A couple weeks ago (june 23rd) we woke up bright and early and set off for Utah for a family reunion on my side. It was also Gracie's 4th birthday!! She didn't really get birthdays yet.. but she loooved getting presents to unwrap every few hours in the car and she knew there was a crown cake waiting for her at Grandmas! What she didn't know was that there were presents too!! Aunt Josie decorated the gazebo and Grandpa started a fire to roast marshmallows! Grandma had princess plates and cups and Susie made a huge crown cake for her! She was in heaven!!!
So, the next day we were supposed to leave for Logan for my family reunion- but that morning we got a call from my sister that she was in the hospital having her baby!! So, we got packed and ready and headed to hospital in hopes of her having the baby before we had to leave for the reunion. We went back and forth to the hospital and errands for most of the day. (my kids couldn't take too much hospital at one time) we stayed as long as we could but we just had to leave so we wouldn't miss the reunion - we knew we could come back the next day and see the baby! :) So, we left - with my dad in the very back of our car sitting on the floor with all the bags and Josie in between my kids. It was an interesting 3 hour ride to Logan. We got there in time for dessert and to see all the cousins for a few minutes. Alexis ended up delivering just as we got to Logan! So everyone just wanted to see pics of the baby!The next day we had a wonderful time at a park in Providence, playing and eating and chatting with all the relatives. I love seeing my cousins and aunts and uncles. We have such an wonderful family! So fun! After that we headed home with Heath in the back of the car this time! We went straight to the hospital to see the baby and boy is she cute!! Again, the kids didn't last long so soon we were on our way back to my parents house to bath kids and get ready for another day of driving.
We woke up the next morning and left for Vegas! We were going for a reunion with some friends from school in Texas. They live in Canada and Chicago. It was sooo fun to see them and hang out and catch up! We swam and ate yummy food and went to see the Bellagio gardens and dancing fountains. We bowled and slept and had a blast. Gracie had so much fun with their kids! The Mclungs have a boy, Hayden that's a month younger than Gracie and a boy, Grayson that's a month older than Crew! And the Edmunds have a boy. Peyton that's right in the middle of all of them! They had sooo much fun together, Gracie was sooo sad when we had to leave. She still talks about playing with Peyton and Hayden.
We had a blast! We got home Wednesday evening and unpacked and packed to go to Alpine for the 4th of July!
Before we left on thursday we CUT CREWS HAIR! Yes- I finally gave in and felt sorry for the boy. So we tied him down and cut it all off. It took a long time for me to get used to it (and even longer for him!) But, I love it now! He looks like he's 3 years old now and he looks like a real boy!!
We left right after that and drove (again) 4 1/2 hours to the other Grandma and Grandpas house. All in all in a 10 days we drove 2200 miles. Our poor kids! Everytime we put them in the car now they get antsy! don't think we'll do that again for awhile!
We did have fun in Alpine though! Gracie and the other kids were in the parade in a little train that Grandpa Hoopes had made for them. Jason pulled it with the 4 wheeler and it was the cutest float in the 10 minute parade.
The sad part was seeing Alpine after the biggest fire in Arizona history burned the mountains all around it the town. It even burned our beloved Escadia, the mountain where Heath carved our names in a tree when we first got married, and all his siblings had theirs as well. It was a place we went to ride 4 wheelers and have picnics. It was so beautiful and it's completely gone. But, Alpine the town- is still there and we're thankful for that. We hope to have a little bit of land up there someday :)
We had a blast with our family and friends (we took our next door neighbors up there with us) we played games and ate yummy food and I even got to go on a harley ride! So fun we were sad for our long trip to end. We came home Sunday and are still trying to get back to normal.
My brother, Johnny came to visit today so we're excited for the weekend! Too bad it's too hot to go do anything!
