Oregon Trip 2014 - The Drive

June 6, 2014 - The start to our much anticipated vacation.
We started our Drive Friday morning around 9:00 am.  Zach really wanted to be out the door hours earlier, but with 4 kids, and my awful, terrible memory, (I always remember NEEDED things not until the last minute) It really didn't happen.   We situated the girls in the back seat together, and the boys in the middle.  This was in hopes that the fighting would be minimal.  The kids and I went to the dollar store the night before we left to get a few things to keep them from getting bored.  We made little packs for each of them, that had pen, crayons, coloring book, origami paper, lined paper, and drawing paper.  I also made a food bag for the van.  I put lots of crackers, cookies, applesauce, granola bars, fruit snacks, grapes, carrots, protein bars (for Zach and I) and some sandwiches I made for our Friday Lunch.
As we left Hyrum, we opted to fill up with gas over at the Maverick in Brigham City.  When we got there, gas was 30 cents cheaper than Hyrum. WOW!!! Filler' Up.  We went the snowville way.  I cannot believe people choose to live out that way.  Nothing but sagebrush, and more sagebrush everywhere.    A few trailers and double wides here and there, but not much more.  Oh wait, we did come across this sign by the road, and Alex just so happen to have to go to the bathroom.  Zach snapped a picture because he always shows his bare butt.

Little Jayden was good for most of the drive Friday, until the last 2 1/2 hours.  This is where he decided he had, had enough driving and wanted out.  He was so tired at this point, but wouldn't give in.  He cried and whined for over an hour until he fell asleep. I wouldn'tlet anyone talk after that.  I did not want to chance him waking up again. A few pics here:
                                                                        
            A happy Car:

Animal Crackers, YUM!

This is how Alex eats his Granola Bars when he's bored

Getting Along, YES!!

             Still A Happy Baby

Dad, concentrating on the road. He has no idea I snapped this.

Wait for it . . . There it is. Tired, Grumpy Baby

For most of the days drive, we were driving by ourselves.  We caught up to Grandma and Grandpa Checketts at a rest stop and didn't even plan it. We ate our sandwiches, chips, grapes, and carrots, and they had Quiznos.  From there we followed each other to our Hotel in Reno, NV.

Juanito Bandito

Tonight we took Zach ' family to see the play/musical Juanita Bandito. It was hilarious and we all got our own 'staches! Lyndee enjoyed it so much, that she was hooting and hollaring. She came home with 3 mustaches. One for her lip and 2 for her sideburns. I took mine off during intermission.  That HURT!! I felt like I was waxing my upper lip (which I have NEVER done).
Thank you Aunt Mariah (my sis-in-law) for watching and putting up with our 3 youngest kids.
We went to dinner before the show and it was not very good. You know it's not good when my hubby leaves more than half a Ruben sandwich on his plate, and I only had 1 bite of my steak. My baby wouldn't even eat my steak, and he loves to eat. We haven't eaten St the Bluebird for years and now I know why. UGH! Also . . . If someone makes a reservation for 6 pm have that table ready 10 min. to 6 pm not 15 min after.
Ok I'm done ranting.
I highly recommend Juanita Bandito if anyone needs a little night out with some laughs.

A smile to my face

Last night I went grocery shopping with Lyndee. After passing by the dairy section I turned back to get some cottage cheese. Now, Alex loves cottage cheese, and I don't buy it that often. Once in awhile if I think about it I'll pick some up.  as the kids and I are unloading the groceries from the van, and putting them away, I hear something that every mother loves to hear. In the words of Alex with a look of utter surprise upon his face, he says to me, "YOU ARE THE BEST MOM EVER!!!"  At first I had no idea why he had said this, so I simply asked him. "Why?" He replied, "You bought my most favorite treat ever!" In my head I'm thinking to myself trying to remember all the things that I bought at the store, wondering what treat did I buy him? I really couldn't remember buying him a treat. I bought Lyndee a treat because she came with me we ate them in the car before we got home, but I really couldn't remember buying a treat for Alex that he absolutely loves and was his favorite. Then slowly and happyily with that surprise look up on his face, he pulls the cottage cheese out of the grocery sack. You would have honestly thought he was in heaven. I was if one could just hear this wonderful music playing in the background as he lifted it into the air above his head in wonder and awe that Mom bought him cottage cheese!
It brought such a smile to my face. Zach would be proud. They both like cottage cheese.

An Alex Funny

So tonight I asked Alex a question while driving home.
Me: Alex, when you get older and get married, will you marry a nice girl?
Alex: Why Mom?
Me: I will be so sad if you marry a mean girl and I never get to see you.
Alex: OK Mom. I will. But . . . If I forget will you remind me?
Me: (Laughung with a huge smile on my face.) YES I WILL!

Good Morning

Alex and the Car Show

We took the kids down to South Towne Expo Center to see the Car Show.  All the new 2014 makes and models.  We were really worried that the kids would be bored and whining the whole time, but I really wanted to go this year.  In years past Zach has gone with his dad and brothers.  We wanted to check out the new vans, cross-overs, and good gas mileage commuter cars.






When we got there we drove around the parking lot for over 30 min just waiting for someone to pull out.  We actually got one just a few cars from the front.  GREAT!  We walk into the show, and the kids are in awe!  "Can we get in them?" Lyndee asked.  "Yea", Zach replied.  They were having a blast.  In and out of every car they went.  Even Madi was having so much fun.






We were checking the Nissan cars out.  My most memorable moment from that night was this:  Alex crawled in the new, basic Nissan Versa.  Alex starts playing with the passenger window and says, "WOW! Mom, Dad look at this.  I can make the window go up and down by moving this thing. (It did not have power windows).  We realized that none of our kids have ever seen a manuel windows.  Wow, we are getting old if my kids have only had power everything cars.  It made us laugh for sure.  It gave Uncle Matthew, and Aunt JJ a laugh for sure. 






Half way through, the kids did get tired and really wanted to go to the hotel.  But they totally enjoyed climbing in and out of the Toyota Sienna Van.  Lyndee actually begged us to buy it.  I really liked it and would get it if Money were never an issue. 






 Pictures to come of the kids enjoying the car show.  Lyndee and Alex got to do a LIVE shoot with KSL studio.

Funny Madi

So last night Miss Madi wanders into our bedroom just as I had dozed off.  She come right up next to me and this is our conversation:


Madi: Mom?
Mom: Whats wrong Madi?
Madi: I mad at Minnie.
Mom: Why?
Madi: Ummmmmm . . . . . . . (No Answer, she just stands there thinking.)
Mom; Do you want me to tuck you back in bed?
Madi: NO! I mad at Minnie!!
Mom: Why are you mad at her?
Madi: Ummmmmm . . . . . . . . (long, Long, Long pause) SHE GOT IN MY WAY!!!!!


(At this point Zach was trying to hold back the laughter, because she's just so stinking cute)


Mom: I'm sorry  she got in your way, are you ready for bed?
Madi: Yep, I want my minnies and blankie's.
Mom: Ok, lets tuck you in.


As I head back to her bed she wants one of her Minnie's with her under the blaket, and the other (the one that got in the way) up on her headboard.  What a little cutie.  She really does have such a cute personality as she reaches 3 years old.  Love her.  She fights with Alex non stop and feels she rules the roost around the house.  (Secret . . . She kinda does!)