Spring Break Part 2: JET TRIP

 This year we were planning to go to Guam for our Jen, Emmi, Trish trip.  When we looked at flights several months ago, we just couldn't wrap our brains around it.  The flights are SO long. It just didn't feel right.  Emmi decided to come and meet us on the mainland.  We chose Palm Springs so that Jen could drive to San Diego and surprise her dad for his 70th birthday at the end of our trip.  

We felt good about our decision not to go to Guam after a super typhoon pushed through the area the week before our trip.  I was worried Emmi wouldn't get to come out after all.  But--things recovered much more quickly than the last typhoon and she was able to leave her family with electricity restored and some water pressure.  

Palm Springs was an absolute DREAM!  Jen worked up a perfect itinerary.  And found the perfect location and car.  The weather was awesome.  Not too hot, not too cold.  (Okay, a few times I was a little hot and a little cold.). But for real.  The sunshine was just what I needed.

Day 1:  We arrived in the early afternoon.  (Jen a couple hours after Emmi and I.)  We checked into our Airbnb, had an amazing dinner and then went up the mountain in a crazy tram.  It was a little (I admit it) scary for me.  Yikes.  But it was gorgeous.   We explored a bit up top (it was like 40 degrees cooler up there).  Then went down after dark.  The view in the dark was even more cool and it was like a sing a-long concert in the tram on the way down.  So fun.

Day 2: Joshua Tree.  I was not prepared for how much I'd love the terrain.  It was like giants just created big rock piles that were stunning.  And the cacti and Joshua trees were awesome.  We did a 6+ mile hike and my body did so great.  (Proud!).  Then we drove into another area of the park to see some of the main attractions.  We did another couple of mile long hikes to see some pretty cool areas.  I wish I had been less tired, because the bouldering would have been amazing.  It was so beautiful.  We had dinner at an OK BBQ place.  (It was pretty good--but def the least best meal we had.) We finished the night with a great hot tub soak.  (And got some good recs from our neighbors about where to hike the next day.) 

Day 3: Tahquitz Falls hike, shopping, and Architecture driving tour

The Tahquitz falls hike that our neighbors recommended was really beautiful.  It was only two miles (which my sore body appreciated).  The falls at the top are glacier fed--so I only went up to my knees.  Jen and Emmi went up to their necks.  Yikes.  Sitting on rocks and chatting as we dried off--warm sun, cool water.  Best!  I got more of that in the afternoon at the pool.  Then we did some Nordstrom rack shopping. They both got a bunch of good stuff.  I wasn't feeling in the mood to buy anything that had to be hemmed.  So I only got one shirt. 

We ate at a Vietnamese restaurant.  I was skeptical.   But the rice curry ball was EPIC.  It was really good.

Then we started our Modern Architecture tour.  I loved learning about the architecture (some of the homes were owned by famous people).  Palm Springs has really leaned into the Modernist Architecture.  It was fun to spot it all over after we started into the tour. 

Day 4: Seven Sisters Waterfall Hike, More Architecture, Redlands Temple, Taco Ice cream

We did another hike on our last full day.  It was more like a 3 miler.  It was also super cool.  More lush than our other hikes, as it follows a stream that you criss cross over and over.  You don't really get a good glimpse of the falls, per say.  But it was so fun to be outside and moving on a perfect temp day. 

After we showered up, we did the rest of our architecture tour.  Then had an early dinner before the temple. The Redlands temple is beautiful.  It was an ASL session, and the interpreters in the video gave us some cool new insights we discussed in the Celestial room.  We are big fans of the Heavenly Father interpreter.

Day 5: Today Emmi and Jen both had to leave earlier than I did.  I went to a Palm Springs ward and then Ubered to the airport.  The ward was small, but the youth who spoke about favorite conference talks did a great job.  I've gotten a lot of reading done as I booked flights with strange times.  Sigh. 

Anyway, I am going to be really tired this week--as I recover from hikes and staying up WAY too late.  But I always feel like my soul sings when I get to spend time with my JET crew.  Love them so much. 

Our Airbnb was funky! But a perfect space. 

More of the fun place. 

We ate such yummy food.  I ate the leftovers of this rainbow bowl today at the airport. 

My kind of walk zone! 

On the Falls Hike

Joshua Tree--see what I mean about the giant rocks? 

More Joshua Tree

View from the top of the Tram Station.  Breathtaking! 

We haven't finished sharing all our pictures.  So maybe more to come...although jumping back into life with both feet.  So we'll see. 

Spring Break Part 1: College Visits

 Sarah decided that while she's been to USU and BYU campuses several times, it was time to go on some official tours.  When I checked flights--it was super reasonable.  So we decided to take the Whole Famdamily-1 (That's the name of our text group without Libby: Trish, Derek, Sarah and Ben).  

It was a bit of a whirlwind trip--but the thing about it was (I had my JET trip starting on Wednesday--so we only had Sat-Tues), that it felt so so smooth!  We didn't fly out at the crack of dawn.  We had time to see a bunch of people, and both of the schools we wanted to (Sarah booked those appointments).  We had great weather.  On time flights.  It was dreamy.  I hope the college decision ends up being that smooth.  

On BYU campus we also met up with my cousin Shelley and Derek's cousin/our friends the Thackers.  We explored the amazing art museum. In Logan we didn't have much time, as we had to get to the airport. But we did hit up Gossners.  There are so many benefits to all the things about going to school in Utah.  (I say this as I am prepping to help Libby come home for the summer from Iowa--hard work!) 

In many ways I would LOVE for her to go to USU.  (I texted with my besties from back in that era while there--and got super emotional just being on campus.) But I feel like BYU would be a better option for her accounting degree.  USU better for our pocketbook if she gets a full ride.  So, who knows.  We'll see.  By this time next year we'll know.  It was really just an awesome trip.  

We got to see the Boundy family--and an inside look at one of the Heritage Hall dorms at BYU

Sarah on campus: We also took my mom, but somehow didn't get any pics? Dang.  She loved seeing her alma mater--although they didn't ask her permission to make many changes that she was a little jarred by.
We took Papa with us to USU.  He was also surprised by many changes--as was I!  We haven't been to campus in a few years. 

We did some rocket launching. 

We went to see Peter Pan Goes Wrong with my parents at the Hale.  It was SO FUNNY.  It was great. 

We hit up Chuck-a-Rama

Here's a classic pic of Sarah (and the others) at USU back in the day. She was surprised by how appealing USU seemed.  They do a good job of selling the school.  And they'll likely offer her a lot of money...

5th Grade Camp

 Camp is SO much work.  And I don't even do most of it--one of the other teachers handles the YMCA communication and the chaperone stuff this year.  We mostly had parents...but one parent dropped out at the last minute this year, so Sarah got to come again!  She did a great job.  She forgot to bring meds, and ended up puking for the last morning.  But other than that--she really enjoyed it.

She got to do the zipline this year (our YMCA staff was much more efficient) and we had smaller learning groups. 

The only really major problem we had was the fact that the YMCA sent us with lunch for 40 instead of for 130.  Yikes.  So we had to buy out the ferry snack bar on the way home.  It was crazy.  

Sarah--with her orange group

Their skit.  I can't remember what it was about exactly...

Happy Easter!

 When I bought Libby's spring break ticket, I didn't even realize it included Easter.  But I was so glad she was here for Easter & conference!  It was fun to have her here with us. It was also, unfortunately 5th grade camp, so Sarah and I were gone for 3 days of her trip.  But she had fun with friends on those days.  

The family member Libby missed most! 

Easter Legos

Opening her basket 

Notice the matchy jammies!  They had these cute ones at Costco.  Grammy always does Christmas pjs, so maybe I'm starting an Easter tradition?  One problem was that the night before Easter I forgot.  So they put them on the morning of.  

We also did Easter family pictures at UW.  

Maren's egg hunt on Saturday was awesome! And her bunny suit was epic! 

When I got up on Friday morning (the day Libby flew here) her flight was delayed, so they offered free rebooking.  She was able to got on a flight several hours early, so we got to spend time together Friday night! 

Hosting the Sumners

We had a fun time hosting the Sumners for one night of their Spring Break trip to the PNW.  We ate together and played a couple of games.  The photo is evidence of the Party Animal older generation!  (We were playing Blank Slate.). Super fun! 

Trey served his mission in the Seattle Mission, so they came up to see people and the areas he served in.  I'm so glad they had time for us! 

 

High School Nationals--Shorewood @ Virginia Beach

 It's been many years since Derek took athletes back to High School Nationals.  Since Ben was a toddler.  This year Lukas, who placed 2nd at State wanted to go.  So, Derek decided to take Ben too--and then Max also decided to join them.  It's such a long flight that in order to get there, they had to leave on Wednesday for the Thursday afternoon weigh-ins.  Then it's a 3 day tournament.  They run 79 mats, I think Derek said.  It was huge!  And Derek was gone for 5 days of the middle school season.  Let me just say that while I was excited for them to go, wearing the head coach hat was not my favorite!  Thankfully Hunter was there to help run practices.  

Ben won his first match with an awesome pin, then lost his next two to kids who were state placers AND had cut down from 113 (since there was a 4 pound weight allowance.).  Max lost one, won one, then lost again. 

Derek was super proud of him. Lukas made it to the blood rounds, losing a really close match (10-9) to enter the consolation bracket, then getting teched by the kid who eventually took 3rd.  

They had a good time.  They wrestled on the beach to make sure they were on weight. After weigh-ins, Ben ate SO much frozen yogurt during the week they were there.  They got to see Jamestown (I wish I could have taken my 5th graders there)!  They want to go back next year.  Haha.  We'll see.  We'll need to decide sooner, that will make the flights cheaper.  Also they could probably fly home Sunday night to make hotel and car cheaper.  

I'm glad they went for it! 

Views from their hotel suite (it was pretty sketchy I guess, but it had two bedrooms). 

Ben got a couple singlets :) 

If you've seen the documentary Takedowns and Falls you'll understand why they were super excited by this van.  (Also one of their club coaches is from this school--the documentary was the year before he was in high school--but he's in some pictures.) 

They also toured a military boat of some kind.  

Derek had to shave his beard for gas mask training.  He looks so different! 

Beach wrestling!