Smith Family Vacation 2012

Yay!  We finally convinced my parents to do a Smith Family vacation.  We've been on vacations since I got married, but none that were just the Smith family.  Very last minute my mom and dad decided to take the fam to St. George the weekend before my brother, Dave's, spring break.  We headed down on Friday, April 6th (my dad's birthday).  Greg worked long hours Wed and Thurs so that we could hopefully leave by 3.  We left at 3:30.  My family left around 5:30.  We beat them to St. George, but not by much as we had an extra hour in traffic in Utah County and an extra long pit stop in Beaver to let Collin get some wiggles out. 

Collin did EXTREMELY well in the car.  He read books and played with toys.  I read Mockingjay aloud to Greg, and Collin listened in as well.  My reading was what helped him fall asleep for a short nap.  Once at the condo my parents rented, Collin went crazy!  So much space to play in and so many willing playmates!  We had a late night.

Saturday, after an invigorating round of Just Dance, we split up.  The boys went to a nearby racquetball court and played for a couple of hours.  The girls (and Collin) went shopping.  We didn't get much done before Collin was ready for lunch and a nap.  But once we were back at the condo, Collin just couldn't nap!  We decided to go swimming.  There were 4 pools at the local resort, 3 cold and outdoors and one indoors and mildly warm.  Collin played on the blow-up toys and the boys did some dives into the freezing, diving pool.  Then we went back to the condo to get ready for dinner. 

On our way to dinner Collin fell asleep.  While we waited for a table, we let him nap.  Everyone enjoyed our dinner at Brick Oven and Grandma and Grandpa volunteered to watch Collin while the rest of us went to a late showing of The Hunger Games.  Greg, Cassie and I had already seen it, but Dave and Lewis hadn't.  They also haven't read the books.  For the most part everyone enjoyed it, but Dave and Lewis had a few questions after the movie.  We were all exhausted when we got back just after midnight. 

Sunday we got up and ready for church.  We attended a local ward which besides stake conference back home, was the most full I've ever seen a meeting!  It was at a stake center and all three gyms were open and nearly full!  After church we made a lunch of burgers and hot dogs on the grill at the condo.  Then we had a very small Easter egg hunt around the living area of the condo.  Collin caught on quickly and loved finding the eggs and especially loved seeing the prizes in them. 

Then we went swimming at our condo's pool.  The water was colder and there were quite a lot of kids there.  Collin got caught between two kids trying to "swim" across the shallow end and all he did was tense, close his eyes, and try to turn away from the splashing.  My mom was shocked and said if that had been any of us kids we would have cried for sure.  I guess our non-reaction parenting is working! (Thanks Jon and Kristine for the advice!)

Monday morning we got packed up as our plan was to leave after breakfast to head to San Diego for our Price family vacation.  Then the whole family went to a local diner for breakfast.  It was delicious!  Before heading out, we went to the downtown park.  Cassie (the only one in shorts) walked with Collin up and down the stream.  He had so much fun and was soaking wet.  After changing him, we headed off to San Diego!
Here's the pictures:

As you can see, the eggs weren't well hidden.  Collin still loved hunting for them!

Collin and Lewis singing while playing Rock Band.

Lewis, Dave, me, and Collin swimming Sunday.

Cassie and Collin walking in the stream.

Collin and Cassie at the end of the stream.

The frog prince and princess that spouted water at the head of the stream.