2016 spring break, part 1

I really need to stop having these gigantic blog posts. It would make posting so much easier and faster!!

But, she said, this was our SPRING BREAK trip!! And there were a ton of photos in just a few days!! I couldn't help myself!!

Other people go on wildly exciting trips to faraway places, with stunning beaches, gorgeous scenery, and exotic restaurants.
But this is just us. And we're not that flashy. Or exotic. So, when down-to-earth people (like us) go on a "vacation" ---- it's to visit the family. And in particular -- our faraway college-and beyond kids and grandbabies. It's what we do!

It seemed more than just a little weird to be traveling with just ONE CHILD along. Although Cameron's been at home for online classes this last semester, he didn't come with us on this trip. He decided to stay home and pack, because he was getting ready to leave for an on-campus semester.

So we packed up Miss Emma, and off we went! First on the trip, we got to see this cute couple:

Emma talked Alyssa into swimming with her at the hotel. 

(Because swimming at the hotel is like an end-goal for seven-year-olds.)

And, our hotel was nice enough to give us a free "upgrade" -- we ended up with an entire other bed that we didn't even need!

(Todd and I had a king bed in another part of the suite -- Em slept like a princess in a queen bed, all to herself!)

We checked in at Alyssa & Andrew's new house -- and took them some starts from one of our peony bushes. Emma got a new pair of rollerblades, and Alyssa took her out in the culdesac to skate together:

The pavement kind of threw her a bit -- she wasn't ready for it to be uneven.

We'd asked each of the older kids if there was anything they wanted us to bring from home to them.

Todd and I smiled more than just a bit, when each of the two older girls [separately] asked us to bring the EXACT same thing:  A bucket of softballs!!

Spring fever must really have hit my softball girls hard: they've missed their sport!

That was perfectly fine with Emma. She wanted to hit balls with Alys while we were there!!

(Handy to have her give Em a little batting lesson!)

Dad is pretty handy with a bat, too!!

And a little soft-toss!! (Alys was hitting consistently to center field!)

The next morning -- a beautiful Boise day -- we headed out on the road again.

It's been some years since we've been to Shoshone Falls. We've taken the older kids there, but Emma had never been. Checking this stop off our list!

The falls were not at peak run-off, but that was ok, too.

Onward, and southward ...

Love that my little big sister (and her awesome husband) came up to Salt Lake and joined us for dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory at Trolley Square in downtown Salt Lake:

(Sorry. Phone photos!)

We visited a while longer with Cheryl and Marc, while the girls took a dip in the pool & hot tub. I like the Hampton Inn in downtown Salt Lake a lot -- they've updated it quite nicely.

Someone should forewarn Darcie's future husband ...... this girl is death to electronic devices. No matter what, and without fail -- be SURE to get insurance with whatever electronic thing you buy for her!!

(We brought it home, got it replaced, and shipped it back to her. Only problem: somehow, it's programmed with the wrong phone number. She's still working on getting that part straightened out.)

 

Grabbed a shopping moment with her, too!!

The next morning, we played tourists.

It seems like every time we're in Salt Lake (and other places, too) -- we're there for a reason, an event, a planned-out schedule. We drive past downtown on the freeway, we say, "oh, look -- there's the temple!" -- but we rarely have taken the kids to GO there -- and Emma had certainly never been. So, here are some pictures from Temple Square, when we actually spent some time there:

(Darcie had to leave almost immediately -- and get back to Provo for classes. This was the only photo we could grab with her that day.)

First stop -- The Conference Center:

It was nice to let Emma see it, especially since Conference was only a couple of weeks before, so it was still fresh in her mind.

It's so beautiful -- inside and out!

One of the organists was practicing while we were there -- it was a treat to listen for a few minutes.

You don't really appreciate how absolutely HUGE this room is, until you're there. Just, wow!!

The art hanging in the halls is pretty amazing, too. We loved seeing the original paintings of some of the classic Book of Mormon scenes -- photos in our scriptures, but these were the originals.

Some have more to them than what we're used to seeing. We sometimes get a cropped view.

I never noticed before in this painting, that the writing stylus is clearly, brightly, in view.

I also loved this one, which is a depiction of a sinner, with Justice, and Mercy:

Pretty cool to be behind a waterfall!

We had the sweetest tour guide, who answered all our questions!

When you get all the way up to the nosebleed seats -- it's pretty far down to the pulpit!

Up on the roof ....

(Sometimes, grandbabies don't quite cooperate for photos. That was seriously the best group shot that we were able to get!!)

The view up there is pretty grand, too!

Then we took everyone to the Visitor's Center .... a great experience itself:

(I think Todd told me he watched the same movie with this kiddo about six times!)

When you go into the Tabernacle, after the Conference Center -- it seems SO very small!!

The spring flowers on Temple Square were so beautiful!! And they also hit you with fragrance like no other!! I think it was those hyacinths that smelled so amazing!!

We grabbed a quick lunch before heading out. On our way, we passed this little sandstone pillar:

It marks the center point of the city -- all the streets count away from right here.

Of course, there was more ........ 

in the next post!!