When Conor has a business trip (especially a long one), I run home to my mom. Absolutely no shame about it. So when I found out that Conor had business trips for back to back weeks in September, I immediately booked the boys & I some flights to Spokane for an 11 day stay. Conor's business travel ended up being canceled, but I had my heart set on a Spokane visit, so we kept our flights. Conor was able to join us for the weekend, so really it turned into quite the little vacation!
I often humble brag about the awesomeness of my parents, and this post will be no exception. I could never give enough thanks for their helping hands. The food (the drink!), the diapers that are changed, the laundry washed & folded, the baby bouncing, the toddler tear wiping. They do it all! I already miss the latte and bagel delivery fresh every morning. I find myself wishing that I was far more helpful to them, but I know that I will be able to return the favor in the years to come.
So the trip highlights... Mini kegs full of hard cider (ginger with a splash of habanero). Last boat ride of the season. Cocktail hours in the treehouse. Corn hole. Maple bars. Candy land. Football. Garden harvesting. Cooking making. Visits to Pops at work in the "big big building". Late night chats. Morning snuggles.



My favorite moments are always watching my boys with their grandparents. I love being able to see Liam experience some of the exact same memories from my own childhood. My parents still live in the house I grew up in, so those moments are even sweeter. A simple fall evening in the backyard turned into a wild night of pine needle raking & jumping. I vividly remember our yard being covered in pine needles. We would endlessly rake them up, only to jump right on top. Then I would beg my parents to bag them up in those bright orange pumpkin bags with the faces (do you remember those?!) and proudly display them in the front yard! We have no pine trees near our house in Utah, so Liam was in complete awe of all the fun that raking can be! It's these simple moments that make our trips to Washington so special!


While my entire trip was pretty spectacular, I was also home for the birth of new sweet nephew Thatcher!!! We had assumed he would be born right before my visit, but instead he waited for Auntie Laura before making his arrival. I love having babies so close in age with my brother. I know that Liam & Finn will be close with their cousins; I cannot wait to watch them grow. Thatcher was perfect and tiny and has just the softest most beautiful hair. Having all this family time together was amazing, and as usual pulls my heart closer & closer to Washington. I could make that move back there any day. But for now, we continue the adventure in Utah.


My last afternoon was spent taking Liam to the ginormous Radio Flyer wagon, a downtown Spokane staple. Taking him all over my beloved hometown is one of my favorite things. I still have so much to show him and let him explore. He kept insisting that he did not want to leave "Nana & Pops big house", but I assured him that we would not stay away too long. The holidays are near & we will definitely be back soon!
A huge thanks to my wonderful parents. I have always loved them, but that love is only deeper now that I see them in their role as grandparents. I am lucky; my boys are lucky.