Utah Trip 2010 Part Two

We had such a good time in Utah this year, and I have sooo many good pictures, I almost feel guilty putting it all into just two posts. But I am running out of stamina- and I know you have all been DYING to find out what we have been doing in Texas, so here it is. Mega-post #2 of our Utah trip. LOTS of pictures, not so many words. But lets be honest, does anyone really read what I write anyways? The pictures are the best part, right??

Frost Family Luau

Good food, good company,

and two of the cutest little hula dancers you will ever see.

Boondocks with Grandma and Grandpa Frost

Bumper boats, and balloons,

pizza, mini-golf and arcades.

The kids were in heaven.

Eclipse Premiere

A total BLAST! Midnight showing, opening night with some of the funnest girls (and guy) I know. My mom, sister, brother-in-law, cousin, aunts and nieces. I didn't stop laughing all night.

We had caramel Italian sodas, bula-bula, pasta and breadsticks,

and of course loved every minute of the movie (I personally am Team Emmett),

and our fake vampire teeth!

Millcreek Canyon

We were lucky enough to see my Uncle Trent and Aunt Trina while we were in town. We went up Millcreek canyon and roasted hot dogs and GIANT marshmallows. The boys threw everything they could get their hands on in the fire,

while Abbi preferred to keep her distance and hang out with Uncle Trent.

Fourth of July

We celebrated the fourth in style, starting out with the traditional Frost family breakfast in our matching patriotic apparel. We spent the day swimming at Cherry Hill and ended with fireworks.

I just can't get enough of these cute little blondies.

It is about impossible to get a good picture of the cousins together.

Who needs big fireworks when the sparklers keep them so entertained?

Once again, another eventful, fun filled trip to Utah. However, the flight to Utah was not so fun filled and I have vowed not to get on another airplane with Abbi for at least five years... we are hoping that someone will decide that Temple is a great vacation destination, or that I forget what it's like to fly by yourself with two crazy boys and one very stubborn one and a half year old because we would love to see everyone again sooner than later!

Utah Trip 2010 Part One

Between packing, graduating, vacationing, moving, unpacking, running, etc. we were able to fit in our annual trip to Utah. Colby was able to stay for a week and the kids and I were there for three weeks. As always, we had a great time visiting family and friends, took WAY too many pictures and were sad when it came time to leave. Here are some of the highlights of Part One of our trip (which is actually the second half of our trip, so I guess it should be Part Two, but because it is the first post I'll call it Part One.)

My siblings and I all got together for a brief, pre-swimming photo shoot. I know we look fabulous- you've got to love the no make-up, hair not combed, swimsuit cover-up look.

We were also able to get all eleven of my parent's grandchildren together for a picture.

My kids had a blast spending time with their cousins.

We spent a day at the Roy aqautic center, and my little fishies loved it.

Barrick and Liam also loved it!

We visited Great Grandma and Grandpa Stewart on the farm.

Abbi got a makeover.

We ate about a zillion otter pops,

then tried to counteract all that sugar with Grandma Stewart's fresh carrot juice.

We visited the Hogle Zoo,

and got to touch snakes,

and refused to touch snakes,

and somehow survived the zoo with three adults and SEVEN kids age seven and under.

We were amazed by Aunt Aleese's baby juggling skills.

Abbi got to feed a baby for the first time. (she loved these babies!)

Gotta love the bed head!

Stay tuned for more of our Utah trip...

Change

If you would have asked me four years ago, I would have told you that I could not wait for Colby to finish school, I would be thrilled to leave Des Moines and to move on to the next chapter in our lives. Three weeks ago when I walked through our empty townhouse one last time, and tears starting welling up in my eyes, I realized that the last four years were some of the best that we have spent together. As I crossed over the Iowa state line into Missouri, I felt as if I were leaving home all over again. In the words of President Thomas S. Monson, “Nothing is as constant as change.” And although we knew it was coming and we looked forward to it even, it didn't make it any easier to leave.

Abbi and Carter all geared up for the thirteen hour drive (that ended up taking SEVENTEEN, long, horrible hours!)

Amazingly enough, we left Iowa in the same size Penske that we arrived in.

Stopping for lunch somewhere between Missouri and Oklahoma?? I'm not real sure where we were, but the kids were pretty thrilled about their Pringles and PB & J's.

We arrived at our new home in Texas after midnight to find that our good friends had arrived before us and set up air mattresses and a pack and play. It was so nice to have somewhere to crash after the long drive.

We are slowly adjusting to life in our new home. Today was the first time that I have left the house without getting lost! Although we moved here over a month ago, I spent the last three weeks visiting family in Utah. I am ashamed to admit that we still have a couple of rooms that are filled with boxes and we haven't hung a single picture. We are excited to see the changes that will take place in the next three years that we call Texas, "home."