Utah Summer Trip 2013

My old pal Mr. Sandman has bailed on me tonight and for the past hour I have not been able to sleep.  Me!  Come ON!  For the past 6 months I have been achieving knocked-out-with-a-mag-light sleep in about 5 seconds.  I hadn't slept so well since my mission.  I feel like tonight's bout of insomnia is cruel because as it is, I still spend Jude's nap being fairly still to conserve all the energy so I can be the best mom I can to him while he's awake.  Anyway, since I've given up on sleep for a little while, I shall be productive in the record way.

At the end of June my cousin Kyle McOmber got married to Mackenzie!  So now her name is Mackenzie McOmber.  How awesome is that.  See?  It's not even a question.  I remember driving along in the AstroVan one day when I was in high school and I found out that Meredith is also a last name (I may have told this story on this blog before, can't remember now).  WHAT?!?!  "Mom!  What if I fall in love with a guy whose last name is MEREDITH???  What would I do??!!  I can't go by my middle name or something, I've always BEEN MEREDITH! It's who I AM!"  "Merzy?"  "Yeah?"  "Let's worry about that when it happens, ok?"  

Then a few years later I started hoping I'd fall in love with a guy with the last name Montgomery, because I thought "Meredith Montgomery" sounded quite spectacular, but of course I find myself quite lucky to have wound up with a beautiful classic like Hayes and didn't need any time to warm up to it.  

But back to Kyle and Mackenzie: Mackenzie McOmber.  Now how's that for alliteration (which I love).  

We piled into the car around noon, and drive we did.  I've decided I can stop cataloguing every moment of every road trip; they are all sort of terrible and fun in their own way, and Jude will probably never, ever, ever be thrilled about the "buckled" concept for the entire drive, but we always make it through having saved more money than if we'd flown, and alive.  All's well that ends well.  I'd forgotten that taking a long road trip while nursing is fraught with times when you need to stop but can't, and then when you can stop the baby might be sleeping, or not hungry, etc., but oh well.  We lived.

And so, here is a 3:30 a.m. presentation of UTAH: Summer 2013!

Almost there, Jude!  Almost there!  

Isn't Utah just beautiful???  I'm always so happy to come here, and I'm always so happy to return home to California, so I don't really know what to do about that.  I never want to leave either place.

Playing with Cousin L.  Jude was nicer to her than at Christmas, when he'd often greeted her with "NO NO NO!"

I can't handle all the love I have for this baby.

Uncle Robert giving a Rehearsal Dinner toast.  My mom quietly exclaimed, "He looks JUST like my Grandfather Lambert up there!" So I took a picture so she could show him later. 

I hadn't been to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in so long, and it was beautiful and great to get the weekend festivities started. 

Angie is so much fun to talk to -- Graham and I agree.

Cousin J

In heaven

Also in heaven

Ready for church!

He had 4 adults smiling at him in his high chair test drive, so he thought high chairs were great!

I loved this old Similac can!  I was looking for a pen and got side tracked freaking out about what the pens are kept in.  Jeff told me that they've used that as a pencil holder for as long as he can remember.  I weaned Jude at about 7 or 8 months and so I got to know Similac quite well a couple of years ago.

Love abounded at Paradise Cafe.  There could not be a sweeter picture.  My kids are so lucky!

And zee bride and groom!  The whole thing was beautiful.  The dinner, the sealing, the reception, I loved it all.  

Some of my girls. 

At the reception -- Jude couldn't quite handle waiting for his mum for a picture, but I love him for his rascally energy.

Mother's Lounge at church

Ah the Utah dry heat of summer.  We came in from some errands or something and Jude beelined over to the floor vent, and cooled his britches on the cool air.  Smart.  :)  I really do love dry heat -- it's strangely addicting.

And far too quickly it was time to turn right back around and drive home.  The silver lining was we got to stop in Provo for a couple of hours to visit with the Smith girls (now the Buskirk and Caffee girls).  Plus their dad, Kristina's husband, and all of the kids.  I should mention Kristina and Elise were visiting their parents who live in Provo, so the stars aligned for this visit.  We brought Diet Coke and M&Ms (these geniuses share our love of these staples), and they brought the Einstein's Bagels, the kids played, and we sat and talked and talked and didn't miss a beat.  

We can't wait to see them again!!

And then just like that we were home again.  I already miss it.

Merry Christmas

Hello, holiday pregnancy insomnia -- we meet again.

The fact that it is 4:51 am and I've been awake for the past 2 hours is probably partially to do with the fact that in just a couple of hours I get to witness first hand Jude's reaction to his remote control car. It's a bit above his age but I am pretty sure he's going to spaz out to unprecedented levels when he sees this big truck rolling all around at the remote controlled hands of his pop. Jeff might have also  been near excitement explosion when we tried it out tonight to make sure it worked. :)

On saturday at 2:45 am I woke up, brushed my little teeth, threw the cooler in th car, woke up my boys, and we departed for Utah. My reasoning behind the nocturnal road tripping was that this way Jude would sleep for 3, maybe 4 hours of the drive as opposed to 1.5 when he took his nap. The plan worked and while it was not 100% without whining, the drive went pretty smoothly. I stayed awake and got us to Primm while Jeff and Jude slept, and then he finished off the drive. I don't think it had occurred to Jude that his parents sleep too (and much more enthusiastically). When my pilot shift was over, I reclined the seat and snoozed like the dead while Jude watched some shows on the iPad strapped to the seat in front of him, and every time I groggily handed him back something he'd dropped or needed, he was looking at me with this curious and slightly bemused expression, like it was half silly and half crazy I was relishing in my rest so much, or even getting it all.

Utah has been fabulous. We have been blanketed in snow, Jude is having a blast with cousins, I've been intrigued by the cousin pecking order and dynamics that have emerged since the last visit, Stevens hot chocolate is the best in the world, and we've got friend and more family visits and outings coming up.  I'm so glad we are here.

And, since insomnia can make for rash decisions, I just ordered myself a DVD of Jane Eyre to help get me through the future all nighters with the baby that is currently kicking my insides. (Thanks to my dad we now get free amazon prime free shipping.)

Hayes Family Reunion 2012

In July we had a family reunion in St. George, UT.  So.  Much.  Fun. 

We rented a big house that accommodated us all very nicely.  

This is how Jude felt about... 1/13 of the road trip.

I was happy to take this photo, but I would like the record to reflect that it was not my brain child. :)  We got a great family picture with my FIL's A-MA-ZING new camera that I am probably going to use as a Christmas card picture -- done and done.

I was discreet.

I spent waaaay too much time getting Mavericks soft serves in college.  I texted this picture to my  former co-patrons and we reflected on how funny it was that at the time we couldn't understand why we didn't lose weight with all the running we did....

Something funny Jude started doing on this trip: he started to become aware of and very concerned about his owies.  He's always scuffing up one of his big toes; it's always molting.  He also has had a few scrapes on his knees in the last month.  He never cared about them before, and they certainly didn't seem to hurt him, until now.  Usually when he's in the car seat or stroller, he will get this look of concern and make this weakened wimper of an "Oooh" and point to and pick at Ground Zero.  We of course validate his feelings and check it out, give it a kiss, etc.  Anyway, here we are driving to Zions for a hike, and with Grandma and Grandpa in the back, he had a captive wound audience.

Here come the Hayes folk up the trail to Emerald Pools!

Jude didn't care for the back carrier too much in Hawaii but he was a DREAM during the Zions hiking.  Seriously, I was so grateful to him for letting us enjoy the scenery.  What a guy. 

Afterward we found a nice shaded grassy spot that was perfect for eating ice cream cones on.  Jude was, as per usual, entertained by his cool big kid cousins, and while the ice cream was around, enjoyed going from person to person with his mouth open, leaning forward, ready for them to impart of their substance.  What a scavenger.  In moments like this I am glad he is getting a sibling; he really is 100% convinced the planet rotates at his command and only for him.

See?  Cousin attention galore.  He was sort of just tolerating this affection here, but...

"Ok really, Sam, that's good right there.  You can stop now."

I came down to one of the basement "Harry Potter closets" looking for Jude and found him sitting here with every single one of his cousins sitting before him in a semi-circle, looking for ways to wow him.  How lucky is this little boy??

Interviewing Kate -- love.

I wish I had more pictures.  We got to do all the fun stuff like stay up late talking and telling stories, we all took turns cooking and everyone brought their most serious A-game, there was a pool I unfortunately never made it into but looked awesome, Angie put on the Hayes Family Olympics (I won the gold for the bubble gum blowing contest), it was a great time.  I know a lot of hard work went into it, and I tip my hat!  I scored big time marrying into this fam.  It only seems criminal we can't get together more.  I can't wait for next year!

Palo Alto 2012

Jeff was invited to be a member of the Stanford Law School Board of Visitors.  There was a conference last weekend, which meant a trip for all 3 of us!

Completely out of chronological order, here it is:

While Jeff was in meetings I got to hang with my most prized little sis.  Aunt Sarah and Jude matched.  They didn't even call each other the night before to arrange it all!

We browsed and perused at the Stanford Shopping Mall and got Sprinkles Cupcakes.  It's all about the frosting for me; I could take or leave the cake.  

Breakfast at Stacks.  

Very cool: Meeting cousin Lizzy.  Jude, as per his baby usual, loved her but was unnerved with jealousy.  Lizzy is dreamy.

We went to San Fransisco on Saturday and waited in a 25 minute line for Bi-Rite ice cream.  It was worth it when we heard a few of the flavors: Strawberry Balsamic, Salted Caramel, and Brown Sugar.

Dolores Park -- it smelled a little...herbal there.....

Dolores' View

Jude's travel skills improve with each trip.  He didn't get all of his napping hours logged but was still pretty fantastic company and bonus: gave me a sleepy snuggle over Indian food.  I think we ate too much on this trip.

There were a few touchy moments on the drive up (and down).  I could hardly blame him; it seems criminal to pin him down for 7 hours!  We tried to calm his antsy frustration with lots of food and thus the car floors were morphed into a thick lawn of crumbs, and the doors were splashed with la leche.  New family rule: only sippies of water allowed in the car!

It wouldn't be a trip to Palo Alto without a quick photo in front of the house I miss and love.

On our way home.  Until next time, Palo Alto, and bring on the bunny ears!

Home from Palo Alto

and we had a grand old time.

And now, after 7 hours in the car, GOODNIGHT!

Weekend in Vegas

We just got back from J's baptism.  We are proud of this great little boy, the best giver of the best hugs.  He even asked me when we got there, "Did you cut new bangs?  And is that a new dress??  It's like a whole new you!"

It was high time for togetherness, and we loved our trip.

The man of the hour

Jude was in no short supply of attention and new toys.  Heaven.  Of course he really started warming up to everyone about the time we had to go; I wish we lived closer!

Before the baptism even could get off the ground I was in the foyer with my whippersnapper.  I look forward to being able to attend church services in peace again...one day. I combined these pictures on instagram; please note someone ELSE'S bright idea of a McDonalds Diet Coke.  I needed one about then. 

He's not just a whippersnapper, he's a swiper.  I say this all the time but it's probably because his sly snatching of items continues to shock and amaze!  He just whisked this brownie into his little mitts and shoved it into his mouth fast as a hummingbird wing.  And since he'd abandoned the idea of a nap on a day of so much excitement and action, at that point, I was willing to acquiesce. 

"All I need is milk and Aunt E."

As the sun eased off, we all went to the park.  Jude and I have done the swings numerous times, and he's clocked a fair amount of time in the sand, but get ready for his first time on the slide.

He's found his passion and path in life.  Full time slider.

Pure joy.  This picture fills my heart with unending, pure joy.

Such a messy, slimy, happy kid!

Busted!  Self-portrait with a bit of Tylenol slashed on the side of the mouth for some zip (he had a small fever).

No pictures of dinner at a restaurant, but we made a discovery: Dum dums can and will get you through dinner out.  I was so happy to be able to sit and eat and chat.  The napless wonder crashed into a deep sleep on the way home and it was such a beautiful sight I took a picture of Jeff holding our slumbering child.  If it's too dark for you to see that's ok; the image burns brightly in my heart.  

We made it home yesterday.  I must be my mom's daughter because coming home from a trip puts me into clean and unpack and launder hyper drive.  Jude was cool with that because his big thing lately is taking clothes and whipping them around.  You must whip it.

And now we get back into our routine this fine Monday, starting with a tour of the family room and kitchen,  bunny ears placed on one's own head.