Give Me A (Spring) Break

I need a break.

Let's face it.  My life is a little teeny bit crazy and overwhelming. 
If I had my druthers, a break would look something like this:
One day to sleep as much as I wanted.
One day to read as much as I wanted.
One day to write as much as I wanted.
One day to pray as much as I wanted.
One day to work on projects. 
One day to read to my kids.
One day to watch movies and cuddle with my husband.
Plus no cooking and lots of chocolate.

Somehow Spring Break didn't play out quite this way, but it was magical in its own way and I wouldn't have traded it-- even for my druther week.

Dallin made all of the plans for our trip, and I was extremely grateful to not be the one in charge.
However, it made me have a hard time wanting to get ready.  I had just done 3 birthdays and was in the middle of Easter and he was at the scout pow-wow and I just wanted well, a break.
I got a blessing and managed to print off my camping checklists (so glad I made them last summer) and get the food purchased and packed.  I think I did some laundry and that was the extent of my ability for Saturday.  I used to spend at least a week getting ready for trips.  Now I can barely think about it a day or two before, and I have to FORCE myself to do it.  Sunday was Easter and fast Sunday and I wasn't about to work on packing up that day.
Dallin was hoping to leave at 9 or 10 in the morning so we could do some hikes in Arches on our way down. 
We all worked really hard on Monday and got out the door at 1pm.
We had to stop and pick up a pizza as we had planned to already be there by lunch, and we had to get gas.
We were headed out of town by 2pm.
Too late to hike by the time we got to Arches.
Set up camp while the sun sets.
Warm beef stew interrupted by multiple bathroom trips, sleeping arrangements, help with pajamas, get that fussy baby to sleep!
Wash dishes in the cold and dark.
Can't get warm--even with 2 layers of clothes, a blanket and a sleeping bag. 
Each time I am able to drift off, baby wakes and I have to get back out into the cold to nurse and comfort.
We are both kept up by babies and cold toddlers and bathroom breaks.
Big kids come to the rescue and mom and dad sleep for a couple of hours in the morning.

Beautiful Tuesday. Sunny, if a little chilly still.
Cereal and Sausage.
Warm showers and clothes changed for our visit to the Monticello Temple.
Dark clouds billow over the mountains as I finish washing breakfast dishes.
Hail begins to fall as I come out of the temple and Dallin goes in to baptize the boys.
Plans for bike ride are not looking promising.
Tent has inches of snow piled around it when we get back.
Weather looks better an hour away at Arches.
Delicate Arch hike is not intended for children under 5.
Or mothers with a powerful protective instinct that does not allow sheer cliffs and young children to be in the same field of vision.
Everyone had fun except the mother, but she put on a happy face once she was far away from the cliff.
Tent heater?  Anywhere?  Anywhere?
No.  And our daylight gone in searching stores for one.  Subway for dinner.
Pile blankets and jammies in car to warm them and carry sleepy bundles into cold sleeping bags.
We love our new tent that stayed dry.  The hinged door is genius.
A much warmer night though not much more sleep for mom.

Beautiful Wednesday.  Sunny, though cold and breezy.
Warm oatmeal.  Warm sausages. 
Bike rides around the campground.
Take down camp and try to make it to Fillmore.
Lunch time and camp still not broken.  Get all the food back out.
2:00 we are finally on our way.  Fillmore activities not looking too promising.
3:00 flat tire.
4:00 at Arches again for a potty stop.  Fillmore definitely not happening.  Try another hike?
Landscape Arch.  Definitely family friendly and so much fun!
Kids play in red sand as the sun begins to set.
A few snacks, oranges and a loaf of bread to share for dinner.
On our way home.  Fillmore will be postponed again.
Or will it?
We have everything we need.
But we don't want to set up camp again, and we have no idea where.
Can we sleep in the Van at a Wal Mart?
Can we?
It will be an adventure.
It was. 
None of us will ever forget it.

Except for Sullivan who finally settled at 4:30am.
Dallin woke and drove the final hour of the trip at 6.
The best hour of sleep I had the whole week.  All was quiet in the van and I finally had a place to lie where I could straighten my legs out.
We woke up to wide prairie with steam rising from the hot pools.
Beautiful, beautiful Thursday.  And warm!
Dug a toilet with the window scraper.
Passed out some more pieces of bread to tide everyone over.
Felt very exposed donning swim suits in the wide open.
Swam and played in the luxurious bathtub-warm water. 
The 9 of us together, enjoying ourselves for hours.
Sun warmed us as we changed clothes, brushed hair, ate cold cereal.
The Fillmore museum was a pleasant family-friendly surprise.
Kids picked souveneirs after exploring.
Warmed chili at the park on the little stove.  Delicious with fritos and lettuce.
Peaceful, warm, delicious, happy memories. 
The big tree had a belly-button.  We all laughed.
Quiet van full of tired kids on the way home.
I read to Dallin of a homeless man and a millionaire. Inspiring.
Home in time to unpack, do laundry, clean car. 
Brand makes eggs for dinner.
I was on an energy high that night after such a wonderful experience.
I am so so glad we did it.
It was truly unforgettable.

I still need a break!