Still Trippin'

On Wednesday, August 5th, we packed up, cleaned up, said our good-byes and drove to Boise.
There, I stayed with mom and dad, while Loni and her girls settled in at Darin and Angela’s house. Darin played with the girls and chased them around the house before bed that night. The next morning, the first thing Madison said was, “Is that man still here?” We spent a wonderful week in Boise! I got to hang out with my parents, and help them do a few things, including a “grandchildren’s box” project and some downsizing for mom.

We went out to dinner and a girls’ night at the movies to celebrate Angela’s birthday. Grandpa Holderness took Alli and Madison on some wonderful walks, played “visiting teacher” in the park with them, watched their stick boats float down the stream, explored in the science museum with them, and helped them pick blackberries from his yard. They loved every minute with him!

We had Sunday dinner with everyone at Darin and Angela’s, which was so much fun that we gathered again on Monday night for leftovers and FHE, including a rip-roaring game of Duck, Duck, Goose! We got to have a pizza party with a dozen strapping young men in attendance, while they all watched Perry mow grandpa’s lawn. I’m not sure why they were all watching while the 16 year old girl was mowing, but in retaliation, she mowed right over the extension cord! I thought it was fabulous! (Okay. It wasn’t in retaliation. It was an accident.)

Loni and some of the local cousins enjoyed a dinner out together. She and her girls also spent several days playing with Becky and her children. Very soon, our time in Boise drew to an end, and it was time to mosey on down the road. What a wonderful time it was!

We said our good-byes, climbed back in the Excursion, and headed east-ish. Our first stop on the way back home was Pocatello. We were able to dine on divine BLT sandwiches with the Braun family, and they treated us to an amazing performance of “Aladin” at the local community theater. The performance was as good as any we’ve ever seen. Alli was convinced it was the real thing! After the show, she went up to Jasmin, with eyes wide in adoration, and whispered, “I have your movie!” We all got to take a ride on the magic carpet that had been used in the production, and it was a magical evening!

From Pocatello, we headed on down the road to Grace, where we stayed at the Newbry Inn and Suites. The accommodations are fabulous there, and I highly recommend it to any weary travelers. We spent the next day watching the Kingston girls, the Maynerich girls and the Newbry boys play together. What a delightful day that was! The weather was perfect, and we just moved from one meal to the next snack all day long while we chatted away and watched the children play.

Next, we were off to Salt Lake City, where we met up with a herd of relatives for a day at the Hogle Zoo. It was fun to meander between the animal exhibits while we visited with different cousins all afternoon. The kids had a wonderful time being together and then we all headed over to the Chuckarama for dinner. Not wanting to give up that family feeling, we migrated to a park, where we were together almost until dark. Finally, we couldn’t prolong leaving any longer, so we said some final good-byes.

Down the road we went again, to Provo town. A week with Jolene, Rob and Kristi wasn’t even long enough. We had such a good time! We shopped and talked for a couple of days, then acquired another 4 year old, when Annie flew home with Juliet and Luke, but left Adri to drive back home with us. We took all the girls to the salon, where Kristi gave everyone haircuts.

Alli suggested that we should hike up that big mountain with the Y on it, so we did! What little troopers Alli, Madison and Adri were! They all three hiked the entire way to the Y without once being carried! Rob, Loni and I tried to keep up with them, while Kristi was at school and Jolene babysat Taya for us. As Madison so adeptly put it, “I don’t ever, ever, EVER want to do that again!” But it was sure fun once.

On the 20th of August, we celebrated the twins’ 21st birthday by splashing down at Seven Peaks in the afternoon. We followed that with a huge celebratory dinner at the Olive Garden with family and friends, then finished the evening by playing laser tag and riding the bumper cars at Boon Docks. It was quite the birthday!

Who's Having A Birthday?

Sadly enough, we had to leave the next day. We drove for three days before arriving in Seymour, Indiana to visit the Potter family. There were four little girls who were very happy
to be out of the car for a couple of days! They had a smashing time with Ella and Alex doing all the things that little girls love to do.

Back in the car for our last long leg of the journey.

Richmond, Virginia called to us, and we were happy to spend the last 5 days of our vacation with Natie, McKenzie and little Kenna. (Who could also be called miniature McKenzie, she looks so much like her mama!)

With trips to the Science Museum and the ever favorite Children’s Please Touch Museum, visiting the butterfly garden and playing in the fountains there, plus building a ladder with Uncle Natie for the tree house, the time went by quickly.

And it’s always fun to hold and play with baby Kenna, who has grown by leaps and bounds since she was born. Kenna had two sleep-overs with grandma while we were visiting, and slept through the night both times. We think her parents lie about her getting up in the night! But all good things must come to an end, and it was time to go home.

Our roadtrip ended on Saturday, August 29, with a four hour leg from Richmond to Hockessin.
There were a lot more miles on the Excursion, and a lot more Kodak moments in our memory banks. What an awesome trip it was! And waiting to welcome us back home were Bruce, Jesse, Annie, Jason, Juliet, Luke…..and the newest members of our East Coast Contingency…..JD, Jamie and Hailey! We were very content to be home again.