Vacation 2010

On July 2 this year, we headed out for a family vacation. Our first night was spent in St. George. Friday evening we visited some old friends, the Howells in Hurricane. Then went on to do some shopping at the outlet stores, dinner, and then back to the hotel to do some swimming. After breakfast and packing up, we went over to Ivins to visit Sal's uncle Rich and Aunt Jarus. This is the view from their front yard.

After visiting with them, we headed to Vegas. We stayed at Sam's Town. It's off the strip and a little less crowded. That night, we met Sal's friend, Jesse, and his girlfriend for dessert in the TGI Friday's in the resort. We pretty much had everything we needed there and didn't have to leave the hotel except for church on Sunday. We visited one of our old wards (it had been dissolved just before we moved away over 10 years ago). Sal remembered a few more people than I did. The only people I remembered were our old bishop and his wife. And he remembered us. Walking into the chapel instantly took me back like it had only been yesterday. Sorry, no pictures of Vegas.

From Vegas, we went to Sal's mom's in Oxnard. She lives on Hollywood Beach. So the kids got to play on the beach and Sal and I took a couple of late night walks on the beach. It was like we were on the edge of the world. Dave and Tammy and their son Christian were there too. Here's Dave and Sal throwing Nolan in the sea.

Then it was Lena's turn.

They tried to get Lyndon, but he ran away.

They did bury Nolan in the sand. It was rather cool out there, and we pretty much had the whole beach to ourselves. When Nolan finally got himself out of the sand, he was cold so he laid in the sun to warm up.

Here's pretty Lena and my handsome man.

The next day, we went to Grandma's community pool.

Again, we had it to ourselves.

Lena is a very sentimental girl. Anytime we spend time with family or close friends, she cries when it's time to leave. She was crying before we even left Grandma's driveway. She made Grandma cry too. We arrived in Oxnard on Monday and left on Thursday.

 From Oxnard, we went to Ontario. Thursday night I had a girls night with my mom and sisters. I wish I could do that more often. Living 600 miles away makes it a little difficult.

On Friday, we headed up to Lake Arrowhead for a family reunion. It was lots of fun seeing family I haven't seen for a long time.

There was a beach for the kids to play in and Michael took us around in his boat. Nolan took the above picture of the lake.

Grampa Tom and Lyndon goofing off

Uncle Sal became the designated swing pusher for a time

Kaydee has this obsessive fear that people smaller than her will take her food. However I don't think she had much to worry about with Lylah because she preferred dirt.

Kaydee likes to play with cameras, so I let her take some pictures. She took one of her great-grampa Paul and one of my cousin Ashley, Uncle Todd, Aunt Julie and grampa. Not bad for a 4 year old.

I wanted to get a nice picture of them actually getting along at the hotel. But in order to do that, I have to promise to let them do a goofy one

On Saturday, we spent most of the day up in Arrowhead again, but I didn't get any pictures that day.

On Sunday, we went out to Yucca Valley to visit out old ward, the ward where Sal and I met. Lots of familiar faces there. My grandparents and cousin Megan and her family were also there, along with Uncle Mark. Plus, the Howells came too. Bishop Howell was the bishop when Sal and I got married and Uncle Mark was the bishop before him, so it was a nice treat to have 2 former bishops visiting. Some people remembered me and some said it was nice to meet me even though I remembered them from when I lived there.

There are a lot more windmills near the highway than there used to be.

After church, we went to the Edwards for lunch and visiting. Clint was the one that introduced Sal to the church and for that I will be forever grateful. After we left the Edwards, we surprised another friend. Sal called her up and didn't tell her we were in town. Toward the end of the phone call, as he was talking to Matthew, Matthew asked him when we were going to visit and Sal told him to go outside and open the gate. Arlene came out and was absolutely floored. I love surprising people. We hung out at her place for a while and  Sal and kids played Wii with Matthew. I went outside and enjoyed the middle of nowhere peacefulness and all the stars.

Monday, after going to my sister, Beth's to say goodbye, we started our trip back home. We stopped in Baker for lunch at Big Boys which is right at the foot of the tallest thermometer in the world.

Yes, Lyndon is sniffing Bob's armpit.

The thermometer read 111 that day.

We stopped in St. George for dinner and then for the night in Mesquite. The low temperature that night was 92. Brrrrr.

And we arrived home Tuesday evening.

It was a harder trip than others have been. Probably because we spent a lot more time on the road. Also, every mattress I slept on was too hard for me, and I usually ended up getting up far earlier than the rest of the family because my body hurt too much. But it was fun and I'm glad we got to go.