Template 113
10 years ago
Yesterday we arrived home from our long anticipated summer vacation of 2012. I have all these great pictures from our trip that are just going to have to speak for themselves due to a serious lapse in my writing ability. For some reason over the last few months, I've lost my drive, my wit, and my sort of entertaining (to me anyway) voice that normally flows freely at the keyboard. Blogging has pretty much become torture. And since I don't believe in self-inflicted torture, I choose to spend my late nights busting up over old Psych episodes on Netflix rather than agonizing over a blank "new post" page.
That being said, here are many MANY photos from our totally fabulous vacation. Occasionally, I might throw in a word or two if I can think of something worthwhile to share.
Lake Tahoe. Gorgeous and FREEZING.
Lily gives me this face often when I pull out the camera. It means "I'm busy, therefore I'm refusing to cooperate."
One of my super awesome sisters-in-law.
Jack in his happy place.
Now here I must comment on the state of my hair. I recently chopped it all off, which I actually really like. It's not normal for it to look like the head of a shaggy dog.
Lily and big cousin Garret. He happily agreed to push her on the swings at every request - like every 20 minutes. Great kid.
A total trip highlight for me - a mini BYU roommate reunion in Draper. We're missing Leslie, dang it. I love these girls! Never a dull moment and the sweetest friends you'll ever find.
And I'm including this next picture for no other reason except I like to see that I'm making my friends crack up over something obviously very funny.
6 girls who have done rather well at multiplying and replenishing, don't you think?
Reas' Grandma Zela is turning 90 next month. We stopped in to see the spunky delight. Those who live with her say hide your laundry because if Grandma sees it laying around, she'll wash it!
BYU campus is so very nostalgic. The kids humored us by acting interested when we'd say things like "and over in that building is where I had Biology" and "on the top floor of that building are where all the rat cages are that I cleaned at 4 AM."
but they mostly appreciated all the water fountains.
Bowling in the Wilk...a huge hit.
We toured the Conference Center in SLC.
and went to Temple Square.
We only had a couple of hours to spend with my brother Danny and his family, including new baby Chase (imagine cute newborn picture here). We had icecream at Farr's at the new City Creek Mall in SLC. Again the water was the highlight. This is just seconds before cute little Anna in the pink went head first into that water. Chick-fil-A was pretty great too.
Hiking the Y was somehow a little more difficult than the last time I did it (like 22 years ago).
Ok... I was huffing and puffing, but I'm sure it was just the altitude.
But we made it! and have committed to doing it every time we're in Provo.
Maggie and Ty practically sprinted all the way up. Reas asked Maggie if she ever got tired and she said, "No. We were so far ahead of you that we could always rest as long as we wanted to." Brutally honest child.
This hike is steep all the way up without ever leveling out, as you can tell from my 9 foot tall giant of a husband standing uphill from me. I look like a total kid!
Grandma Cramer, Reas' other grandma, is 92 and she still lives alone! We sat around chatting and listening to stories from her childhood, like how her mom used to complain that Grandma and her sisters took so long to do the dishes because they would sing together instead of work.
Jack and his beast of a red onion at the BYU Creamery...
not much of a fan, yet he just had to keep going back for more.
No, these guys were not posing for the camera. No, not at all.
And the face...again.
We went to BYU's Museum of Paleontology for the first time. For being such a small museum, there are some COOL dinosaurs in there.
I think Reas took this picture to make it look as if I have a clue in the sport of miniature golf. I can hold my own pretty well, but unfortunately, I play the first half of the holes in spaz mode, and get frustrated by my complete lack of control over my own strength. Somewhere in the middle I warm up, but by that point it's too late. Someday I. Will. Beat. HIM!
We came home with a filthy van, and pooped out kids who were ready to be done with the car rides...sure signs of a memorable family vacation.
Not pictured:
Reas sweating it out and nearly dying of heat stroke when the van's AC decided to mysteriously quit for 2 hours in 110 degree weather.
Lily's left leg, which by the end of the trip was covered in scrapes and bruises from ankle to knee due to repeated trips and falls.
My death grip on the steering wheel as I drove us through the biggest downpour of my life (yes, even harder than the storm I freaked out about here). I drove one (ONE!) hour out of 22 hours spent in the car, and I got the scary rain part.
Reas spotting Jackson Emory at Chick-fil-A in Salt Lake.
Lily squatting behind a bush at the miniature golf course because the bathroom was too far away (and the look on the woman's face who caught us!).
4 comments:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Wow - what a great vacation - you sure packed in a lot of fun! I love all the pictures - Jack with the cookie bag is priceless! The picture of you all at the top of the Y doesn't make you look like a kid - it makes you look like a hobbit!
Mom said...
July 30, 2012 at 2:14 PM
I had to laugh out loud at the hobbit picture!!
Loved seeing you guys. MUST HANG OUT MORE!!
ps. please don't stop blogging. I love to see you and your family and I love your writings. It's always so witty and cleaver.
Mandagirl said...
August 2, 2012 at 10:01 AM
You're right mom! It's a total hobbit picture!! And Amanda, I'm not threatening to stop blogging, I'm just hoping to get my groove back soon. And I'd hang out with you every single day if there weren't like 500 miles between
us :(
Carrie said...
August 2, 2012 at 12:02 PM
Lake Tahoe looks so beautiful. I hope to make it up there someday. That was a huge road trip, you brave woman. Jacob is green with envy that you saw Jackson Emory. Great idea leaving Lily behind on the hike. Caroline never wants to hike again. And one day I hope that Claire, Emery and Sarah can be cute BYU roommates just like the fun friends in your picture.
Ingrid said...
August 6, 2012 at 3:10 PM