McKee Family: Vacation in the Wild, Wild West

Lohn and I drove for 35 hours straight to make it to Paradise. It was rough. It was also a lot cheaper. Less money spent on food and hotels. And the kids were asleep for the night driving part of it, which was pleasant.

McKee Family Reunion

The kids spent most of the week in Idaho playing in this pond. I know I was cursing you for installing this pond all those years ago, Grandpa McKee, but now that my kids less likely to drown, I thank you. They had so much fun!

Who knew that a small town like Driggs would have a Korean restaurant that makes my favorite dish in the whole world? Jop Che!

We had a Birthday party for all the cousins that had a birthday in July.

I used to curse the Virginian humidity, but now I bless it. Our poor noses. I felt like every time I breathed in, the inside layer of my nose was crackling and cracking. Bloodynoseville, ID. Ander had the worst of it.

My Mother in Law booked a white water rafting trip for us on the Snake River. That was crazy fun! The kids loved it, and no one drowned (yes, I was worried about that).

Because Sylas was too young, my sister in law took him on the Teton Village Tram with the other littles. I'm glad the Tram didn't break and that they all didn't all fall to their deaths. (I didn't worry about that beforehand, but only because I didn't know they were going to do it.)

Our visit was only marred be a vicious bug floating around the McKee household. One intense day of bodily fluids spraying from everywhere. That is Sylas camped by the bathroom door, watching Pokemon. Unfortunately he wasn't over it yet when we got in our new van to drive to Utah, and he spewed all over the van. And yippee for us, Gunnar saw/smelled/felt/heard the puke and added to his own medley of breakfast food to the chaos. Bright side? No one else in my family got the plague, despite being up to our elbows in the goo while we cleaned it up, and smelling it for the rest of the trip.

Gunnar's Baptism

This cute little guy got to be baptized on his birthday in Uncle Jace's ward in Brigham City, UT. Our whole family was there on both sides, except for a couple of our missionaries, and other unlucky plague sufferers.

Quite the turnout, Eh?

Freshly baptized.

Afterwards, we had a birthday party for Gunnar at the church's pavilion. My family brought cake, I brought ice-cream, and we celebrated my handsome kiddo.

He got to open presents surrounded by all his cousins.

Dahle Reunion

Since I was in charge of the Dahle family reunion this year, I planned all sorts of games. My parents supplied the grounds and food for the occasion and I the fun!

Here is Melissa helping paint the Lawn twister.

This game involves a bucket of water in the front, an empty one in the back and cups for everyone. They had to fill up the cup on their head and pass it back.

Three legged race. No teen would have done it without the $5 reward to the winner. But I find that money is a great motivator for the moody teenage years.

The littles were great sports about playing all the games.

And no one fell and broke a bone. (Yes, that thought occurred to me as a possibility.)

$5 reward for the last person left on the twister field. They were all quite motivated.

But the less determined got weeded out pretty quickly.

Until only these two were left. Neither would give up, even with Uncle Lynn calling crazy moves like "Head on yellow!" and "Both elbows on green!" So they tied and both got $5.

Lohn hid candy, coins, dollar bills, and other miscellaneous toys in shredded paper in a old swimming pool. The littles got 1 minute to search. Then the Teens got 1 minute. Then the Geriatrics even got involved and we got to look for hidden $5 bills, $1 bills and candy.

Would you believe my dad put up a Zipline? My kids got a lot of enjoyment out of it. And no one fell to their deaths or broken limbs. (Yep, you got it! I worried about that!)

What a great backyard for a Zipline.

Ander

Sylas

Gunnar

Afterwards, we all went to Seven Brides and Seven Brothers. Everyone loved it.

Except for maybe this little guy. He crashed 20 minutes in.

A very fun family reunion! I look forward to next years already!

After everyone had gone home, we still continued to party with my parents and my brother's kids.

We went swimming at the local pool, but got lightening-ed out.

Tamsyn got super attached to Baby Hazel, but Hazel wanted NOTHING to do with Tamsyn. She liked Ander though. She sat on his lap for a good part of Seven Brides and Seven Brothers. It almost killed my baby lovin' girl.

She warmed up to her by the end of the trip though.

We went to the temple with Great Grandma Johnson. Love that lady!

Our last morning at my parents, we went to Aggie Ice Cream, and had some of the best ice-cream in UT. Go Aggies!

Moab, UT

We drove from Logan to Moab to see my sisters new house, and explore her part of the world.

The day we got there, we went to the Canyonlands.

I was on edge the whole time, worrying about my kids falling to their deaths. (You would have too. This isn't just crazy Sharon freaking out for nothing. Think high scary cliffs and drop-offs, and excited, non-obedient children)

See below? Cliff.

Pretty girl. Too close to the cliff.

Next morning we went to Arches National Park. That place is way cool.

Gunnar was determined to give me gray hairs. Every time I looked, he was off path, crawling up some big rock.

A nice fellow took our picture, but forgot to move his finger, bless him.

Then Lisa and Lance took us for a drive to see Petroglyphs. See how high they are on the canyon wall? They think there used to be homes up against the wall and they stood on those to make the drawings.