Monday started our official week of vacation.We value sleeping in and so did not get up early and off early. I let the boys sleep in and got the van packed and we headed out after 11 am. We were excited to hear that Kevin and Karoline had baby Elaine late Sunday night. We had hoped to stop in at the hospital to see the baby, but she was in the NICU on oxygen and antibiotics for pneumonia. So no visitors quite yet. We met Arden and Lorraine for lunch at Zupas at Thanksgiving Point and then went to the Museum of Natural Curiosity. There are some neat optical illusions and an intense climbing area. Think a McDonald's Play Place times a thousand. Elliott got very sweaty and flushed running and climbing and exploring. We kept seeing him in one spot and then seconds later, in another spot across the room. I took him on the rope bridges course and after the second one, he wanted off. The only way was forward through 2 longer bridges. Arden took a great video of me dragging Elliott along the last bridge to get out. But Elliott was brave and conquered his fear.
Trevor was content to ride along in his stroller, but in the water area he got to splash and play in the water.
He stayed dry for 10 minutes or so and then he became more adventuresome and splashy and I was glad to have brought extra clothes.
After a few hours, Arden and Lorraine left for home and we continued exploring. Kidopolis was a section of miniature buildings featuring different activities. Elliott used hand puppets to entertain us. (A cow screaming and flopping around was pretty entertaining.)
Elliott climbed inside this brick castle right before they destroyed it.
We want to go back and explore The Gardens at Thanksgiving Point, but there was a small Discovery Garden as part of the Museum of Natural Curiosity. We wandered around through a hedge maze that was pretty cool. Elliott befriended a chipmunk.
Elliott climbed up in this rope dome.
We relaxed and enjoyed nature in some chairs set out for this very purpose.
There was a playground that let kids be active and brave. Elliott wanted to try this zip-line swing thing. I honestly didn't think he would do it or could do it, but he stayed on and wanted to go again, except the line was really long and it started raining right after his turn.
After we left the museum, we went to Provo where we had a free night stay at the Holiday Inn Express thanks to Brian's travel points. We ate at Subway and played in the swimming pool. Trevor had been so calm and content all day and continued in the same way. He fell asleep in his pack and play and slept all night long. I was worried that he would wake up a lot, but he slept perfectly! The next morning Brian and I took turns going down for breakfast and Elliott and Trevor slept in past 9 am. Then we took our time getting ready and checked out by 11. Elliott got to race in the little arcade room next to the pool. That was a highlight for him and he wanted to make sure we didn't forget that he could play before we left the hotel.
Our happy baby content in his stroller.
We drove over past the Provo Temple and MTC and drove around BYU campus. Brian attended 1 year at BYU before his mission and I spent 3 weeks there for summer basketball and volleyball camps. So we had a few memories there. We started at the Museum of Art where Elliott quickly became bored and we toured the museum faster than Brian. Then we walked on campus to the Wilkinson Center.
In the basement, we saw the bowling alley where Brian took bowling classes. Then we ate lunch and had ice cream at the creamery. I had a flood of memories walking past the ballroom where we held dances at the ends of the camps. We also ran into Brian's cousin Kirsten who is attending BYU. Small world! We checked out the bookstore and then went upstairs to the true bookstore where we bought Elliott a folder and pencil for school He is now an avid BYU fan!
We then walked up to the Monte L Bean Museum where we wanted to see the display of Boyd K Packer's carvings and artwork. It is remarkable and cozy and beautiful! His funeral is on Friday and it was touching to see all the beautiful birds and flowers he carved and a replica of parts of his home and read about him. And the rest of the museum was so cool too! Elliott was drawn to this kids corner with a little tree slide and a scary cave that had animal noises inside.
Brian and Elliott guiding magnets through an anthill.
The duck room was amazing in that we recognized ducks from our part of the world, but then could marvel at the colors and variations of ducks and fowl from all over the world. All of the exhibits were really cool and I wish I had taken lots more pictures. But we enjoyed it so much that we will return there again. Elliott even enjoyed it, although he was tired at the end and wouldn't pose with Trevor in front of the elephant. All I could get was his foot, so that is representing Elliott in this picture.
It was a great day on campus and we saw lots of families roaming around and kids at e.f.y. We also drove past the new Provo Temple being built downtown in the old Tabernacle. We really enjoyed our day in Provo and at BYU. Go Cougars!
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