A huge *THANK YOU* to my Uncle Scott and Aunt Charla who are always willing to let us crash with them for a couple days! Our kids love them so much and remember the littlest details of our visits with them.
Preston gets snuggles with Aunt Charla before heading out the door.
We visited my Grandpa Adams then made sure to stop by the cemetery to "see" Grandma Adams as well. It's just not the same without her there. *sigh* :(
Then we took the kids to Park Discovery to wear them out. This park is pretty incredible, giving the kids lots to explore and use their imagination! (My camera battery died so not many pics here...)
On our way North, we made a quick stop for lunch with my Grandpa and Grandma Sorensen, whom were THRILLED to see us!
We visited my Grandpa Adams then made sure to stop by the cemetery to "see" Grandma Adams as well. It's just not the same without her there. *sigh* :(
Then we took the kids to Park Discovery to wear them out. This park is pretty incredible, giving the kids lots to explore and use their imagination! (My camera battery died so not many pics here...)
On our way North, we made a quick stop for lunch with my Grandpa and Grandma Sorensen, whom were THRILLED to see us!
It's really important to me that the kids get lots of pictures with their great-grandparents since we never know how long we'll have them here with us!
Then on we went, up to spend the remainder of the week with the Barneys, our friends from optometry school. I'm so glad that we've been able to maintain a good relationship with them, even though we are separated by 700 miles. This marks the 4th time that we've managed to see each other since graduating from school 2.5 years ago, which I think is pretty amazing!We had just the right amount of play mixed with chill time while we were there. Wednesday morning, Jennie and I were able to escape and get pedicures. Wednesday afternoon, Matt visited Craig Poulter's practice (another classmate). Thursday, Matt went with Weston to work all day so Jennie and I loaded up all our kids and met Trenda and her kids at Discovery Gateway children's museum in SLC. I think we spent a good 5 or so hours there, with a little lunch break in between!!!!! All the kids had a blast.
These tubes sucked the balls up and around in tubes. This was the very first thing you come to in the museum and I think my kids would have stayed here for an hour!
Gavin the builder man
Preston couldn't get enough of this car!
We'd go play in a different area of this floor and he'd keep running back to it!
Preston and Hadley at the water play area.
Amazingly, these two played together pretty well the entire trip!
Preston calls her "Haggie," which is stinkin' adorable. :)
Brooklyn conquering the rock wall
Two darling cowgirls, wanting to be alike in every way! They wanted their hair done the same, clothes to match, etc. Cute Sydney even cried when it was time to say goodbye!
There was a whole table full of these Magformers that kept these two occupied for a LONG time! You better believe that these went straight on my, errrrr, the kids' Christmas list!! ;) 
Gavin, Ambree and Macey hard at work drawing.
Gavin the builder man
Preston couldn't get enough of this car!We'd go play in a different area of this floor and he'd keep running back to it!
Preston and Hadley at the water play area.Amazingly, these two played together pretty well the entire trip!
Preston calls her "Haggie," which is stinkin' adorable. :)
Brooklyn conquering the rock wall
Two darling cowgirls, wanting to be alike in every way! They wanted their hair done the same, clothes to match, etc. Cute Sydney even cried when it was time to say goodbye!
There was a whole table full of these Magformers that kept these two occupied for a LONG time! You better believe that these went straight on my, errrrr, the kids' Christmas list!! ;) 
Gavin, Ambree and Macey hard at work drawing.All three were born within 5 months of each other. :)
Taking at "ride" in the Life Flight helicopter. Preston was in H-E-A-V-E-N!!!
"Heli-cockers" are one of his current obsessions!
Co-pilot with big sis
The whole crew between the three of us - Ambree, Cade, Brooklyn, Hadley, Sydney, Preston, Blake, Gavin and poor Macey having a little meltdown off to the side. LOL!
Taking at "ride" in the Life Flight helicopter. Preston was in H-E-A-V-E-N!!!"Heli-cockers" are one of his current obsessions!
Co-pilot with big sis
The whole crew between the three of us - Ambree, Cade, Brooklyn, Hadley, Sydney, Preston, Blake, Gavin and poor Macey having a little meltdown off to the side. LOL!
Weston took off work Friday so the we all met up with Trenda and kids again, this time at the Bingham Canyon Copper Mine, one of the largest in the world!! It definitely was an interesting sight to see, this gargantuan open-pit mine.
Cade, Blake, Brooklyn and Sydney peering through microscopes in the visitor's center
Preston loved all these trucks! I'm just glad they were behind glass and not open display! ;)
Brooklyn eyes the precious minerals
Taking a closer look
This is one of the tires from the massive dump trucks used to haul ore out of the mine!!!!!
Crazy kids!
This was a common sight -- if Jennie was holding Hadley, Preston wanted to be picked up too! In fact, I think he even referred to Jennie as "mom" once as he leaned to her as *I* was holding him!!!!!! Little stinker! At least it's a good workout, Jen!
After the mine we headed to a park to each lunch and let the kids run while the mom's chatted. Matt and Weston fished in a little pond up the hill and Matt reeled in this little sucker. Preston's not too sure about it...
Saturday morning we had a delicious breakfast then Matt and Weston were off to have some manly time at the golf course. When they got home, off Jennie and I went to Tai Pan Trading to do a little home decor shopping. I like that place!! Saturday evening we had dinner get together at the Barneys, including the Poulters and the Underwoods (whom we also met while living in California). Look at the brood of kids we have combined!
We had plenty of good chats, laughs and even shared some sick germs. ;) We're hoping to continue the tradition of meeting up with the Barneys at least once a year, whether it be in Utah, Arizona or somewhere inbetween. I love that we can pick right back off where we left off the last time. I'm glad to have such good friends that really were our family through grad school. Thanks again, Weston, Jennie, Syd, Macey and Hadley for letting us invade your house! Can't wait until next time!!!
Saturday morning we had a delicious breakfast then Matt and Weston were off to have some manly time at the golf course. When they got home, off Jennie and I went to Tai Pan Trading to do a little home decor shopping. I like that place!! Saturday evening we had dinner get together at the Barneys, including the Poulters and the Underwoods (whom we also met while living in California). Look at the brood of kids we have combined!
We had plenty of good chats, laughs and even shared some sick germs. ;) We're hoping to continue the tradition of meeting up with the Barneys at least once a year, whether it be in Utah, Arizona or somewhere inbetween. I love that we can pick right back off where we left off the last time. I'm glad to have such good friends that really were our family through grad school. Thanks again, Weston, Jennie, Syd, Macey and Hadley for letting us invade your house! Can't wait until next time!!!
