Utah, Part 5: Salt Lake, Snow, and Siblings

With the stomach issues, we had canceled plans with other extended families not wanting to risk it (which we 100% support!).  Instead, we joined C&K in Salt Lake for a quick stay at a Marriott, spending a couple days shopping and eating.

Kate was enamored by the lights, the city, the shops, all of it.  "Everything is better in Utah."  That is not the sentiment I want to hear.  Mostly, I want my kids to realize they can be happy anywhere, and find beauty and community everywhere.

In our string of health troubles, Brady started feeling terrible again with a fever.  He stayed back in the hotel while we walked through the city and went for tacos.

After dinner, we went to see the life size gingerbread house and window displays.  We found our Hawai'i display and took a photo for Brady.

This is the first year Zachary didn't make his annual sandman, so we found one in a window.

Zachary was such a good sport.  He was in a lot of pain but recognized that being out with all of us even though it meant walking a ton (not his favorite activity...) was better than staying back and laying in bed.

For me and Kate, on the other hand, walking through the city at night surrounded by Christmas lights constituted a perfect evening.

Kristen and I walked back to the hotel to take Brady flatbread pizza, and met the family at Gourmandies.  They looked so cute through the window.

I am famous for my hot chocolate obsession but I had almost no desire to drink cocoa on this trip.  This was so pretty but did not burn my tongue and I consider that a strike.

Brady surprised the kids and joined the family.  He was still down and out.  Sadly, this sore throat/cold/flu lasted him the entire trip in Utah and he is still dealing with it on January 24.

Kristen brought us all face masks for the hotel.  Owen owned his and loved that he was awake at 10:30pm.

After workouts and a brunch pastry shop, we hit one more mall before heading home.  Cory successfully ignited a Nike passion in Zac's heart.

Zachary said that if we ever moved to Utah, we had to get a ping pong table.  I was so happy there were activities he could still do with one wing for Elise and Walker playing him in so many rounds.

The final day of our trip, we started sorting out winter gear to return to the Waltmans.  We woke up to huge snowflakes drifting from the sky and it was our last day present.  

Funcle Cory led the snowman efforts, delighting my kids.  My two favorite parts: the three-grape right eye and the BYU snow-child.

Such good packing snow!

I loved watching the inclusiveness of Elise on this trip.  She made Kate feel like an important peer.

Snowball fight: even shoeless, coatless, gloveless, one-armed Zac was in on the action.  He wears sweats to Disneyland when it is 90 degrees outside, but slippers in Utah for snow.  

A quick few rounds of ping pong before taking off to meet with Erin and her kids.

We planned to play mini-golf at Boondocks, but the weather turned wet and so cold, with driving winds.  Instead, we changed plans at the venue and played arcade games--maybe the worst choice for bonding but I do think all those kids enjoyed themselves.

So much love for this family.

We finished off the night going to eat.  No one in my family was particularly hungry and our hearts were heavy with big decisions and a looming departure.  We were not the best meal companions.  BUT!  It was lovely to see Ritchies and Edwards for one last meal.  They were also kind enough to include Owen with gifts and a banner and turn it into a birthday dinner.

Owen will be the only child (or adult) in my family to celebrate a birthday at Ruth's Chris.

We finished our packing and finally had the pleasure of exploring India via Kristen's narration and slideshow presentation.  So impressed with her shining face in every photo demonstrating her desire to serve and make an impact in the world, and those monkeys were the cutest.  

Since it was birthday eve, we threw bedtime to the wind and O played video games at 11pm.

All good things come to an end, and it was time for an early departure.  Delta changed our departure time from 11am to 8am so we were up early.  We made it to Seattle, where we hung out in the airport for almost 8 hours before getting onto our delayed flight.  When we finally departed, it was with a stop at SFO to refuel for an extra-long journey home.  All told, it was 22 hours of airport and we almost hit the 24 hour mark for total travel time.  Whew!  The thing is, it's not so bad with older kids.  Granted, I was sitting by the oldest child and not the one who got up to pee 16 times. 

Owen is bright and inquisitive but also contains the confidence of a 3rd child.  According to him, he calculated how air travel works below.  The best part is the little compass to the top right.

He is giving us a run for our money and testing our desire to be consistent and patient.  He can throw the longest tantrum, yell and say mean things to us.  He can also wrap up in our arms minutes after it passes and express his love and appreciation.  He will hold me tight for a long time, drying off his tears in my hair and saying, "I love you, Mom."  

Owen is curious about the world and not afraid to ask questions.  He is also willing to wait for the answers--whenever it is we can pull over and look it up.  The car is where he has lived a good portion of his life, and now it is him that we drive everywhere--to baseball, soccer, baseball, basketball, and baseball.  He loves piano lessons and so far catches on easily.  He reads, he runs, he jumps on the trampoline, he plays catch, he roller skates, and he plays with Kate as student/extra/prop--whatever she asks.

Owen's teachers and coaches say the same thing about him: he looks for ways to be inclusive and kind.  He throws a ball with the kid struggling at practice, invites kids to play at recess, and plays with difficult students at centers.  He cheers others on and shouts goodbye to multiple kids out the window every time we leave school pick-up.  He told me recently that he loves his cousins and his family and his friends and "everyone in the whole entire world."  

Happy Birthday, little man!