Michaelson Memories

We took a road trip over Memorial Weekend to meet our dear friends the Coles out in Midway, UT. We had a BLAST and have missed hanging out with them.
The first night we got there Kristal made a delicious ice cream cake so we could celebrate all the kiddos birthdays. Cic just turned one, Alexa turns two next month, and Kai turns three in September. I love how we celebrate birthdays with them each time we get together. Great tradition!
I LOVE these pictures. You can totally see the different personalities in all the kids.

We opened presents after cake and it was a hit! New toys are always a necessity on a vacation and everyone loved what they got.
Cic got a talking tea set that she likes and Kai absolutely LOVES it. He has been bringing me "tea" everyday now.

Kai got an alphabet magnetic board and dry erase board. We have been working on how to pronounce each letter of the alphabet since he is still struggling with his speech, so this gift was perfect.

Thanks for spoiling our kids Kristal and Christian!

We gave Alexa a highchair/swing for her dolls.

A Day out With Thomas and Friends

Yup, Kai STILL loves trains. Obsessed actually. So when the Coles found out that Thomas was going to be in Heber, they suggested we take the kids. It was a great idea.

Just to explain Kai's face in most of the pictures below... Kai gets kinda "star stuck" when he is really excited. I know, you would think that I would have gotten a bunch of smiles and there would have been laughter at the Thomas event, but no... There was only this "star struck" face. Maybe he thought he was dreaming. "Is this really happening?"

Kai and Ben getting stamps and coloring pictures of Thomas.

Alexa and Christian checking out Sir Tompam Hatt.
It was really hot in Colorado before we left so I only packed warm clothes for the kids. (But did throw in some sweaters for them just in case we went out at night.) SOOOO glad I did. Utah was cold. Kristal even let us barrow some tights and socks for Cic to wear b/c I only packed shorts and sandals for her. Note to self...Utah is COLD!

Getting his Thomas tattoo.
Cici got a Percy tattoo. I wasn't sure if she would let the girl hold her hand and do it but Cic was so curious and loved her tattoo.
The kids even got balloon animals. Cic got an elephant and Kai got a monkey.
Kai's monkey only lasted 2 minutes before it started to come apart you couldn't tell what it was anymore. He was so confused by his transforming monkey.
Here he is holding his train ticket to ride Thomas.

Waiting for the train to get going...
The Coles and Alexa's balloon animal. (I think it popped soon after this picture. It was tragic.)
Our little family.
Finally a smile!

...still smiling...

...Until the conductor came by and then, we were "star struck" again.
They even had a mini golf course which Ben took full advantage of to show Kai a few tricks.

Heber really is beautiful! Look at those mountains. This is the train that we were able to ride. Kai was in heaven.

Ben took these pictures of Kai staring down Thomas. I love them!!!

We also made time to hit up Cascade Springs while we were there. Kai loved being able to run around on the trail and explore.
Yes, I still put Cic in a sling when we are out and about. I didn't want to pack a stroller in the car b/c Ben brought his golf clubs. A sling is so much easier to pack.
Funny story...

Most people would look at these springs and think how beautiful they are. Ben looks at these springs and gets thirsty. He dumped out his water bottle and filled it up with spring water. I couldn't believe it...I still can't. He drank out of that bottle and kept telling me how pure spring water is. I would rather have my chlorinated/treated water. So glad that Ben didn't get sick from drinking his "pure" water. Gotta love my "mountain man."

I love these shots of Cici that Ben captured.

I love this shot of Ben and Cic...
Kai exploring...

B-E-A-utiful!
Had to have a self portrait...

The Coles...

Oh how I miss them already.

This was the house we stayed in. It was AWESOME. The views were breathtaking. This shot was taken from the hotspring. It was up on a hill so we had amazing views from the front and back of the house.

These are the hotsprings that Ben and I have both been to when we were in college. Funny story...

We went to the hotsprings together, but not "together." We were friends, on dates with other people. It was so fun to talk about how stupid we (and when I say "we", I mean "I") were/was. When Ben and I used to come to the hotsprings, there was a bathtub and there were always weird people in the spring. Though we didn't see a bathtub this time, we did see TONS of people...weird people. I swear hotsprings are a magnet for nudists. Yup, middle of the day and a naked man walking around like he was the last man on earth. Thank you for that picture that I still can't get out of my head.