Birthday Surprise

For our May birthdays, My Mom/Dad and Aunt Katie gave both Brycen and myself a roundtrip ticket to Utah. Pretty sweet, right? 

Cian lucked out. He is still free so was thus, able to come along too.

On our way, we took an evening flight that was first, delayed and then re-routed to avoid terrible weather.

 While Cian climbed, dived, and was crazy (the half full flight was awesome)--I had follishly hoped he would be sleeping,

I stressed that there was absolutely no way we would make our Denver connection.

We landed minutes after our next flight was supposed to leave.

We ran.

And bless Southwest, maybe it's routine for them to wait when it's the last flight of the night?

I was truly grateful.

We found a seat and waited for all other connecting travelers. 

The whole time, "Brycen do you need to go to bathroom? We are in the last row with NOBODY beside us (I was told the flight would be completely full)... now would be a great time!"

"No, Mom"

27 minutes later: Enter out-of-breath man plopped down beside us, last minutes preparations done by flight attendants to take off.

B: "Mom, I gotta go PEE!! "

M: "Can't you wait?"

B: "No. Right now!"

M:"Excuse us, Sir"

---All three of us crammed into a tenth of a coat closet---

M: "Brycen, hurry! They are all waiting for us!"

B: After peeing and Mommy holding Cian with one hand and yanking on Brycen's pants with the other, "Stinkies are comin!"

M: "You have got to be kidding me".

----stream of unmentionable noises---

M: "You done yet?"

B: "Three more".

M: "Now?"

B: "M...Okay, I can save the rest for Grandma's house".

One AM our time. The man to our right appeared kind, he was a father to the girls across the way. But whenever Brycen's head fell on him, he was annoyed. Eventually, I was successfully able to position Brycen to lean on me.

Our Utah trips:

Awesome food (I do enjoy cooking but at times, it is SO relaxing to not have to)

Family Outings
Lovely trip to the temple.
A book or two read by me. It's wonderful.

Little sleep. The kids can't help but be excited.

Grandma/pa/aunt/uncle sitter.

Good times.

On the way to the zoo. Tuning out the Rush Limbaugh. Baha! Jk...

We saw the zoo in record time. Little B locates animal, "aww!" and sprints on.

Polar Bear out of legos.

First Carousel ride. Once was enough for him.

3, 4, 5 times please.

Shopping Buddy.

Cuteness....in Aunt Katie spoils.

Always...can be found with Uncle Dallin.

Daddy was able to come out for a weekend. When the boys get cranky and only want normal, it is so nice to have him. Well, anytime--I love having him with us.

Brycen photography. I love how proud he is!

 

5 year-between-twins with Grandma Walker

"Will you put Brycen to sleep?"

LOVE Utah weather and these people.

The Monday after Memorial Day, Cemetery clean-up.

Cousin sharing clothes save so much on the packing! Oh, how I loved dressing him up in "new" things.

Grandma watched the boys so Katie and I could climb to "our" summit. Pictured: One of the "rock walls".

In Summary

We started on a known trail.

Titled, "difficult" seven mile hike, round trip.

Before starting, I noted a stream (via a sign posted at the trial head) that we should cross about a mile and half into the hike, a great turn-around point if I had any say in it :)

Lost the trail within 10-15 minutes.

Us, Shields don't like to back track.

Climbed straight--literally--up (Katie's idea).

Came across a dead deer.

Huge spiders.

Rattle snakes.

Climbing rock walls that move.

Never encountered another person.

Crazy adrenaline.

Glad we packed water and snacks.

 Bumps, scratches, and bruises.

Made it to the top.

TWO mountains over from where we "planned".

Someone was ready to call the rescue squad (I won't say who)

Someone did not. I will say, me.

It took courage and heeding to the Spirit,

but we did climb down another way.

Was NOT easy. 

Had to look ahead, evaluate the options, and determine what path to choose.

Prayers, tears, sliding, almost falls, seven hours, and an entirely dirty and scary experience later,

we came across that stream. 

And then the path that lead down to the car. 

The trail was never before so beautiful!

We were able to see where we went wrong.

 We were SO glad the boys didn't come with us.

It was a journey I would be totally okay with never doing again.

We learned. We laughed. And were tried. Isn't that what LIFE is?

Love these boys. (Brycen lost a battle with the bathtub)

Park City vacation within our vacation.

Hot Tub specifically FOR kids. Yes, Please!

We had the perfect room. Kids were able to nap. Mommies were able to swim.Windows that faced the pools came in handy to entertain, locate everyone, and know when kiddos were up.

Family celebration of the May birthdays.

His cake was AWESOME! Grandmas are the best.

My darling niece. I want to keep her.

Grandbabies

Laila gripping on for life!

Not pictured (somehow..): Miniature golfing--ahem, I won. Not sure if it says more about me or the people I went with :)

 Sister and sister-in-law outing to dinner at Crowne Burger--delicious!--and the theatre. 

Backyard volleyball. 

My beautiful wedding ring--cleaned, reshaped, and adjusted (first time in 6 years....I never take it off).

Oh, how it shines! Loving the lifetime warranty.

 T'was an awesome Birthday.