It was the trip that we anticipated all summer ... coincidentally it landed almost exactly one year since we moved away. A year filled with a lot of growing and healing and changing, all for the good! I think if we had gone back any sooner we wouldn't have been ready so it came at the perfect time ... our first trip back to Pocatello!
Next to lack of sleep, one of the hardest parts about the trip was traveling with Lyla in the car. She has zero patience for her car seat, she has always been that way! I left as prepared as possible with all new snacks they hadn't ever seen or tried in a really long time, a bag full of Target dollar spot surprises for them to choose from, and of course, technology. It honestly all really helped and she did great watching Trolls, playing with a new squishy ball, and eating gummies. We made our first stop in Twin Falls to see one of my best friends, Dani and her family! The kids played while we chatted ... it was a short visit but so nice to break up the drive and to see them!
We stopped at Arctic Circle for lunch before hitting the road again and the kids were in heaven with this play place! Lyla is all about pictures right now and says the cutest "CHEEEEESE" whenever I ask her if I can take one. Liam is always great too about hugging her! <3 p="">
The second half of the car drive was not terrible but not as great as the first. As we crept closer to Lyla's nap time she started losing her cool and no movie in the world was going to bring her back form the tantrum she was having in the backseat. Liam had headphones in so he wasn't phased at all. Nic and I put our trusty and soothing "Army of Helaman" song on repeat and just as we reached the outskirts of Pocatello, Lyla drifted off to sleep. Of course! She really needed a nap in order to make it through the rest of our busy day so we drove around our old stomping grounds to see how much had changed in a year.
Liam has been talking about seeing our old house ever since we left it so we wondered how he'd do when he actually saw it again. As we pulled up he didn't even recognize it anymore. Kind of sad since that is where we brought him home from the hospital but I'm also thankful it is just the special memories we made together there that he remembers most. We couldn't believe how big the barberry bushes had gotten!!
Monday was our busiest day of the trip! We dropped our stuff off at my father-in-law's house and said hi before going to see our old neighbors, the Staley family. They hadn't changed a bit! Still just as sweet as ever and watching all the rest of the neighbor kids because their house is the most fun one to play at! I hope our house is that for our kids and their friends!
We met my mother-in-law for dinner at Mackenzie River and shared some pizza! It was great catching up with her and she spoiled her grand babies with a Paw Patrol coloring set, bubbles, and buckets and shovels to take to Bear Lake. It was so sweet of her!
We headed back to FIL's house where Liam was the favorite child and promptly crashed for the night as if he were in his own bed. ;) Lyla on the other hand thought 9 pm sounded like a better time. Nic kindly let me bail to meet a group of ladies I used to serve with in church in my old neighborhood for ice cream at Kiwi Loco. We talked and laughed like old times together and closed the place down at 10 PM. Love those ladies so much and the mentors, examples, and friends they have all been to me!
Then began the hardest part of the trip ... sleep (or lack thereof)! We didn't get to bed until after 11 (which is a rookie mistake already in my usual early-to-bed routine) but in walked Lyla girl at 3 AM ready to party! I wish I had a recording of her face but it will forever be documented in mind of her reaction when she realized she could get out of the bed for the first time. Pure shock, awe, amazement, excitement, all the feelings!! Nic and I took turns trying to get her back down but it wasn't until 5:30 she finally did and Liam woke at 6:15 for the day. It felt like we had a newborn again!
We debated what to do before the trip. Lyla has gotten pretty big for a pack n' play but not quite ready to sleep in a big bed yet since she still sleeps in her crib at home. We opted for this travel mat-type toddler bed on Amazon and hoped for the best. It caused a lot of sleepless nights and anxiety so I'm not sure it was our best idea or purchase ever but she did finally get the hang of it by the 4th night of the trip. Did I mention how much I missed her crib?! haha
The next day we left for Bear Lake! So many fun memories and cute pictures to share from that adventure soon!
We spent the rest of our time in Pocatello visiting all of our old favorite places. We went to the Wellness Complex one morning to run like we used to there, play on the playground, and watched for fish from the docks!
We went on a couple rides on Papa's golf cart!
It rained quite a bit on our second to last day so we took Liam shopping for some new Nike school clothes from T.J.Maxx. If you've been around here long enough, you know him and long sleeves/long pants. haha We couldn't get him to take them off the rest of the trip without a fight! I had to hide them up in his closet when we got home. haha
Cute Lyla at the golf course pond!
Nic had lunch one day with his old co-worker and we met up with our favorite Southworth family for an afternoon at Jump In at the mall!
It was Lyla's first time and she loved it! Last time she was there, I was carrying her in a baby carrier and she was working on her first 2 teeth.
Lyla taking such good care of her baby on our trip! ;)
We can't thank Papa and Grandma Dee enough for letting us stay at their house and feeding us so many time! The best hosts and we are so grateful. We had a great time seeing family and friends and miss them all so much!
