20 Day Summer Trip

The BIG Adventure
Well, we just got home (on Saturday) from our big summer trip. We were gone for 20 days (13 of which were just me and the kids), traveled about 2,400 miles and went to 3 different family reunions (plus some other visiting). Lots of fun, and now happy to be back home. Here's the condensed version of the trip:

Day 1: Drove to Flagstaff, got a flat tire on the trailer, but nothing too big. Took over 12 hours). We got to the campsite and immediately headed over to the family fireside. We set up a camping chair, Nathan sat in the chair, Nathan fell over in the chair, and Nathan had a bloody owie on his forehead. Good start.
Day 2: Played at the Sorensen Family Reunion (kickball, building forts, line dancing, etc). Did a service project (clearing the property for more tent sites).
Day 3: Went to Wupatki Ruins (cool Indian dwellings). Nathan walked all over the place...and LOVED the freedom.
Day 4: Left the Sorensen Reunion. Went to Mesa Temple. Sean met with a boss in Phoenix. Made it to Grandpa and Grandma Dick's and went swimming
Day 5: Swam and swam and swam. Nathan wasn't so sure about the water today.
Day 6: Swam some more. Played Farkle. Nathan slipped on the ground by the pool and landed straight on his head. He got a serious-sized goose egg. But, he also realized today that he LOVES the water. At first he held on to my neck with a death grip. Then I started swirling him around in the water and he thought that was pretty fun. So I did it faster and faster and he realized this water thing is pretty great.
Day 7: Went to church with Grandpa and Grandma Dick and took Dad to the airport (Nathan cried hysterically as he watched Dad walk away).
Day 8: Went to visit our favorite dentist (Grandpa) - everyone except Nathan. Had a small car problem that was easily solved with a $.99 can of coke. Then swam. Nathan started jumping off the edge to me today....and loving it.
Day 9: Last day of swimming. Nathan got so brave with the jumping that a couple of times he jumped before I was even ready. At least I was close by. Played Farkle. Grandma opened a door and it hit Nathan in the head. He just can't catch a break.
Day 10: Left Grandpa and Grandma Dick's at 5:30 AM. Traveled for 9ish hours to Brian Head, UT for the Grant Family Reunion. Had story time with my Grandma Grant.
Day 11: Went to Bryce Canyon and Cedar Breaks. BEAUTIFUL! Had a wonderful testimony meeting that night with the family. Stayed up until 4:15 AM chatting with Charity.
Day 12: Rode the Brian Head ski lift (had a small heart attack inside as all my kids rode too, but they loved it). Nathan got to wear a full blown helmet on his head as he was riding (it made me feel better though). Had a karaoke party that night where almost every person in the family participated. Caelan rocked her song, "Won't say I'm in Love" from Hercules.
Day 13: Left the Grant reunion. Aunt Kyra was swinging Nathan on a tire-made horse swing. He loved it, but then slipped off and had a real good fall. He had to bloody scrapes on his arms and his forehead was bruised and a little bloody. He screamed for a good half hour - it was that bad. Eventually he calmed down and was then totally fine the rest of the day (minus he war wounds). Had lunch at Chuck-O-Rama with Brittney and Porter and their girls and Charity and Coren and the Sorensen clan. Then drove up to Charity and Chad's that evening.
Day 14: Went to church with Charity and Chad (Nathan LOVED the nursery here - go figure - he went right in and played the whole time). Had left over Cafe Rio salads from the reunion with Dan and Natalie and their family that night. YUM.
Day 15: Slowly lounged around in the morning. Took a quick trip to Walmart to get food for the last reunion. Drove up to Jordanelle Reservoir near Park City. Hung out on the lake. Took a ride on the boat.
Day 16: Played at the lake ALL day. Rode the boat. We all took a turn being pulled on the tube, except Nathan. He did take a little ride on the boat though. The kids loved it. Moved our campsite up the hill. Had a family dinner and Family Home Evening that night. Nathan went to bed fairly easy even with everyone in the same tent.
Day 17: Played at the lake again. We totally wore out Nathan, and since there were no beds nearby he fell asleep on the next best thing - a rock....HE HE HE. He had fun in the water here and there. Rented and rode Wave Runners. Loads of fun. The kids really liked this. Wiped out only once with Kyra and Brooke. Ate fried burritos in the rain. Ate chocolate and graham crackers and marshmallows in our tent because it was too wet for a fire.
Day 18: Took down camp by 9:00 AM. Waited around with the Sorensen gang. Then headed to Jenny and Kelly's house in Layton.
Day 19: Spent the day at Jenny and Kelly's. The kids had all the fun playing in sprinklers, watching movies, dressing up, playing in the backyard and enjoying time with cousins. Ate pizza with Lani and hung out for a little while. Then started the journey home. I made it to Stateline where I got things ready to fall asleep in the van, but soon realized it was WAY too hot to sleep (even at 1:00 AM). So I drove for another half hour and then found a rest stop that was much more pleasant (going up that hill makes a huge difference). We all slept in the van until 6:45 the next morning.
Day 20: Finished the drive and got home at about noon. Lounged around for most of the day. So nice. Nathan was really a super traveler for most of the trip.