DI is a big one! I've already posted a pic of us in DI, but a trip to Utah is not complete without going to DI, several times! I almost always find something good!
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Sam's Club! We always go to Sam's club, almost every week, either with Lisa, or my mom, or both. Sometimes the kids come, sometimes we leave them behind. Either way, I can't seem to leave without spending at least $100.
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Aaliyah likes CupBop, so we take her too. The girls are inseparable anyway!
Being silly
They love these ice creams!
Eric Blaylock recommend CupBop to us a few years back, and so I took the kids. The kids ended up loving it--especially the fish-shaped ice creams. They like the noodle cups too, and so do I. They are really expensive for what they are though. I of course share with my mom. We enjoy going to Cupbop, and the kids beg to go every time we are in the area. They don't have any CupBops in the Phoenix area unfortunately. Oh well, it makes it all the more fun to go when we are in Utah!
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July 2
Since I go for weeks without seeing Erik, we have to Facetime, usually in the evenings. I took this silly screenshot of us Facetiming--the reflection of the fan lights on my phone were making my eyes look demonic!
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Herriman Reservoir- it's not officially a tradition, but I might make it one now, especially since I bought those boogie boards. We've been at this reservoir once before. We took the little boys and my dad. The girls and Gabe refused to come. We had a good time. I went in the water for a little bit. It kept threating to rain, but it never quite followed through.
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July 2
I took my parents and Michael out to lunch at a nearby Mexican restaurant, La Hacienda. It was good enough. I share with my mom whenever I go out, it saves money and I don't overeat. I guess our tradition is going out to eat--almost everyday but its pretty much the only meal I eat aside from a few bites in the morning and a couple snacks in the evening.
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July 2
Shopping at TJMaxx/Marshalls/Ross. At least once a week! I find so much good stuff there. I don't usually go by myself; I need someone else's opinion haha. I've even gone with the boys. Even though they end up begging to leave, they still find some stuff they like there. I found Ian this nice backpack for school, which he approved. I also found him so nice Nike shoes, a wallet, and some earbuds. All for cheaper than retail. I love shopping the clearance aisles too, deals upon deals! And there's food there too! All of my snacks are from TJMaxx or Marshalls. My mom almost always comes.
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July 2
The only reason we aren't harassing Erik to get a cat (more than we already do, anyway) is because we get to pet Grandma's kitties. And Lisa's. And now Tootsies! There is a total of 8 kitties that we can pet and love up. This one is George. He is adorable and so, so soft. He's not overly friendly, but occasionally he'll come up on a lap for a visit. He likes being petted and will tolerate being held. He is a BIG boy. Not necessarily overweight, he's just jumbo-sized cat, almost like a mini tiger! He's so pretty, too!
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July 3
A new(ish) tradition is taking Gabe to the Train shoppe in Gardner Village in West Jordan. We have been going every year for the past 3 years. He picks out new train for himself. Sometimes I'll buy it, but sometimes he will.
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July 3rd
A retired tradition was me making the girls matching dresses every year. This picture popped up on my FB feed as a memory from 7 years ago from the date I screenshotted this. How cute are they?!! The girls have both outgrown their matching handmade dress phase, but occasionally Lisa and I will buy them matching outfits. This year we found matching Strawberry Shortcake PJ shorts for them to wear.
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July 3
Leatherbys! This is an old tradition that goes back at least a decade! Actually, longer for me, because I have been going here since I was a kid when we would visit Utah, with my grandparents. We have the usual people come: my parents, Michael, the Blaylocks. In the past we have even had Grandma and Grandpa and my cousin Rachel and her family (before they moved to another state) join us. And once every decade, Erik will join us! The food is a bit pricey, but we share. But the ice cream is what we come for! It must be shared, I've learned over the many times we've been to Leatherby's to order less than we think because the servings are huge! My favorite sundae is the Traci’s Peanut Butter Cup, with Allen's Black and Tan as a runner-up. For a meal, I always get the Halibut Fish n Chips which I share with my mom. I don't leave without a bill of at least $100!
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July 3
I suppose the tradition here is leaving Ian to live with the Blaylock boys. Sometimes he'll need a break from them though, and he will sleep over at my parents' house. Here is Ian playing in the Blaylock's backyard. It is full of fun stuff for the kids to do!
A few traditions that we haven't kept up on, for various reasons:
- Elisa going to the mall with Isabelle or just hanging out with her in general. Elisa wasn't interested in doing anything with Isabelle this year after the FSY debacle, but I hope next year all will be forgiven, and the tradition will continue.
- The Nickle arcade. We had been going there nearly every year, but ever since they switch from actual nickels to reloadable cards, it just wasn't nearly as fun. They kids didn't even mention it this year.
- Airborne. The kids have gone every year (they always beg to go!) except this year. It is just so expensive to take them all. Maybe next year, we shall see.
- Cowabunga Bay. It is really expensive to take all the kids, and last time we were there it was so super crowded that I had to sit on the ground.
- The Museum of Natural Curiosity at Thanksgiving Point. We have been there several times, and the kids loved it. However, they have simply outgrown it.
- Hiking in the mountains. The mountains are so pretty in the summer and it's so good for the kids to get outside for some physical activity.
- Going to Tootsie's house. Thankfully she is talking to us again, so we did get to see her for a little bit this year, but for the last two years--nada. I'm hoping we will get to see more of her from now on, and that her strange retreat from family is over.
Fun traditions, shopping, restaurants, swimming, playing outside. I should find out sometime what ingredients are in Leatherby's ice cream because I think it tastes foamy. I prefer tart frozen yogurt and Breyer's natural ice cream.
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