Adventures in Utah for Spring Break

We were up in Utah for a week of spring break. It was so strange that this is Lucy’s last spring break ever. So curious how things will line up a year from now and where life will take us.

For this year, though, our spring break days were filled with so much driving back and forth from where we were staying to Provo, gathering with family, skiing our whole hearts out, and most importantly, waiting for baby Ada to arrive.

Lucy and I arrived a little earlier than Dave and got to hang with Max, Abby, Murph and Ada-still-in-utero:) (Grace was still in Palo Alto with Elle and Claire).

We watched in awe as that baby shifted and situated herself over and over again in Abby’s belly.

I already talked about how Claire and Abby had a fun reunion at the airport when she and Grace arrived back from visiting Elle, and then a great reunion with her friends. AND, our Murphy-sleepovers while we awaited that baby.

Spring Break Skiing

But let’s talk about what was in between all that: the skiing!

Oh, the best of skiing! I skied five days in a row, and each of those days was a different kind of a treat on that mountain.

Some groomed, some heavy, heavy snow (we looked like snowmen when we reached the top of the lifts), and plowing through that heavy, soft snow, and also some super powder the last day.

Each day we had different configurations of us on the mountain, but Grace and Dave were my constant partners (it was Grace’s spring break too). Even my sister Saydi and Peter skied with us one day which I loved and want more of.

I’m pleased to announce that Claire’s still got it after taking off a couple years:)

We huffed and puffed with so much joy through those deep powder moguls and one day I did my first double black under a cliff, heart beating wildly engulfed in the glory of all that beauty.

I got the guts to follow everyone through the most gorgeous tree areas this time around as well.

Oh man, I have worked hard at being a ski-lover for a lot of years, and it sure is paying off.

Much to Dave’s delight.

Gatherings around Baby Ada’s Birth

Oh man, we had a lot of gatherings this week.

First off with the family, awaiting that baby’s arrival.

Then the four of us (Dave, Grace, Claire and I) gathering on the ski slope when Max and Abby FaceTimed to let us meet baby Ada for the first time (sacred ground with that HEAVY snow piling up around us).

Then gathering in that hospital room as fast as we could get there, dimly-lit and quiet that evening…holy, all of us vying reverently to hold brand-new Ada June, and hear her little newborn noises and examine her tiny, perfect body. Both parents glowing with so much happiness spilling out the details of that birth.

Another gathering on the ski slope the next day when Sarah (Abby’s mom) brought Murphy to the hospital to meet her sister for the first time. I hope I will always remember how it felt to stand in a little huddle on the edge of our ski run with tears behind our goggles witnessing that holy meeting.

There were so many other gatherings in Utah too!

Claire’s Utah “Hot Seat”

There was the gathering before Ada’s arrival with the Eyres all packed into my brother Eli’s house to put Claire in the “hot seat” to share her mission on the Eyre side (she already did a “hot seat” with lots of Dave’s side of the family back with her homecoming).

I loved all the mini-reunions with everyone happening every few minutes as people arrived.

I loved the good questions everyone asked.

I loved Eli and Julie for letting us gather at their house, the cookies and treats that everyone brought, but most importantly the love they shared.

It was so good to be together to share my newly-returned missionary. But also to just have them buoy her up in ways only family can.

Can you tell Murphy is loved?

Survivor Night Gathering

We gathered for Survivor Night with all the Pothier cousins. They do this every Wednesday night (which has spurred us to do it here at home with the Three Musketeers too, one of my fav. traditions). It was so fun to be there in person with all those kids we love so much.

Claire’s Missionary Friends

We gathered Claire’s friends to hear about their missions. I did a post about this yesterday.

Ada Visits

We gathered as much as we possibly could in Provo to see baby Ada, could not get enough of her. She’s so calm and perfect and Murphy suddenly seems like such a grown-up little lady in comparison.

We gathered at church on Sunday, one of Claire and Grace’s good friends happened to be giving her homecoming talk seven minutes away from the hut.

Game Gatherings

Of course, it wouldn’t be spring break without some game-gatherings. With all different configurations. Love that Lucy’s cousin and my sister Saydi joined us one night.

Pothier Sunday Dinner

Not only did we get to be un Utah for Survivor Night, we got to be there for one of the Sunday dinners my sister-in-law hosts once a month (Julie and Seth are the BEST). It was so good to get a chance to talk to so many nieces and nephews and give them some special love.

I stayed up late to finish putting together the toy kitchen I got for Murphy for Christmas and this has nothing to do with spring break, but should probably be documented.

Phew!

That was a lot. All golden threads woven into the tapestry of spring break.