Trip to Utah -May 9-24, 2011

Had a wonderful time babysitting Sam and Gabe while Trina and Ben flew to Hawaii to celebrate their 10th yr anniversary! This was the first time I had the opportunity to spend time with the boys alone so we could really get to know each other, which was delightful. Actually, Elaine was with us after her work each evening and morning before work. During the day it was Sam and me and after school, it was Gave, Sam and me, HURRAY!!  We had a blast!

Sam and I had fun atching videos or his favorite TV series while we at breakfast, (Kung Fu Panda and Johnny something were requested most)  Then we would work on learning the alphabet for a few minutes. He sure enjoyed showing me some gymnastic moves he was practicing!

Sam loves to  jump off the arm of the couch either onto the cushions or the bean bag. He is pretty good at balancing and judging  how far he will jump and how  he will land. All that gymnastics is paying off!!

Gabe is great at his tumbling! By the time I took the video he was getting tired. He can do this perfectly at the beginning of class!!!

Sam loves his gymnastic classes! I felt so bad when I got the days mixed up and missed the second class, sigh...

Whether they are doing gymnastics at the gym and in the family room, Sam quite good at balancing and jumping and Gabe is great at tumbling and round-offs!

Playing at the park or in the back yard, Sam has learned to pump the swing all by himself! Go Sammy!!

The both enjoy playing legos with friends from the neighborhood.

On Saturday, Aunt Elaine took us all to a 3D movie "Gnomeo and Juliet" and a game of bowling! Gabe got the highest score! Go Gabe!!

 Sam had a ball and did pretty good for a little guy!

Elaine got a strike, HURRAY! So sad, my knees will not allow me to bowl anymore, but it was fun watching them have so much fun!!

Thanks Elaine for all of your help! It made it so much easier for the boys and me, because they know you and you know their routine.

We attended Church on Sunday afternoon and had a generally calm, quiet Sabbath.

Sam and I finally found the Bean Science Museum on BYU Campus. What an interesting place so full of stuffed endangered animals to educate us on the need to protect them. They must have seemed even bigger to Sammy than me, because they were pretty big to  me, especially the African elephant.... as big as a mastodon!!!

The boys were sure happy when Mom and Dad got home!!!

On the following Saturday, Elaine invited us to her ward picnic and afterward we visited at her house. The boys had fun with all the toys she keeps for children who visit!

While there, she helped me make a bowl on her pottery wheel. She is a good teacher because, I had never done this before and it came out pretty good!

While Trina finished her book, the boys, Elaine and I went outside to play with the swings.

They sure do enjoy swinging!

Grampa had come out the day before Trina and Ben arrived home and we stayed a few days after to visit with them. The only thing which made me sad was that I was not able to get together with Ann to see her  new baby. Each of us at one point or other had been ill and I didn't want to take anything to their family. Hopefully the next time we visit we will be able to get together.

Arrived home at a reasonable time and went straight to bed.