Road Trippin'

I'll warn you, there are a ridiculous amount of pictures in this post and I won't judge you (openly) if you skip the narrative or some of the pictures. You'll just miss out on my wit and cute family. Like I said, I'm not judging you (openly), unless your name is Kelli and you happened to call me out on Facebook for not updating my blog and called me a slacker. If that isn't you, then disregard this disclaimer. If that is you (ahem, Kelli) then I expect you to read all of this since you technically asked for it.

We drove to Utah and Colorado a week ago for a family reunion. As much as I love my cute little family, I don't think we'll be making any road trips any time soon. Spending all day in the car with the three kids had me brainstorming how I can afford to buy us all plane tickets for our next vacation, or, better yet, how I can go on a vacation by myself (Well, maybe with Adam. Maybe).

We drove to Riverton, Utah first to spend a night with Adam's sister Becky and her family. My kids love her house, not her dog. I think the dog is bigger than Olivia! They put on helmets and drove razors around the culdesac. We didn't get to stay as long as we wanted, but are very appreciative of Hotel Becky!

After Riverton we drove to Provo to run into the BYU bookstore really fast. All I wanted was a BYU hat for Jack, chocolate covered cinnamon bears, and a salad wrap. Got them! We then drove to Grand Junction, Colorado to see my Grandma Betty and Grandpa Doug. We met Celeste and her family there and introduced Madelynn to my grandparents. The kids swam outside, we had a little BBQ and then the kids went to the park with us while we gave my grandparents a break from the chaos that surrounds 6 little kids. That night, while my family slept at a hotel, I drove to Target to get binkys and ran into Stacey and Emme Chipman (for those of you who know them from Cleveland!). It was random and lots of fun at the same time, since they moved to Grand Junction to start a job.

The next day we drove to Moab (are you sensing a theme here?) and stayed at the Red Cliff Lodges. They were awesome. We shared a cabin with Celeste and her family, where we each had our own bedroom (per family) and a shared bathroom, with a large living space for a kitchen, desk and TV. Our view included the red walls of Moab and the Colorado River, which I panicked about because I could imagine one of the kids walking into it and drowning in the undercurrent. We went to Arches National Park for a little while, but the heat comined with naptime made the kids sleepy and ornery so we went home and let them nap. Afterwards we swam for a little while in the pool and then went to a catered dinner at the main lodge where we met up with all of my mother's father's side, the crazy Abercrombies. The whole family is so fun and welcoming, and it was nice to see my Grandpa Jim, my aunt Cathy and her two girls, my Uncle Rickie Jo, and all my other family. We also planned our next family reunion, which is done every two years, and it will be at Glacier National Park in Montana. There is a water park, white water rafting, tons of golf courses and hiking to do. We are so excited!

The next morning, after we ate at the delicious breakfast buffet, Adam and I drove (again) up to Salt Lake City so he could catch his flight back to Seattle since he had to work the next day. Of course, we stopped by my SuperTarget (yeah, it's mine) and I remembered why I missed it so much. I know, I'm weird, but I love that store! I cried when I left Adam at the airport. I always cry when he leaves me, but I was especially sad since I knew the next day I would be driving back to Lakewood by myself, with Celeste and Bryan caravaning in front of me.

The kids and I met my mom, Celeste and her kids, my brother Kory and his wife Ana Lee, and my Uncle Lorrin and Aunt Wendy and their family at Scera Park in Orem for a KFC picnic. My sister Kelli and her family moved to Utah that weekend and met us straight from the Penske truck. It was so fun to see Kelli again, since her family lived in Toledo while we lived in Cleveland so we saw them pretty often. Her kids were so excited to see their cousins and we let them play for while and even got a grandkid picture done. It was tough to leave them again when I had to follow Celeste back up to Heber where I was staying the night. I cried and cried when I left Kelli and her family. I won't see them again for a while. I also miss Utah a lot so it was hard to be there for such a short time and then leave again. Every time we go to Utah we are there for such a whirlwind trip. Next time Adam and I promised ourselves we would relax and enjoy ourselves more, like go to Temple Square and BYU (and Cafe Rio!).

I stayed the night with the kids in Heber at Celeste's in-laws house (thanks Pearsons!). We left the next morning for Lakewood. I put Olivia right next to Madelynn so she could feed her and play with her. It was a lot better than I thought it was going to be. Celeste drove for me in between lunch and dinner, which was a life saver. Our caravan broke up in Yakima when Celeste and Bryan pulled off to help Cole, their one year old, who was having a hard time in the car (I don't blame you buddy!) so I drove by myself from Yakima on, about three hours or so. I was so proud of myself for making it on my own (with Celeste's help), although my pride will not get in the way of NOT going on another road trip for a while! I did not take any pictures of the drive back home, though, mainly because I was more focused on surviving the trip than documenting it, but I took lots of other pictures, so enjoy!

My kids on their cousin's razors. They did pretty good and I thought Jack was so cute on his.Jack was so afraid of Becky's dog, until the dog seriously flopped onto her back begging for him to scratch him. He is a big softy! Jack finally got over the "he's bigger than me" thing and went for it and loved it.The kids at Grandma Betty's house. She wouldn't let me take pictures of her because she hurt her back and hadn't done much with herself. She promised I could take pictures of her and the kids when she visits next. I will be like a paprazzi maniac when she comes!

One guess what this face means she's doing.My mom's stepdad, Grandpa Doug, and my kids (and me). No Madelynn is not smiling, she's crying. She has major "stranger danger". And I know I am towering over every one. In my defense, I'm standing while no one else is, and I wasn't supposed to be in the picture, just Madelynn. Although I'm smiling like I knew I would be in it anyway. Jack showing off his new BYU hat. It's a little big so he'll have to grow into it.The first rock formation we saw at Arches, "Balancing Rock." Olivia and Rix climbing some rocks.

Adam built his own "balancing rock" and then Cole came by right after this and knocked it over.The best picture I could get of us at "Delicate Arch" monument. It's a little ways away from the lookout point. It is the arch a little above and to the right of Adam's head. You have to hike a ways to get a better view, and hike some more to actually get to the arch. It was hot and humid and I was wearing flip flops, so Adam and Jack hiked up there with Bryan and some of his boys. Olivia is a Mommy's girl and stayed with me in the van with A/C. I don't blame her.Adam and Jack up at the closer view area. It's a pretty cool arch, I think it's the one on the Utah license plates. Jack, as you can see, is very hot and tired. I am so glad that hike knocked him out the minute he got back in the car.On the way out of Arches, I got a picture of the petrified sand dunes. They are much more awesome in real life. They are sand dunes that are hard as rock, although they still look like sand. It's weird.

Trying our hand at being cowboys/girls. I think they look cute. I don't think they'd last long as cowboys/girls. My kids have issues with big animals (like dogs... and horses) if they aren't behind glass windows or cages at the zoo.Adam and Jack at the dinner party. Jack was pretty good for us, considering he didn't want anything but the pasta and to run around like a banshee on the stage.Madelynn and I hanging out. Adam and I had to take turns eating because Maddie had massive stranger danger on the trip (and still does) and wouldn't let us put her down. She did let some relatives hold her as long as she couldn't tell it was them holding her. Celeste, Cole, Bryce (attacking his food) and Bryan at dinner. See all my crazy relatives in the back? I don't know a lot of them, but the ones I do know, I love! And I even love the ones I don't know all that well.

Olivia got to sit at Nana's table with Rix (not pictured). She insisted on sitting by Ana Lee, my sister in law. Both my kids are fascinated by Ana Lee (or Ana Wee, as Jack would call her). Rix and Olivia also got to spend the night in Nana's cabin. They were super excited about a sleep over and I was thankful to have two less people in our cabin!
My mother and her siblings and father: Ricky Jo, my mother Lynda, Grandpa Jim, Ron and Cathy. Sorry for the blurry picture. Olivia had been playing with my camera and must have touched the lens. All the grandkids at Scera Park. Cole, Rix, Bryce, Roman, Aubrey, Hayden, Olivia, Madelynn and Jack. Aren't they all the cutest?!