~Summer Vacation 2010: The Beginning~

The day before Father's Day (way back in June) Nichelle and I loaded up the kiddos and the car and headed out on the All American Road Trip.  With tears in my eyes, I said goodbye to my Nicholas.  The kids were champs, and we only stopped twice the entire day, when Alec needed to go to the bathroom.  No tears were shed (once we were on the road anyway), LOTS of movies were watched, tons of grapes blueberries and teddy grahams were consumed, and much GLEE soundtrack was heard in the front seat.

We arrived in Laramie, WY in record time, and stayed in the scariest hotel I've ever been in.  Between the broken lock on the door, the the nasty moldy bathroom, the leaking toilet, the broken lamps, the poorly maintained swimming pool, the loud drunk people right outside our room in the courtyard, and my VERY swollen feet, I didn't sleep very well but we survived.  I laughed a lot instead of crying.  I refused to take pictures.  It was a Ramada Inn, a name I would generally trust.  I made a point to go online and leave an honest review.

After a mild 6 hour drive on Sunday, we stayed at Nick's parents house for a day, where we had time to relax and put up my very swollen feet.  Alec and Lyssa spent most of the day exploring Nick's parents property with Grandma Lael, taking rides on the 4 wheelers with Grandpa Stuart, and making "live off the land survival stew".  It consisted of grass, irrigation water, twigs, roots, dirt, flowers, and a variety of leaves.  (Think Papa Bear in "The Berenstain Bears Too Much Vacation") Alec didn't understand why no one really wanted to taste his masterpiece, but was happy all the same to keep on cooking.

Tuesday we drove down into Salt Lake Valley to spend a day and night with our almost cousins, The Paynes, who recently moved to Utah.  I say almost cousins because after the last 3 years of playing together in Iowa we feel like they're practically family.  I was really excited to see Sara and sweet baby Davis, but I think my kids were equally excited to see their BFF's Isaac and Maddie.  It seriously was a magical day mostly spent in Sara's parents backyard and basement, playing, eating yummy food, laughing lots and lots, and catching up.  There were no pictures taken to document the event because I was too busy savoring every sweet moment.  You'll just have to believe me when I say it was practically perfect in every way.

The next morning I loaded up the kids and drove the last little stretch down to my parents house in Orem.  The kids and I sang showtunes from "The Happiest Millionaire" over and over again all the way there and arrived happy, but tired as ever.  Dear Erin and Alan were there to greet us upon arrival and, in true Erin form, she pulled out some new fun summery color coordinating outfits for my kids (including one for Cordy upon arrival).  Again, I took no pictures, but Erin snapped this one.

Upon Arrival.

Don't I look tired?  I was.  Tired and happy.  Happy to be out of the car and happy to be surrounded by some of people I love most.