I cannot say enough how wonderful it was to spend nearly a week with Glendon and Kaytee and Lucy. Leading up to the trip, whenever we talked it, the question we were always asked was "WHY Utah?" Allow me to clear the air and say for one, Utah is a gorgeous state with lots of to offer. Secondly, when you mesh as well with a family like we do with the Butes, it's pretty hard to stay away (as shown by the fact that this was our 3rd trip in 4 years!) Seriously, what we would give to live closer to these friends!
It just so happened that we pulled into town just 45 minutes before the clock struck my birthday. The Butes treated me to an extra special day, beginning with delicious oatmeal pancakes with chocolate chips and granola (made to mimic the ones I adore at Julia's here in Seattle). I got to lay low the entire day after church before I was told it was time to dress up and go out.
I had a slight suspicion I might have an idea where we were going (mostly because I only know two restaurants in Utah) and I was so excited to realize I was right! The Butes booked us a babysitter so we could all go out to La Caille for dinner. The setting was incredible (as was the magnitude of the tantrum Emma decided to throw as we were trying to leave but we won't talk about that part...)
Glendon and his ladies (when in Utah...)
Seriously, this place was amazing! They even brought me a baked alaska dessert complete with a literal firework spouting out the top!
The sunset as we made our way back home was gorgeous!
I didn't take a lot of photos with our "real" camera but I did manage to document a bit more of our morning walking historic 25th Street in Ogden. The street was lined with painted ponies that the girls loved. Isla wanted a picture with each one and Kaytee suggested we make a calendar entitled "Isla and her horses." I literally think we have enough shots to have a different horse for each month!
Graham took full advantage of the random upright pianos placed along the street and treated the rest of us to some free entertainment.
The girls were mesmerized.
Back at the house, the girls enjoying cooling off on a couple of occasions in the Bute's splash pad and sprinkler.
I love this series of Emma and Graham. There might have been a bit of "forced" fun initially but then she really warmed up to the sprinkler and was asking to do it again.
One afternoon we also took a trip to a local splash park and the kids had a blast swimming and sliding. Both Isla and Emma even went of the big waterslide (accompanied of course). Of course we didn't take any pictures that day...
Our last night there, we bravely took the kids out to dinner at a yummy pizza place. There was live music and the kids had a chance to break out their dance moves at the end. Kaytee did Emma's hair that night in this sweet braid and I haven't been able to replicate it since! She gave us a lot of hair advice for curlies that I've done my best to put into practice since we arrived home. We need all the help we can get over here!!
Our lovely hosts
Many thanks again to the Butes for having us! We miss you already!
