Girls' Week

Zak is our neighborhood's scoutmaster, so when he (and some other wonderful, helpful men in our community) took the boys up north to scout camp this summer, Mom and I took Miss V down south to visit my Trena sister in sunny St. George.

After Mom's car got some last minute repairs, we drove to Salt Lake to visit a friend, and progressed on our trip, listening to tales of Narnia along the way. Little Miss V had been sick a couple weeks earlier, and still had a problem throwing up when she got upset, so on the ride down around hour four she started crying, and spit up. Fortunately, we were prepared with towels, water, changes of clothes, and wet wipes, and that was the only time we needed them. Trena already had a bed set up for us, for which we were very grateful. We kind of took over the house with all of our stuff, so I hope we didn't overwhelm them.

We watched movies, shopped for food, jewelry, and wooden craft projects, and helped organize their storage shed. (Mom doesn't get called a superwoman for nothing). One morning we went to the neighborhood pool. Miss V fell asleep as I held her, so we laid her in the shade and enjoyed the sun and water (We paid for not reapplying the sunscreen, though).

Thursday became Miss V's day. We drove into town for the interactive Children's Museum, the St. George Carousel, and the perfect little-kid splash pad and stream. Inside the museum, she loved pretending to drive the vehicles, including the airplane. The projector facing the ground with a giant interactive piano and balloon-popping game, as well as the bell-ringing rope were also hits in her book.

Friday we spent in our comfies, sanding, painting, and mod-podging. Trena worked on letters for a Bee Happy sign, Mom prepared a liberty bell, and I did a spring flower and camper trailer.

Before we left on Saturday, Dallas watched Miss V so Mom, Trena, and I could go to the St. George Temple together. With a toddler, I don't go as much as I used to, so it was nice to be there with two very special women in my life. The drive home started with V giggling for about ten minutes while playing peek-a-boo and twirling an umbrella. She slept for part of the journey, and besides the sacrificial death and miraculous return of Aslan, our return trip was thankfully uneventful. Mom brought us home to an awaiting Zak.

Unfortunately for Mom, the rest of her night involved being stranded in a parking lot for an hour or two when her car refused to start, until my brother got out of a movie with my dad's car. Everything's sorted now, and we're glad to be back home with Daddy.

Four States in One Go

My parents invited us to travel with them to Saint George for a few days. Zak stayed home to work, so V and I packed up our stuff. Dad belongs to a couple of astronomy clubs, and planned to drive down for a star party. The forecast was cloudy all weekend, but we still went, as another purpose was to spend time with family and Trena's boyfriend, Dallas.  I got a little nervous about driving the first and last legs of the journey, just V and me, because I usually sleep when Zak drives that long. Another worry was about V being in the car that whole time. Fortunately, everyone was very understanding, and let me take extra time at several locations to feed her.





For $40 the first night and $60 the second, I was quite impressed with our deluxe hotel suite with two queen beds, full kitchen, waffle breakfast, and indoor swimming pool. We visited the Mountain Meadow Massacre memorials, although I decided to stay in the car with V for the last one. We followed Grandpa's (Dad's) club members to Mesquite for dinner one night, where I noticed some of Zak's cousins, and got to meet their parents for the first time and introduce them to V. I found out later that on the way to Mesquite, we drove through the corner of Arizona, so in one trip, V visited Idaho, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. That's a little harder to do in the west, unless you're standing at Four Corners.

Dallas's grandparents had us over for a visit. They are so welcoming and enjoyable.

Mom and I picked up some swim gear, and V went "swimming" for the first time. I'd call it more of an adorable float, but either way, I loved watching her.

On the return trip we stopped for food about an hour south of my parents house. We drove for a short while until the vehicle died. My parents are covered for that kind of thing, but with so many of us in the vehicle, the tow truck driver couldn't carry us all. Our friend, Elise, offered to turn around on her return trip from a family visit and drive V, Trena, and me while our parents rode with the tow truck driver. At that point I knew I couldn't travel from my parents' house to our house without falling asleep, as it was already midnight or so. V and I made it safely home Sunday morning before church, and I thanked Zak several minutes for always driving long distances, so we could spend time with family. He's an excellent driver. Thanks again, Zak. Nice to meet you, Dallas. Thank you, Mom, Dad, and Trena, for the invite.

Right after a minor head bonk 

Suiting up for a swim

First Swim 1 from Nicole Porter on Vimeo.

First Swim 2 from Nicole Porter on Vimeo.