Westward Ho!

I decided to be brave and drive with the kids out to my parents. I knew when we decided to accept the job in Iowa that the day would come where I would drive out west alone. I wasn't looking forward to it, and I didn't think it would happen as soon as it did, but it went way better than I ever thought it would. Mariah and Chet were such great helpers and Austin and Eliza had wonderful attitudes. Tanner had gone to Costco and bought us a lot of treats and snacks which helped a lot; add in a good audiobook and some tunes and we were good to go!

We woke up bright and early Monday morning and headed out. I was hoping to make it to Laramie and it was a beautiful, clear and sunny day, but once I reached I-80, I began to see signs that said the interstate was closed in Wyoming. That was really throwing off all my grand plans. We stopped at the Pioneer Museum in Nebraska so the kids could get some wiggles out and I could do some research on the road conditions.

We went through a maze that the kids thought they escaped out of but in reality we had just walked back out of the entrance. I was very relieved when Mariah didn't look back and see that it was the entrance we were coming back out of because Chet was determined that we were going to make it out without any cheating. It was windy and cold and the kids kept running ahead before I could tell them which direction to turn so we could have been in there for hours. If my deception was wrong then I don't want to be right.

The museum was just the right size and I counted it as a field trip and a school day; I love when it works out that way. Everyone was terrified of the escalator but we all were brave and made it through.

 Austin was not in the mood for pictures, so in ten years when he wonders why there aren't many pictures of him as a four year old we can tell him we tried real hard but short of tying him down, it wasn't going to happen.

 After researching road conditions I decided to keep driving until I got to the Nebraska/Wyoming border and then if the roads were still closed we could stay there. The roads were open into Wyoming so we kept going. It was a little eery because I was the only car on the interstate heading into and driving through Wyoming. All the rest were Semis. I didn't pass another car all the way to Laramie. You know that feeling that you're the only one who doesn't know something? I felt that the whole drive, but the roads were clear and we made it to Laramie. I took the kids swimming that night, that was the carrot I dangled in front of them for most of the drive. I was a little nervous about all of us falling asleep together but I just turned on an audiobook and they were all asleep in minutes. I started out the night sleeping with Austin but that didn't last long. I ended up switching him with Mariah so I could actually fall asleep.

The next day I had planned to stay in Salt Lake City but we got up nice and early and were on the road by 7 so I decided I might as well head all the way to my parents. We stopped at Little America for their $0.70 ice cream cones. It was so funny watching Eliza follow Austin around the gas station clapping her hands and saying, "Austie, no!" whenever Austin touched something. I stopped at the Hemmert's in Elko and Emily was so sweet and made dinner for us. Then we went the rest of the way to the ranch.

It was so fun to be at my parents for a week. We rode horses and 4-wheelers; Eliza took a nice sink and there were several baths in the "rocket" tub (rocket/jet, it gets confusing). We got some good cousin time with Dan and Katie's boys who introduced us to the joy of Pokemon cards. There was some sickness but we were able to get it all out of our systems before we left for Utah.

 Papa Ralph put just "a little bit" of soap in the tub. 

 Mariah, Chet, and Austin were on the 4-wheeler all day and were covered in dust. Good ol' Nevada.

 Wednesday morning we headed back to SLC to pick up Tanner at the airport and have a little Crossley family reunion. The first night we got to spend some time with a bunch of cute baby goats.

The next night we got to sneak away for a little Badger Creek Reunion. It was so wonderful to see some of my dearest friends and we missed those who couldn't make it.

The kids had a blast with all of their cousins. There was a lot of wrestling, and jumping on the trampoline. One day they got out some pioneer costumes and played cowboys and robbers. There were van seats out in the garage and they turned that into their stagecoach. It was pretty epic.

The whole wonderful family

All the adults went to the temple to do sealings with some family names. Tanner and I were sealed for a couple named Chester and Irene (the name of my paternal grandfather and maternal grandmother), which was a special experience for me. I love hearing the beautiful promises and counsel given in the temple ceremony.

We also got to spend some time with Uncle Sevvy on the BYU campus. We went to the Bean museum and then decided we should go to the fine art gallery and be as loud as we possibly could, or at least I'm pretty sure that was Eliza's goal. All that boisterousness had to be followed up with ice cream from the creamery. It wasn't long enough but we were so happy we got to spend some time with him.

Monday morning we headed back home with an extra passenger. Natalie rode out to spend some time with us. The kids weren't as good on the drive back but it still wasn't too bad. I-80 was closed for real so we took the Southern route through Colorado which is much prettier but has more curvy roads. Eliza threw up but after a couple dozen wipes we got her and the car seat cleaned up.

 We had an hour or so where all the children slept and it was glorious. Just looking at Austin's sleeping position hurts me, but he slept just fine that way.

It was an exhausting trip but it is always worth it when family is involved.