Arizona Part 4 - Stretching Our Legs

On our way home we took a more scenic route and within a couple hours in, we decided to stretch our legs. It was insanely beautiful out. Too beautiful in fact, that it lead to a little impromptu photoshoot. Even if I don't take nearly as many pictures as I used to (at least with the big girl camera) I am glad that when I actually do,  I often times get gems (NOT because of me, but because of the girls- they are just too cute). Have I mentioned that I love LOVE having daughters? Because I do. They make me so immensely happy.

Arizona Part 3 - St. George

 I love this picture the girls with their Daddy just one day after Father's Day. And Ellie's little wave?!

My how I adore those three happy faces.

So our halfway driving point was St. George, Utah. Being that we are chickens and didn't want to risk having a car trip from hades, we decided to stay in a hotel on our way down and then again on the way up. It was actually really nice to do that. The girls were awesome in the car, but driving 7 hours straight is rough, so the pool really helped them stretch their legs and get them excited about the trip instead of just dreading being in the car.

 While we were in St. George we decided to adventure a bit and I am glad we did because we found the cutest little carousel and man made creeks and splash areas for Maisie to play in. It was a fun little spot and would make a good weekend getaway and maybe eventually we will get around to exploring Zion National Park. But until then St. George is hot and beautiful and that's just what I need for a vacation. Oh and there's an In-N-Out so even better! :)

Salt Lake City Mini-Trip (Part 2) - Temple Square

We couldn't go to Salt Lake City and not walk around Temple Square right? We walked around our first night and then again the next morning. It was insanely beautiful. Probably the most beautiful architecture I have ever seen and not just that, but the landscaping was also stunning. 

Since it was so close to Easter Austin and I decided that we would take pictures of the girls in their Easter dresses and I am so glad we did because we got some pictures of the girls that I know I will cherish forever. It was a perfect way to end our trip.

It was 80+ degrees and couldn't have been more perfect. It made it hard to come back to good ole cold Rexburg, but we came back happy regardless.

Salt Lake City Mini-Trip (Part 1)

Austin had some old Netflix friends coming into Salt Lake that wanted to get together for dinner, so we decided to make a little trip out of it by staying in a hotel in Downtown Salt Lake and play tourists around the city. Maisie was thrilled to be staying in a hotel and swimming in the pool until midnight (bed time schedules are nixed on vacation right?) and it was just what we needed as a family, to get out of small town living, even just for two days and explore a new city.

Here are some pictures we took on our phones of our little getaway:

Daddy and his girls outside In-N-Out (of course that would be our first stop).

Did you know you can get animal house style fries... yeah don't knock it until you try it.

Sisters on a hotel bed.

Ellie getting ready to go swimming for the first time.

Both of these girls adore the water. Maisie had been begging to get goggles for the last couple months and we decided this would be a good time to indulge her. Also those puddle jumper things are awesome. Maisie is a little hesitant to "swim" AKA float without someone holding her even with a life vest, but with the puddle jumper she's a swimming champ. Swimming all over the pool by herself. She was so proud. Now she is actually excited for swim lessons this summer. Ellie loved being in the water. She would just smile and giggle while kicking her little legs and slapping the surface.

Watching the fountain show (made by the same people who created the Belagio's) in City Creek (an upscale shopping center- it felt like the Disneyland of shopping malls).

City Creek has an actual creek that runs through it full of trout.

15 minutes into the car ride home both girls passed out and slept almost the entire drive.