Utah Trip, Day Two

Utah Trip
Saturday, July 5th

On Saturday morning, Brian got up early to go fishing, and Aubrey and I drove from Draper to meet Derek and Brinley at the Provo Farmer's Market. It is legit, over 200 vendors, and we had a great time meandering among the booths. 

Aubrey tried a specialty drink, and I purchased home-baked cookies from a confident teenage boy who was handing out samples. Then we all decided to split a Dubai chocolate strawberry cup. 

I was starting to get hot, hungry, and dehydrated, so I was glad when Aubrey decided to ditch the BYU campus tour she and Bryn were considering and head to our next activity: a picnic lunch and paddleboarding at the Provo River Delta. 

We found a bit of shade and some rocks to sit on and pulled out the delicious sandwiches that Brinley made for us. (The thick, homemade bread was the key ingredient.) 

Sadly, this was the only group picture I took. I think I must have had mayo or something on my phone lens.

Brian finished swimming and drove over an hour to meet up with us. (No picture of Brian chomping down on lunch because he joined us towards the end of our feast.) He was very kind to help us work, in the blazing heat, on the black asphalt, to inflate our giant paddleboards with a foot pump. He then took a few pictures of us before he headed back to Draper for the afternoon.

Aub

Bryn, me, & Aub (Derek was already exploring.)

Bryn

That evening, we enjoyed dinner and an evening outside with Bruce & Denise plus Megan and family. Megan and Griffin only live a couple of miles away and come to hang out w/ Nana and PopPop (aka Denise and Bruce) nearly every day. It makes it lots of fun for us when we are in town too. 

Some of the girls plus baby Hendrick--I'm not sure where Lindsey or Denise were when we snapped this.

Aub, Megan, Denise w/ Grace, & Griffin-all enjoying the new firepit.

S'more's, visiting around the firepit, and board games were a nice way to enjoy our evening.

Utah Trip, Day One

July 4, 2025

We had a late flight and made it to Bruce & Denise's around 2:00 a.m., which is 3:00 a.m. Texas time. It's a rough way to start vacation, but we adapted. Their cute grand girls had spent the night, and they were great entertainment. Denise made French toast smothered in fresh strawberries and blueberries, plus homemade syrup. It was delicious. Megan, Griffin, and baby Hendrick joined in for breakfast, and  Parker and his friend Merit drove up from Rexburg to spend the day with us. Let the festivities begin!

Aubrey, Bruce, Emma, Grace & Brian

Denise is the hostess with the mostess. She opens her home to Gwilliam family travelers from Texas to Cali to Idaho often. She has bedrooms available and an open house (not just pantry!) policy. She is welcoming and ready to enjoy as much family time as everyone's schedules allow.  I seriously love this sister in law of mine.

Also, we enjoyed the French toast so much that I brought two loaves of specialty bread and her syrup recipe home so I could make the meal for Tanner and family. Somehow my syrup turned into thick, but delicious, caramel sauce--whoops.

Parker Bryce made it! He's a sweet and crazy boy to drive 3.5 hours one way to spend the day, but I am glad he did. He could have stayed the weekend but didn't want to miss out on some fun lake plans with his friends. I don't blame him a bit. 

Tyson with his giant milk!, Bruce, Megan, and baby Hendrick

Parker and Merit brought their guns and wanted to take us shooting. We went to the Soldier Pass shooting range in Saratoga Springs, and Brinley & Derek met us there. I vaguely remember shooting guns on a date at least one time during my BYU years, but that sums up my gun expertise. I think Brinley and Aubrey haven't had many (any?) opportunities either. It was fun for me to watch Parker show us the ropes. He really loves doing outdoor stuff and has so many more opportunities in Idaho. (Odessa is hot, dry, and flat...and you have to drive for hours to have mountains to climb, fresh water to swim in or an outdoor range/ranch to legally shoot guns.)

Park & Aubrey w/ Derek & Merit in background

Derek & Brinley 

Aubrey's one desire on the Utah trip was to go shopping. When we mapped out a schedule of events, Friday afternoon was blocked off for shopping-not shooting.  At the range, she sidled  up to me, and through gritted teeth, said, "Why are we shooting guns?" She was teasing but still a little worried she wouldn't have time to look for a new church dress and other possibilities. She settled right into trying all of the guns, and we all had a good time together.

Aub & Park

Derek is throwing the target for Parker and Merit to shoot.

Aubrey, me, Brinley

Some of the guns really had a kick to them! 

Bri watching Parker & Merit hit targets.

Derek

After shooting, we split into two groups. Aubrey and I left to go shopping. We stopped by Swig for a drink and In-N-Out for a burger and headed to the mall.  The men and Brinley to grab lunch and participate in Brinley's thesis project on campus. Sadly, Bryn couldn't get into her building, so they decided to play pickleball instead.

We met back up at Brinley and Derek's apartment to clean up, have a snack and play a couple of games before grabbing a quick dinner before heading to our big 4th of July event: Stadium of Fire.

I have only been one other time to Stadium of Fire, and I was probably twelve or thirteen. Mr. T was the main event. I remember he came ziplining into the stadium, and we were in awe. This year's featured guest was the band Rascal Flatts. I remembered this band from my young adult years, so I was excited to see them live. 

Our group on the east side.  We got Parker and Merit's tickets last minute, so they were not close to us. (It was a sold out show.) 

Bri, Erin (me), Derek, Brinley, Aubrey

I was super impressed with Derek. He could sing along with so many of their songs.  I thought I knew more of their songs than I actually did--but it was still so much fun.

During a few of the songs, everyone would hold up their phone light and wave it back and forth while singing. (This is super common...but 30 years from now it might not be, and it will be fun to see how things have changed.)

After the concert, the TWENTY-MINUTE fireworks show happened.  They started with a drone show, which was seriously so cool.

So. Many. Fireworks. 

They were huge and impressive and amazing, and they just kept going and going. 

Thanks to Derek's good thinking, we took the bus and totally dodged the traffic madness. It made the night even better because we felt like we won the lottery. Parker and Merit were driving back to Rexburg that night, so they chose to skip the bus and run about a mile to their car to beat the traffic.

All in all, we had a really enjoyable first day of vacation. 

A Little More of June

June 2025 

The littles are now the bigs, and it's so cute.  Charlotte (12) and Ella (almost 10) love playing with the "little Vores" and Kaide. They are awesome to create games, build forts, and play with them all throughout our Sunday night gatherings.

I was sitting out on the back porch when this group was heading into the house.  I overheard this conversation and it made my heart happy:

 Charlotte: "I feel like Aubrey and Lauron.”

Ella: "For real!"

Aubrey and Lauron put in the hours with these two. They would teach them dances, play dresses, make up games and keep the little girls happy and entertained. Now those two little girls are the big girls and continuing the cousinly love.

On Thursdays we have "girl lunch" with Dad. We rotate picking the restaurant and lucky us, it's his treat each time. We visit nonstop about our weeks, our children, Mom, gospel insights, seminary, callings, t-shirts... really anything. My dad shakes his head and chuckles because "girl lunch" is so different than Mondays and Fridays when he goes to lunch with Chris and Kerry. (Brian and Adam are invited but due to work, don't go.) From what I gather, there isn't as much chatter going on during "boys lunch." My dad laughs and says, "y'all never run out of things to talk about."

I'm grateful for my dad who helps us all stay connected. We are going to miss having Angelique at our Thursday lunches.

Father's Day was so quiet this year. It was just me and Brian. Aubrey was out of town with a friend. Tanner and family joined Erin's family that day at the Sandhills. (We can't complain, because they join us every other Sunday evening for dinner and Sunday night.) Parker and Brinley called with well wishes, and Brian was celebrated with gifts and cards throughout the week, but the quiet day might be a little bit of foreshadowing of things to come as empty nesters.

Brian is an wonderful father: helpful, patient and supportive. He is also the one around here who keeps us laughing and helps lighten the mood when things (cough, cough-me) get to too intense. When I asked him for ideas for Father's Day, he mentioned he wanted to get some new fishing supplies when we are in Utah next month. Perfect! I found a YouTube tutorial and folded up a $100 bill so he can purchase supplies in July.

Kaide celebrating when he cut his banana. I sure love this boy and his twinkly eyes and his huge grin. He brings so much joy to our lives.

One last Taco Villa Monday on Wednesday at Chic-Fil-A....while we still have Chris and Ang.

Aub prepping for her Alaska trip. Her new scarf and earmuffs arrived, and she was just testing them out while scrolling on her Ipad.

Speaking of Aubrey's Alaska trip...

Last year, her friend Parker Huse, invited Aub to join her family on an Alaskan cruise. Her cruise room was covered, but Aub needed to cover air fair, excursions and the extra travel days before and after the cruise. Aub saved about $1000 to put toward the trip, and Brian and I purchased airfare and gave her some extra spending money. She had an amazing time in Alaska, Canada and Seattle.

I believe this was Canada. She was in awe of the trees and the overall beauty.

Parker's Mimi surprised the girls with a helicopter ride over the glaciers.

This picture just makes my soul happy. Aubrey says it doesn't even begin to compare to Alaska in person.

Puttingher earmuffs to good use.

My dad was able to be in Utah for Chris and Ang's setting apart. He reached out to the grandkids ahead of time, and they planned a couple of get togethers. The group below rented and rode e-bikes up to Bridal Veil Falls. Brinley said her favorite part was at the top when they got off their bikes, and Grandpa asked them to share their dating stories. She said it was fun to laugh together and share those special memories.  

Shortly after this e-bike adventure, they went to lunch with Chris and Ang before they left to the MTC.

While my dad was gone, I worked evenings from 8-midnight with my mom. That time of night is mostly just backup if she wakes up to use the restroom so I mostly just relaxed. (massage chair, Netflix, etc) 

The first night, when I was trying to follow my dad's evening routine with her, she was not pleased. "Where is Steve?" It was pretty startling to hear because 98% of what she says is not coherent. I loved that she knew and was able to express that her husband was supposed to be the one lying next to her in bed singing a hymn and reading from The Book of Mormon.  

She is so good to love on and take care of her two babies. She usually doesn't sleep with them, but she did two the two nights my dad was out of town.

She also loves this grandkid blanket that is probably 17 years old. She will roll up in her wheel chair and tell them individually how cute they are. In this picture, she was having a little interactive time with her baby and the grandkids.

We had a t-shirt quilt made for Aubrey for graduation. I think it is so fun to have all of these memories sewn together. The shirts on her blanket are from elementary school, Vore family vacations, sports, middle school and high school sports, SIP, girls camp, a Taylor Swift concert, her first job/work shirt and more.

This little boy loves his dada. (And this momma is so proud of her little boy who grew up to be the sweetest dad.)

Caregiving for Gram can make for long days. I work all day on Tuesdays and Fridays. I love it when Brit and girls stop by to visit. It makes for a nice diversion and helps break up the day.

They made it to Cote d'Ivoire.

Celebrating these cute grads

Parker is always on one adventure or the next. He works hard and plays hard-always has.  We are looking forward to seeing him, Bryn and Derek next month.