two-thousand miles, five states, two bunkbeds and one couch later...

Grab some popcorn and enjoy the longest post in the history of my blog!



July 25-31... I drove down with the kids alI BY MYSELF! I had to stop only a few times. The kids were so good for me. It's tradition for us to stop in Grangeville and touch the rocks. I also stopped in Midvale to let the kids play on the playset to help get their wiggles out.












At the Holdaway Reunion, we ate a lot of good food, swam in the Hansen's pool, threw Tena a surprise Baby Shower, watched movies, and had a blast! All the kids came home and all the grandkids were together for the first time in a few years. I got to see where Ryan has spent the past few months while working in Boise.

Oh yeah, we also got to spend one night at the Anniversary Inn while we were in Boise. It was so nice and quiet. A HUGE THANK YOU to the Holdaways for taking care of the kids while we got to do that! (especially you, Tiff!)

















July 31-August 4...we were in Utah! We visited Ashley and Donny's apartment, had a birthday party for me, read Breaking Dawn (and loved it), went to Seven Peaks, painted Aimee's classroom (I'll post pictures of that when I get them from my mom), played the Wii (first time, thank you very much), had loads of giggles with my cousins, and did tons of laundry.

Ryan actually got to spend THREE WHOLE DAYS WITH me and the kids! He came down to Utah with us and then had to fly back up from SLC to Boise because he had to go back to work. It was fun to spend 72 hours with him


Visited Spanish Fork, where Ryan has fond memories from his childhood. Here is 'his' mountain he remembers seeing every day.
Ryanna actually MADE everyone pancakes, she did it all. Her very first meal where she did EVERYTHING! She poured the batter, flipped them when they were done (sometimes TOO done!) and then hopped down off of her stool to serve her creations.
The house where Ryan grew up.
His family's favorite place to eat in Spanish Fork
Dawson at Seven Peaks going down his favorite slide

Ryanna hugging the Shark

August 4-7...we drove up to Rexburg to see the other side of the family. I haven't seen these sights since Ryan and I were newlyweds! We saw lots of cousins and their kids (I've never met most of them) and got to see my old college stomping grounds.

Our very first apartment as a married couple back in early 2001.
Ryan's first job in Rexburg

Ashley and Donny in front of the new goregous Rexburg Temple.
My very first apartment at Ricks College! I moved in with Summer (Carringer) in July 1999. Talk about a blast from the past! It's now a Boy's Dorm and no longer called Harmony House.

While we were in Rexburg, we also ran over to Yellowstone Park! I went as a baby and don't remember it, so I count this as my first time! We saw TWO Buffalo and a handful of elk, that's it! It wasn't a good day for wildlife, but it was a tremendous day to see the sights.

We stopped on the way up to Yellowstone at this spring and enjoyed a refreshing dip of our feet and little swig of water. It was ice cold and delicious!




Dawson liked the boiling mud pots, he giggled when they sounded like they were burping!




"I just wanted to see what it felt like!" Ewwwwwww, Uncle Donny!

Old Faithful! I've never seen it before, and now I can cross this off my list of "Things-To-See-Before-I-Die" and it was actually pretty cool. The kids really enjoyed it.








August 7...drove from Rexburg through Montana and arrived in Hayden Lake. Drove 500 miles in 10 hours. My poor kids! They did great though.

August 8-9...Hayden Lake, Idaho at Grandmother Velta and Papa's house. Ate delicious home-cooked meals and picked Raspberries from their garden. I drove home last night with the kiddies so they could be in their own beds. WHEW! I'm home now, and can't wait to unpack! What a trip it was, saw both sets of grandparents in one day, lots of cousins (and new cousins) and ate good food and made loads of wonderful memories. Thanks to all that made it happen! I wish I could have had more time in every location to visit more friends, it was a rushed vacation and I'm sorry I couldn't see all who I wanted to see!!


MILEAGE SUMMARY:
-Moscow to Boise: 332 miles
-While in Boise: 93 miles
-Boise to Highland: 381 miles
-While in Utah: 150 miles
-Highland to Rexburg: 273 miles
-While in Rexburg: 300 miles
-Rexburg to Hayden Lake: 500 miles
-While in Hayden Lake: 0 miles
-Hayden Lake to Moscow: 93 miles

TOTAL miles in 16 days: 2,122!