Who doesn't love McDonald's?

So after being cooped up for days being sick, I promised the kids we would go somewhere fun. But where to go where a bathroom is easily accessible in case it was still needed and kept us out of the still cold weather?

Yep. McDonald's.

Since my kids won't eat anything there but french fries or yogurt parfaits--we rarely go there except to play. Oh...and the Diet Coke is pretty consistently good, so that's a plus for me.

I've driven by this particular one in Bountiful a few times and noticed how large the play area was...especially after frequenting the ones in SoCal.

Sammy was ecstatic to see they had two basketball hoops.

Hannah still wasn't feeling too great, so she hung out with Helene and I for a bit.
The girls and I really like the yogurt parfaits.

Playing with chapstick is a favorite past time.

They also had two huge play structures and a video game area. Lots of fun for everyone--we'll definitely be back again.

More excuses as to why we are MIA on the blog...

So after a fun evening being crafty with Lexi...I was awoken at 2am to the sound of Helene vomiting.

And it all went downhill from there.

I will spare you the details. And while this is also a journal for me to remember...I don't think I could ever forget how terrible the next five days were.

Full of more vomiting, diarrhea, changing clothing, laundry, cleaning, whining, complaining, and yelling than I could have ever thought possible.

So the kids did a lot of this.

I love how he is the one smiling--and he was the absolute worst patient of them all.

Poor poor Helene.
This was a day she was actually feeling better and was over the vomiting and diarrhea. I got her dressed and left the room to get something, came back and she was just lying on the floor.

The older kids were complaining of body aches so I'm sure Helene had them too.
That face is so sad.

Remarkably, NONE of Valerie's kids caught it, nor any of the adults. Although Valerie and I did have a day or two of queasy stomachs, but mentally talked our way out of it by telling ourselves we weren't really sick. I did have one night where I had a slight fever and my entire body ached...but it was apparently nothing 10 hours of sleep couldn't cure.

Yep. It really is May.

So THIS is what we awoke to this morning.

Happy May 24th.
Gotta love crazy Utah weather.
Now if I had only brought a sweater and/or coat with me, I wouldn't be complaining.

Well...I would...but maybe not quite as much.

She's at it again...

Helene managed to find an empty Diet Coke can
in the recycling pile.

To say that she was excited would be an understatement.
(and I love the missing shoe...)

It's the one thing she will actually take her bink
out of her mouth for...

Can you imagine how thrilled she would have been if there had actually been some left?
You can't blame this one on my example though.
I refuse to drink Diet Coke from a can.
She just knows the good stuff when she sees it.

Do as the locals do...

So our first week in Utah, we met up with my friend Lexi and went to lunch at...where else...Cafe Rio. Isn't that pretty much a required visit while you're in Utah?

I enjoyed a salad...while my kids ate goldfish and Ritz Crackers.
Go figure.

Although it did make me proud to see Helene
munching away on this.

Yes, that's cilantro.
She's definitely my daughter.

I love that she is practically shoving the entire stem in her mouth.
Lexi and Camryn
Aren't those blue eyes just stunning??
I see this and think, couldn't just one of my children have gotten my blue eyes?
sigh. She is so adorable!
A few days later, I went to Lexi's house to make these adorable hairclips for the girls.
Yep.
I'm being crafty (don't choke on your beverage).
See what happens when you come to Utah?

Yes. We're still alive...

Just hanging out at Valerie's, doing a little of this...

with these folks...

enjoying all the open space to play...

and fresh eggs from these gals....

and probably some from them too...

watching the endlessly talented Valerie make a chicken coop...

or three...

and some of us getting completely worn out by it all.

Meanwhile, I've been enjoying a little of this...
Okay.
A lot of this.
Yes.
That's 64 oz. of pure joy.
Twice a day.
(Three max)