Crosby Family Stay-Cation

Our Crosby family vacations alternate between large scale get-aways, and smaller ones where we typically stay in SG and hang out. This year was a "small-scale" vacation, but we opted to have it in SLC because the Iowa Crosbys would be in this neck of the woods already, to pick up Izzy from her dance camp. It was a win for us, because that meant we didn't have to travel at all! It was so fantastic to see everyone!
We met at Wheeler farm on Wednesday, and then made an impromptu visit to Nickel-Mania. Now, that's all Miles can talk about. He asked everyday if we could go back there. :) We had to hustle back to Riverton for Miles's last soccer game, but then we went back up to SLC to take advantage of their hotel pool. Which is really the highlight of any vacation for a kid.


The next day we met up at the church history museum, walked around temple square, and then had lunch at "The Garden" in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Fancy eh? Afterward, Mom and Dad had reserved a conference room at the hotel. So we spent time playing games, doing crafts, watching a movie etc. until dinner and our family FHE/talent show. Miles and Gwen even got to go swimming and spend the night in G&G Crosby's hotel room that night!


The next morning we met up Big Cottonwood Canyon to hike Blood's Lake. Poor Richie wasn't feeling great, but I knew I wouldn't be much help on the hike, so he had to power through. I'm sure lots of cousins helped with our littles, thankfully. I set up a camping chair in the shade at the beginning of the hike and read until everyone started coming back. :)
After hiking, some of us met at the Olympic Park up in Park City. I had no idea how expensive it would be (shoulda guessed, right?). So we didn't do any of the big "rides". It was hot, lines were long etc. Instead we watched skiers practice their jumps into the water, and then took a free ski lift ride up the mountain a little ways. The kids seemed satisfied with that. :)
That night we met at liberty park to play in the canyons splash pad and picnic. After which we headed to my Uncle Lon and and Steph's house for activities. They have a slide and swing set like the ones that used to be at Hinckley Farm, so Mom wanted all the kids to be able to experience them. This is no regular slide either. It's massive and fast! The kids were in heaven playing in their backyard, Richie and I loved perusing their lovely garden, and everyone loved the homemade ice cream and chatting. Such a fun night.


On Saturday, before everyone went their separate ways, we took some professional family pictures. I don't know if I can get them on the blog at this point, but eventually I will. It's quite the occasion to have EVERYONE in the family there for pictures. It all started with Mom and Dad, and has ballooned to 10 siblings and spouses, and almost 22 grandchildren. Nieces and nephews are starting to enter that marriage phase, so the numbers are really going to be exploding exponentially here soon. I was so happy that we were able to make pictures happen. Maybe next time we do it, I won't be massively pregnant. This swelling...No fun, I tell ya.

Silly us thinking that because the vacation was in SLC, it would be a piece of cake for us. And while that made some aspects easier, we finished the trip exhausted just like any other family trip. Totally worth it though. Love this family of mine.