The Tender Mercies/This Worked Out Well Trip

Shortly after Zora was born, my cousin Kjersti got engaged and I've been telling myself since I got married that I would be at her wedding to help her mom since her mom was a HUGE help at mine and my two sisters' weddings.  Plus I just really like Kjersti.  But then I had this little baby and I told the other kids we weren't doing any vacations this summer because we had this little baby and then I felt guilty leaving but then I knew I would regret not going.  What to do, what to do.  So I decided to look at ticket prices.  I could fly to John Wayne airport with a 9 hour layover in Denver on the way there and 10-hour layover on the way back for $300 and since it was just going to be me and Zora....I could handle the layovers.  So I told my mom I was considering it but still felt guilty about the kids not getting a vacation.  Then my sister called and said she'd drive down from Cheyenne for one of the layovers to hang out and then my dad had enough frequent flyer miles to get me a flight home with a 4-hour layover in Salt Lake, just long enough to grab a quick lunch with my other sister and then Greg said we could take the kids to the beach after my trip.  Everything worked out so well for me to see both of my sisters, it could not have been touched by the hand of the Big Guy upstairs.  So it was on!  I won't say I needed  a break like I hate my life and need a break from it, but I will say I'm like Harry Potter and must return to the place I call home once year to keep Voldemont from killing me (I just re-read the Harry Potter series).  

So I bought the ticket there, my dad bought the return flight, and I bought The Cursed Child, curled my hair and Zora Jane and I were off at 4:30 am to catch our 6:15 flight to Denver.

Zora did great on the plane--she nursed and slept.

 Then we hung out in the Denver Airport for a few hours while we waited for Amber to come get us.

Zora being adorable while waiting for Amber to pick us up.

 Amber and I went to Denver Children's Museum where we got lots of dirty looks for letting her older kids have fun.  Children's Museums are populated by helicopter moms who bring the nanny and grandma to help watch a single child so Amber and I with our 5:2 child to adult ratio was a little off.  I just rolled my eyes a whole ton, especially when a group of moms was convinced that Maverick was going to electrocute himself by standing next to an electrical outlet--hate to break it to you, you can't electrocute yourself by standing near an outlet.  I will say my favorite room was the low sensory room.  The lights were dimmed; there was rocking chairs and bean bags; Zora, Lark and I hung out in there for a while and had a low-light photo shoot.  Zora is lucky enough to have 3 girl cousins within 5 months of her--2 on the Baker side, and 1 on the Robins side.

Zora and Lark planning how to decorate their college dorm room

Me relaxing at a children's museum because the 1 kid I had with me was asleep...ahhh.

Sisters!

Autumn being adorable.

 After the museum, Amber dropped me back off at the airport and I flew into John Wayne Airport, which just so happened to be 5 minutes from my best friend from college's house.  What?!?  So I had her pick me.  She then promptly locked Zora in her car.  I kid you not.  We were not there 5 minutes and she locked my 2-month old baby in the car!  She freaked out.  I laughed.  Four kids will do that to you.  Luckily, when the sun goes down in California the temperature drops, Zora had just eaten, and the car was running.  We were quite the scene.  At least 5 police offices gathered around the idiots who locked a baby in the car while we waited for Ashlie's husband to come with the second set of keys.  Again, they only lived 5 miles away so he just drove by and clicked us open.  Then we all went out to dinner and I loved catching up and finally meeting Brad.  My mom picked me up after dinner and we went to my grandma's.  That was Thursday, August 18.  I got up at 3:45 am Charlotte time and got to Grandma's around 11 pm California time but I was just so excited to be in California again I didn't need sleep.

with the bestie from college and her sweet sweet husband

Friday started with a long walk with my aunt Carrie and Mom.  It felt good to get out and stretch my legs.  After a quick trip to get some new garmets and check out Ensign book, we walked to the park I grew up going to.   We spent the rest of the day hanging out.  I also took a nap.

At the park I grew up going to--they took out the dangerous but super fun play equipment I played on and replaced it with this "safer" stuff. 

With Dustin, Korey and Jess

California gras is almost  as lush and soft and glorious as Utah grass.  East Coast people just don't understand the glory of a well-watered and cared for lawn.

There were so many people staying at Grandma's that my younger brother opted to just sleep in a hammock on the back porch and my mom put her suitcase outside.

Korey just loved helping to take care of Zora.

I discovered that my cousin made a Grandchild of the Month certificate for my grandma.  I updated it for her.

Dustin and Zora in deep conversation

Saturday was the big day.  Grandma insisted that we leave super early.  I kept trying to tell her the Google said it only takes 1 hour 43 minutes to get to the San Diego temple from her house.  But she insisted on giving us 2 and a half hours to get there.  And she was right.  California traffic, which was easily overcome by the amazing weather.  We grabbed a quick bite before heading to the temple.

Grandma took us all out to lunch--here's everyone who stayed at Grandma's.

The beautiful bride and her husband leaving the temple as a married couple

Some of my favorite people

Partied with these ladies all weekend--Plus it's 4 generations

I mean look at that sky.  Just look at it.  Glorious.

Zora and her data, Uncle Noah, at the reception.

 Sunday I headed home.  Against my will.  I mean I love my family.  Greg is a pretty good husband (I mean how many husbands insist that their wives go to California for a long weekend, and he did insist that I go and then plan the beach trip so I wouldn't feel guilty about ditching the kids).  And my other kids are pretty adorable.  But San Diego, I think it may actually be heaven on Earth.  I know I usually say Provo is, but San Diego sure is nice.  And I'm not going to lie, it was nice having four days with just one kid who doesn't whine and spends most of the day sleeping.  It was glorious.

This is the Ontario Airport--it was lovely.  I was the only person there.  I had a lovely conversation with the TSA lady about TSA rules while she kindly helped me get all my stuff off the belt.  I am flying through there more often.

On my way home, I had a 4-hour layover in Salt Lake, just long enough to grab a quick bite with Hannah and get to know none-wedding Preston (you know how people are not their usual self around their wedding).  I enjoyed getting to know him a bit better.

Picnicking with Hannah at Sugar House Park--I've had a crush on Sugar House since I read a book set in Sugar House in middle school.  And I love picnics.  

I got in around 11 pm Charlotte time and was assaulted by the humidity.  If I didn't love my kids and husband so much, I probably would have just stayed.  Grandma has plenty of room for me.  Don't worry, I'm already planning my next solo trip--this time to Utah.  Greg isn't so sure, but I kind of think he owes me since we live in his hometown.  Besides, the beauty of traveling with just one kid to the dry, dry West Coast to hang with my sisters might be worth a slightly unhappy husband.  But the glory of being married to Greg is that these little trips of mine don't upset him and he encourages me to go.    He's a keeper.