Jon & Maeva: Utah/ Vegas family vacation

Day 1: Drive to Amarillo

Here we go on our super long +1200 mile drive up to Utah!

Quick snack stop and a fill up at Bucees!

We stopped at the Big Texan, the home of the 72oz steak for dinner and enjoy a good fun atmosphere.

These guys will attempt to eat their 72oz steak and their entire meal within an hour to get the meal for free. I don't know how many people have actually managed to finish it.

We stayed in Amarillo for the night.

Funny story, GPS location of the hotel that the message Expedia sent me led us to a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What a coincidence! lol!

Day 2: Cadillac Ranch, Great Sand Dunes, and drive to Cortez

Texas shaped waffles for breakfast!

Why not!

Before we started up our drive to our next destination we stopped at Walmart to get some spray paint so we could paint the cars at Cadillac Ranch located right off the freeway.

Such a fun place!

Cadillac Ranch!

Back on the road...

Logan drove a few hours! So glad we have 2 extra drivers!

We made a little detour and decided to stop at Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado do visit something new.

What a fun place! We rented a sled and sandboard and enjoyed some time on the dunes.

Warning! The sand is extremely hot in July. It was almost too hot even with flip flops.

Dinner at Boogies!

Beautiful drive through Rio Grande National Forest on our way to the hotel!

We stayed in Cortez over night.

We had a full day and were ready for some much needed sleep!

Day 3: Mesa Verde, drive to Draper Utah!

Mesa Verde is one of my favorite national parks. It is such a neat place. We woke up early to do some visits. It had even a while since we had gone. Don't expect to get a tour right away, we got there right as it opened and still had to wait 3 hours for a tour.
The tour we booked this time was for the Balcony House because the Cliff Palace was already sold out. While we waited for our tour we drove there the Mesa Top Loop. This is a free attraction. We got to see many different types of dwellings. It was very interesting.

The Balcony House
The guide said that this tour was the "Indiana Jones" tour because we had to climb up high ladders and crawl through a tunnel.

As we got at the bottom of the first set of ladders Keilani refused to get on. So Jon took her back to the car while the kids and I finished the tour.

It is named Balcony House because there are balconies on these dwellings.

Through the tunnel!

Back on the road, our final stretch!

Julien drove us to Moab!

Jon reached out to one of our favorite Elders!
It was good to see Caleb Holyoak!

Cafe Rio!!!!

Day 4: Church, and Kiki's birthday celebration

The kiddos were sure happy to see their Mami and Papi!

Mami had birthday gifts for all!

I have always enjoyed going to my parents ward. They have always had great youth leaders that make church fun and exciting and bring the gospel to life.

Today the young men leaders took the young men to SLC and had the boys give out sack lunches to the homeless. What an experience for them to live the teaching of Christ as a quorum.

Uncle T showing Keilani all the Panda's he saw while in China.

We were so happy to meet little Saoirse!
What a little darling! She got plenty of love from us for sure!

My mom had a cake for Kia Ora's since it was her actual birthday.

It is no secret that my family loves to play Tarot.
We played nearly every night we were there.

Day 5: Park, BYU, Splash Pad, Swig, and game night

Julien, Logan and I took the little to the park!

We always like going onto BYU campus and stop by the bookstore to see what new cool BYU gear they have.

As we headed by to our car we saw Angie Hernandez from our hometown in Lake Jackson, who recently graduated from Julien and Logan's high school.
She is an awesome girl! It was great running into her.

We then met up with T and Raph at the splash pad in Draper.
The kids had a blast!

Quick stop at Swig for some fancy drinks and cookies!

Game night!
Tonight Nain Jaune following by Tarot

Day 6: Temple, Wheeler Farm, Leatherby's, Raph's house, photoshoots

Jon and I went to the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple this morning!
What a wonderful way to start the day.

While we were at the temple Kiki and Eden had fun coloring with Mami

After lunch we went to Wheeler Farm.
It was very awesome place. I wish we had timed our visit better because on the website it advertised cow milking and thought the kids would enjoy doing that, but they only did that twice a day.

Leatherby's!
After a hot day at the farm we decided to stop for ice cream!

Raphael invited us to his house so the kids could play.
And so they did and had the best time!

I decided to take Julien and Eden out to do their birthday photoshoot!
They are so cute!!!!!
Eden was so brave. He got a splinter at the very beginning of our session but pushed through so we could get all the pictures done.

Day 7: This is the Place Heritage Park, paintball with T

One of the things I looked forward to the most about being in Utah was being able to run the beautiful trails. Due to my calf injury I only managed to go out 2 times. But I loved every moment of it!

Jon's sister Starr and her family as well as my brother and his children joined us at This is the Place Heritage Park. This is a Place is a very cool pioneer village where we are able to see and experience a pioneer lifestyle.

My brother is awesome!
He is such a good dad and was so brave to come with 3 small children for just a few hours to spend time with us.

Ice Cream time!

Pony rides!

The kids always love coming to the barber shop to get a good clean shave! lol!

I don't think Kiki expected a hair cut!

The day we went to This is the Place also happened to be the final day of a youth conference pioneer trek so they were firing canons.

We visited the Pioneer Children's Memorial where one of Jon's ancestors was recognized.
It was very touching.

After our visit we stopped for dinner at our favorite place!
Cafe Rio!

That night, Julien, Logan, T and I went paintballing.
It was so much fun!

can't believe I actually bled though the mask after getting hit!

Day 8: Temple square, visit to Papi's office, Airbourn

Jon took the boys to do baptism while Kiki, Eden, Keilani and I walked around temple square.

They met a little squirrel they enjoyed feeding granola!

We then met up with Papi at family search who show us around his office and gave us a tour of the discovery center.

Later, Julien and Logan met up with their good friend Wyatt from our stake back home who recently moved to Utah.

Day 9: Top Golf, birthday bash at Raphael's house

Started out my morning by a beautiful run to the Draper temple.

The boys got together with Alex and Sadie at Top Golf to celebrate Alex's birthday!

We all gathered at Raphael and Scarel's house for some birthday celebrations!

Day 10: Drive to Boulder, Nevada to visit Grandma and Grandpa

Hard to say goodbye but on we went to Nevada to visit Jon's parents.
Lunch time at In n Out!

Jon's mom always has cool toys the kids can play with.

Jon had fun going through some of his childhood boxes.

Jon's parents live on golf course, and the boys always enjoy hitting a few balls.

Grandpa teaching a few chords to the boys.
And they loved every minute of it!

Day 11: Church, BBQ at Branon's

Grandma also had some birthday presents for all.

After church we headed to Jon's brother's house for a bbq

Poor Eden was so scared of Branon's dog Jasper that he spent the entire time onto of Branon's dining table, for the few occasions were the dog was outside and Eden would climb down and smile the biggest smile being so proud of leaving his safe haven and say: Look mom! Look where I am! I just love this sweet sweet boy!

Good thing grandma had brought some legos.

Branon got some cake to celebrate Julien's birthday!
That was very thoughtful of him.

Logan insisted in trying to catch a chicken...
and he did!
After that, we all wanted to catch chickens! lol!

We had a nice time and are grateful for Branon hosting all of us!

Day 12: Costco Date, fun at Grandma and Grandpa's

Jon and I were able to go out on a mini date to Costco today while the kids hung out at Jon's parents house.