The Best Road Trip Ever Part 1

Since blogging after trips is always such a daunting task, I decided to just jot down a few notes on my phone everyday, and copy and paste them periodically as we go. Before I get in to our fabulously big road trip I need to congratulate Brian on completing his first year of dental school. He finished the semester with a 3.7 GPA. I'm so proud of him! The road trip title is my positive thinking trying to will 85+ hours in the car, with three little ones, to be great! We'll be hitting 13 states during our month long trek.

Day 1- Ezra too distracted by the car ceiling to nurse, first prize jackpot with a motorcycle and ponies (thank you dollar store), Illinois, Iowa, Ezra's new laugh, pretty green landscape, Mormon Trail Center, Winter Quarters Nebraska temple, Pizza Hut, Regency Lodge Hotel

Day 2- Nebraska, a whole lot of nothing, rain, Wyoming, farm animals (Thomas loved), mountains, green, trains, Utah, kids did extremely well, only 3 stops, changing diapers on my lap, my headache actually went away with Tylenol, Mt. Timpanogos, home

Day 3- Orem, lazy morning playing at grandma's house, church with the Lott's, roast beef dinner, introducing Ezra, visiting, playing with cousins, cartwheels, Thomas calling Lego Darth Vader Batman

Day 4- Orem, Traverse Mountain outlets, Maybrie slept till noon, swimming, visiting, playing with cousins

Day 5- drove to Reno, NV, some whining, boys slept all afternoon, read Divergent aloud, Johnny rockets for dinner- when Thomas put his sailor hat on he said, "I a cowboy!", when I told Thomas to get in the elevator he said, "We go on an alligator?!", swam in the pool and held all three kids (no floaties or baby pool), Ezra's first time in the pool and he liked it, kids showered (no tub)

Day 6- drove to Crescent City, CA, Donuts for breakfast, Maybrie whining, Thomas's stinky feet, read Divergent, windy road, elevation changes, ocean, got to Emily's house, playing with cousins

Day 7- Crescent City, drove/hiked Stout Grove in Redwoods State Park, Maybrie does not like hiking, Hidden Beach, finding shells, starfish, anemone, Brian packing both Maybrie and Thomas, playing with cousins

Day 8- Big Tree circle loop, tour thru tree, windy North beach, pulled over by Emily's ward member, double sided Cars/ Frozen cake, Thomas's birthday party

 

Day 9- Thomas's 3rd birthday, tantrum by Maybrie, Oregon, stop in Roseburg to meet Dr. Sharp and lunch with Jared & Michelle Juett & family, Vancouver, Burgerville, stayed at Gillespie's, playing and visiting

Day 10- Gillespie's, church, good food and friends

May- Ezra 6 mos. & Family Pictures

May Highlights:

Zoopolis 500- We met up with the Kirkwood's, Pulham's and Maxwell's at the zoo for the annual turtle races they do the week of the Indy 500. Seriously so adorable!

Indianapolis Motor Speedway- We got to drive our minivan on the Indy 500 track! The boys were asleep so I dropped Brian and Maybrie off to check out the hall of fame. They had a blast, and Maybrie felt pretty special getting a date with dad!

 Ezra turned 6 months old! Man, does time fly! He is rolling everywhere, likes to be up where he can see what's going on, not quite sitting up by himself, loves baby food, still spits up like crazy, is super smily and happy, sleeps without his swaddle sack at night now, still sleeps well, plays with toys (loudly) and shoves everything in his mouth, loves his jumper and exersaucer, found his feet and loves sucking on his toes. He really is such a good baby and we all love him to pieces!

We went to Emerson Goodwine's 4th birthday party. It was a Thomas the train theme and the kids thought their train whistle and hat party favors were pretty cool. Maybrie has been making playdough dresses non-stop since she accidentally found a you tube tutorial.

 Family Pictures- Our dear friend Andrea Thayn got a nice new camera for Christmas and was kind enough to practice on us. We took them down at the canal at White River State park. We love how they turned out! Thank you so much Drea and also thanks to Marcus for helping get the kids to smile.

 Bowling with the Daetwyler's on Memorial Day

 Maybrie played dress-up with Ezra!

 I love when Maybrie and Thomas want to include Ezra in what they're doing. I painted Maybrie's face. She has been begging since she saw the professional booths at the zoo last summer.

 The International Orangutan Center (super cool) and the splash pad are now open at the zoo!

 Date night enjoying conversation and a view

 Summer Reading Program kick-off at the library- face paint, junk toy craft, snacks, and a magic show. Thomas kept running around saying, "I batman! I a superhero!" and I'm pretty sure Maybrie was in face paint heaven having it done twice in one week!