This summer we really stuggled with our family vacation. We wanted to do something fun with the girls but with John being in the Young Men, it really takes away from our family vacation time. He had to miss a week for Scout Camps and Youth Conference and where the girls have a shorter summer, it really doesn't leave us a lot of time. So we decided instead of going somewhere far, we would go to Park City. We wouldn't have to spend 2 days driving and John could still work the weekdays that he needed to. It was a win win Vacation! The day before we left was Brilynn's birthday. She has been begging for about a year to have her own bedroom. I said "NO" for a very long time. When I realized how bad she really wanted it, I decided to do it to my advantage :) I told her that we could make a room for her for her birthday but that would be the only thing she would get...including no friend birthday party. She was so excited...as was I to not have to plan a party :) So we rearranged many of the rooms in the house. We took the classroom upstairs (a room that we kept all our learning items, books, crafts, and anything that I didn't want to be just a free for all) and decided to make that Brilynn's room. Maycie would keep their old bedroom. We made the playroom on the main level into a Library/Study room. I was so excited to get rid of the playroom on the main level. It was great when the kids were little because it was right off the kitchen but know they are older and the twins have each other to play with I was ready to put all the toys in the basement. So we made the guest bedroom into a guest bedroom/playroom. We put all the craft items in my craft/scrapbook room. Once I started rearranging the rooms it caused me to dejunk the WHOLE house. After a week and a half of being a COMPLETE hermit, the house was completely reorganized, dejuniked, and spring cleaned. It was a great feeling. I threw away so much stuff that John had to do nightly garbage runs to get rid of the mess! So Brilynn was extra excited for her new room. On her birthday I told her she could invite a friend to go with her to a movie. We went and saw Pirates Band of Misfits. Afterwards we went to Cafe Rio where she had her favorite Tamales! Later that night she opened her other gifts and we had a turtle pie since she didn't want a cake.
It was very delicious. She loved her cash stash from Grandma Batty!!!
She had also been asking for "Footie" pj's for awhile as well. I kept telling her it was to hot for them. She doesn't care and she wears them everynight!
The next day we headed to Park City. The girls and I went up early Friday afternoon and got everything unpacked at the condo we rented. We then headed to the outlets to do our school shopping (see following post) John met up with us later on and was quickly "DONE" with shopping. We called it a day and headed back to the condo. We got dinner on the way home. After eating we headed to the pool. Payge loves to jump off the edge and bellyflop into the pool. The lifejacket must break the fall :)
One of my favorite things about being on vacation is that I don't have to clean and believe me...I take full advantage of it. I don't know what happens to me but I seriously turn into the biggest slob!!! It doens't even bother me and completely enjoy not doing a bit of cleaning or picking up. The best part is that it doesn't even bother me. When I am at home I feel like that is the only thing I ever do, clean and pick up. The funniest thing is that this drives the girls crazy. Especially Preslee. She was always trying to pick up and organize and was always telling me how messy it was. One night when we came back we walked in the door and Payge said, "Oh my goodness, our house is way too messy." Maybe the reason I love doing this so much is so that my family appreciates me cleaning our home. By the last night, John was even done. He kept saying "Amanda, this is ridiculous. I can't believe you can let things go like this." I did give in and pick up a little on the 3rd day we were there just so that things didn't start to stink :)
Saturday morning we went to the Olympic Park. We watched the skiers practice their jumping on the big ski slopes. We also watched them ski jumping into the big practice pool. I wanted to stay longer and go to the show they were doing that night but the kids wanted to go and do the alpine slides instead. After eating lunch we went to the park city mountain resort (where we were staying) to do the slides for John's birthday since his birthday was the next day but it was on Sunday. I had complete sticker shock when I paid for the tickets. It was $130 for us to each ride the slide and coaster 1 time. Yes ONE time. Crazy!!! The kids loved it!!! They were a little nervous going down the slide since it was their first time but then when John kept asking me if it was my birthday or his haha.
After lunch we went on a hike up the ski mountain behind the condo.
I can't remember why Payge was upset but this is a common look for her when she is MAD!
The hike was VERY steep. Payge almost slipped right here but thank heavens she caught herself.
When we got to the top the girls wanted to sit on the ski chairs.
After the hike we decided to let John open his gifts and have his birthday treat. Since we were away from home he choose the yummy eclairs instead of cake. We are not a big cake family I guess!
That night we spent about 3 hours doing duct tape projects. The girls said this was one of the favorite things that we did all weekend. Who knew a little tape could be so fun.
They took the shampoo bottles and made them cute.
We made lots of rings.
and cute bags.
Preslee and Payge got a little board but enjoyed watching a show.
Preslee even made herself a mustache :)
All of Maycie's projects.
Brilynn and her duct tape purse
We even decided to add a little flower to Maycie's bag. It actually turned out really cute.
On Monday we headed to Provo to go to Seven Peaks. I didn't take any pictures because I hate taking my camera to the water parks. We stayed there most of the day until it started to rain in the early evening. We packed up and headed to the BYU bookstore. We did some shopping and grabbed a bite to eat and then headed to trafalga. By this time John and I were so tired and just ready to go back to the condo. We let the kids do a few things and then decided to call it a night. That was our last night at the condo. The next morning we had to check out by 10 the girls were really sad to leave and even more sad that there summer vacation was over. We did some shopping on the way home and finished getting everything we needed for school. It was so nice to go on vacation and not have to drive for hours to get there. Park City is a great place for skiing but even a better place to spend a summer vacation.
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