Boca

The first weekend in August Jack and I accompanied Jason down to Boca Raton for a work conference.  It was just the three of us, a beautiful resort and a tropical location.

It was about a four hour drive and on the way down I caught up on all my design magazines that had come while I was gone. When we walked into the hotel I felt like I had stepped into one of the pages from my magazines. It was a Spanish style resort with modern decor. There was art pieces everywhere and beautiful landscaped gardens. There was even a croquet yard where those playing had to be in all white! Talk about fancy. The first night we got in around nine but we were so excited we spent some time exploring the grounds. We were too excited to sleep.

We were in the tower portion of the hotel on the 20th floor!

The view was incredible. 

We could see all the lights of the city and lights from the boats.

In the morning when we opened the blinds this is what we saw!

We were right on the inter coastal waterway and had so much fun watching the boats. We could also see the Atlantic Ocean in the distance.

The view below!

The resort had an awesome activity for the kids. It was called the mizners quest. 

We got a map and had to find different locations around the resort to collect different colored wrist bands. Jack and I would swim and then go on our hunt a little each day while Jason was in class. It was a great way to explore the resort. There were so many pretty places we found. I had just as much fun as Jack on these hunts.

Little bits and pieces

Last batch of Utah pictures. 

What a great thing to be able to go back and relive our great time in Utah. I look at these last couple of pictures and they make me smile as I can recall my feeling in each one. 

Jason and I went to the Salt Lake Temple for the first time with Ranell.I had never been in the Salt Lake Temple and I was in complete awe of the beauty contained therein. To be surrounded by such history, beauty and to feel such complete peace. That was heaven to me. It gave me the recharge that I needed and was an experience I will not forget.

Jack and Grace had swim lessons again this year. They were both nervous the first day. I was so glad they had each other.I am sure it was nice to have a friend and cousin by their side.While the kids had lessons Cami and I hung out with Cooper. He would feed the ducks and entertain us. After lunch we would go back for free swim. Cooper loved swimming in his little pool.

Jack and Grace were such good swimmers playing in the big pool.They went off the diving board over and over, something that was fun to watch.

  Diving board tricks from whitney Balls on Vimeo.

The last day of swim lessons we had a combined picnic celebrating the kids accomplishments and to say goodbye to the Allen's. It was something sitting there with all my sisters and all the babies. I came to tears several times. It is in those small moments that I am overcome with gratitude I am here to see it all. They mean so much to me.

We fulfilled our promise of shaved ice, a promise I was happy to keep.

 

Cooper turned three on the last weekend we were there. He had a cars themed party. I loved being there and watching Cami and TJ make cars out of cardboard and decorations for the party for that little boy. Coopers little face as he saw the cars come together and how excited he was about everything. It was all he would talk about. On the day of his birthday he was the cutest! I love that little boy so very much!

That night the kids got to stay up late and watch a movie outside in their cars! They got so excited when their cars came on. They had popcorn and drinks with glow stick wrapped around them so they were all lit up. Jack still talks about it!

On our last visit with Grandma and Papa, they took us to an arcade and out to a movie. It is always been so fun to watch Jack with them. He loves them so much and has such a special bond with them.

I am so grateful for all the experiences that we got to have while out in Utah. I am so thankful for a support team to help raise Jack. I am limited in many aspects but not with family and support. Jack got to experience and do so much on our trip, so much more than what his Summer would have been like if we were home with just me! 

Thank you family, it was truly wonderful!

Bear Lake

The Archer's let us tag along on their family vacation up to Bear Lake. 

We got to stay in TJ's company's condo and we were so close to the water!

First order of business, raspberry shakes!

We were afraid these kids were going to throw up their milkshakes. 

They were spinning around a lot!

I had forgotten how beautiful Bear Lake is.

 The mountains surrounding the water were so pretty.

There were two sets of bunk beds which were one of the highlights for Jack and Grace. They both got to sleep on the top bunk. 

It was cute to hear those two talking back and forth before they went to bed.

This was one of my favorite memories.

 Cooper sat on his little tube for at least 20 minutes. Just watching the waves not even talking to anybody. He looked so content and happy.

TJ built an awesome sand castle with a solid rock base!

Kisses on the beach!

Cami, being Cami! 

She did not like the arrangement of the furniture so while we were waiting for dinner to cook she re-arranged the furniture. She can't help it, it's in her blood.

Love note to Jason. We missed him.

I had fun watching everyone play kickball. 

I had to take a lot of rest breaks the sun wore me out and my energy was waning.

We spent Monday through Friday in Bear Lake. 

On our way home we stopped a few places in Logan. One of those places being the Book Table so I could load up on piano and violin music. We have mom and dad's piano and I was excited to be able to play and practice when I got home. The piano is such good therapy for my hands and mind!

We also made a stop in Brigham City so I could see the completed temple. TJ dropped Cami and I off so we could walk around the grounds.
What a beautiful place.

Our last stop was to get some good Brigham City produce. 

We got apricots and cherries, two things that really say Summer in Utah.

I love this little boy and I love feeding him! 

He finds such joy in his food and is not afraid to get messy. 

Cooper would always come up to me if I was eating something he wanted some too!

Cousins

One of the best things for Jack was to spend so much time with cousins!

On a daily basis at home Jack tells us he is lonely and needs friends. 

It's hard just being with mom and dad all the time.  Over the weeks we got to spend time with every single cousin from both sides. What could be better than that?

Kate, Griffin and Ava moved while we were there to Washington. 

It was hard to say good bye but it made me so happy to see their little family drive off toward their new little life, with their new baby and car!