Sunday, March 16, 2008

...To Salt Lake and back, my top 10 list...


1. So before we left to go to Utah, all Payton could talk about was the PlANe rIde, Grandma, Grandpa, and his cousins! When we got off the plane and walked out of the airport, we saw Grandma and Grandpa Hansen. Payton was in the stroller and almost JuMPed out of it and into my arms because he was ScARed! I don't think he really remembered who they were right off, but by the end of the trip he was comfortable w/ both set's of Grandparents! The kids loved spending time w/ the family, and who does not love GraNdMa and GrAndPa?

2. So here we are. Payton, myself, and Trent. We are so hAPpy that Trent is in our family. He has leukemia which has changed the look of his body some, but his personality and the love he has in his HeArt for everyone around him has not changed a bit.

Doesn't Xoie look AwESoMe in Trent's head wrap?

Payton wanted to try it on as well. I don't think he was too happy about it!

Here they are! Payton LoVes all of his CouSIns, but he was able to spend some one on one time w/ Trent. They played all day long and BoNDed pretty well.

Payton really looks up to Trent as you can see. We all do!

3. I would have to say that the CouSinS are up there on our list. This is not all of them by any stretch of the imagination, but this is the best picture that explaines the personality of our cousins. While we were with our cousins, I didn't see Payton for more than 5 MiNuTEs. We had a GreAT time bonding w/ them and we can't wait to do it again.
4. Before I go any farther w/ my list, I have to give props to single parent's! I don't know how any of you do it. I was ready to pull out my hair by the time the two weeks were done. I praise you for your strength, patience, and work ethic. I know what you have to deal w/ on a daily basis is hard, but keep doing what you are doing, your kids do appreciate it!

5. There is this thing w/ our KiDs, they love to be at my feet at all times of the day. When I am trying to get things done it can be a real pain because I am tripping all over them. Going back to Utah I was kinda DreADing the fact that they wouldn't let anyone help them but me. Which did happen until the last day that we were there. Payton finally let Grandma watch him for a while in the morning while I was able to sleep some. As I was thinking about it, it re-assured me w/ the fact that my kids do love me, and they WaNt to be around me. I realized that I should ApPreciAte this time because I am sure there will come a day that it will not be the case.
6. I have to thank my cousin Lyndsie and my brother-in-law Jon for all of their help w/ the computer mumbo-jumbo. I am trying to start up a little business here and while I was in Utah they helped me out quite a bit. I owe ya'll quite a bit. Thank you again for all of your help!



7. Who doesn't love the Zoo? Amy, her kids, my Mom, Myself and our kids were able to go and enjoy a WonDErFul day looking at animals. We were watching the elephants, when all of a sudden one of them spreads their legs and pooped! It was HillAriOUs! Now when we tell people what we did in Utah that is the first thing that comes out of Payton's mouth. Thank you Amy and Mom for helping us have a fun day!


8. I have to thank Gina for a great idea! The KiD BaRn in Utah is an AmaZinG place to take kids! It is a lot like some dude's playground, but for kids. They have a ton of the bouncy slides and the kids went crazy. We were there w/ Amber, her kids, Ace, her kids, and us. The kids PlaYEd for hours and were beat by the time we were done. Again, another GrEaT day! Thanks Guys!
9.
I have a new found love for toy tractor's! Grandma Hansen put some tractor's in Payton's back pack as we were packing up. We didn't want Payton to see them so that he could have a surprise on the plane. As we boarded the plane and were waiting to take off Payton was going crazy. He was talking very loud and I heard the people behind me say "Oh great here we go. This is going to be a long flight." Right then I knew it was time for the tractor's. We got them out and I didn't hear another word from him for quite a while! Thank you Grandma!


10. Last but not LeAsT I have to say how happy I am that I married the man I married! I mean, who could resist a man in a shirt that is too small for him, but he thinks he looks hot enough in it to wear it out in public? Okay, he put a sweatshirt on to hide it. Anyway, I can say that distance does make the heart grow FonDer and we couldn't wait to see him again. When we got home I knew I would come home to a clean house and that he would help me put our things away. I know that Mike loves his family and that he would do AnyThInG for us. Thank you babe for being the person you are!
So there you have it, a list of things that we enjoyed while we were away. Thanks to everyone who helped our stay be so enjoyable and we can't wait to see ya'll again. We love you!