Staycation

Awhile ago we had decided that we were going to take this weekend and go to Park City for a couple of nights for a little vacation. We kept looking into it but couldn't make definite plans. The night that we were about to book a room, I came up with another idea. How about we save the money on the hotel, and just spend the weekend like it was a vacation, but sleep at home. So that's what we decided to do.

I took Friday off of work. We got up early and took the kids to daycare. Paul and I headed up to Park City to do the Mid Mountain trail again. However, this time, we did the whole thing. We rode 26 miles from Deer Valley to Canyons ski resort. It took us 3 hours and 50 minutes of ride time and 4 hours 45 minutes total time(there was a tire change in there). It was a tough ride. We had previously done the first 8 miles of it and really enjoyed it. The other end was a lot different. There was a lot of steeps and a lot of rocks. It was much more technical and tiring.

When we got to Canyons, we caught a city bus back to our car. We drove back home and took quick showers. We went and got the kids from daycare at 430 and went out to dinner at Ruth's Diner.It was really nice weather to eat outside

After the diner, we took the kids to the zoo. The zoo was PACKED and we realized it was actually closed for a private party. However, the guy at the gate didn't totally kick us out so we just went in anyways. We had promised Colin the zoo and he had his mind set on it. We couldn't take it back now. We just didn't stay too long and tried to stay in the areas it wasn't as crowded.

Audrey in the playground at the zoo

By the time we finished at the zoo it was bedtime so we headed home for the night.

On Saturday morning we got up and took the kids to Seven Peaks water park. We have a season pass to the place(included in a pass we bought for other things) and this is the first time we went. One of the reasons we were going to stay at a hotel was to take the kids to the pool to play. We figured this would be even better. The place is kind of run down but it does have great slides and tons of things that are appropriate for our kids' ages. They had a couple kiddie pools, a splash pad and lazy river. Paul took Colin on a tube down one of the "real" water slides, the slowest one, but Colin wasn't too impressed and didn't want to do it again.

We were there for a few hours and then took the kids home for nap time. Audrey fell asleep in the car though.

Saturday night we were all exhausted. Paul and I were pretty worn out from our ride and the kids were tired from the park. We just had a quick dinner at home and played on the deck.

Sunday morning we got up and I went for a run. We then packed up the kids and took them to Silver Lake for a little hike. We love it up there. It is so pretty and such a relaxing walk around the lake. Colin walked the whole way and Audrey did most of it. They loved the wildlife they saw(birds, ducks, fish, squirrels) and loved exploring and climbing on rocks.

So cute....holding hands and walking together

I LOVE this picture of Audrey

Climbing and jumping off of everything. Audrey has to do all that Colin does

"Take my picture Mommy!"

Trying to get another cute one of Audrey but didn't quite get the smile this time

Audrey LOVED the ducks. I don't know if you can tell from this video but I was about to have a heart attack with her on that boardwalk. I was so very much wishing that I had one of those kid leashes. I thought she was going to just dive right in.



She "quacked" at the ducks for a long time



After the lake we headed down to Silver Fork Lodge for lunch, which ended up being breakfast because at noon on Sunday they aren't serving lunch yet. We ate outside again and it was really nice.

It was a busy weekend and it really did feel like a vacation. I told Paul I "don't want to go back to the real world tomorrow". I want to stay on our staycation.