Our trips to Utah usually happen on a whim. This trip was no exception.
We had an opportunity to go to Ensenada with some of B's family for spring break, Tempting as it was, for some reason the idea of taking my kids over the border to that part of Mexico terrified me. We talked to some friends who had gone and they said they wouldn't bring their kids there. We also watch Bill O'Reilly every night who pretty much hates crime-ridden Mexico, and I've seen Man On Fire, and since I'm kind of a paranoid person, we decided to pass on Mexico. We had every intention of spending spring break nestled safely in our Northern California bubble, but one morning Scarlett's voice woke me from a sleep-deprived slumber saying,
"Mom, I want to go to Utah."
Even in my half-asleep state of mind, I knew this was an odd thing for here to say since we hadn't been to Utah in over a year, and she was only 18 months at the time and would have no recollection of that visit.
"Why do you want to go to Utah?" I asked her sleepily.
"I want to see Grandma. And get Grampas' gum."
It is a well-known fact that Grampa always has gum, and my children have never forgotten it.
And so I reached onto the nightstand and grabbed my phone and called my Mom.
"Mom," I said, my voice all scratchy and bed-ridden, "my daughter wants to see you."
About six days later we were on our way.
The best time to visit the motherland is in springtime, I say.
Right off the bat my sister Janiel offered to host an Easter egg hunt at her cute little old house with the massive back yard.
I love that no matter which of my siblings come to any famly event, my kids are guaranteed to have some cousins their age to play with. My parents have 23 grandchildren, and 20 of them are under the age of seven.
Calli had some old luggage in her car and took some pictures. Scarlett really likes Calli. She has a thing for beautiful women who spoil her.
Janiel and David with their two kids. Janiel's baby, Dorothy Fae, is two months older than Juliette.
My brother Tyson has a newborn baby. His name is Ethan and he was born two weeks after Juliette. His liver hasn't been functioning properly and he has been in and out of the hospital since he was born. He is not as yellow as he has been, and his health has been improving. We have all been praying and fasting for him. I was happy to find him looking so happy and alert. Seeing newborn babies who are sick and in pain is so very heartwrenching. He has a nice little head full of blonde hair.
The kids found all sorts of treats lying in the grass, and the abundance of lovely yellow dandelions did not go unnoticed or unappreciated by me.
