy but I LOVED and still LOVE BYU!!), and I introduced the boys to the candy counter...they loved it! It's amazing how much candy you can get for 50 cents!
Goldsmith's Jewelers ....odd I know but I cracked a prong on my ring and they are the best...also steve was so smart when he bought it to buy the lifetime service for it...so they dipped it polished it and basically had it lookin' brand spankin' new!! I love my wedding ring when it sparkles!
J-Dawgs...for those of you who made it out of Provo before this little Gem came to be...make it a must on your next stop--it is located on 700 East and the South side of campus...it's housed in the old shaved ice shack! I get the polish with everything except jalepenos!! ohhh, I wish I had one right now!!
Cafe Rio...need I say more?
The Dinosaur Museum...WE LOVE THIS PLACE!!! Here are some pics...a very few pics...and I'll explain why!

Probably the cutest picture of the cutest boy...there is a dino croc skeleton in the background!

Our Beautiful little Aussie neice Taylor--her and Ellie were darling friends!



These shots at the erosion table are the reason my camera stopped working...see Oscar working on his habitat? I being the helpful mother tried to pass him some more trees...with the hand that was holding the camera...how does this happen? I am not sure I have not come up with a good reason why I would plunge my camera into a pool of water...willingly...huh? Luckily Uncle Mike is a wiz with electronics!! Thanks mike you saved us!

After a wonderful time in Utah (it could have been longer in my opinion...I love Utah...in fact...I think I could seriously live there!) we made the drive to Idaho to begin preparations for the Fete de la Mois and Jenny's Wedding! We arrived from the 5.5 hour drive on Tuesday night. Thanks to Michelle (Steve's oldest sister) the whole ward family packed it in totaling 22 people in a 4 bedroom 3 bathroom home! After that first night Candy and Merl got a hotel, Jenny stayed at her in-laws to be and Matt stayed with a friend at their hotel...so we were at a standing 18 for the duration of the stay! Packed....with fun!!! I loved it...except for sleeping the the same room with all our children...that could have been better!

Thanksgiving was DELICIOUS!!!...we were late getting started as usual...but then there was the problem of only one oven...until we discovered a neighbor's oven...My neice was watching their cats while they were away...shhhh...don't tell! That little discovery saved us from eating too far past our E.D.T (estimated dining time) I didn't have our camera for our new "after thanksgiving walk" tradition...but if i can get a hold of some pictures that were taken I'll post them later!

Jenny's Briday shower was Friday morning...no shopping for us...it saved us from the horrid lines and saved me from trying to pack and fly with those "couldn't pass up deals"! The shower was very mild...I could have used some of my sisters to liven things up...wooohooo!


Sara Perry, Elise (Aussie), Jenny, ME!

Jenny wearing the gift from Elise and I...a hot pink veil...everyone needs one of those right?
Our other gift was our smiling faces, manual labor in preparation for, and presence at the wedding...Idaho is a long way to schlep kids and all their gear from Australia...and Ohio?!!

Danielle Madsen (Steve's Sis), Sara Perry (Matt's Girlfriend), Elise Ward, Jenny, ME, Candy (I love her), Britni (neice), Michelle Ward
The girls were laughing at me saying that this was "such a Munns girls pose"...What?, because we all look adorable...some of the girls couldn't quite get into the "squish really close together" thing...oh well!! We Ward's still look HOT...even you Danielle!

I am so sad that I don't have any pictures to post of the actual wedding and such but will post them as soon as I get some copies from other people...I had a great time and was so busy chasing kids to worry about pictures!

It was a great trip...here is one las shot of Ellie and I on the way home...

...PS the kids were much better behaved on the plane home!