KIDNAPPED!

You see this guy?

He's pretty much the most handsome kidnapper, EVER! :-)

He knew I'd been itching for seasons. To see fall. To smell and feel the cool crisp air. To go to "our" pumpkin patch in Utah. When Mr. G was a baby and we were still students at the Y we went to this pumpkin patch in Santaquin twice. It was our first real family tradition. So one day I get home at 7am from a workout and he hands me two ziplock bags and says, "Here- Go put your toiletries in here for a few days." To say that I was 100% stunned would be an understatement. He just sat and watched me clamor around for stuff in bewilderment and giggled at me.  He had already packed not only my clothes, but the kids and had spoken to all the people I had responsibilities with/for for the week ahead of time, etc. What a champ!

Next thing I know we're on the road to who knows where- and he says, "You'll figure it out eventually" and leaves it at that. Next thing I know we're in Cedar City giving the kids a "car break" and playing at a park after stopping for lunch at The Pub (super good! Totally isn't what it sounds like, LOL)-

 

And then on to our "BIG" destination! Our pumpkin patch!!

Yeah...that's right. She knows what's up...

He probably went through this maze like a BILLION times. 

Hey...it was a hard job looking for the "perfect" pumpkin!

But he did eventually find one-

She was even very happy to find her own. 

So funny story about this video- Apparently Bug was SUPER sad that the tractor/hay ride that took us from the Big Red Barn to the actual pumpkin patch left. If you watch, she'll do this super epic "hard blink" like she's trying to force her tears to come in order to relay her sheer anguish over the tractor leaving. Funny girl. 

And our trip to Utah wouldn't be complete without a visit to our old stomping grounds at BYU!

He was IMMEDIATELY amazed by the size of the leaves- Yeah...he's been raised in the desert, LOL.

I was SO happy to be there and sharing all of this with my boy. 

I think it's safe to say he caught the BYU-Bug...

I think it's safe to say he enjoyed the Eyring Science Center (he was getting blown in the face by the air canon).

And of course we had to re-visit this "blast from the past" for sentimentality sake....

 

Mr. G really did love the BYU campus. He kept asking if we were there yet, even when we were standing in the middle of it. I wish we would have had more time to explore the library and show him the children's section, or take him into the Joseph Smith building, etc. But I'm sure we'll be back.

Another adventure Michael had up his sleeve was visiting Cornbelly's at Thanksgiving Point. Good times, good times. Unfortunately by that point the kids were pretty tired and it was late enough in the evening that they were getting close to bedtime so we weren't able to really explore "everything." That and the MONSTER crowds of people didn't help. But we still had a great time, nonetheless.

Mr. G really enjoyed the big "bounce pillows"-

And so did his dad- HA HA. 

But apparently not as much as he enjoyed the "cow-train" tractor ride thing...

 We also really enjoyed being able to see the Provo Tabernacle after the big fire. It was amazing what they've been able to keep and what was lost.

It was a GREAT family getaway that was even more great because I personally didn't have to stress about it because it was a big surprise. Thanks, LOVE!!