The Summer Trip To The West

We made the LONG, LONG, drive out West to visit our family this month.  And, we were gone for almost an entire month.

I was only too happy to abandon the crazy Summer schedule that we had somehow found ourselves keeping, and spend time with the people we miss.

We will have many memories of lots of time spent in the car as a family. I can only hope that my children remember it fondly, instead of as being trapped in a torture device. It is easy to think of the car as that after about the 16th hour on the road. They really are little champs when it comes to traveling, even Walker, who only up until about two weeks before the drive would cry incessantly in the car, no matter how short the trip. Thankfully, he outgrew it just in time. It was unfortunately, Georgia who had the toughest time. We heard plenty of "I'm hungry!" out of that girl. Any time she was bored, or needed to stretch, or got tired, she would repeat it over, and over.

We did make some stops along the way. Del needed to interview two people in Iowa City, so the kids and I kept ourselves entertained for a couple of hours, and then it was back on the interstate.

The drive is worth it when we get to see our parents, siblings, the many, many cousins, and my grandparents, who are still living.

These are all the grandkids on my side of the family at Wheeler Farm.

Me with my mom, and all of my sisters. I love them all SO much. We look like we are backpacking across Europe or something with all of our bags. I guess that comes with the territory when you are a mom, on an outing to the farm.
And you should see how effective we are as a group when it comes to breaking up fights between rival gangs of ducks!  Boy, those Wheeler Farm ducks are vicious!

The two guys that were able to come along, Del and Christopher.

Walker WITHOUT the helmet. I took it off so he wouldn't get heat stroke that day. That is picture worthy these days! We hate that thing!

Then, just days after driving through Wyoming to get to Utah, Del turned around and went back to the Wind Rivers to backpack for a week with his best friend, brother, and nephews. He hiked to this point...

To catch lots of these...

Yuck.

While Del was gone, we had lots of fun with cousins and grandparents. I got to leave the kids with Aunt Renee's kids to go buy new running shoes, get a good six mile run in, and get a pedicure with Renee. We also hit Copperton Park with my parents and sister for a pizza picnic.

Walker is a fan.  And Grandpa is a good pusher.

Grandma gave the kids an excellent demonstration of how to pump your legs.

And then we took up every single swing to practice pumping skills. As you can see Hailey and Mallory are quit advanced.

We were happy to be able to celebrate the 24th of July in Utah with family. This is the anniversary of the day the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, to nothing but a desert climate and amazing mountains. They made the valley thrive and bloom, and began the path that would lead to statehood for Utah.
In Utah the celebration of independence and patriotism continues throughout the entire month of July.

My mom and dad make some KILLER BBQ chicken. It is the best recipe for it that I have ever eaten, and thankfully they have passed it on to all of us girls.
Isn't it pretty?

We ended the night with some real fireworks in the street. In Illinois everything is illegal except really unexciting fireworks that let off colored smoke. This was an upgrade from our 4th of July fireworks show.

Del and I were off to Mexico a few days later! More to come! We do love you and your mountains, Utah!