Thankful for Time Spent Together

We headed up to the Homestead this weekend to have a little fun before the kids go back to school after spring break. Unfortunately, Bryson couldn't get off work to join us. :(

We headed out for a walk after we got settled into the room (and by settling in, I mean Nick dumping his entire contents of his suitcase into a drawer and we were good to go.) :) We hiked the 72 steps up to the top of the crater we would be swimming in the next day. It's natural spring water that is consistently 95 degrees...heavenly. 

 Of course Nick was very interested in feeding the goats that were on the sister property across the street. We were told we could buy "goat food" at the front desk and come to find out, goat food is actually the same dog treats we give Rocko. Haha

 I believe Hailey was mocking Nick's excitement over the cows behind them in the picture below...

 The next morning we started off the day at Chick's Diner in Heber. It was just as General Conference was starting and even though we were DVRing it at home, Brian always likes to hear the first 15 minutes because it seems that's when all the big announcements are made. So he and Hailey watched it on my iPhone with an ear bud each.

 Nick ordered the biggest breakfast I've ever seen...oh to be a teenage boy...3 LARGE pancakes, a stack of syrup, an entire plate of hashbrowns and a salad plate full of bacon. He ended up eating all but a sliver of the pancakes and a few pieces of bacon.

Unfortunately, our horseback ride got canceled Saturday morning because of the rains the day before so we gave the kids the money we would've spent on that ride and headed to Park City for a little outlet shopping. I was not allowed to shop with Nick because he said he wanted to buy my birthday and Mother's Day presents up there...SWEET BOY!!!! (I was not allowed to see what Hailey bought at the Homestead Gift Shop for the same reason...SWEET GIRL!!)

We then headed back to the Homestead for our reservation to swim/soak in the Crater. You go in through a door in the side of the crater and you walk down this tunnel to the water. It's deep enough that they do scuba certifications there so they make you wear a life jacket when you're in the water. It's beautiful blue water and so relaxing just to lay back on your life jacket and float around in the warm water.

 This view is looking up out of the crater from where the water is inside.

 That night Brian and Nick headed off to the Priesthood Session of General Conference at a church in Heber.

 When they got back we went to an awesome pizza place called Cafe Galleria. Hailey and I ordered the personal pizza and salad and I thought it was so clever how they served it with the salad in the middle. Very yummy too...Brian and I decided it was worth driving back up there just for a date night.

 ...and this is what you get when you ask your kids to smile for a picture while they're eating yummy pizza.

 This is Hailey's little room off our main room...it was the tiniest little room you've ever seen with two bunk beds.

I am so thankful for a weekend together as a family to hang out, play games in the room, laugh and even just sit and TALK together. With all the pulls of daily life it's nice to have some uninterrupted time with our kids where they can't go off with their friends or off to their rooms or the basement with just a passing waive. :) I love my family and the kids are growing up WAY TOO FAST!!!!