StePhens Pham: A Trip to Utah

We went through Utah on our way back to Kansas and we were able to go to my niece's wedding and my nephew's wedding that were planned the same weekend. I was so happy we were able to be there for them. It was also nice to be in Utah again. That state is really beautiful and also has some great restaurants. Let's not forget that.

I really wanted to see the Seven Magic Mountains, outside of Las Vegas, on our way to Utah. I almost gave up because it was a little tense in the car. (Too many road trips crammed together makes cranky kids and cranky Moms.) But we stopped and I'm glad we did. The colors against the blue sky were amazing.

The day after we got there, Ryan had to fly to a job interview, so I had the kids to myself to explore. Of course, we had to go down memory lane, so we drove by a bunch of places that we used to live.

We lived in this townhouse when Kate was 2. I remember this place the most, Ryan did an internship in Colorado for three months and it was just me and Kate. We would walk to the park, walk and see the farm animals close by and hang out with the ducks in this little stream that ran by our place. I remember it being stressful while I was in it, but now with a little hindsight, those were good days with just Kate and I.

After we drove past all of the places, we picked up some lunch and went to Bridal Veil falls. The kids loved it, they loved climbing on the rocks and playing in the water. I swear, the best times are when no money is spent and the kids just run around.

I knew I needed to recreate a picture on this bench from 2011. (See below.) When I posted the picture of just Kate and Sam, someone pointed out that there looks like there is more room on that bench. I remember reading that comment and laughing to myself because secretly, I was pregnant and we hadn't really told anyone. That pregnancy was the baby that I lost in the second trimester, so I think this moment in time has way more meaning to me than it would to someone just scrolling through these pictures. There were so many question marks after that baby and worries that maybe I wouldn't fill up that bench, so when I knew we were going there this trip, I had to take a picture to show all that has happened since that moment in time. And, I know this sounds crazy, but I like to think that small unplanned gap between Sam and Millie in the picture above, was unconsciously reserved. Anyway, I didn't really mean to get heavy, but there are places in Utah that will always bring back memories of that time and I'm grateful, because I usually just tuck that chapter away.

After the falls, we hurried and met up with some friends, the Lambson's, from Kansas City that had moved to Salt Lake recently. It was so nice to catch up and the kids loved playing together.

That night, we met up with the Hardle's. I'm so glad that we were able to catch them before they went to California. The kids had some much needed cousin time. I just wish that we could all live by each other. Hudson and Emma went home with Brandon.