OK, so Utah.

I don't want to post about it, because that means its over.  This was my last trip, my last chance to get away and be a singular human being for a while.  I was looking forward to it for so long, I am sad that it is over but it sure was fun and just what I needed.  My Mom was in Utah for the week to close on a condo that she and my Dad bought in anticipation of returning from their 3 year assignment in Sweden, this fall.  They are doing oodles of renovations that she was also lining up.  It is going to be fabulous.  I am already planning our return trip to see them next year and stay in their new pad.  The fact that I was also going to get to see three of my four sisters was a total and complete bonus.

As per my favorite way to document a trip, I give you

The Trip to Utah All By Myself Play by Play.

 I enjoyed riding the metro by myself to the airport because it meant I got to sit and look out the windows and I didn't have to remind anyone to sit down, hold on tight to the pole or stop putting their hands near their face.  Metro germs make me queasy.  I'm just like that.

 Delicious new nephew Spencer.  Even though he looks uber concerned in this picture I can assure you, he is darling darling darling and I could eat him.

 Little sister Abby and I have been pregnant 3 times together.  The belly to belly shot is a must.  If you don't believe me and my compulsive need to take one, go see on her blog, she has all of them.

 I stayed at Carrie's house, she is on the right.  I got to oogle all weekend over her new baby Oliver.  Can I seriously NOT have any pictures of me holding him?  I got really good, quality baby boy bonding time.  It's what I needed to be sure that I will love a little boy just as much as I have loved my baby girls :)  I will.  Oh yes, I am sure I will.

 My objective for the entire weekend was to do nothing but get myself dressed and follow my Mom and sisters around.  It was the best.  On this day Mo was going to the design center for a few more tweaks and we followed along as her mostly useless entourage.  Because I had no children along that I had to reprimand for doing inappropriate things, I did inappropriate things like ask my sisters to sit on the floor room toilets for a picture, which they did because they didn't have any kids with them either to be corrupted by their poor examples.

 Then I took a picture of "Big Abby" (which she came to be known as while living near her in Houston with my own Abby...a nickname that seems slightly more rude to call her when she is pregnant but we do anyway because making fun of her size is fun, since she is normally a size 2.)  She is alternating between a McDonald's ice cream cone and apple pie.  It's just like Thanksgiving.  And it made me chuckle right before I slurped down my shake from Chick Fil A.

 Then we went to lunch and Mo cut up Carrie's food.  That also made me laugh.  Just like the good old days except that we didn't get in trouble for bickering and didn't get grounded for anything the entire weekend.

Mo showed us around her new digs which is full of fun amenities.  We were a little worried about them moving back and into a condo.  Where would our children remember visiting their grandparents if they didn't have a house, with a yard and a swing?  Turns out, the grandkids might just like visiting Mo and Papa more than their own houses.

 When visiting Mo and Papa for the summer they can do wood working in the workshop,

 take a dip in the pool (with a view of the capital building right out that big window on the far side there,)

 dance in front of the amazing mirrors in their family room (just kidding, those are soooo out of there during the reno,)

 (side note: I love my mother and her notebook full of ideas, all organized by tabs and page protectors...my kind of lady...)

 meditate on their very own veranda,

 play pool and ping pong,

 sit in the sauna (the "hot box" sounds like a perfect "time out" spot if you ask me,)

 exercise,

 do ballet,

 or read in the building library.  I told you, they won't want to come home.  In fact, we may not be able to get Mo and Papa to ever leave their building.

 One of the many things I love about my sister Carrie is her spontaneous nature which allows her to pair fancy necklaces with pajamas...and cute babies on the bed.

 Riding around all weekend in the backseat of Carrie and Todd's car, watching Mo make OK smile.

 We ate a picnic lunch while cheering for nephew Matthew in his soccer game.  The all star made the first goal.  He was pretty awesome.  And I just love the views everywhere we went.  Those mountains make every outing a picturesque one.

 Sarah was sorely missed (and the sisters in law!)  I am glad I got to see her just a couple of weeks before.  It gives me hope that someday my daughters will be grown and be able to hang out together for 10 minutes without bickering about something.

 I was entertained by watching darling niece fill OK's binky with spring flowers. (I made sure we were well around the corner before I flung them all out the window.  I am un-fun like that.)

 And dear Mo, thinking she could come back to where there are plentiful Targets, and make it all the way back to Sweden with one suitcase.  How cute.

 We visited with Grandma G one afternoon and it was a delight.  She misses my Grandpa a lot, which is hard to hear, but it was a pleasure to see her and be near her.  (Please let me be that healthy at 86.  Her recent blood tests were that of a 30 year old...but not the "me" kind of 30 year old...one way healthier.)

 I loved watching my sister Amy and her family fawn over their new baby.  They are in love and they shower him with attention and affection.

 This is pretty much what I did every time I was at Carrie's house.

And I liked it.  A lot.

 Mo playing in Grandma's chair.  I want that chair.

 We stopped by BYU and hit up the bookstore for some souvenirs for the fam.  It's always a little weird to be back on that campus.  A lifetime away it was.

I sat and listened to conference and heard more of it than I ever had before (sans kids.)  I was edified, uplifted and inspired.  Also, I didn't get up, all of my food was delivered straight to my lap.  Food that I didn't make myself.

On the flight home I tried to store all of it up somewhere that I could access the rest and relaxation whenever I need it.

I love my family more than anything but time away is sometimes just what I need to remember that.  This has been a challenging few months for me.  Months of feeling overwhelmed and so beyond tired that I have questioned time and time again how I am going to manage it all.

But I know I will.

And I will love it, even the challenging bits here and there.