Wow! What a Whirlwind Vacation!!!

Yes, we did survive!!!! For the past 6 months we (that really means- ME) have been looking forward to this great family vacation. For those of you who didn't know we made a trek northward. Like always it was an adventure from the very beginning!!! Brent and I decided to take our time and split the drive up into three days. It started off really well, until we hit New Mexico. New Mexico HATES us. Something always goes wrong there. The first time we went we lost the transmission in the Suburban we had owned 28days. We spent 3 days in the middle of nowhere waiting on a new one. It was AWESOME!!! The second time I got strep and had a 104.3 fever and had to go to the emergency room to get a shot in my BUTT. Yeah it felt great spending the next two days sitting in the car. So, the entire time we were in New Mexico I was waiting for something to happen. On day two it looked like we might make it through without a problem. Wishful thinking. As we were heading to breakfast in the hotel lobby, Brynlie starts throwing-up everywhere! It was awful. Needless to say we found out that she had pneumonia. When we finally made it to Salt Lake City we spent a week just playing. We took the kids to Lagoon, Hogle Zoo, Temple Square, This is the Place Monument and then just visiting with friends and family. We even hit the 4th of July parade that I used to go to when I was a kid. I loved it! They even brought a tank down the middle of the street. It was unbelievable!!! The next week we spent with Brent's family. There is a HUGE field behind his parents place where we took the kids 4-wheeling, we cooked smores and tinfoil dinners in the fire pit. We had a great time, except the mosquito's were terrible. From Blackfoot we headed to Star Valley, Wyoming. There we spent 3 days with all of Brent's family. That includes 12 adults and 15 kids in one cabin. That was an adventure all in itself. After Brent's family reunion we headed to Island Park, Id for my reunion. Almost everyone was able to make it. Aimee's husband had just been deployed days before, Mandy and her family needed to stay behind. It was just to far to travel with the the twins, I am glad that they were able to make it to SLC. Abbey's husband is doing his residency and I needn't say anymore. Even though not everybody was there we had a great time. We went to Yellowstone where we saw old faithful, buffalo, elk, deer, pelicans, a bald eagle and a moose! The kids LOVED it. We also went to a fish hatchery, Mesa Falls and swam in a freezing cold river. We even did a family Olympics! After the great food and family fun we started the trek homeward bound. Trying to be the best parents ever we decided to head home a different way. When we hit Kansas we couldn't find a place to stay. The kids can now say that they have spent a full 36 1/2 hours in the car, non-stop!!! For those of you who are curious sleeping in the car is not comfortable. I don't recommend it. Needless to say, we made it home safe and sound, and VERY grateful to be out of the car!!! Here are some pictures of our trip. All of the kids did enjoy the cool weather and the Beautiful mountains. All McKenely wanted to do was climb a mountain. So I drove as close as I could and let her have it. I hope this will be a memory that they will never forget.