Seattle.

Excuse the back log here for a moment. Before I became completely neurotic about pie, I was stewing all the options in my mind. Writing a business plan and price matching all sorts of ingredients, including the testing and perfecting recipes. While I was letting everything settle in my mind I ran away with my mom and sister to Seattle. Happy Birthday Mom! A surprise trip from my dad to a city she'd never been too. It was just a quick get away, but the loveliest long weekends. We stayed up way to late, ate way to much, walked everywhere, and were nothing but inspired by the sights of Seattle. The weather was, dare I say, perfect and the company even better.
I was constantly dreaming of pie and wandering Pikes Place feeling all sorts of inspired. This trip couldn't have come at a better time!

Thanks Dad for giving Mom a weekend with Micall and I, best birthday present ever!
love love

not your ordinary swing set

Before we left St. George, we were really wanting to play tennis. Ya know to get all those wiggles out before we were strapped in the car. I really like playing tennis, but I don't have any sort of skill. And I don't care so much, cause Kevin throws the game and lets me feel better about my lack of hand eye coordination. As we were venturing out to the tennis courts, Gramps decided to detour us to the pickle ball courts. Clearly not my land of expertise since I'm pretty terrible at ping pong too. The pickle ball courts were all full of senior citizens in tall socks and sweat bands, so we headed to the park nearby.
I think this was Gramps plan all along, he didn't want to watch tennis or pickle ball. He was really into this park.

This was no ordinary park though. This was... well, I dunno how to even describe it. It felt like it was designed to test the laws of physics. And it was freakin awesome.

Example 1: A skateboard attached to a metal ramp with a handle bar. Let's see how far up the ramp you can go while still holding on. He was a pro.

Example 2: A teeter toter meets a swing. The highlight of the park...

Stella batted her big blue eyes and had him swinging back and forth...

Example 3: A spinning crank designed to make you puke. Which, with the help of Grandpa spinning me so fast, I was successful at. 

and Example 4: perhaps it's a hamster wheel on it's side? Who knows, but Gus really enjoyed it...

After Gus had eaten enough dirt and everyones hands were black from all the rubber, we load up headed north for home. such a bummer.

It was just the perfect little getaway, perfect to play in the sunshine and to play with my grandparents. I'm so very lucky that I have all of my grandparents around to play with my children. They are so completely spoiled. Thanks for the wonderful vacation Gramps and Gram! We'll be back soon!

love love

the red rocks

There was no playing inside this last week. None. Not allowed. As soon as the sun hit the backyard the kids were outside, and Kevin was there chasing them with a football. Or on their bikes riding in giant circles. Gus continued to throw balls at everything, then he discovered rocks! Rocks are like balls! I'm sure you can guess how that went...

Gramps took us on a hike above town, his first venture up above the city. He's lived there almost twenty years. Turns out he needed to get out of the house as much as I did.

I feel like I'm staring at Ramona Quimby in this photo. It makes my heart happy a little. 

Utah is pretty rad. So is the sunshine, especially when it warms your skin. Oh it's a glorious thing!

love love

We played hooky.

I'm a big fan of the winter. Huge fan. All that glorious fluffy snow! I can hike up it and ski down the back country on it; or  I can rip down the corduroy of Deer Valley with a lovely lunch in between runs. I can cross country ski on it with my mother in the mornings instead of a casual run around the track. We can snowmobile on it, snowshoe it, shovel it, or just snuggle instead and watch it fall. Oh the snow, its just so magical, it makes all the months of winter completely blissful.

Um, did the snow miss the memo this year? Did someone forget to tell mother nature about the calendar? I do not enjoy the winter without the snow. I think it's stupid, and cold and I have to wear warm layers to just protect me from the air, instead of the snow. And let's be honest, that's a different kind of wardrobe. Winter is no fun without the snow. It's gross looking and boring.

So this last week we boycotted this blasted, strange winter and went to St. George. The sun is shining there and it was warm. No socks necessary. Boom.

We packed the car full of every possible item to keep us entertained outside, and completely ditched kindergarten. Kindergarten isn't mandatory right?

Gram and Gramps kept us highly entertained and extremely well fed. Seriously. Like the kids bellies are still full and they are still napping in recovery. Best runaway ever!
At least Ruby thinks so...

And PS- St. George's new children's museum is pretty amazing.

I had to drag everyone out of the museum... They had all forgotten what it felt like to be hungry, except me. I was hungry. And the quota on being inside had been filled. It was warm outside and we were going to enjoy it. dammit.

love love

Brimhalls go to Washington

So there was this one time that I was talking to my sister on the phone and we somehow decided that I needed to come and see her. In Washington. With all of the kids. I didn't really ask Kevin and I'm not sure she asked Travis if it was ok. We just decided it. Because really who doesn't want to take a 12 hour road trip with 3 children under the age of 5?
The trip was relatively spontaneous for an epic road trip. We decided to go only a week before hand. That was enough time for Micall to have everything all planned, our agenda was set and ready to go. I pretty much just planned on snacks, toy bags, snacks, dvd's, snacks, bags of yarn, snacks, blankets, snacks, crayons, and more snacks. Because the only way to get through a 12 hour road trip is snacks. Ok, the only way to get through the day is snacks.
We piled everyone and everything in the car and left Thursday at 1pm. We drove and drove and kept on driving until we arrived in Pullman, Washington around 11pm.  Thats a serious road trip. And the kids apparently are made for road trips because they never even opened their toy bags, snack bags or coloring the entire drive up. They watched 4 movies and then fell fast asleep. They are pretty awesome.
We spent the weekend hanging out, exploring WSU and the town of Pullman and Moscow. We played and played and played some more with their new dog, Molly. The girls giggled with Aunt Colly and TTTTT-J. Gus took his first steps, but apparently only wants to walk in Washington since he hasn't done it again. We stayed up late, and when we went to bed we listened to Gus whine and cry. There is nothing like a baby in apartments on vacation. We pretty much just drank more Diet Coke to overcome Gus's inability to sleep on vacation. Sorry about that again...

I'm not really sure what's going on with Ruby and the above face, it's her new thing. She can tell you the funniest stories with her mouth like that.

Micall gave us a tour of the vet hospital and it is so cute to see how her eyes light up when she shows you the surgery rooms and freeze dried studying tools. That girl was born to be a vet, since she was Ruby's age thats all she's wanted and I can't imagine it any other way. We ate ice cream for our morning snack and played at the park in the best fall weather. Seriously the weather, it was amazing.

The girls wanted to be next to Aunt Colly the entire time, unless Ruby was looking for "Hanitizer" She really loves Hand Sanitizer.
On Saturday we went to an apple orchard and picked more apples than we knew what to do with.  We made fresh cider; which was totally worth the wait and the hilarity's of watching us pick apples. We are pretty efficient at making cider, like probably the fastest ones there.

On Sunday we were lazy and laid around with the kids, watching conference, and snuggled Molly. We played frisbee and ate some more food. Because snacks and food are pretty much essential.

Then, sadly it was over. In the wee hours of Monday morning, we loaded sleeping children back into the car and drove home. It was way too short, I could have used another couple of days just hanging out. But the kids were perfect on the 11 hour drive home, which makes it really easy to want to go back. (But really. The kids in the car for 11 hours, with only 3 stops, and those were just for the bathroom and grab food to eat in the car. They didn't fuss, they didn't whine, they played, they watched movies and slept. Gus was even awesome on the drive home. I was the one who was bored. At about hour 9, I was ready to be done. Mostly because my hand hurt so bad from knitting I couldn't do it anymore. Ok so I knit in the car. Whatever. I made 3 hats and a scarf on the trip. And I'm aware that it makes me like 80 years old.)
Spending time with Micall and Travis and just us, in their own world was amazing. Watching the kids adore them is the pretty much best. The only downside is that now everyone wants to know when they can see Molly again, or maybe get Molly's sister to live at our house. (not going to happen)

We had the best weekend, thanks so much Godderidge's for allowing us to overtake your "hotel" and ruin all the excellent training on your dog. You're the best!

love love

(We were kinda busy laughing, so I didn't take very many photos. And why don't I take any photos of Gus? He is always there I promise...)