Road Trip!

We decided to go a little crazy this past weekend and spent over 30 hours on a massive road trip so we could be where we needed to be (really specific writing there, eh?)

By far, the most relaxing part of the trip was the time we spent staying in the country on my sister's land.  Babies were held, toddlers ran around outside with their cousins all day long, and I got to chat with my sister in person and marvel at all of the amazing things they are doing.

The girls wore jammies for the 10 hour drive... and as soon as we got to my sister's, we just hopped out and started playing.

On Saturday, we were privileged and blessed to be able to attend a dear friend's ordination to the priesthood.  Rickey was actually a groomsman in our wedding, so it was wonderful to be there for his "big day" as well!  I also saw a lot of former teachers as well as grade school and high school friends (Rickey and I went to school together from 1st grade until he entered the seminary after our sophomore year of college).      

Receiving a first blessing!  We both felt those graces, for sure!

 Then there was more cousin time, and repacking everything up from my sister's home to get ready for a very early morning drive to Nebraska.

We rose and shone a little after five in the morning, and were on the road by 6:15.  A little over five hours later, one upset baby vomit, and some cruddy drive-thru breakfast, we were officially at the family reunion (or "communion" as Anni calls it).  

Babies were snuggled by aunts, uncles and cousins, we met all of the cousin's babies that we hadn't gotten to marvel over in the past few years, and just soaked in the general family craziness.  

There we all are!  Not only was it great to catch up with cousins I haven't seen in forever... but I was able to see some of my siblings who hadn't even met the baby yet (ahem, especially that mister getting his doctorate several states away).  

It was a wonderful, crazy, humid (have I mentioned I love that Colorado is so not humid), hug-filled afternoon.  Afterwards, we all crashed for a few minutes in our hotel rooms and then went on to fill a few tables at the local Mexican restaurant, where Anni promptly passed out and spent the rest of the meal sleeping in Daddy's arms.  The next morning, a sweet friend made us a delicious breakfast, we visited my wonderful godmother in Omaha and then, after a meal at the Bohemian Cafe to bolster our spirits, we headed out on our drive back.  The drive back was definitely not as smooth as our first drive... Miss Lettie was d-o-n-e.  We did the first three hour stretch and then stopped six times in the next couple (several times just pulling over to the side of the road) to calm our poor baby.  Finally, a little over 10 hours later, we made it home, started a load of laundry and passed out, waking up to massive colds and a whole lot of preparation for our 10 day challenge (more on that later).  Whew.  We both determined we don't want to drive again for a verrrry long time.  Totally worth it though: family and all of that stuff.