July 26, 2010

Well, we just got home (on Saturday) from our big summer trip. We were gone for 20 days (13 of which were just me and the kids), traveled about 2,400 miles and went to 3 different family reunions (plus some other visiting). Lots of fun, and now happy to be back home. Here's the condensed version of the trip:

Day 1: Drove to Flagstaff, got a flat tire on the trailer, but nothing too big. Took over 12 hours, but Megan actually did fairly well on the whole journey.
Day 2: Played at the Sorensen Family Reunion (kickball, building forts, line dancing, etc). Did a service project (clearing the property for more tent sites).
Day 3: Went to Wupatki Ruins (cool Indian dwellings).
Day 4: Left the Sorensen Reunion. Went to Mesa Temple. Sean met with a boss in Phoenix. Made it to Grandpa and Grandma Dick's and went swimming
Day 5: Swam and swam and swam. Megan is not a huge swimmer. She likes to sit on the steps and play, but she doesn't love when I take her way into the water.
Day 6: Swam some more. Megan warmed up to the swimming more today. I got some arm floaties and she seemed to like going out in those or with the ring floaty around her.
Day 7: Went to church with Grandpa and Grandma Dick and took Dad to the airport (Nathan cried hysterically as he watched Dad walk away).
Day 8: Went to visit our favorite dentist (Grandpa). Caelan, Ben, Megan and I all got cleanings, and Caelan and Ben had some other little work done. Megan was MUCH better this time around. She actually went right in, had the cleaning done no problem and was ready for a prize. Had a small car problem that was easily solved with a $.99 can of coke. Then swam.
Day 9: Last day of swimming.
Day 10: Left Grandpa and Grandma Dick's at 5:30 AM. Traveled for 9ish hours to Brian Head, UT for the Grant Family Reunion. Had story time with my Grandma Grant.
Day 11: Went to Bryce Canyon and Cedar Breaks. BEAUTIFUL! Had a wonderful testimony meeting that night with the family.
Day 12: Rode the Brian Head ski lift (had a small heart attack inside as all my kids rode too, but they loved it). Megan rode right beside me, but she felt so small to really feel secure with those seatbelts. We didn't have any accidents and made it all back on the ground safe and sound. Had a karaoke party that night where almost every person in the family participated. Caelan rocked her song, "Won't say I'm in Love" from Hercules, and Megan kept asking me over and over again if it was her turn. I should have practiced a song with her - I think she would have gotten up there and sung.
Day 13: Left the Grant reunion. Had lunch at Chuck-O-Rama with Brittney and Porter and their girls and Charity and Coren and the Sorensen clan. Then drove up to Charity and Chad's that evening. The kids played at the park which is directly across the street from their house.
Day 14: Went to church with Charity and Chad (Nathan LOVED the nursery here - go figure). Had left over Cafe Rio salads from the reunion with Dan and Natalie and their family that night. YUM.
Day 15: Slowly lounged around in the morning. Took a quick trip to Walmart to get food for the last reunion. Drove up to Jordanelle Reservoir near Park City for the Taylor reunion. Hung out on the lake. Took a ride on the boat.
Day 16: Played at the lake ALL day. Megan liked playing with her floaties in the lake. Rode the boat. We all took a turn being pulled on the tube, except Megan who wasn't so sure she wanted to try. The kids loved it. Moved our campsite up the hill. Had a family dinner and Family Home Evening that night.
Day 17: Played at the lake again. Rented and rode Wave Runners. Loads of fun. The kids really liked this. Ate fried burritos in the rain. Ate chocolate and graham crackers and marshmallows in our tent because it was too wet for a fire.
Day 18: Took down camp by 9:00 AM. Waited around with the Sorensen gang. Then headed to Jenny and Kelly's house in Layton.
Day 19: Spent the day at Jenny and Kelly's. The kids had all the fun playing in sprinklers, watching movies, dressing up, playing in the backyard and enjoying time with cousins. Ate pizza with Lani and hung out for a little while. Then started the journey home. I made it to Stateline where I got things ready to fall asleep in the van, but soon realized it was WAY too hot to sleep (even at 1:00 AM). So I drove for another half hour and then found a rest stop that was much more pleasant (going up that hill makes a huge difference). We all slept in the van until 6:45 the next morning.
Day 20: Finished the drive and got home at about noon. Lounged around for most of the day. So nice.