Thanksgiving Trip to Utah: Thanksgiving in Cottonwood Heights

Next we drove up north to stay at Oma and Grandpa Bills house for Thanksgiving.  Oma was in Europe with Aunt Keri's family for the week, but we were graciously hosted by Aunt Danya and Grandpa.  We had a very nice time.  

Lily and Alex helped Grandpa make Boomerangs and then test them out at the park.

 We drove up to the University of Utah one day and walked on Campus with the kids.  It brought back lots of fun memories for Mom and Dad of their days walking that campus.  We let each of the kids pick out something at the bookstore.  It was a nice moment for Mom who remembers not being able to afford anything but jellybeans and essentials at the bookstore when she was a poor student there.

 We have told our kids they can go to any University they want,.. as long as it is as cool as the University of Utah.

On Thanksgiving day we enjoyed a yummy dinner at Oma and Grandpa's house.  It was nice to spend time with Aunts, Uncles, and cousins.

 Uncle Kevin brought two of his drones that he has built.  We had fun watching him fly them after dinner.  When Uncle Kevin was a little boy he would always come up with neat gadgets that he would build.  Whenever mom would go in his room there was always random wires and tools laying around.  As he got older he started putting LED lights on his gadgets.  In true Uncle Kevin style his drones were pretty amazing with flashing lights, computers, cameras, and lots of other interesting stuff on them.

 Sarah, Mom, Aunt Andree, and Aunt Danya took lots of selfies and made a video for Aunt Keri (who they were missing) in Germany late into the night.  It got a little crazy. Aunt Danya taught us the "fish gape" and Aunt Andree taught us how to take good selfies. Sarah had no problem fitting in with the Bodell girls.  It was a lot of fun.

 On our last day we went to City Creek for a little shopping and walked over to Temple Square.  We took the conference center tour and then had lunch at the Garden Restaurant.  

That night we went to Uncle Kevin's and Aunt Jessi's house.  Kevin ordered pizzas and the kids played together.  It was fun to get to spend some time with them. 

 The next day we drove home.  We had such a fun trip.  We loved that we had lots of time to talk and visit with family and play with cousins.  

The salt flats were really beautiful reflecting the snow capped mountains beyond them.  

Thanksgiving Trip to Utah: Kolob Canyon

We drove on Monday up to Kolob Canyon with Uncle Alan and George.  It was so beautiful!

We first went to an overlook and enjoyed a great view of the canyon.

 Next we drove to the Double Arch trail head and hiked up the canyon to an amazing double arch.  It was a very nice hike not too steep with lots of fun river crossings that we had to find a way through.  There was just a little snow on the ground which our kids were very excited about!!

 Lily checking out the snow.  

 Taking a break under a big boulder.

 There were two old cabins we passed that were interesting to look inside.

 We finally made it to the Double Arch.

Thanksgiving Trip to Utah: Visiting the Enoch Sandersons

We took  a fun trip over Thanksgiving break to visit cousins and family in Utah.  We drove to Bakersfield first after work on Friday and then continued on to Enoch, Utah on Saturday.  It was nice to break up the drive into two shorter days, rather than one long day.  

We arrived to a house full of cousins and the kids immediately had lots of fun.  Alan and Marisa have a beautiful new home.  We had a nice visit including lots of yummy food,  decorating gingerbread cookies, going to Church in Enoch, seeing the construction on the Cedar City Temple, and a beautiful hike in Kolob Canyon.  

Sarah sitting in the sun after Church.

The views from Alan and Marissa's new house.

The new temple site.

Cute William and his twinkling eyes.

Maldon decorating Gingerbread.

Rosie 

Ruth

George

Daddy

Maldon's finished product.

Eli

Alex

Thanks for letting us come and visit!!