Driving to Utah every other summer has now become a tradition. We both have a lot of family in Utah and so it is always fun to go and spend time with everyone on both sides of the family. I am so grateful for these opportunities that my kids have to get to know their extended family. I have so many memories of our annual trips to Utah and it is fun to watch the kids participate in some of the same activities that I remember fondly from my childhood.
We love to stay with Mike and Bobette and their cute kids. They were our first stop this year and the kids had a blast. The moms and dads even got to go our for a date night while we were there and that was awesome.
Eating ice cream on the porch
Trampoline Fun
Kylie and Alex...he loved her.
Sparklers!
Next, we were off to Logan for the 4th of July Fireworks show at Utah State. We met up with Michelle, Angela, Gabriela, Natalie, Grandpa, and Mary. It was a lot of fun to have the kids all together in Utah. They were really excited. That night they danced, ate a lot of junk food, and played with glow necklaces while we waited for it to get dark for the fireworks. It doesn't get dark in Utah until almost 10pm! It was definitely a late night. I will never forget trying to get out of the parking lot that night. We actually stayed in our spot for about a half an hour playing guessing games in the headlights of the car until we could move. It was very late, but the kids loved it.
My favorite firework of the night....so pretty!
That night we all met up at Tami and Brian's house and woke up early for the parade in Lewiston the next day. The parade started at 9 and we actually made it on time. :) We spent the entire day with lots of family and cousins and it was awesome.
Getting ready for the parade
Waiting with their bags to get candy!
We rode some rides and played some games at the carnival at the park afterwards.
David got beat up by a bunch of little kids. :)
I wish that I had a picture, but the kids loved getting soaked by a ginormous fire house.
Next, we headed over to my grandparents house. We stopped at Hall's Store for a picture. I have vivid memories of walking over and getting one cent candies with my cousins.
Out on my grandparents property - a field in the back. So pretty.
Grandpa with all of the grandkids in front of my grandparents house.
After visiting the cemetery, we went over to my Aunt and Uncle's house, Kim and Roseanne. They let the kids feed and ride the horses. They played in their hide out, walked along a creek across the rode, and played with about 20 cousins.
LOVE this picture...a boy and his dog. (He wished it was his dog).
That night we all met back up and Tami and Brian's house for some firework fun. We seriously had twenty kids lighting sparklers and running around the house, and only had a few minor injuries.
The next morning we slept in and then went on a hike. It was about three miles round trip and the kids did really well. I think they were excited to get to the little waterfall at the end and have a snack, and so that motivated them.
At the end of the time with my family, we had the Mervin and Laree Bodily family reunion. All of my dad siblings and most of their kids were there. They put on a little program, and my Dad even dressed up in his 50's attire. The kids were a little surprised to see his hair slicked back. He hasn't changed his hairstyle in MANY years, so that was a little strange for them to see.
After the reunion, a bunch of us met up at the go carts for some fun. Kylie tried to beat Cameron and I, but we ended up passing her. :)
After that, we were off to see David's family in Roy, Utah. We stayed with Aunt Marcia, Laurie and PJ for a few days and they were filled with all kinds of fun things. They are so fun to be around.
Swimming, Slides and Diving Boards at their neighborhood aquatic center.
Cameron found another dog to love.
The kids made candy suckers with JayCee and Cydney.
Grandma joined us for this part of the trip and when we picked her up at the airport, we stopped for a visit at temple square. The kids got to see the Conference Center and Church Administration Building too. It rained off and on and so that was pretty exciting.
The girls also made flip flops out of cardboard and duct tape. They are so creative.
Kylie got her hair done and slept on straws all night.
This is how it looked when they woke up. So cute!
On another day, the kids went to a church building and got to make their own beautiful paintings. They chose what to have drawn by the amazing teacher, then they painted it on their own. The instructor added lines with black marker after they were finished, and the end product was so awesome! I was impressed with how they all turned out.
Last stop on our road trip....Las Vegas and the Flamingo Hotel for some fun in the sun at the hotel pool. It had a fun waterslide and we also had a great time walking around town, watching the volcano and light show, and spending some time with Tyler and Christina and their kids.
We are so lucky that our kids are such great travelers. We have been taking road trips since each of them were very small and so I think that this is just something that they have learned to love as much as their parents do. Its a cheap way to travel and we look forward to a little trip every summer.
The day after we got home, we had an impromptu BBQ with our neighbors and their families. It was a great end to a fun summer. I'm always sad when summer ends.
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