The past 2 years we have flown back for our vacation, this year we decided that we wanted to drive. With the ages of the kiddos and their lovely personalities (namely Kade) we knew the only way to make it was to drive through the night. We left about 4:00 (AR time) in the afternoon and arrived about 1:00 (UT time) in the afternoon. Overall, the drive went really well. Greg drove the majority of the time, but I was able to relieve him when he really needed it. I think the hardest time were the hours after the sun came back up. At that point we just really wanted to be at our destination. The last 4 hours from Cheyenne Wy, to Evanston Wy, are the longest EVER! (Next year we'll have to leave earlier in the afternoon.)
Our first stop was my parents cabin, which is about 30 minutes south of Evanston. The mountains were beautiful and we really started to feel like we were home. The days at the cabin were awesome. Lots of relaxing, 4 wheeling, wild flower picking, BB gun shooting, marshmallow roasting, fort building- fun. I believe this post's story is going to be told better through pictures than words.
{on our way to Lily Lake}
{stopping to pick wildflowers}
{Lily Lake}
{Kade fell asleep on the way home}
{Bryn and Nana}
{roasting marshmallows}
{shooting the BB gun}
{Tanner and Nana}
{Kade and Nana}
{in the fort}On Friday my sister, Casi, and her sweet family were going to come up to the cabin to spend the rest of the weekend with us. And since Park City is set just perfectly half way between us we couldn't let that opportunity go to waste. So, my mom and I met her at the outlet mall and had a fantastic time catching up. I think it should become an annual tradition!
{roasting marshmallows with cousins}{brynlee, mallory, lily & tanner}
{jared, casi, amy & greg}{four-wheeler trip near millcreek}
Saturday was Brynlee's birthday and she was so excited to be able to have it in the mountains with her cousins. She was a spoiled little girl. I'm not sure what I would do without this little girl. She is so fun to be around and her sassy little personality definitely keeps me on my toes. She has a very tender heart and loves to 'mother' anyone or anything younger or smaller than her. She is a girl, her feelings can be hurt fairly easily, but a hug is the best medicine for this sweetheart. It seems that a hug can heal anything from a hurt feeling to a paper cut. She loves to play with her dolls, follow her brother around, do arts and crafts and help me with any project I'm working on. I thank my lucky stars each night that she is mine.
{bryn gets to help ice her own cake}
{lily, mallory, brynlee}
{happy birthday brynlee!}Sunday we headed to my mom and dad's house where we were going to spend the rest of the week. On Monday Greg had to fly back to Arkansas to work (darn paycheck) but before he flew out we were able to get together with some good friends, the Hutcheon's. We packed up both families and headed over to Cabela's so the guys could shop and the kids could be entertained. I think it worked well on both accounts. Even though Tanner was 4 and Bryn was 18 months when we left it was so fun to see how the kids picked up right where they left off.
Later that afternoon after I dropped Greg at the airport I went back to Hutcheon's to visit some more with Janis and Heidi was able to come along as well. It was great to see you two! Thanks so much for fitting us into your schedules. It is always so much fun when we get together.
Later that afternoon after I dropped Greg at the airport I went back to Hutcheon's to visit some more with Janis and Heidi was able to come along as well. It was great to see you two! Thanks so much for fitting us into your schedules. It is always so much fun when we get together.
{kade, porter, tanner, dallin, weston, brynlee}{meeting up with the Hutcheons}
Tuesday was spent catching up with Grandma Denney. We were able to spend a couple hours at her house as she entertained the kiddos with whoopie cushions and the pet turtle. We love you Gram!
{Gram Denney and some of her grand & great grand kids}Tuesday afternoon I was able to catch up with my friends and roommates from Snow Becky Hill (Dumont) and Carrie Wageman (Hinck). Becky has been through the battle of her life with Breast Cancer this last year, so it was a sweet reunion and good to pick up where we left off from. I loved the idea of leaving the kiddos behind and hitting a restaurant. We'll have to remember that for next year! You Girls Are Awesome!
{carrie, becky, amy}Wednesday was another girl’s day out. Gram Merrill and my aunt Mary were able to come and wrestle the kiddos for the day while Mom, Casi and I hit the shopping trail. Just like to good ole days, except I think Casi and I finally out-shopped our mom! We didn't think that would ever happen.
The rest of the week was full of family as the entire family was able to get together for more birthday parties, a trip to the Bean Museum on BYU Campus, family pictures and swimming. Friday morning I was able to go for a 20 mile bike ride with Dad. It’s his usual thing to do on Friday morning, but the first time I was able to go with him. I had a great time watching my Dad zoom around the trail and trying to keep up with him. Thanks for sharing Dad! Friday closed off when the girls’ were able to go dinner at Applebee’s and “Hello Dolly” at Hale Centre Theatre. What a fun night! It's good to be reminded how wonderful it is to be surrounded by family.
The rest of the week was full of family as the entire family was able to get together for more birthday parties, a trip to the Bean Museum on BYU Campus, family pictures and swimming. Friday morning I was able to go for a 20 mile bike ride with Dad. It’s his usual thing to do on Friday morning, but the first time I was able to go with him. I had a great time watching my Dad zoom around the trail and trying to keep up with him. Thanks for sharing Dad! Friday closed off when the girls’ were able to go dinner at Applebee’s and “Hello Dolly” at Hale Centre Theatre. What a fun night! It's good to be reminded how wonderful it is to be surrounded by family.
{a bunch of the cousins} 
{casi, lewis, nana}
{ready to head out on the trail}
{lily, bryn, mallory, kade}{at bean museum}
{scott, dad}
{more of the cousins @ bean museum}
{marianne, casi, amy, mom, hannah}{getting ready to see "hello dolly"}
Greg flew back into SLC Saturday afternoon where he was whisked away to family pictures and from there we headed down to Fairview for the last week of our trip. As we pulled into the driveway Grandpa Ralph was on the tractor and had Kade completely engaged in any movement he made. Tanner hardly waited for the truck to stop before he was out the door and almost knocked Grandma over with a big bear hug, and Bryn close behind. They quickly became reacquainted with their favorite spot of the farm, Bryn and Kade fed the horses so many apples, I am sure it wasn't good for them. Tanner blazed a nice trail around the yard with his four-wheeler. Tan, Bryn, and Kade were able to ride the horses by themselves. And on our last day there Tan graduated and was able to take the horse out of the corral into the pasture and ride by himself. The week was a full one with lots of cousins coming to visit, lots of horse rides, go-cart rides, four-wheeler rides, Toby the dog, tractor rides, swimming, catching snails, four-wheeler rides with Toby, trips up to the mountain (lovely 20 degrees cooler), family pictures, Pioneer Day Parade and luncheon, and just plain a TON of fun.
{snail hunting at the mountain property}
{going}
{going}
{going}
{gone}{this is how it was all week}
{tori, brynlee, spencer, garrick}{pioneer day parade}
{cooling off}
{tanner and scooter}
{grandpa ralph, kade, scooter=heaven}
{brynlee and scooter} 
{erin and brynlee}
{abby and kade}
{kade pushing carson}
{group ride}{tanner has graduated to riding in the field by himself!}
{grandpa ralph and kade on the tractor}
{toby time}{brynlee, erin, abby, tanner}
{grandpa ralph and kade}It was so hard to say goodbye and head back to Arkansas. I tried to talk Greg into another day, but we really did need to head home (darn paycheck.) We truly are blessed to have the families we do and we cherish the memories we make while on our vacations back to Utah.
