Summer Vacation 2015: Utah

This summer we were super excited to spend one week in Texas with some of my family, and then we flew straight to Utah and spent about ten days with Shaun's family.  So here are the photos of our CALDERWOOD FAMILY REUNION!

We spent time with Shaun's parents, went to the kid's hands on museum at Thanksgiving Point, spent a day at BYU and visiting old friends, going to the old family cabin in the mountains, and Shaun even took Ella fishing with his dad.  We visited the new Payson Temple, and we spend time swimming at the Natural Hot Springs pool where Shaun's sister lives in Saratoga Springs.

These were taken the day we went swimming in Saratoga Springs.  Shaun and his sisters.  

Still mischievous as ever...

Grandma and Grandpa C with all of their grandchildren.  So very sweet!

My girls LOVED the pool with the natural hot springs.  I did too!  Who wouldn't love a pool that backs up to a lake, that backs up to a mountain, that is naturally the temperature of bath water year round.  It was glorious!  I'm not a big fan of Utah but if we were to ever move their I want to live near THIS very pool!  Here's my big girl Ella diving off the diving board.

And sweet Alex with his cousin, Ashlee

Amelia loved time with her grandpa C, and she had a lot of fun playing with her cousin, Carter

The Springs also made this nice warm river bed, so Shaun took Alex for a little dip after dinner

The girls love their big cousin, Maddie.  They played really well together.  Here they are "dancing" for grandma and I in their new unicorn swimsuits Grandma got them as "prizes"

Then one day we took the kids to the family property in Colesville, Utah (up in the mountains).  This is the land that Shaun's great grandfather (x's4) came and settled when he moved from Scotland.  His name was Alexander Earl.  The photo below (right) is what's left of the home he and his wife lived in during the summer months when they came up the mountain to farm.  And on the left the kids are sitting on old farm equipment used back before machines did a lot of the work.

One of the days I was looking forward to most was a day back at my old stomping grounds on the BYU campus.  It may not mean much to the girls now, but I want them to know how much this place means to me.  I have so many good memories of my time in college.  I met wonderful people who influenced my life permanently.  I am so proud of my alma-mater.  Ra-Ra-Ra-Ra-Ra... Goooo Cougars!

Even Alex got in on the fan fair with his BYU hat!

And speaking of BYU, I was so glad I got to see some of my old roommates from my BYU days.  I got to meet up with Emily and Veeda for lunch, and I decided we are just as hot as we were back then.  Seriously, I love these ladies.  That would be one other perk of living in Utah, being close to so many friends and family members, but I'm still not convinced.  Yes, BYU has a piece of my heart, but I'm not sure if any place would ever feel as much like home as my beautiful Virginia!  I suppose wherever you go you find home with the people you love and care about.  I'm just grateful for the wonderful memories I have of my time spent in Utah.  And it was wonderful to go back with my children and my husband and make new memories of our own!!

Here are some good shots of Ella's first fishing adventure with her dad, grandpa, and cousin

I took more photos in Texas and Utah but unfortunately my phone decided to bite the dust on the last day of our trip.  Unfortunately, there was no resuscitating it, so we lost everything unless I posted it to Facebook or it was taken with someone else's camera.  Thankfully I got all of the above photos just from other people.  Anyway, it was a great trip!  I hope we can do it at least ever other year, because it was wonderful to visit with all of our family and friends!

Quintessential Perfection

Today has been the quintessential "stay at home mom" day, or at least the kind of day I always pictured after I'd drop the kids off at the sitter and headed to a full day of meetings.  Because I've been absolutely horrible about blogging lately, you may have missed the memo that as of this school year I'm doing a job share, allowing me to work three days and then be home the other two.  Typically I'll work M-W, allowing me four whole days off with my little guy and to be there for my girls as they step off the bus.  I'll go back at some later date and fill you in on how this awesome opportunity came about (it was really just heaven sent).

So back to my quintessential channeling of Donna Reed.  Today my handsome little man and I started off the day by going for a walk after we got the girls on the bus.  It was GLORIOUS outside.  No humidity, a nice breeze, about 73 degrees!  I could have basked in the glory of it all day long, and I've tried to.  On the way home from our walk we stopped at the park across the street and little man enjoyed some time on the swings.  It was pure joy to see his expression.

We came home in time for his morning nap, and I was able to shower, check mail, and look over our budget (which is decidedly the saddest part of the day, but the lack of money is so worth the time I'm getting at home).  When Alex woke up we had lunch and played.  We really didn't even leave the living room.  I read him books.  He played while I attempted to fold laundry (he "helped"). He is the most loving little guy and he loves cuddles, kisses, and any attention and time I spend with him.  We pretty much did that until it was time for nap #2.  There is a lot I could have done and probably should have done, but I'm not going to live in the could have and should have world, I'm going to embrace what is.  And what is is awesome!  He and I laid down and took a nap.  When we woke up, I thought I'd bake some cookies to have for the girls when they get off the bus.  They're in the oven now!

Seriously, could a day be any better?  I know nothing exciting has occurred, and nothing the world would term important or of great success, but it feels really good to be home and taking care of my family and my home.  I have some friends who are climbing the ladder in their careers and I admire them and respect them.  Sometimes I start to think I'm going the wrong direction.  I am well respected in my career (at least I believe I am) and I probably could be climbing my career ladder too.  Instead, I just gave up my medical benefits and 1200$/month after taxes to play peek a boo and fold laundry.  Really, I sometimes have questioned my sanity.  But then I remember how right this feels.  I remember that it is my primary responsibility to nurture my family, and when I'm in that role I can feel of it's divinity.  There is great power in the humility of that role.  I know I've griped for years, many times on this very blog, about wanting to be home more, being exasperated with the women who do stay home and complain about it.  As I continue to learn and grow as a human being, I realize we are all just doing our best, whatever that might look like.  I am just so very grateful for this time and opportunity to be with my handsome Alex, to be more present with my girls this year as I have more time to devote to them, to be the best mom and wife that I can be.  I'm grateful for this mostly perfect day, and I'm grateful to my Heavenly Father who has heard my prayers these past years and who is showing me His tender mercies!  I think I'll have to channel my Donna Reed more often!!!

Texas here we come!

I thought we might never get there, but the time finally came for us to leave for our family vacation to Texas and then Utah.  I had a lot of work to do before I could focus on packing, and in retrospect I think I won't do a vacation the week right after school gets out again, but we managed to get it all done, and then we were off!  Here are the girls watching the planes take off at the airport.  They had their backpacks ready and off we went!

This vacation was all about family and the kids having fun with cousins.  In Texas we visited with my sister and her family.  We always have fun with the Millers.  They are a wonderful family.  My parents drove in too because my niece graduated from high school, and then we celebrated my dad's 69th birthday.  He wanted to go see the longhorns in Fort Worth, so that's what we did.  Here are the girls on a real longhorn, although these were raised to be more like family pets.  They were very gentle.

And the clown made the girls their own horse and long horn hats out of balloons.  This was right by the road where they steer the longhorns through just like they did in the days before the railroads came.

 We got to watch a live cowboy showdown, and then the girls got to go to a petting zoo.

But most of the time we were in Texas, we just played in water.  Whether it was Hawaiian falls (the water park across the street), the community pool where Jackie lifeguards, the splash pad down the street, or in the best pool of all, the one in my sister's backyard, we enjoyed all of our time.

Here are the kids at Hawaiian Falls with Lacy.

And here they are visiting Jackie at work at the Roanoke pool.

And here is Shaun with Alex in Michelle's pool... aah, that's the life!

Texas was all I hoped it would be.  It was visits by the pool, playing with the kids, and late night chats with my sister.  I only wish we could do it more often!  Thanks Michelle for being a great hostess!  

Unfortunately, my phone died at the end of the trip, so I only have photos from Shaun's phone, but you get the gist.  I lost a few great gems, but such is life I suppose!  We still have the memories, and that's the most important thing.

Next stop, Utah!  More to come on that visit in the next post.

Mount Vernon- a 1st grade field trip adventure!

I was able to help chaperone Ella's field trip to Mount Vernon in May.  I was a little excited because I'm a nerd and I love history.  We took Ella to Mount Vernon when she was just a baby and I hadn't been back since, so I was looking forward to it... even if it was going to be with 100 first graders.  The good news, I was only responsible for four of them.  The bad news, my daughter was the worst behaved.  I even lost her at one point.  Sheesh!  What kind of chaperone am I?  But Ella is very independent and unfortunately feels rules don't necessarily apply to her.  She'd be the one going in the complete opposite direction of the rest of the group.  While I admire her independence and strong willed nature, it can become troublesome while chaperoning her and her classmates.  Needless to say we had some talks about her being a better listener.  Anyway, despite some of the struggles keeping my own daughter with the group, it was really a nice day.  I enjoyed spending time with Ella and I think it made her feel extra special to have me there with her.  Her classmates were super sweet, although I never thought first graders would complain so much about the heat.  Sheesh you're 7 so suck it up!  It was nice though.  I love my little girl who's growing up entirely too quickly.  All in all a great day spent together at Mr. Washington's home!

Mother's Day and other adventures

For Mother's Day I got a pear tree!  Shaun planted it this week in the backyard, and I just love it!  It will grow tall without growing too wide, and in time help obstruct the view of the not so lovely car shop behind our house.  Also a cute note Amelia wrote me.  

 We've also enjoyed our new fire pit this Spring.  We roasted marshmallows and made smore's with the family.  We are really loving our back deck and enjoying many evenings having dinner outside.

 After dinner outside it's always nice to have a little entertainment brought to us by nana and Alex.

And in other news, this little boat of cuteness is eight months old now!  Here he is in a pre/post bottle photo.

And Spring has also helped my little monkeys find opportunities to get out there monkey energy.  Ella loves the monkey bars.

 And Amelia has enjoyed play dates with her friend Myles from preschool.  They get along great!  We took them out for ice cream during one of their play dates.

 And my Elle is as cute as a button in her nana's hat.  Too bad she acts like a stinker most of the time!

 So those are just a few of our photos from this Spring.  We are loving being outside more and spending time with family and friends.  We are especially looking forward to school being out and our big trip to Texas and Utah in June.