Utah Trip 2011

Ok, So my sister so lovingly pointed out, that I blogged my Utah trip from 2010...NOT the one we took this year!!
So here it is!: After I got notification that I was going to be laid off from the bank.. we recieved a graduation announcement.. my brothers "son" was graduating from Syracuse High School... We looked at each other and said "Think we can make it? Think we can pull the kids out of school for a couple days? think so? Ok..." So.... I spent the next few weeks preparing in secret.. WE figured if we told the kids we were going, and couldn't make it theyd be sad.. and if we told the kids we were going.. and we went.. they'd misbhave and be snots from all the excitement they were building up... so ... we created Operation Super Secret Vaca... Or (SSV for short) I posted and spoke about SSV.. and ONLY.....3 people besides me and Gilbert knew we were going!! My brother, sister in law... and Dad... Kept is on the down low... I took the kids to school Thursday June 2... while they were at school... I took the car in for some routine maintenance... and than came home... and packed thier bags... stuffed the bags in the car.. washed it... and took a nap so I could help Gilbert drive... The kids got out of school... and I picked them up..making sure to keep them out of the back seat so they wouldn't see the trunk packed... Gilbert got home, and got ready to go... we pulled in the drive way, and he met us out there..and told the kids we were taking them to dinner.... well... By that time, I couldn't keep them out of the back seat... and all of a sudden before we hit Paso.. the questions started coming... "Mom is this my pillow?" "Hey Dad, Where are we going?" "Mom, why did you want my DS?" "We aren't just going to dinner are we...?" "Mom... this car is packed full... where we going?" "Does anyone else know where we are going?" We kept this up... for a while... not giving them ANY info... We stopped at Mom's favorite fast food.. Sonic in Bakersfield.. and hit the hiway again... I couldn't do it anymore.. we had kept the secret for hours... for weeks... Somewhere out paswt Bakersfield, we confirmed we were headed to Utah! They were SOOO excited... so... NOW I expect them to sleep...right?? WRONG!!! They fell asleep somewhere near Las Vegas... and were able to wake up after we got to Utah! Gilbert and I kept taking turns...an hour at a time.. it seemed to go FOREVER.. neither of us could sleep... between the overly packed car, and the Utah road construction, that I SWEAR they were doing LAST time we went though there.... the roads were rough and it was dark! So we got to Micah and Tanyas.. kids well rested... and Mom and Dad EXHAUSTED.... So Gilbert and I took a nap while the kids were more than entertained by Sam and Chaze. And like a bad Mom... we were having such a great time... I took....no pictures.... OK...here are the pictures I DID take.... heheheheee

Theres Sam graduating! We don't know...at this point... whose cords he stole..oh sorry "borrowed" cause they looked cool... but heres Sam! YEAH SAM!!

Here are the snow capped mountains we got to look at all weekend long.. it was a beautiful 85-90 degrees... and the mountains still had snow. We were able to take our time there this time, and it was so much fun. Tanya and I got up early Saturday morning, and went garage saleing with a couple of the neighbors.. IF I had room... to take SEVERAL things home with me.. . I SO would have... OH my.. they know how to garage sale.. it was fun.. I just wish I had girl friends here that would care to do that...

When we got back, we had some lunch and we headed to Smith and Edwards maybe...it was either that, or Roy Aquatic Center... It was Roy's I think.. cause we went to Smith and Edwards on Sunday morning maybe... We had a great time playing in the water, and than back to Tanya and Micah's to play in the water some more.. and than a great family picninc...bbq... pot luck in the back yard. I SO WISH I had pictures of these things.. but it was so relaxing and kick back.. it just didn't happen... we had a great time talking with the neighbors... eating Navajo Tacos (which the girls keep begging me to make again!) and an amazing peach cobbler made by Jared.... the neighbor. I didn't want to leave...

Sunday was our last full day there... we completed that day with a trip to the mall... and Smith and Edwards... Smith and Edwards..intresting... thats all there is to say about it.. pulling up you think you are entering a shack...and it jsut goes forever..with EVERYTHING....EVERYTHING under the sun... military gear, kitchen supplies, guns fishing stuff, clothes, food, shoes, EVERYTHING... Walmart on steroids... thats all there is to say...

We went home, well to Micah and Tanya's to prepare for an early departure...

Than we left early Monday morning... and drove home... allllll day long... Went through the Gorge.. which we all know is my favorite part... Stoped in Vegas at the reservation for 4th of July supplies.. and came home.. relaxed, rested, tired, and sad... we had to leave everyone there

:(
DEFINATLY ready to go back... now... today.. Get in the Truck Chuck, and lets go....

Too bad its not possible... we got obligations here, and Gilbert reminds me we need to be responsible :)