Out West

 We made our first trip as a family to Utah and Idaho since Victoria has been living there. We went out in a creative sort of way. 

Kade flew out on July 1st so he could spend some time with his best friend, CJ, who's been living in SLC for the past year. Kade also made a quick trip up to Rexburg to spend a day and a half with Victoria over the 4th, experiencing college life with his sister. 

Kade and CJ

In Rexy

With two of Victoria's college friends.

Meanwhile, Jason flew out to LA on the 4th to pick up my step mom's 19-year-old Honda that she and my dad gifted to Austin when she got her new car. The timing of them needing a new vehicle and Austin "needing" an old one worked out perfectly.  Now Kade can drive to his college classes and work each day, and Austin can drive to all his things. So, Jason drove the Honda with my dad, and they got to see our nephew and his wife in Vegas on the way to Orem.

Sam, Christer, and Jason.

Finally, Austin, Erik, and I left for the long 3 1/2 day drive to Orem on the 4th. We tried to see some fireworks that night in Des Moines; they were okay, but the drive was the best road trip with my youngest boys! After I drove 1.5 hours, Austin was ready to take it on, and he wouldn't give it up! He drove the rest of the 22.5 hours! Erik decided that watching a movie wasn't enjoyable while Austin and I were conversing, listening to music, making music, and listening to a book. We got good food (I had no fast food on the way out since we ate at a nice grill on the 4th and got good sandwiches on the 5th), made great time, and have fantastic memories of the ride. 

Our 4th of July dinner. 

Some cool cars at our hotel that must have been in the parade earlier that day. 

Erik did get McDonald's on the 5th at what he thinks has the best McDonald's fries in the US. It's in Kearney, NE. It's right next door to a Runza that has amazing sandwiches!

We arrived at my mom's and Jim's on Sunday with a little time to spare before making it to our dinner appointment with a former missionary companion of Jason's from Chile, whom we missed while there since they moved to Orem. I got to give my dad, sister, and her husband a hug before we went to Mario's with Austin and Erik (Kade was still in SLC). We practiced our Chilean Spanish some more, and Austin contributed a tad after his 1 year of Spanish in HS. Some of Mario's kids have learned English over the past year they've lived in Utah, so we spoke some English with them.

Austin and Erik left a little early to have a cousin party at my brother's house with the youngest bunch. Unfortunately, we didn't get any pics with Mario, but we did make promises to see them again next time we go to Utah and don't have so many places to be. 

Austin and Erik with their cousins at Derek's house. 

Grandpa Dave was there too for a bit, so Austin got to thank him for the car. 

After an early swim with my mom and Jim the next morning, I left early to pick up Kade and drive to Rexburg. I needed to get to Victoria's to finish up her last missionary shopping since we don't have that type of stuff in the Midwest. 

Kade and I enjoyed shopping with her in Idaho Falls, including eating at a nice sandwich shop. That time was just as precious as my time driving with my youngest 2. We even laughed, after the fact, that I got pulled over by an Idahoan cop who let me off, after saying, "I don't know how they do it in Michigan, but in Idaho, we follow the speed limit!" We've been quoting him ever since!

Victoria had class when we returned, so Kade and I met up with Jason's parents at our Airbnb, which was only 2 minutes from Victoria's apartment. We went to dinner with them since Jason had to work from Grandma Pat's house, and made it up later that evening with Austin and Erik. It was so good to have that extra car!!

Our cute Airbnb!

It's the oldest house in Rexburg! It survived the great flood that President Eyring talked about in one of his conference talks. 

Victoria stopped by after practice, and I had to get a pic of these two who resemble each other the most.

Then I got one of my sandwich kids. 

Finally, with all of our kids since Christmas!

Jason had to work most of the days we were in Rexburg, since he took off for Chile, but he worked Michigan times, so he was done around 3 each day (but started at 6am). We went to Rigby Lake with Victoria and her roommate Kate between their classes and getting ready for their first Extravadance show on Tuesday. The show was incredible! We got front row seats, just as we had planned!

My run that morning. 

I made it up the hill to run by the temple!

Rigby Lake

Erik really wanted to take this selfie of the 4 of them.

Awaiting the show, we realized Jason and his dad were twins!

After the show. 

Her Rexburg "family".

With the President of BYU I and his wife. 

The next day, we went on a 1.5-hour drive to my Aunt Karen and Uncle Bill's cabin in West Yellowstone. They built a new one that is simply amazing, and we'll have to go again to actually spend more time there, and include Jason and Victoria.

Uncle Bill let Erik wear this hat, and he really wanted a picture with Abuelo and Bill, and their hats. 

Hebgen Lake

Bald eagle

It was so fun to catch up with them!

The second night of the Dance Alliance performance was probably better than the first, for me. I knew better what to expect and even got to sneak in some recording to take still photos from. (Victoria's ballroom partner had gotten one the night before, so I knew I wouldn't be the only one. And her friends appreciated the little bits and pieces I got). That was the last time we'll see her dance until after her mission. It was a real treat, especially with her debut as a ballroom dancer. I never thought she would improve so much in her college years.

Thursday, Jason finished up his half day of work, just in time for us to check out of our Airbnb. We sent Gramms and Abuelo to caravan with Austin, Erik, and Kade down to Bear Lake while Jason and I helped pack up our truck with all of the things Victoria won't need for her last 2 weeks of school and on tour with Dance Alliance. Another good reason for the extra car, the truck was completely full! We would have had to rent a U-Haul trailer. 

They stopped at the Potato Museum on the way down. 

Just enough space for our bags in the back.

This was the back seat. There was one seat on the other side. 

Our ride down was gorgeous!

We met up with the Mercado group who left Rexburg earlier and my mom and Jim at our next Airbnb in Bear Lake, which also happens to be the Airbnb my brother owns with his in-laws. My mom finally got to rent it for our family reunion, and it was arranged to coincide with Victoria's show.

Dinner at our next Airbnb!

The moon that night.

 

The next day, Derek came up with his two younger kids after a bike ride, some games, and some sightseeing. 

This spring is in Soda Springs. You can drink the water from this blocked-off area. It's just like sparkling water and so delicious!

Fun, old-fashioned seesaws there!

Leading up to the spring.

The Montpelier Temple that is almost complete and right off the road!

Ping pong after Izaak and Kallie arrived. 

A visit to the lake with them.

It was Saturday that the bigger reunion started when some of Jim's family came. Jason's parents left, but Jan and Jaron arrived with two of their kids and their spouses, plus 3 grandkids.  It was also the day Derek took out the boat so the kids could wakeboard, wake surf, and tube. 

We went for a run first.

Lots of hills!

Derek, showing us what he can do!

Had to try the best burgers and raspberry shakes there. 

We went to church in the summer visitor ward Sunday morning, which only included sacrament meeting with one speaker (a Utah rancher dude) and about 12 Deacons passing the sacrament with 2 trays each. The congregation was the size of our stake building on a busy stake conference day. 

We returned to Victoria, Kate and Janie's arrival, just in time for more boating! Jim's daughter Nikki arrived with her husband and 2 of their kids to finalize the number for our reunion. 

The big group!

Dinner was delicious, and the conversation and games afterwards were a nice way to end the day. Nikki lives in Logan, so they weren't far and left that evening to check on their cabin. Jaron's son and his family left that evening, too. The rest started leaving on Monday. Those of us who stayed had a quieter day at the lake, just kayaking and paddleboarding. 

This was the last time Victoria was going to see Janie until after her mission. 

Tuesday, I left early, again, to drive Victoria and Kate back to Rexburg. Janie lives in Star Valley, WY., over the summer and had gone to Rexburg to see the last show and then drove Kate and Vicky down to Bear Lake. Since she wasn't going back to Rexburg, I drove them, and Kade decided to come and keep me company. Since we were in the truck and there was only one seat in the back, Kade sat in the middle in the front for the 3.5-hour drive. What a trooper, but I was so glad he came with me, because then we had an 8-hour drive to meet up with Jason, Austin, and Erik in Cheyenne, where we stayed the night. Jason worked that morning, somehow, and then left around 10:30. Kade and I left Rexburg about an hour later and had 2 extra hours to drive, but we did it! 

A little break in the Bridger-Teton area.

The last day and a half were spent caravanning back to Michigan. Since Austin drove so much on the way out and Kade split the drive to Cheyenne with me, I knew they could switch off in the Honda for the rest of the drive. Erik was in their backseat chilling and handing out snacks, so I got to spend the rest of my road trip with Jason on the road, for some more enjoyable music and conversation. 

Victoria tours Idaho and Utah next week with Dance Alliance before flying out here herself and completes the final steps to start her mission!