Road Trip!

We signed Bryce up for the Especially For Youth program in Provo UT. Flying us all is way too expensive, so we decided to take a road trip! Unfortunately, Craig couldn't take two weeks off, so the four kids and I braved the trip without him.
I picked Bryce up in Arkansas where he had been for scout camp all week, and we went on from there. We stopped in Kansas City Friday night, Laramie Wyoming Saturday night, and made it to the Barton's house in Mapleton Utah on Sunday afternoon.

Here are Alana and Tolan stretching their legs at a 'free side of the road museum' (a.k.a. glorified souvenir shop). We also did the side-of-the-road water slides next door.



Bryce and Noah in their apartment for the week at the Riviera.


While Bryce was EFYing, the kids and I explored Mt Timpanogos...



...visited my college roommate Jodee and her family...



...toured Temple Square and the LDS Conference Center...



...visited my dear friend Heather and her family...



...and stayed with the Bartons again (along with the Briscoes). We all went to the Manti Pageant Friday night.





Bryce and Noah after EFY (don't they look so much older and wiser?). Bryce absolutely loved EFY! He experienced living on his own for a week, his first dances, great classes and activities, and a renewed testimony of the gospel. I just love this kid.


We picked Bryce up on Saturday morning and headed up to East Garland for a family get together. My cousin Craig bought some property at the riverbottoms and built a couple of professional ski courses on it. We all played in the water and enjoyed a barbecue. I haven't seen most of these cousins in over 10 years.





On Sunday afternoon we toured the Kennecott copper mine with Dad & Mom, Dave & Jen and Jake & Brandon. It's one of the largest man-made holes in the world!





We took the sourthern route home and stopped at an indoor waterpark in Albequerque. It was a very long trip, but worth it for Bryce's neat experience!