This time last week I was getting my last few hours of sleep before waking up the family at 4:30 a.m. and setting off on #simmonsadventure2014 (our hashtag for the trip). Several years ago we decided to save the money we used to spend buying every person in our family Christmas gifts so we could take family trips. Apparently we didn't spend that much because we've only had 2 trips so far. When Little Sissy was 5 months old, we went on a cruise. After much anticipation, we FINALLY got to plan our latest trip to see my brother in Park City, UT. None of the kids remember ever being on a plane (Big Sissy was about 6 months old when we flew to Houston to see friends), so watching the children take it all in from the window seat was a fun experience.
After an hour delay getting started and a long trip with Big Sissy feverish and suffering from stomach pain, we finally arrived. We got our rental car and drove into Heber City, where none of us had cell phone service (a blessing in disguise because we spent some good quality face-to-face time with each other). Just before we arrived at our cabin, we passed a pond where this moose was drinking and frolicking as if to welcome us to our home for the week. It. was. amazing.
Sunday we had lunch with Bill's (he wants us to call him by this grown-up name now) special girl Leah. Then Mom took Big Sissy and I to urgent care and then the hospital because her symptoms were looking suspiciously like appendicitis. We spent most of the afternoon there while everyone else went to a festival in Park City. Thankfully, it turned out to be a stomach virus that she was totally over by the next day, and we were able to do a gorgeous hike in the Uintas. It was a bonus that the grocery story we were meeting Bill and Leah at had a Starbucks inside, so we got our day off to a good start.
If I could repeat any part of the trip, it would probably be the hiking. I love being in nature. I love the trees all around me. I love the smell of the mountain air. I love the sound of the waterfall. I did not love that I felt like I was having a panic attack because I wasn't adjusted to the altitude yet. That might explain the less than enthusiastic look on my face in an otherwise perfect picture.
Besides hiking and going down an alpine slide, the other thing I wanted to do on the trip was to take a train through the scenic Heber Valley. Since we didn't have Wi-Fi, by the time we were able to book the trip they were all full. We remedied that by taking our own scenic drive, which was even better because we could stop and take cousin photos along the way. My sister, who had gone a week earlier to spend time in Colorado before the Utah leg of the journey, mentioned at one point that she was getting homesick. I pondered that a little and realized that I really only get homesick for people, not really for my actual home. I don't know if that's because I feel like my home is so flawed or just because I value relationships so much. But I felt like most of the people that I get the most homesick for were with me on this trip. I wouldn't trade the memories and the time together for anything in the world.
Dad and Mom did so much to make this trip perfect--buying the plane tickets, contributing funds, watching kids, cooking meals, etc. I am so grateful for these two. Dad started having some health trouble as soon as we got back, and it made me even more thankful for our family and the time that we had together.
We didn't stay at the Waldorf--where Bill works--but we did get a tour. It was gorgeous, and its beauty was enhanced by the giant snowflakes that started falling unexpectedly that day. We were completely unprepared, but it was kind of a summer gift to us--especially the kids who got to have a snowball fight and pretend to be Anna and Elsa from Frozen.
On Thursday we spent the day at Park City Mountain Resort, where we could zip line, do an alpine coaster, alpine slide, miniature golf, climb a rock wall, etc. This was our view from the ski lift. Those clear paths are the ski slopes that stay busy all winter long.
Friday we checked out of our cute cabin and headed to Salt Lake City. Antelope Island just begged us to belt out "Home on the Range" in our 15-passenger van because the buffalo (actually bison) were roaming everywhere. And the antelope were playing. Really.
Saturday was a bittersweet day as we got to sleep in our own beds but wake up to just our little family of 5 again. While we were at the airport, though, we did capture another cake to celebrate St. Louis' 250th birthday. I think this makes #54 for STL250 cakes for us. At least we have a hobby to work on now that we're home.
Home on the range...where seldom is heard a discouraging word. I could definitely live there.
