Kennedy Fam

The last stop in our epic road trip was to Idaho to see our old neighbors, who moved away last year.

The kids had a great time playing and reconnecting.

We were able to swim at their pool and they had this awesome kiddie pool next to the main pool. Aron loved it!

The big kids loved it too.

It was a perfect summer day with friends. 

We had a great time with the Kennedy family. I loved talking to Angela and she has introduced me to "The Childwhisperer". 

BYU and Provo

Part 2 of our Epic road trip included a few days in Provo. I admit, after we visited Wharton (Daddy's School) I felt the pull to show the kids BYU, where Jim and I met (and to show mommy has a school, too).

We were able to go bowling at the Wilk a few times. Sam and Glenna met and worked at the bowling alley, so we got the royal treatment.

We had a great time bowling and I even got a t-shirt for getting 3 strikes in a row!

Aron and I say hello to Cosmo!

We also were able to See my Aunt Linda for her birthday. We met at a park in Provo Canyon and had a lovely evening.

We also helped my aunt Clarinne in her garden. She has quite the green thumb.

Bridger loved picking green beans, strawberries, corn, and blackberries.

You can't go to BYU without a visit to the creamery. Angela came down from Riverton each day to hang out with us. 

We took a golf cart tour of campus. There are so many new buildings and more going up. It was fun to see all the improvements.

When we went by the Indian statue, Aron called out "naked boy!" Causing Angela to burst out laughing. This has been one of his favorite expressions around bath time, so when he saw the Indian it only seemed appropriate.

We visited the newlyweds new apartment and had some amazing sugar cookies.

Sam and Glenna are so happy and hardworking. It was fun to squeeze in a few more hours with them.

One last stop to the creamery and we were on our way again!

A few weeks later we were talking about college and Bridger said he wants to go to BYU. Success! 

When we asked him what does it mean to go to BYU he said "Well, you get to play bowling and eat ice cream." :)

Ruby Valley, NV

In August I threw the kids in the car for an epic 1900 mile road trip. The first leg of our journey was to Ruby Valley, NV for "The Williams Family Reunion". This is my mother's side of the family.

I was traveling alone this leg of the trip, but it went really well. I had a few books on tape while the kids had music or dvd's playing. Every hour we would take a bathroom and snack break. Most of our roads were sparsely populated, so many of our potty breaks just looked like this:

Every now and then I was able to coordinate our break with a stop at a park, which also helped get our wiggles out during the long car ride. Kacy started chanting "show, potty, snack, repeat". She had it down!

Finally we made it to Ruby Valley! This is a ranching valley where my aunt and uncle live.

Pretty much every year of my childhood involved a trip to Ruby Valley, so it was quite sublime to bring my kids there and see them experience the Ranch.

The kids loved Ruby Valley! The wide open spaces, the amazing starry nights, the rope/tire swing, the garden, the animals... And it was of course great to see family, too!

My sister, Angela, was a great help with my kids.

Bridger making a run down the tire swing

Sam and Glenna made it out with a special gift for Ben.

One thing I didn't get a picture of: our tent. Usually everyone brings a tent and spreads out on the grass. Well, we pitched our tent down the road a bit at my cousin, Sam's house. I had a few helpers shelling me set up our tent in the dark, and well, I ignored a prompting to recheck my tent stakes. Long story short, our tent blew away the next day and we had to relocate into Sam and Mary's basement. Thank goodness for back-up plans. Thanks again Sam and Mary!

Aron enjoyed the many treats available at each meal.

We "tie-dyed" white t-shirts using sharpie markers and rubbing alcohol. The kids loved drawing on the shirts and using all kind of colors.

Adam brought the horses out and we all took a ride. Bridger was a natural cowboy!

Kacy was very brave and took a ride but realized she preferred just petting the horses.

Aron loved the horses and insisted on taking a turn sitting on each horse over and over again. He would get on a horse, then promptly point to the next one and say "that one"!

I even got to take my little guy around for a ride!

Grandpa Don and the kids enjoy a super snack!

We had a great time swimming with all the cousins, too. Although this picture doesn't show it, we probably had 30 people in the pool! It was so fun!

My sister and I on the hay ride.

My kids and me with a Ruby Valley Sunset.

Sam photo bomb!

Going to church with Grandma. A different set of rules apply here... Actually we were walking, but the kids bailed the last 100 yards to get in the car.

Grandma and Grandpa!

My mom and my Auny Kathy

Angala and Kacy

Bridger took a ride on the 4 wheeler with my cousin, Chris.

All the kids had such a great time together. 

It was an awesome, exhausting weekend. Kacy and my mom squeeze in some snuggling amidst the partying.

We brought our the face paint for all the little ones.

My sister and I put together an 'Amazing Race' treasure hunt and had a really fun time planning and participating in it.

Notice all the tye-dye shirts! Masterpieces!

Going on a hay ride! This is a long standing tradition at the reunion.

It was so fun to see family I haven't seen in years and to see my kids experience a place I frequented as a child. It was a great reunion!