Utah/ Idaho trip

disclaimer: these pictures are all out of order...but all from the same trip. :) 

In July we had the opportunity to drive up to see family! We prepped by getting DVD players (new thing for us in the car) lots of stickers, books, coloring, etc. The girls did pretty well, considering it's a good 24 hour drive to Utah. We left Friday after shaun got home from work and drove to Dallas to stay with his brother. Stayed Saturday somewhere and made it sunday afternoon to Orem.

Seeing the falls! Claire LOVED the water even though it was freezing!

New for all of us was seeing the Payson temple and payson canyon

BBQ and games with the family!

Claire being brave and going down the big BIG slide!

Are we there yet?

Stopping to eat...hooray for finally finding a Mexican restaurant that Claire can eat at!

sketchy entrance to restaurant

At Broderick's.... rocket ships

Grandpa with the grandkids

 Aunt Beth gives the best rides!

 

 We headed to Idaho...Started with hot air balloon launch Driggs, Idaho 

Shaun went with my brothers up to the Tetons...beautiful! 

 

Two sleeping girls in the car...phew! mom and dad can relax and enjoy some quiet driving time 

Broderick's yard...heaven on earth

Happy 4th of July!

Life next the river! So relaxing!

The three pregnant ladies! Due: November, December, and November

We had fire works thanks to uncle Ben!

Nana and Papa's basement was full of lots of fun!

So much fun in Idaho with Tyson & Brittani

Provo City Center Temple! BEAUTIFUL! Shaun had a conference in OH so he flew out and the girls and I stayed in Idaho an extra few days. Then we picked up Shaun in SLC and left the next morning.

On our drive home...do we have to leave already....

We pushed and pushed our drive and ended staying in New Mexico. We got to our hotel at 10:30 PM. The lady at the front desk, "Sorry sir, your room won't be ready for an hour!!!" WHAT?!" We've been in the car ALL stinkin' day and now it's going to be midnight. They were willing to refund our money but the other hotels were a lot more expensive and most of them booked. I guess almost all of the staff quit that day. :/

The second day of driving was just as long...got stuck in Dallas horrible traffic where the main freeway was shut down, then drove through crazy winds and rain. "If only we can get home, right?"
we pulled in about 10:30 pm only to discover our power was out. It was 90 degrees in our house, no fans, no AC, nothing... sadly our power did not come on for another 24 hours. We went out to breakfast the next morning with our neighbors, then ended up sleeping at a friends house that night. Very kind people to let us stay with them! This tree was down right at the end of our street! Just grateful we didn't have any damage...just no power!
Too bad we just didn't stay a day longer but who knew?! The only benefit from having our power out was the ice machine in our freezer started working again! YAY!

Overall such a great trip!