Monday, December 2, 2013

The Long Trip That Was Thanksgiving 2013

We decided to travel to our hometown of Vernal, Utah for Thanksgiving this year. We knew it would be hard to get home for Christmas due to weather, road conditions, and the many miles separating us so this seemed the best choice to get a little family time in before winter really set in. Kevin didn't get to leave the office as early as planned, so we started our 800 mile trek Tuesday night at 6 pm. The plan was to drive all night. That plan fizzled and died about 4 and 1/2 hours into a 14 hour+ trip. Kevin and I were both exhausted and Jaxon wasn't handling the car ride very well so we stopped for the night in Sheridan, Wyoming.

The boys love this hotel because it has a waterfall inside and we had stayed here previously when we were moving up to ND.
 
Breakfast!

Waiting for waffles

Wondered why he climbed off his chair and hid under the table...turns out, he was filling a diaper for Mommy...
 
Back on the road not so early Wednesday morning, fueled with caffeine and snacks, of course!
 
I swear, this drive gets longer every time!!




We all found ways to occupy our time. :)
 
After numerous potty/snack stops, we FINALLY saw this:

Hallelujah!!!!
 
First things first: hair cuts for all the boys from Kevin's brother. We met up with my brother, John, and his fiancé, Jessica, and decided on Chinese for dinner, then crashed at my in-laws.
 
 
Thanksgiving dinner was totally awesome! We convinced our parents to have one big dinner since we had driven so far. Kevin's mom hosted and my parents and brothers came along with Kevin's siblings and their kids, and a pair of sister missionaries. We had 2 turkeys, a ham, and all the requisite sides. My mom made enough pie for an army in the form of pumpkin, apple, peach, coconut cream, and chocolate cream. Of course, the only food photo I managed to snap was the homemade cranberry sauce courtesy of yours truly. :)
 
After the post-turkey coma, football, and games came SHOPPING!! There was only one item I was interested in--a Disney Infinity starter set for Kyan-- and, of course, Walmart had 6 of them in the game system we had--SIX!! Guess who was 7th in line?? Yep. So we settled for picking up some pjs for the boys and some video games for Kevin, and initiating Jessica into the Black Friday (or Grey Thursday, as she called it) tradition.
 
Friday in Vernal, Utah means Holly Days!!! My little hometown has been hosting this tradition for 10 years now. Games, rides, free movie showings, contests, a light parade, marshmallow roasting, hot cocoa, Trees for Charity...the list goes on!! It's freezing cold but I love it!
 
Waiting for my sis to show up with her kids!

John and Jessica with their niece and nephews.

Riding the train

Train ride

My future sis in law, Jessica; my sister, Camille; and me

Warmth

Jaxon trying to stay warm with Daddy

Bounce rodeo!

Pony rides!

Tucker loved it!

Waiting for the pony ride

Horse drawn carriage rides

I dropped my phone while on the carriage...it landed on the bottom-most runner and was teetering when I managed to lean far over and grab it before it became on dust on North Vernal Avenue!

My carriage ride buddy!

Sisters!
 
After two kids were reduced to tears because they could no longer feel their feet, we called it quits and decided to chill at my mom's. We brought along a great movie collection so the kids watched The Croods, Monsters University, and Turbo. We picked up cheap, yummy Little Caesar's pizza for dinner as Williston is lacking this establishment, and made some super yummy gluten-free pizza for my sis.
Ham, pineapple, and cheese; turkey, pineapple, and cheese with BBQ sauce; GF. Yum!
 
Hungry Hippos with Grandma

John and Jess with the kids

Story time with Grandma
 
Saturday we loaded up the car with little room to spare. We had some time to kill so we decided to check out Trees for Charity. You can sponsor a tree for a specific cause/charity, decorate it to the hilt, and the community walks through the beautiful display Thanksgiving weekend and votes on their favorites. The charity auction is held the following Monday and people bid on the tree they want. These were a few of my favorites:

My personal favorite


Obvious children's choice winner here!


Kids loved this one, too.

 
We lunched at the perennial favorite, Café Rio, with Kevin's parents, brother, and Jessica before we hit the road.
Chicken burrito, enchilada style with extra cheese, you sure hit the spot!
 
We said our goodbyes and took off. The roads were clear and the weather was good. Café Rio ran right through Jaxon right after it got dark and caused a major explosion. We are pulled over in somewhere Wyoming in the cold wind, trying to change the poor, shivering child and clean up the car seat. We had booked a room in advance in Casper, Wyoming, grabbed some Wendy's (another missing link in Williston), and crashed for the night.
 
At their most precious when they're sleeping.
 
We overslept slightly on Sunday so didn't get quite the early start we wanted. Final stop for food and fuel in Miles City, Montana, only 3 hours from Williston. We hit Fairview, Montana; a mere ONE hour from home when Kyan says he doesn't feel well. I ask if he needs us to pull over; no answer. Then a torrent of vomit follows. Ugh. Next time, we will be pulling over, no questions asked. He managed to aim for some blankets so we balled those up and stuffed them in the back. We proceed to the Montana-North Dakota state line before pulling over again. And again not 10 minutes later. Finally, I empty a soda cup and tell him to hold that. Then Jaxon starts grunting suspiciously. Seriously, child, you couldn't wait 17 miles to poop??!! We decide he can wait and make it to the house. We open the door and the smell of death slaps us in the face. We had found evidence of a mouse a few days before we left and set a trap. Apparently, this mouse decided to get caught the night we left and then proceed to decay. I will take the smell of poopy diapers and vomit in my small car over the dead mouse any day!
 
All in all, it was a great trip albeit very quick. I'm glad we went because the snow is swirling about outside as I type this. My mom loaded us up with Christmas gifts.
Now I just need to find a way to keep Jaxon from opening them until Christmas...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


2 comments :

  1. Look like a great vacation! Fun pics and fun times! You and Emily with the puking kids in cars. I'm not ready for that!!

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    Replies
    1. We had a great time! You better brace yourself....the poop and puke explosions are coming your way sooner than you think! :)

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