JC Mickelson's & Nebo Loop

If you've ever been south of Provo, you've seen some interesting billboards for a Restaurant in Nephi called JC Mickelson's. One of them reads, 

"Nephi? 

It's worth it dear...eat some peanuts!

HUH!?! I found myself trying to figure out what this billboard was saying. Then I realized - oh someone might think it's a long drive so "eat some peanuts" to tide you over until you make it (because it's worth it). 

So we talked for the first while about someday going there to see what the restaurant was all about. One Saturday (we were actually north in Provo shopping), we just up and did it! On our way down we saw more billboards with words like "cabooses" and "boxcar" and started to hope they had a cool train. And - they did! The boys loved it!

We were worried that we had built up the restaurant so much in our minds and it wouldn't live up to our anticipation. But, we LOVED the food. And while the outside of the restaurant is nothing to get excited about, or the "updated" look, the trains were wonderful, the service was great, and we couldn't have had a more pleasant experience. 

 Even better, the day we just up and randomly decided to finally (driving from Provo), the Thompson's were there too! Ironic that some of our best friends ended up at the same restaurant, at the same time, in NEPHI, when we hadn't planned it. We've been sick off and on since we moved so we hadn't planned many official playdates. It was fun to randomly run into them :-)

Matt told us they took the scenic Nebo loop to get here. They actually set out to do that first and ended up in Nephi, deciding to check the restaurant out while they were in town. So, we decided to do the same thing, and took the scenic loop back home. It was a beautiful drive (and it dropped us out only about 2-3 minutes from our house)! We love living so close to such magnificent mountains.

Buraston Ponds

 Today we enjoyed Memorial Day by going to Buraston Ponds (which is technically south of here in Mona). We didn't have time to take the canoe, but it would've been the perfect spot! It was Ethan's first day in his swimsuit, though the water was so cold he didn't get in. Still, he had fun lounging on our blanket.

We went with the Thompson's. Austin hadn't been feeling very well so he didn't swim for more than a minute and didn't try the rope swing. It took some convincing from Matt but Elise and I finally roped in! It was freezing! I was done after saying I had experienced it!

 Austin got in some great bird watching pictures! Not sure what he found out about this little guy... (but in the picture he looks impaled, doesn't he?)

 Even Evan joined in the fun! The other boys were too cold to try it. Cadence complained the entire time about being there. He didn't like getting dirty. He didn't like the cold water. He just wanted to go home. Kory didn't say much of anything until, like usual, we were leaving. In the car on the way home he said "Mom, do that 'gain, 'nother day?" He always has such a placid look while taking things in, and when it's all over, he'll let you know what he really thought. I'm glad he had a good time!

We had a BBQ that night with the Roney's at our place. A yummy hummus platter, kabobs, and salad. Delicious and healthy! We spent the after dinner time enjoying the lawn and playing duck duck goose! It was a wonderful holiday break!

Blog Absence Explained

I've been seriously MIA from this blog since Baby E was born! It's not that I haven't wanted too. I think about reporting here often. Time just hasn't allowed. I've spent the time enjoying my family. When most of them left, my sister Cristina was still nearby and our children love playing together (not to mention how much we enjoy each other). Then there's been the typically dentist appointments and doctor visits because it's birthday season again at our house. We had a pretty bad round of sickness last month (stomach garbage) and as I write this now, we're all (minus the baby, thankfully) struggling through the sniffles and scratchy throats.
 Then there's stopping every three hours for a nursing session (though gratefully I'm getting lots of sleep as our 2 1/2 month old sleeps for 10ish hours every night). Then there's preschool and studying for homeschool which is keeping me busy with the other two. Let's not mention cleaning up after the two year old everyday...
 Not to mention my responsibilities are increasing as Austin starts his 3rd class on Monday. He has class Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Church stuff all Wednesday night, and we've moved Family night to Fridays. Saturday always seem to get filled up and Sunday is of course busy with more church meetings. We're still finding great time to be together though. He's been working more from home (which in a 750 sq ft house is sometimes stressful), he enjoys breakfast and scripture study with us most mornings, and with earlier church, we have him more on Sunday's than we did last year.
 Wow! Are we busy or what? Just with regular life. I have to say I'm a little overly concerned to write down the happenings of this family. Each of the boys have their own journal I write in, plus my own journal. Then we have a yearly book (I'm behind two years now) and this blog. Plus Christmas cards, etc. Anyway. I've been spending more time in the boy's journals than on anything else. I can't wait for Cadence to start writing so I have one less I need to write in (though I will still steal it occasionally to write special letters from his mom to him). The blog has posed additional problems with uploading pictures so it's taken me awhile to want to brave the problem.
 AND (you thought I was wrapping up, huh?) the biggest distraction of them all - a whirlwind doozy!!! OH... I can't tell you yet! I'm dying too! But in a few more weeks will be the unveiling. For now, enjoy some pictures of everyday life at the Smith home.

Ethan at 7 weeks old

 

 

 

Cade had to join the photoshoot!

First time sledding for Kory

 

Trains with baby brother

Sledding with our Sorensen cousins

 

Kory's Artwork, on the most inconvenient of days...

Happy Bday Cadence - a ride on the Heber Valley Railroad from Baron Grandparents

Train Robbers!

 

 

Had to check out the trains in the gift shop!

 

 

Money Balloon!!

Celebrating my 4th birthday with friends!

Bear Lake '12

  It's been a tradition in our family to go to Bear Lake every year and spend some time with old friends. This year, it ended up being just the Dopp's and us. We missed everyone else, but it was convenient that the boys had their own room at the cabin. 

  This year, because we planned it so far in advance and earlier in the year (usually we do it in July or August, when this year it was Memorial Day Weekend), we were able to go up for the entire weekend (Friday to Monday) instead of leaving Sunday morning. It was nice to be able to really relax. It rained most of the weekend but the guys were able to sneak in two games of golf. Cadence even joined them for holes 1-4 (the cabin is next to hole 4)! We also got in our regular trip to LaBeau's, a double date without kids to The Avengers, and lots of good food.

Regular trip to La Beau's for Saturday night dinner.

 

It was fun to watch the kids really start to interact with each other. Sydney kept following Kory around everywhere :) She seemed particularly attached to him, maybe because of his name. It's amazing how things have changed since we started this tradition in 2006! We look forward to next year and time to spend with friends.

Provo City Center Temple Groundbreaking

Provo is going to have two temples! We are so excited to have the new one, restored from the old Provo tabernacle, less than a mile from our home! We had the privilege of attending the groundbreaking ceremony. It was beautiful as everyone talked of the great blessing that came out of a horrible tragedy (the tabernacle being burned). The members were thanked for their making the current Provo temple the “busiest in the world” by the regular temple attendance! Provo’s Mayor, John Curtis You could still see the moon off the west Some passers-over just before the service started. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland sinking his shovel in. Chaffetz, Lee, Holland, etc. (public officials) Stake Presidents – ours is on the very right. Cadence fell forward and hit a chair just before it started. He got quite the bump next to his eye. We headed back to “first aid” to check it out. No bleeding in the eye, no broken bones, but he got a cool ice pack & a complimentary wash cloth! He also got to sit in an ambulance (which he didn’t think was cool at the time). A rendering of what the new temple will look like.

Our turn to dig – Cade was stoked! The shovels were made from recycled material from the old tabernacle. Kory & Daddy got a turn too, but the camera ran out of battery (guess we know how long the battery lasts now…)It was a great day for Provo! We had walked there with our stroller and just after, headed to the new Utah County Convention Center for it’s grand opening. It was a great time (and wore the kids out). We are now looking forward to the finishing of I-15 & the new Provo Recreation Center to open April 2013!! It’s an exciting time to live in Provo!