Back to the Mainland

Before this trip it had been 2 and a half years since I had stepped foot on the mainland.  Although I did set foot on Australia ... just in the airport.  This is Louis's first time leaving the Hawaiian Islands.  So it was a big treat for us all.  We mostly went to catch up with our family.  And it was so nice to see everyone!  We just wish Jake could have come with us, he had a big change at work coming up and couldn't get away.  But next time we'll bring him along for sure.

Flying by myself with 3 boys and being 6 months pregnant was probably my biggest fear.  But the boys were so good.  I didn't get much sleep, but they slept for the entire 7 hour flight to Houston.  So glad I went with the red eye flight so they would all sleep.  Then Louis even slept the next 2 hour flight to Indianapolis.  So glad it all worked out.  I was beat after the experience, but luckily Jake's family watched the boys while I got some sleep.

So our first week we spent in Indianapolis with Jake's parents at their new house.  Three of Jake's sisters also came and lots of cousins for the boys to play with.  We had a blast playing with everyone and even fishing in the pond behind Grandma and Grandpa's house.  The playgrounds around there were also amazing and they had a fun community pool.  We took one day and went to the children's museum too.

Grant fishing with Grandma ( I love this picture)

Their "clubhouse" at one of the playgrounds

My boys (and all their cousins) love Paw Patrol so we spent a lot of time at the paw patrol exhibit

Louis loved watching all the balls go through this exhibit in the children's museum

I wish I had gotten a picture with all the cousins together!

While in Indianapolis we took a long day and met up with my friend Caroline and her son at the Columbus Zoo.  The zoo was a great idea (thanks Caroline), and it was so good to see her again.  I'm so glad she was willing and able to meet up with us.  My boys had a blast too.

After a week of playing hard with Grandma, Grandpa, and Monson cousins we flew to Colorado where we met up with my family.  We spent a few days on my Brother's ranch in Canon City and then headed up to Grand Mesa to spend  a week in the mountains.  My boys saw snow for the first time (at least Louis, Grant was only 18 months when we left the mainland right before winter so he definitively couldn't remember snow either).  We hiked, fished, canoed, sledded, explored, threw rocks in the lakes, and built snowmen.  My boys loved all the story telling (Sam was good at it), boating, and snow fun.

Garden of the Gods with Grandma and Grandpa Haake

Riding the train through Royal Gorge, near Ben and Beth's house

"Driving" Ben and Beth's tractor

Royal Gorge Overlook

Royal Gorge Behind us

On our drive up to Grand Mesa we stopped at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument

Enjoying the views of Black Canyon

This was along the Warner Point Trail

A beaver in one of the lakes by our cabin (there were a lot of them)

One of several fish

Family photo

The originals

The sibs

And this one was too cute not to include

Playing in the snow

Grant's first snowman

Going for a canoe ride

"driving" Ben and Beth's ATV

Another day we went to Colorado National Monument

A lookout at Colorado National Monument

Hiking the Coke Ovens Trail

Those are the coke oven formations behind them.  It was a really cool hike.

Throwing rocks in one of the many lakes near our cabin,

Driving Aunt Beth's truck

Our awesome snow man

Storytelling

After our mountain adventure my parents, the boys and I headed up to Utah to visit all of my grandparents.  We spent a couple days in Manti with my Oma and Opa.  They met Louis for the first time.  And my mom and I were able to see the last ever performance of the Manti pageant (which just happened to coincide with our trip).  My aunt Yo and uncle David joined us as well.

Then we visited my Grandma Haake in Draper.  I hadn't been able to visit her since Grant was a baby and we went on a road trip with my dad to visit her.  So she got to meet Louis as well.  She didn't remember who I was, but she was her kind, friendly self that I remember.  I love my Grandma so much and I was so glad we were able to see her as she passed away a few weeks later.

We did make a stop at Thanksgiving Point to the bug museum.  I think Grant loved it the most!

That blue butterfly blends right in, can you find it?

Pooped on our flight home.

Luckily, because Jake is such an amazing husband he made it possible for me to attend her funeral.  I flew back to Utah for a weekend to attend.  It is a tribute to her that there were so many in attendance at her funeral despite her long battle with dementia.  She was a great lady, a real inspiration, mentor, and caretaker for me during my life.  I love her so much and am glad she is finally reunited with my grandpa.  I will miss her, but I will never forget her.

Family is so important to us and we were so glad to recharge our family connections.  I want our boys to know their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins as much as possible.  I am so glad we had the opportunity to all get together this summer.  A big thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Monson for letting us stay, Ben and Beth for hosting and planning the Haake Family reunion, and my parents, grandparents, and Aunt Julie and Uncle Craig for making our trip up to Utah possible.  Also, a thank you to my Aunt Meghan and Uncle Matt for letting me stay at their house during the funeral.  So glad we're all family.