Utah~we love thee

 Once Kars was on the mend from her wisdom teeth extraction, she really needed to get back to work in Logan so we made a road trip out of it and spent a few days in Utah.

Lunch stop in Green River

We stayed with my parents. Now that we are all vaccinated (Emm needs one more dose), 

we felt safe to do so.

On our way to Utah, Kars mentioned that she hoped we could go to Cherry Hill. It really isn't the best water park, but I love that it has become nostalgic to the girls like it is for me. 

We invited my entire family, but only Jami (+boys) and Ashlee joined us.

This was the crew!

Bode came up after work.

Ashlee had to leave for an evening commitment.

Once the water park closed, we played mini golf, rock climbed, and did the maze. Kars ran the maze with Hazen a few more times than the rest of us;)

We convinced them to try the Battleship Blasters right before they closed. I think they loved it!

The food situation got pretty sad toward the end of the night. We were limited to crappy nachos ... and don't even get me started about the cream pies at the Pie Pantry;) So on our way back to my parents, we stopped at In-N-Out ... our saving grace. 

Kars and Hazen were buddies

Saturday morning Emm and I went on a hike up Little Cottonwood canyon with Shana and Lori. 

Shana's work is doing a hiking challenge this summer, so my sisters have been doing some hikes together. I am glad we got to be a part of at least one. 

We did the Observation Point trail, which was super short so we walked around Snowbird a little bit. 

Lori had to get home, but Emm and I went to breakfast with Shana. She had wanted to try Penny Ann's Cafe. It was really yummy and so busy!

sorry about the eyes Shana;)

Kars got a haircut from Jenn

She cut about 5 inches off ... super cute!

Sunday morning we met Ashlee in Sugarhouse at Monsieur Crepes. 

It was very good. I love spending time in Sugarhouse ... the city we started our married life in.

I don't even know what to say;)

Jami coordinated a dinner Sunday night for whoever could make it. We went to Spaghetti Factory, so naturally I was in heaven. The company was fantastic too!!

Monday morning we were up early to beat the heat. The girls washed the windows. It has kinda become their thing. Of course grandpa has to supervise;)

THE SWEETEST!!

We had to say goodbye to these wonderful people and get Kars back to Logan.

The House That Built Me

Our first item of business in Logan was solving the mystery of the missing Utah driver's license. Turns out they didn't know why she hadn't got it yet (3 months ago) so they just issued a new one. 

After getting settled in at the hotel, we were planning to go drop some things off at Karsy's apartment and get her a change of clothes for work. The car had other plans. We have been really lucky with cars, but the Pathfinder would not turn over. The temperature in the car read 105*. Not sure if that had anything to do with it, but it was weird. I panicked, called Mark, made calls to the Nissan shop (conveniently across the street) , and had Mark's uncle Eddie come try to jump it. After all of that, it eventually started. I wanted the Nissan dealership to look at it anyway before I attempted to drive home. They couldn't look at in until the following afternoon. So we did a lot of walking. It was totally fine. Everything we needed was convenient (just very hot) to get to. We walked to Grist Mill to get some dinner.

Spent the next day lounging by the pool.

A new battery, air filter and several hundred dollars later, she was good to go. I took the girls to Angie's for dinner... a local favorite. This was a bit of a treat for Mark and I when we were struggling students. 

After our extended stay in Logan, Emm and I hit the road for home. A stop at LaBeau's was on our agenda. Unfortunately we were there before they opened, so we had to settle for a raspberry shake from Hometown. 

In spite of the car stress, I had the most amazing time in Utah. Looking for another excuse to return.

Farm Girl

 Emm has been working at Black Diamond Farm for a few months now. This summer she has been able to put in a few more hours. She works a couple of days a week. 

It has been so good for her and I am so grateful that the Hoggan's have been so welcoming in teaching her the ropes. 

She does quite a bit with the chickens and shares all sorts of things about selling eggs that I didn't know. 

She loves the goats even though they can be a real pain too;)

They learn to drive early out on the farm. She was excited to show me her skills on the lawnmower.

Wisdom Teeth

 Another reason Kars was home for a couple of weeks, was so that she could get her wisdom teeth out after our Grand Canyon trip. Monday morning we headed to Cheyenne. She was feeling a little nervous

After the consult with the surgeon, Mark headed to the office to get some work done. I was pleasantly surprised that they had me stick around until she was put out. We went to the same office with Bailee and that option wasn't given. I was able to be with her while they hooked her up to the I.V. Once they started running the meds, she was told it would only be a matter of seconds before she was in dreamland. At that point, I headed to the waiting room.

Roughly an hour later, they came and got us (Mark was back).  They removed all four which were impacted.

A wheelchair ride to the car.

She was pretty lethargic initially, but within minutes of being in the car she was alive with lots of questions;)

She was very inquisitive about how she got from the chair she went to sleep in, to the bed where she woke up. Since I wasn't back there when they moved her I assumed a wheelchair? She also wanted to know why they didn't give her the teeth, why her tongue was bloody and "what happened?"

We took her to Chick Fil A to get a shake. Mostly because we wanted lunch too, but also because she had insulted the office for giving her a coupon for McDonald's milkshake in her care package and wondered why they couldn't do better;) 

I sat in the back with her on the ride home to help with the shake. She sang "My Country Tis of Thee", told us the chair was like "electric chair",  and was just overall very chatty and curious. It was a hoot!

looking at her tongue again

Once we got home and got her settled in, she mellowed a little. I thought with the pain meds she would zonk out. ... in typical Karsyn style she did not. This is our kid that never slept on long road trips. I am so glad it all went smoothly and we can check this off. Happy to be able to take care of her for a few days before taking her back to Logan.

A Storybook Showcase

Emmrey was thrilled that she got to perform with her dance group this year. With some modifications, they were able to offer an in person showcase. 

Waiting for the show to start.

She has been taking Contemporary dance this year and really loving it. I wish we had some quality still shots, but I had to clip these from the video Mark took.

Emm is in the center

second from right

They did a phenomenal job. My favorite number for sure!

So happy her sisters could be there for her big day!

We walked over to Big City Burrito for a bite afterward.

So proud of my dancer!