Utah Trip

I was able to go visit my family in Utah for Emerson's birthday while poor Benny had to stay home and study. :( Let me tell you, it was sure a sacrifice to go home and get spoiled.

This is Grandpa J and his little buddy with their matching blue jackets. Every time E wanted to go outside, he'd say "Papa! Jacket, shoes." The restaurant in the background is one of my family's favorite Mexican restaurants.

Papa giving Emerson a piggy-back ride while Emerson is giving Beah one.

They had lots of fun playing outside on the slide together and throwing rocks and sticks into the creek.

E was very concerned when the slide was a little dirty and kept insisting that we "wash it" even after we had wiped it off.

We got to celebrate E's birthday with presents from Mama J and Papa. He was soooo thrilled with all of his trains and kept guessing which train he was going to open next. He guessed James every time, so it's a good thing he got a James engine in the very last package.

He also got a little doctor kit and was thrilled to give everyone, including his trains, shots. He's had to endure so many, I guess it's payback! I'm happy to report that all of his engines are up to date on their immunizations.

E was so excited about his Thomas the Tank Engine cake. It was so nice of Mama J and Papa to get it for you! I'm holding him with an iron grip here because he really really wanted to drive the little train on the frosting tracks.

My weird child. This was his favorite position to watch his "shows".

Mama J can't resist the little squishy guy in his onesie! And he has apparently gone to his happy place.

Included in our fun activities was a trip to the Hogle Zoo. It was very enjoyable weather and was an all around good trip except for the dead zebras, dead polar bear, dead baby giraffe, and absent brown bears. Sad, huh? Although let me clarify that the dead bodies were not just sitting in their cages. The above picture is of Emerson when he finally realized he was actually riding a choo-choo train. It took him about 3/4 of the way through the ride to realize, and when it was over he cried and cried, so we managed to ride it one more time at the end of our zoo trip.

Us and the elephant. We were lucky enough to see two huge elephants relieve themselves right before our very eyes. It was disgusting.

E is about the size of an infant gorilla!

This is E about to get on the choo choo for the second time.

We had lots of adventures, and the trip was planned just right so I caught part of everyone's spring break and got to visit Ben's family a few times too. A summary:

-Ate at lots of restaurants including the Cheesecake Factory, Tio's, Cafe Rio, Noodles & Company, Paradise Bakery, Bella Citta, Ruth's Diner, and paid a visit to Mrs. Backer's pastry shop.

-Went to the Living Planet Aquarium

-Went shopping for maternity clothes and SHOES

-Celebrated E's birthday

-Tried a kouign amann. (Google it)

-Had an awkward moment at Noodles & Company when the teenage waitress told us to enjoy our meal and I pulled out a "You too. I mean...um...when you eat?" Any Brian Reagan fans will understand this.

-Went to see The Young Victoria and loved it.

-Had lots of people who were willing to play choo-choo trains with E so I could nap.

-Saw my little sister's play, Thoroughly Modern Millie. She did a great job!

-Practically sang all the songs from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with my sister during my dad's Sunday School lesson.

-Heard all about E's adventures in nursery from my mom (who is the Primary chorister) and his exclamation of joy: "CHOO CHOO TRAINS!" when they weren't doing anything with trains. He was just having a really good time I guess.

-Introduced my family to (non-alcoholic) mint juleps with syrup from Churchill Downs and unknowingly helped my dad cross that item off his bucket list!

-Got to enjoy my favorite meal cooked by my mom with her roast beef and mashed potatoes and gravy. Mmmm. She's the master.

Thanks for all the fun, precious family! It was hard for us to say goodbye, but it was good to see Benny again. :) If you miss us, just start running around exclaiming "choo choo trains!" and it will be like E is still there.