Home From the Other Side (Part One)

Whoohoooa…If it seems like I dropped out of this world it’s because I feel like I did!

We have just taken a SIX WEEK road trip across the country, driving over 4,000 miles round trip to see family and friends and many amazing historical sites. I had not planned to take off this much time from blogging and designing but when having a good internet connection became an issue during the first few weeks I ended up just letting it all go and enjoyed my time off. But I’m ready to be home.

Just a few highlights…

Two of my sisters flew out to Kentucky to help us make the trip across the country with our three kids. I’m not sure they knew what they were getting themselves into but my kids sure loved having them along. The main highlight of our five day drive with them to Washington was visiting historic Nauvoo.

Once we got to Washington we had a blast at a family reunion over the fourth of July weekend. I come from a huge family–seven aunts and uncles (plus their spouses) and forty-two first cousins. Plus most of us cousins (affectionately called the “level twos”) are married now and are starting to have our own families so there were lots of little kids running around and babies to squeeze. We have reunions every other year and always try to make attending a priority because we have the best time together. This year 99 of us were able to make it!

(Insert a gazillion reunion pictures here….too overwhelmed to go through them at the moment)

After the reunion we spent some time with my family and took the kids around my hometown in Washington–the beach, an old World War II fort, a walk on the dock, window shopping in upscale downtown shops, and out for ice cream. When I was a teenager I thought this little coastal town was soooo boring but now when I visit I realize how amazingly beautiful it is and how lucky I was to grow up there. And how lucky I am to be able to take my family there now. Going back home after a time away is always like that, isn’t it?

Going to the old-school double feature drive-in theater to see of Toy Story 3 and Eclipse with my siblings. We LOVE the old drive-in–sneaking in purses full of snacks, cuddling in blankets and staying up way too late to watch movies. Good times. I wish there were more drive-ins around but since we don’t have one close it’s become a tradition to go everytime I visit home. Depending on what’s playing of course.

(Don’t my kids look like they are part of the fam?)

My sister Chelsea and I are pretty big Twilight nerds so we got super excited when we found New Moon shirts on clearance for a dollar each. Who cares that we were going to see Eclipse, we bought shirts for everyone and made them sport them at the theater! Jared and my my brother Ben were thrilled. (Girls, this cutie just got home from a mission and is single!!)

And then onto another family reunion–my husband Jared’s side. And we’re only half way through the trip! More to come soon. . . . Better get caught up on some laundry and grocery shopping first.

Missed being here. So good to be home!!