A few stops along the way...

My grandma has a timeshare across the street from Temple Square so we spent the week at The Kimball in downtown Salt Lake City. The location is beyond perfect. We took walks up to Memory Park.In the mornings and/or evenings, Blake and I enjoyed continuing the Memory Park trail up and around the canyon until it dropped down to the State Capitol Bldg.Blake and Sammie snuck in a tour of the Conference Center during one of Alayna's naps.

We visited Grandma Holiday in Centerville.Brigham Young UniversitySammie successfully rolled down every hill on campus.Blake and I replenished our alumni gear at the bookstore.No visit to Utah is complete without a real estate tour. We drove around Park City and Jordanelle and then stopped by our first home on Traverse Mountain...and yes, we knocked on the door for a tour!

Park City

We met Kent & Ginger's 5 girls and Nate/Brittany/Noah up in Park City for the day before we headed up to the family reunion. We have been showing Sammie videos of the Alpine Slide for weeks!I could hear her screaming all the way down the mountain.

Rainy Day Play

Peek-a-boo!

I am constantly surprised how well these two play together. They just giggle and yelp, nonstop. Alayna (and Sammie) have been loving all the toys we have stored away. Fisher Price has the catchiest tunes!

Sam has been really into wearing my dresses lately. Not at all modest, but cute as can be!

Rapunzel, Rapunzel! Let Down Your Hair!

We have watched Tangled more times that I can count. Sam loves acting and pretending to her favorite shows, so it was no surprise when she grabbed one of my old scarves and 'tended' it was her hair. After a few weeks, the one scarf turned into four.

When I went to get Alayna this morning, I just followed the hair. And then we had a playdate...
Mary Beth & Emilynn are always game for dress up!

Sweet Baby A

Miller Outdoor Theater

Sammie's ballet friend Noelle invited us to see Camp Rock at the Miller Outdoor Theater. We hesitated only because it is summer in Houston and the play is at an amphitheater...little did we know that we would be front and center (literally)! The stage is air-conditioned and we were in heaven. Alayna and I had to take a few detours to the sidelines, but still had a great time.

Schlitterbahn New Braunsfels

We finally made it to Schlitterbahn! Sammie (I should say Blake), has been looking forward to this trip for years. Now that Sam is tall enough for all the rides, we loaded the car and headed up before school let out for the summer.

We had a great time! No crowds and no lines!

Alayna and I followed these two fools around to all the slides.Sammie insisted that I go on them too. Sam was able to ride everything twice...pretty clever.

Things we did right: Come while school is in, 1st ones in & last ones out, bring food & drinks, water shoes, Baby Bjorn. Lessons learned: Park on the new side, bring a rolling cooler, only need one towel, don't need to bring chairs/umbrellas/strollers.
We weren't able to do the 40 minute tube float. Definitely a must for the next trip in August...yes, it is already planned. Thumbs up!

Everyone's favorite part of the day was floating along on the lazy river in tubes. Even Alayna enjoyed her very own tube.

Sam rode everything fearlessly!

Blake teased Sammie, "I bet Grandma & Papa didn't come because they are too scared." Sammie's reply, "no, they couldn't come because they are too old!" A perfect ending to any mini-vacation...BBQ, hotel pool, Bucee's and San Marcos Outlets.