This week was different than we originally had planned, but it ended up being really great.  Monday I woke up and couldn’t help but gawk at my baby and think that she really isn’t a baby at all anymore.  She’s much more toddleresque these days.  I mean, she’s still a tiny thing…but she looks like she is going off to college or something.

Tuesday I went to a combined RS Activity that a friend of mine was speaking at.  If you haven’t read Jentrie’s blog, you need to.  She was in our ward briefly and I fell in like with her very quickly.  She’s really, really hard not to like, actually.  She was diagnosed with cancer last year and is a mother of three young children.  Her positive attitude is contagious and I am so grateful Zach watched Sloan so I could attend and hear what she had to say.  It uplifted my whole week.

Zach and I originally planned to go to Lake Powell with his family, but decided not to go last minute.  Lake Powell with a baby (even though she’s going off to college) is a different ball game.  So we ended up staying home this week.  We were sad to miss out on one of our [ok – it’s mine, it’s MY favorite family vacation, alright?] favorite Hendo trips.  We drowned our sorrows in take out from the Cheesecake Factory and had a carpet picnic.

Sloan and I spent a good amount of time outside this week in between naps and errands.  She can rock a crop top better than I ever will.Thursday the three of us hit up the new pool for our very first time.  We played in the shallow end for over an hour and had the place almost all to ourselves.  The depth is perfect for Sloan – she just doesn’t weigh enough to plant herself completely underwater.

She loves the water.  I hated taking her out – I could tell she was totally bummed it was time to go home.  We are going to make the new pool more of a regular thing from now on.

Friday we decided to join my family for part of the weekend in Bear Lake.  I am sure there were many visitors that were disappointed that the weather wasn’t sunny – but we enjoyed the cooler temps.  I went running with my brother and Cam before our big breakfast and I ended up finishing up my route on the beach.  It was really refreshing.  Later, we took a walk on the beach all together while my brother and Cam made a pretty spectacular sandcastle.  

It did get sunny for a short time later on so we all hopped on the boat for a quick ride.  We didn’t last long – I got a little dehydrated after sitting in the heat and nursing Sloan under a towel – so the three of us went back to the cabin to relax for a bit.  Sloan didn’t mind, though.  She loves wearing her wetsuit outside and inside.  

The rest of our time was spent visiting and enjoying the scenery.  Sometimes going against your plan is actually really relaxing.  

We made the drive back home – with a diaper change / stretch break – through Logan.  Distraction is always the best solution for a smooth road trip…We missed being in Powell with the Hendersons, but had an enjoyable week spent home with our little family.  We are excited to share a few traditions with Sloan for her first 24th of July.  The rodeo is in her blood, after all…