OK, out of order post. Everything that happened in TX is at the bottom, but actually happened first. The rest is hopefully close to in order concerning the Great Road Trip of 2010.
The first day we drove 18.5 hours straight. The boys were troopers. We made it all the way to Grand Junction, where the boys started the day swimming with Michael and Greta, Mom's
Gebhard cousins. Dad, of course, had to try out the slide!
That afternoon half of us made it to the "Y" on the mountain, #2 being the only one to go all the way to the top. It was crazy hot, and we didn't prepare with water like we should, so #s 3 & 5 & mom made it to the 3rd turn and retreated to the cool of the car.
The next 2 nights we stayed in Bountiful with Mom's dear, dear friend Sandra.
Sandra is quite the hostess--setting up shooting and a trip to the Bountiful Temple for Dad and #1, grocery runs for the kids' favorites, a
beany baby give away, a family gathering, time to see Dad's high school friend Lance and his family, and lots of Phineas &
Ferb.
Next we headed to Nana and Papa's house. While we were there, we had our 13
th anniversary. Here's the card Dad sent Mom ahead of time. I want to go on this trip someday--only I'll be doing the driving. :)
Uncle Earl engineered this awesome slip-n-slide...then injured himself trying to out-do the kids on it!
We spent a couple of afternoons at the rivers close by. The kids would have spent the entire week there. They loved the sand, the shells, playing keep away, the parks, everything.
We had to get a little creative with sleeping arrangements with 6 adults and 9
grandkids gathered. Here #4 is all settled in for the night in the very favorite sleeping spot.
We absolutely loved the opportunity to help out a little on the new house that Papa is building. We got to pick up rocks and do some weeding--Mom even got to learn a little about wiring electrical outlets! Here the boys think they're digging an important trench; this activity quickly became filling the trenches with water and then mud play--which was just as Pops intended it to be.
On the way to the Gram
Fam Reunion 2010, we stopped at Bridal Veil Falls. #2 never lacks imagination--he's not just posing for a picture; he's EXPLORING.
Gram
Fam Reunion was a blast--every single member of Grandma Clark's family was able to make it. We weren't able to get a pic of the entire group, but here's the
LeBaron contingent.
They planned it so well--with activities for the kids, lots of outside time, a humanitarian project, terrific meals, games galore, family history stories, Sherry's stories, you name it. #2 even made a pen pal out of cousin Elizabeth.
The adults played touch football at the park. Of course, when #3 joined in, it accidentally became
tackle football.
It was really fun to see the cousins (#5 and Lydia here) hit it off and seriously enjoy themselves!
No end to the entertainment with aunts like this around!
Then Mom drove the boys to Gram and Pops (12 hours) because Dad had to stay in Portland and work. We spent tons, and I mean TONS, of time swimming (or imitating caterpillars like #1).
When Dad joined us, he became the favorite object of attack!
Many, many diving contests. #4 has officially become fearless in the water.
We always go to the San
Fracisco Zoo.
I tried to convert this gorgeous girl to Texas-ism.
And I got major bonus points for accompanying Gram and the hoards into the petting zoo. I really, really hate petting zoos. :) I think I may finally be growing up and getting over my germ fixations a little bit. Let's all cheer!
We went to Emily's new house. Emily is always, constantly, helping everyone around her. I was thrilled to be able to help her paint the finishing touches in a couple of rooms. We even got to be there on her birthday. Happy Birthday, Em!
Majel got baptized, and we had a precious cousin choir.
They made such good friends with their cousins that Porter wore #1's hat with his own for days afterward because he missed these boys.
More swimming and splash parks and fun! This is #5 mid-jump.
We had lots of rain--love our alleyway / canal just for this purpose! Next time if we can just talk Dad into joining us for part of the action...
Here's one of 2 flag ceremonies we did with 1, 2, 3, and Dad. The peanut gallery is off to the side learning how to salute.
The Fourth of July is an important day at our house. Here's #3 in uniform at the Patriotic Pops Symphony.
In August, we did tons of scout requirements. Here #3 enjoys the dutch oven meal he made with Dad (in our garage because TX+August+dutch ovens=YIKES hot).
#1 speaks with a hepterologist (or something like that!), a reptile care giver for his personal management merit badge. This kids LOVES snakes and would eat, sleep, and drink snakes the rest of his life if it would pay the bills!
Here #2 displays one of his projects for his Artist Activity Badge. He has absolutely been on fire since our last pack meeting, and is racking up the achievements fast.
#4 (top, standing) had his birthday. He wanted it to be a chef party because he has recently rediscovered the joys of homemade cookies. We decorated aprons, cupcakes, and chef hats, had ice cream dishes as prizes, and special treats Zeke helped make as favors.
Here are the favors #4 designed. He always, always, ALWAYS has something in his pockets. So this was the perfect favor for my little chef--legos for boys, nail polish for girls, all in a cookie "pocket."
We adore the Dallas World Zoo Aquarium, especially their BIG fish tank with 2 manatees and a fish that has adapted living in watering holes that sometimes dry up outside the rainy season and now sometimes comes up for air (my kids would be so incensed that I don't remember its name!) and the shark tunnel, shown above (cousin, 2, 4, 3, 5, 1 left to right).
More from the road trip--Mike and I loved the trip to Gilroy without kids thanks to Gram. The sunglasses, shirt, and vest are some of the loot we snapped up.
We really enjoyed this little car museum along our route.
Can you tell how HOT it was at the Grand Canyon? Still, it was Dad's first time, and we loved it. We even saw two bucks and a moose as we drove through.
These two, and especially #4, were explorers. They wanted to hike and climb and go right to the edge. I do not exaggerate in saying that I had to NOT watch from the car so that I wouldn't be stressed and mad at Mike for how close they got to the edge.
Lots and lots of cousin time as well. Here the boys spent the night with Ethan in a tent in the backyard.
