Granola Gondola

Snowbasin Resort is just down the road (well, around the lake and up the mountain) from our house and we've been meaning to take Cal up there for a little outing.  The stars aligned for us to finally get there on Saturday, September 28th.  Callie loved (understatement - she still talks about it over a month later) the gondola ride to the top of the mountain.  There we hiked a little loop trail just under the summit and spent some time relaxing in the Needles Lodge (with french fries, of course!).  Back on the gondola for another ride down, and our morning family date was a complete success.  (We even made it back home before Sam needed to eat again!  Bonus!)

Can you say Super Dad?

Ritzy $6 plate of fries totally worth every penny for a smile like that!

bonus video!

"in the gondola"

Leaf Peeping {Monte Cristo}

Feeling a bit of cabin fever and not wanting to miss the peak of the aspen leaves, but not feeling quite up to a hike of any sort being only 11 days post-c-section, we found ourselves driving to the deserted Monte Cristo campground.  We parked outside the closed gate, gathered up some chairs and our picnic lunch, and started strolling.  Being surrounded by that golden glow was definitely good for my soul.

 

bonus video!

crunch, crunch, crunch

(p.s. doesn't she kind of look like a little aspen tree with her

brown pants and yellow shirt?)

 

First attempt at a family group shot.

Take 2.

Best one of the day.

Dino Sam digs the outdoors.

Ah, Fall.  I sure like you a lot.

More Hospital, More Sam

Just your average photo dump of an adorable newborn named Sam.

It was fun to have visitors (and to feel up to having visitors) in the hospital this time.  We got to see Ky and Mugs on their way to Salt Lake for the Utah State - UofU football game, Grandma Elwood (not pictured) brought brand new big sister Callie to meet her baby brother, and Grandpa (not pictured) and Grandma Blanchard stopped in to hold the little fellow on Friday.

My babies!

Totally ready for his first game day (on his birth day)
thanks to his Aggie aunties.

On Saturday, Callie was ready to hold her Baby Sam for the first time.  Gregg took Cal back home to Eden to hang out for the day while my mom stayed in the hospital with me and Sam (and I still didn't get a pic of her with her first grandson!).  I was super glad to have her around when it came time to change rooms (again - that makes 4 different rooms I spent time in during my two day stay) so she could help load up all my stuff and haul it to our new digs.  Laurel and Bret popped in just as we got to our new room, and Grandma Blanchard stopped by for a quick visit on her way to take over Callie duty for the night.

Heart melting moment right there - all three of
my faves in one weird hospital chair.

 

On Sunday, we got the okay to head home a day early (hallelujah!) so we took it.  Sam slept the instant we put him in the car seat and didn't make a peep the whole way home.  What a champ.  We arrived home to find a happy Callie and Grandma B (with bonus dinner ready!).  Life is good.

Home sweet home with our family of four.