Memories... old and new in Sunny St. George

It’s been a great vacation week for the Nutt House.  We spent lots of time reliving memories from my own childhood as well as learning more about the stunning area that is Southern Utah.

In an attempt to learn and remember more about the heritage that makes up Southern Utah this past week we visited both Jacob Hamblin’s home in Santa Clara and Brigham Young’s winter home in St. George. It’s been ages since I’ve been to either house, in fact, I could not recall even visiting Brigham Young’s home; I do remember the Jacob Hamblin home though and how it was somewhat interactive for children.  My how times have changed, both tours were educational but lacked elements to pique the interest of young visitors which saddened me.  In the Jacob Hamblin home I remember being shown how the cotton was spun into thread and how the weaving of rugs and blankets took place.  Neither took place and at both locations the interest of my little Nutts feigned quickly.  My thought is that if the tours are not made fun for children how will children gain an interest in the history that surrounds them and have a respect and desire to learn more about history…  anyway, just my thought.  Still, I learned more and still enjoyed the tours, just wished they touched either Kara or Kaden at all.

In front of the Jacob Hamblin Home

Their fav part was rolling down the hill in front of the house

In front of the Brigham Young Home

Relaxing in the front gazebo

The week was not all history and learning, I mean when you are 3 and 4 what kind of vacation is that?  We ventured over to the House of Jump where an hours worth of jumping proved to provide the perfect balance of entertaining fun and energy draining exhaustion so that both little Nutts were tired upon leaving.  My favorite memory of the place was when while playing in the dodge-ball arena Kaden, who had been throwing balls at people thus unknowling playing dodge-ball was hit himself, be it ever so gently, with a ball and almost instantly his laugh turned to a cry.  Thankfully, a short comfort and explanation of dodge-ball later and he was back at bouncing and laughing to his hearts content.

They loved climbing to the top of the trampoline

Playing the infamous dodge-ball game

In addition to House of Jump we enjoyed time at Fiesta Fun where with Aunt Allison in tow we rode the bumper boats twice, played a fast round of miniature golf, rested up at the arcade games, and the kiddos rode the kiddie cars.  Such a full and fun day!  I think for all of us Nutts we enjoyed the bumper boats the best, though for the little Nutts the arcade games came in a close second.  Whereas for me, miniature golf was my second favorite between enjoying the game myself, watching Kara attempt to correctly hit the ball (something we need to work on) and Kaden running from hole to hole either skipping the hole all together, quickly hitting the ball just once, or moving the ball directly into the hole.  Despite the heat mini golf was adventurous and very entertaining! 

Ready for bumper boats

Bumper boats round 2

The color she wants for her future car!

It may look like he was fast, but, he's about to be lapped!

He loved it!!!

His face says it all

Arcade game fun

They only wanted Aunt Allison to help them

Don't mind the golfing form

Almost in!

Loved it!

In the combo packs we purchased for Fiesta Fun we had passes for bowling that we did not get to use so the next day in addition to Aunt Allison with Grandpa and Grandma joining us we went back for a round of bowling.  Yikes!  Without the bumpers and a couple weeks practice any bowling skills I had were long gone!  After a dismal first frame Grandpa who said he hadn’t been bowling in quite some time came back with a strike.  Still, his game with 2 strikes and 2 spares wasn’t enough to hold off Aunt Allison who also claimed to not have bowled in several months. 

The big winner!!!

STRIKE!!!

He may not get a high score, but he always has fun!

Kaden: 53, Kara: 82, Grandpa: 94, Aunt Allison: 126, Me: 100

Summer vacation wouldn’t be complete without cousin time and this week we made sure to enjoy plenty more cousin time with a trip to the downtown carousel and splash pad along with company while fishing later in the week. 

They love carousels!

Check out that smile!

Love this motley crew!

They had a blast!

Kaden didn't want to do too leave his side

Kara didn't want to leave hers!

Speaking of fishing, after Kara had a chance to turn the fish last week into fish sticks, thanks to the magic touch of grandpa, Kaden wasn’t going to let this fishing trip end without such an experience for himself.  Not only was he the big fisherman of the day, successfully catching more fish than his sister, but he also was the first to hold his fish.  After a few tense seconds while he adjusted to the feel of the fish, he bravely held it so he could keep it for fish stick making.  The next night for dinner he placed the four blue gill fish that we kept in a bag along with some flour, oatmeal, sugar, brown sugar, paprika, salt, pepper, and a variety of other spices and started shaking.  After his concoction was all shook up he handed the bag over to grandpa who was able to turn the mixture into nice, crispy, oblong fish sticks.

First fish of the day

Holding his first fish!

Great fisher girl!

Adding fish stick ingredients

Happily shaking the fish sticks up

All over the house

It’s been said that cousins are your first friends, I don’t know about first, but true and wonderful friends I agree with.  Kara and Kaden look up to both Caleb and Cecily so much and relish in anytime they get to spend with their cousins.  In fact, as I write this tonight, I’m enjoying the sounds of laughter as the cousins enjoy a childhood favorite in a game of hide and go seek outside in the dark.  Moments, experiencers and memories such as there are the treasures of childhood.

Very serious, very important nail painting time

Cousins on top of the city

Dancing across the path

Love

h

Cousin time playing croquet!  We love that game!

Friday we ventured up to Veyo to swim in the old swimming pool that was built in 1927.  I remember going to this same pool with my cousins each summer growing up when we all gathered at the ranch for our family reunion.  So, it seemed fitting that our little Nutts took their cousins with them to enjoy the pool as well.  Now, there are no fancy water features, no diving boards, not even a slide at the Veyo pool.  That said, there is something almost magical about the pool.  I think that comes from the surrounding canyon walls that provide a spectacular view, the stream just down from the pool where you can still catch crawdads, the old grill producing amazing corn dogs, and just the overall charm of the pool itself.  We left after having swam like fish, spent time walking in the steam, and sunburnt, but ready to go back again. 

They both loved getting piggy backs across the pool

So in love with this Little Man

Check out that view

Cousins make pool time better

View of the pool

Post swimming ice cream

Going to town on the 'cone

Bridge walk to the creek

Thank heavens for older cousins who can
help with the little Nutts
*and allow me to snap photos instead of helping

River walking while searching for crawdads

Water got a tad deep in a couple areas

Searching and searching but not our day for
crawdads... maybe next time!

Yesterday as we went for a drive I felt blessed to sneak a glance into “the ranch”.  The memories, smells, sights everything came flooding back in a powerful way.  I felt as if I was home in an almost indescribable way,  I got to visit my most favorite place on the earth, one that I never thought I’d get to visit again – after a couple years the property and buildings remain the same allowing for my mind to pour through past memories of: camping, escaping the city, time with cousins, time with family, time with friends, evenings by the fire, watching my grandpa then later my dad work the property, trips on the 3 wheeler, games in the barn, walks in the grass, star gazing, road watching, firework observing, playing the swing, chickens in the coop, cows in the fields, utilizing the outhouse, lounging in a chair or hammock…  all of it and more, so very much more…  I will forever treasure the ranch, the love and memories I have of and for the place and how I feel even now when I see or think of this special place.

 

Small changes (like the entrance) but so much
is still the same

Heaven on earth

Our week has wrapped up with a family dinner… but not just any dinner, oh no!  We had a family Fondue Fundue Party.  So very much fun!  I can’t wait to have many more at our own home! 

The spread

The cheese

The crew

The happy chocolate face

Check out the gigantic marshmallow!

We are about to wrap up the St. George leg of our summer vacation and while I for one are excited for what awaits us in Salt Lake then later Idaho I will miss St. George.  It is my hometown and will always be a part of me…

Two little Nutts on top of the old water tower overlooking St. George

Of course, getting to see our big Nutt in person again is something we all look forward to!

Love this man