Catching Up: The Guilt Trip

For some reason I clicked on our blog this morning while Drew and the girls were at church and Kendall was home sick, napping. I clicked through the most recent 3 or 4 posts and had this overwhelming feeling of appreciation (admittedly for myself who has made this blog a personal project for the past 6 1/2 years) and guilt (for not keeping it up the way I want to). It was so easy with one sleeping baby at home to post a few pictures every few weeks, but now with three energetic, hungry, talkative, adventure-seeking, learning children at home, it's become incredibly difficult. I miss all that down time that I didn't realize was downtime until I multiplied it by 3. And now I attempt to record the last 1/4 year so it doesn't get lost forever in the ever-increasing business of life.

The Summer started exactly 2 hours after school got out when we raced up to Baltimore to catch a non-stop flight to Las Vegas to begin a THREE-WEEK schlep across the Western United States. And by "we" I mean myself and 3 girls. We planned the trip before Drew got his new job, when he had oodles and oodles of time-off to burn. I had a lapse in judgement, obviously, and decided to go ahead with the trip sans spouse. 3 weeks later, I'm still exhaling from what was debatably the most difficult 3 weeks of my life. But we had some good times along the way for sure, which I am here to document.

Makenna's 1st and last days of school. The last was not one of her best outfits, but she went straight from school to the airport, so it needed to be comfortable.                                                                                                                                                              

Addison's 1st and last days of school. She got out a whole month earlier than Makenna, but we spent that extra month hitting up the pool and doing fun mommy-daughter things.

We flew straight to Las Vegas to spend some time with our best friends who recently moved there. The girls loved swimming in their pool, playing, going out to lunch, and generally just catching

up.

Us moms had a bit of fun too. We sure love the Sorensons. (Horrible picture collage via Instagram...boo)

After 2 nights partying in Vegas, Grandma met us there and drove with us to Utah to be a part of Aunt Jenn and Uncle Ryan's wedding. After a long day of driving with Addison and her weak stomach churning things up in the backseat (hello vomit 3 minutes into our drive), we met Drew, who had flown into Utah that morning) to pay homage to BYU. We stopped in for some Jamba Juice, some shopping at the BYU Bookstore, and a little hanging out on the grass above the library. It's never too early to start indoctrinating a pure love of everything Cougar into your little ones. Mission accomplished. Makenna: Mom, do I get to go to BYU? I really really really want to. Me: Why yes, my love, but you can't be slacking off in 1st grade this year. Prepare now to enjoy tomorrow, my future Cougar.

Hard to see, but we're reflecting the Y behind us on Y Mountain.

Seriously, though. Can you just picture her 12 years from now??? Picking up boys when she should be studying?

Next day was the wedding. Which was exhausting. Because look at these 3. This was 4 minutes into the drive home to Uncle Daniel and Aunt Chalyse's house.

Cousin time at Grandma Karen's house in Herriman. We wish so badly these little cousins lived closer. We love that there's so many, so close in age. They don't know how lucky they are!

Kendall wasn't feeling the love as much as little Ty (Joanali & Brad's).

Sidewalk chalk with Aunt Melinda and the girls.

 

Next up was a fun-filled day with bestie Jenn and her cute family. We wanted to check out Thanksgiving Point, although it was about a million degrees. Pony ride = best day ever, obviously.

 

Daniel & Chalyse were gracious enough to host my crazy brood for the better part of a week and we are forever indebted to them. S'mores around their beautiful fire pit was our favorite part. 

 

 Well, everyone but Makenna who mostly enjoyed loving on this little statue. To each her own.

Did I forget to mention that we also couldn't get enough of this little guy? Newest member of the Bird family and too cute for words.

The girls are IN LOVE with their Uncle Daniel...and his yard, but mostly Uncle Daniel. Evenings were spent hanging out here and soaking up the beautiful Utah air.

 

I hated to leave Utah, but we were excited to drive down to Southern California to see friends and meet up with more family for fun time in San Diego. Little did we know it would be the worst 12 hours imaginable, ordered up by the Devil himself. You name it, it happened. Luckily, though, I snapped some pictures before all hell broke loose. Makenna reading Ivy & Bean and Kendall being pacified by Frozen.

LA could not have come soon enough and these sweet friends were a sight for sore eyes. We were stinky and tired with road rash but they fed us, entertained us, and lent us their washing machine to clean clothes that were almost left on the side of the road. We love the Ripas!

We finally arrived in San Diego, check into our hotel for the next 3 nights and promptly took Kendall to an Urgent Care facility for incessant vomiting, poor thing. These 2 cuddly sisters cozied up together  on our first night in the hotel.

Little did I realize when I went to bed that night I would wake up barely coherent, sicker than a dog. Ugh. I missed the beach day, which I was desperately looking forward to, but alas, it wasn't meant to be.

Kendall and I sucked it up enough to get on a sailboat for the day and get a decent family picture. It wouldn't be a Bird family trip to San Diego without sailing on the bay.

Makenna learning from the best. This girl took the wheel and promptly did a doughnut with the 42-foot boat. She thought it was hilarious, while we all reached for the Dramamine.

Addison was less adventurous with her sailing moves...slow and steady wins the race.

A trip to San Diego wouldn't be complete (besides the sailing) without Mexican food for dinner in Old Town.

And a little night sailing on the bay. Gorgeous to say the least. They even found out I missed out on 4th of July fireworks and set up a show at Padres Stadium for us. How thoughtful.

Last day in San Diego was spent up at Point Loma Lighthouse (where it was a little windy, just a little) and then Balboa Park.

Addison climbing the lighthouse in the super-cramped stairwell with 16 people behind her in about 100 degrees. She took her time, though, and look how happy she is to get to the top... she melts me.

Mom and Daniel behind the lighthouse.

After lunch, we drove to Balboa Park. I haven't been for over 20 years and I forgot what an awesome place it is. So many cool things to see and do! Also, I was anxious to stay as long as possible because Drew's flight left at 10 that night back to DC and I knew that once we left here we had to say good-bye and leave him for another week and a half to drive back to AZ.

Fresh-sqeezed homemade lemonade at the park...it was incredibly thirst-quenching we each could've drunk 2.

Grandpa with baby Kieran at Balboa.

We finally left to drive the 5 1/2 hours home to Arizona. The girls swapped turns riding in Grandpa's car and loved the one-on-one time with him. Apparently sweet, quiet Addison was the ultimate chatter-box and serenader the entire time she rode with him. 

Day 1 of 12 glorious days of non-stop swimming in the pool. Makenna morphed into a fish the whole time we were there, swimming under water with no plugging of the nose for the first summer. We enjoyed popsicles in the pool and tea parties and general sunbathing. It was glorious.

Kendall was still sick while we were there with a horrible head cold, but she was a good sport when we ventured out. This is at the spray park near their house.

Kendall was mostly interested in the geese and the ducks.

The girls introducing Gigi to the wonderful world of Frozen. Every day folks, for 3 weeks. Most days included a complimentary 2nd viewing for our pleasure.

Sisters pool time!

Mommy-daughter selfie with the nice camera on the edge of the pool. We're rebels.

And after 3 long and mostly wonderful weeks spent with our dearest family and friends, we were all a little anxious to come home to Virginia and wash all the road rash we had acquired off of us. Since then, we've been sleeping in, relaxing, pool hopping, lunch dating, shopping, and just enjoying each other's company until school starts.