Vacation: Dam Bridge

This was taken through the window of our van.  No, there is not really a giant water bottle in the sky...

Near the end of our trip, we ventured to Nevada to spend time with my parents.  We had a great time and wondered why on earth we let 9 years pass since our last trip to the Silver State!  I guess my parents have always made it so easy on us by driving to Utah each time we head west.  This trip was no exception - my parents were in Utah the first weekend of our vacation, but we hardly got to spend time with them and we figured it was high time we headed to their little corner of the world for a change!  We are so glad we did!

One morning, before it got too terribly hot out, my dad took us to the Hoover Dam to walk across the new Memorial Bridge.  Completed in 2010 after 5 years of construction, it cuts a full 30 minutes off the drive to Arizona and is an impressive structure.  We walked halfway across - just past the Arizona state line - and admired the view of the dam before heading back. 

One foot in Nevada, one foot in Arizona

My dad and Jeff

The Hoover Dam as seen from the Memorial Bridge

The Nevada end of the bridge

I'm throwing this last photo in for my kids (left).  This is one of two angel statues that are mentioned in one of the Percy Jackson books.  The boys almost jumped out of their seats when they saw them.  From their reading, my kids learned that people rub the angels' feet for good luck.  Sure enough, the feet were much shinier than the rest of the statue.  Unfortunately, they are not located in a good stopping place so we had to be content with a picture through the window.  Fortunately, we didn't need the angels' good luck.  Our great days just kept on coming!

Vacation: The Whole Stowell Gang

One of the best things about our almost-annual trek west is spending time with extended family.  This year was no exception.  With all of the Stowell brothers and their families congregating at Grandma and Grandpa's, there were 35 of us which made for a lot of fun.  (A lot of food and a lot of work, too, but lots of fun!)  There was plenty of catching up to do, crafts to make and games to play.  Grandpa even managed to get all 35 of us to look at the camera - and to look happy about it - at the same time!  We're all spread out between Illinois, Colorado, Idaho, Washington, and Utah, but I'm glad we could all connect for a few days.  This is a great bunch of people!

Vacation: Ririe Reservoir

I wimped out and wore a wetsuit but the water was much warmer than I expected!

Whenever we visit Jeff's parents in Idaho, one of the things I most look forward to is going out on Grandpa's boat.  I love to water ski!  We couldn't convince Jeff's dad to get out on the water this year, but he joined us so he could help drive the boat.  We had a great day.

Jeff makes it look so easy.  He's much braver than I!

The kids' favorite is the tube.  They had so much fun!

Sadie loves her daddy.  She never stopped grinning on their ride together!

Sam and Savannah had a crazy ride and actually acted like they like each other. 

Grandpa laughed a lot at my crazy kids.  He's a good sport!

Soren looks like someone out of Gilligan's Island. 

(We need a boat!)

Vacation: The Tabernacle

We visited Temple Square near the beginning of our vacation.  The Tabernacle holds a special significance for me because I used to be a Church Service Missionary* as an usher on Temple Square.  As part of my service, I attended Music and the Spoken Word every Sunday and ushered the tour groups in the Tabernacle (the Conference Center wasn't built yet way back then...). 

It was fun to take the kids to the Tabernacle and show them the world famous pipes.  Jeff was explaining to Sadie that the pipes are the image we see on our hymnal at church.  Sadie thought about that for a few seconds then asked, "Then why doesn't it say HYMNS?"  An honest question!  :)


*During my year as a Church Service Missionary (1994-95), besides Music and the Spoken Word, my responsibilities included ushering at various concerts and other events held on Temple Square.  I was asked to usher and sit with President Hunter's family during General Conference when he was sustained as our prophet.  I later ushered at his viewing, standing near the head of the casket to make sure no one crossed over the guard ropes, in the Administration Building.  Then I ushered and sat with President Hinckley's family during the solemn assembly when he was sustained as the prophet.  Between sessions of conference, I was invited to attend a luncheon for the choir at the Lion House where President Hinckley joked with "his choir."  Assigned to stand near the podium during a fireside in the Tabernacle, I literally brushed shoulders with President Hinckley when he came in to take his seat.  I also ushered 2 or 3 sessions of the dedication for the Bountiful Temple (overflow was held in the Tabernacle).  I didn't fully appreciate those experiences then, but I am very grateful for them now.  This was just something I did on weekends or for special events, but it was a great time in my life.

We're Home!

Yes, it's true.  We pulled in just before 10:00 last night.  After a total of 4,927 miles (a record for us) and 17 days away - not to mention 16 hours in the van yesterday alone - we are so glad to be home! 

Today was spent doing laundry, unpacking, shopping and otherwise trying to catch up.  Over the next week or so, I'll be posting some of the highlights of our trip.  Until then, I will leave you with a clever video by some BYU students.  Perfect for all the Harry Potter fans out there.  Enjoy!

Happy 7 Eleven Day (a.k.a. July 11)

Did you get your free Slurpee today?  We did!  Yummy!  (The cups are even 7.11 oz.  Funny!) 

Picture This

It seems that a good chunk of our Idaho adventures are going to have to live on in our memories because I keep forgetting the camera.  So, if you will, picture this:

• The kids at the splash park in Rexburg laughing their little heads off when the big bucket of water dumped on them again and again.  
• Sadie riding on the carousel (twice) which is the thing she remembered most from 2 years ago and what she wanted to do more than anything else.
• The adults getting together for ice cream cake and a hysterical game of Catch Phrase.
• Sadie sleeping over at her cousin's house and the three youngest girl cousins "laughing and tooting," as Sadie so eloquently described it, into the night.
• Jeff and I attending the Idaho Falls Temple.  (The 20 minute drive to get there sure beats the 2.5 hours we usually have to endure!)
• Savannah's crush on the boy next door.
• Sadie freaking out for 45 minutes (at least) because of too many late nights.  She was completely exhausted and I couldn't believe how long she was able to carry on with her tantrum.  She finally gave in to sleep and will hopefully wake up happy.  (I actually did get a picture of that one, but she got mad and made me delete it...)
• Our drive around BYU-Idaho campus, remembering this building or that and wondering what all the new structures are for.  We vaguely remembered our old stomping grounds with all the changes from the Ricks College days. 

Here is one picture I got from our drive around Rexburg.  I love how the clouds are so pretty behind the temple.  

We're having a great time and there are plenty more adventures in sight!

Blessing and Baptism

Yesterday morning we went to church with my brother, Dave, where he blessed little Libby.  After the meeting, Libby snuggled right into Sam and fell asleep.  So sweet!  Sam thought that was pretty cool.

After a yummy brunch at Dave's house and a nice visit with family, we were on the road again.  Four hours later we pulled up to Jeff's parents home in Rigby, Idaho.   We were the last of Jeff's brothers to arrive and it's a full house.  My kids are still trying to figure out who everyone is.  Seeing their cousins once a year at best isn't nearly enough.  Everyone grows and changes so much in between that it's hard to remember everybody's name.  Fortunately we'll be here for a few days.

Last night we all went to the church and Soren was baptized.  It was so nice to have all of his Stowell aunts, uncles, and cousins there.  That was a real treat for us.  Grandma and Grandpa gave the talks and some of the cousins joined my kids for the musical number, Jesus Once Was a Little Child, with Sam on violin and Savannah on piano.  It was so pretty and yes, I cried.  Homemade ice cream and brownies completed the evening.  A great day!

 

 

Libby

This is my niece, Libby.  Isn't she adorable?  We met her for the first time this morning.

We first saw her here where she was sealed to my brother and his wife. 

Libby was adopted, just like her sister and two brothers.  What a beautiful family!

It was a great day!! 

Noteworthy

I just wanted to record a few things that have put a smile on our faces -- and one that definitely has not.  Let's just get that grumpy one out of the way right now:

Utah traffic.  Boo!  Hiss!

Onto happier things:

Mountains, oh how we've missed you!

The coolest car so far: 

The owner saw me taking pictures so he got out and let the boys get in the picture.  Sweet.

  Blue-eyed babes at Temple Square.  Love these guys!

 This is just a little glimpse of the past couple of days.  Lots more to come...