**craig wants me to clarify that we lost an hour on the way home so it was only 18 hours in the car…. not 19 like i had stated. he likes to "make good time". ***
we left town on friday one hour later than scheduled….no surprise there. we dropped off waffle with friends.
he got to be outside the whole time with a new doggie friend.
(he has been moping around ever since we brought him back)
then we hit the road.
we got in to colorado before dark so the kids got that view…one minute there are no mountians…
then suddenly…THERE THEY ARE!
i remember my first time seeing that…so awesome.
we checked into a hotel in fort collins, colorado.
and went straight to the pool.
we had two rooms…everyone went to bed at the same time.
then craig and and i watched a recorded 30 rock on a dvd player sharing headphones in the dark.
i saw lauren was reading by the light of her camera.
in the moring, we ate our free breakfast….spilling only one hot chocolate
and dropping one glass syrup bottle.
not bad for our family.
then we were off towards utah.
this picture cracked me up…taken by someone in the back seat…
me using the internet on craig's phone.
i looked back at one point & told craig "everyone is using a personal electronic device of some kind."
kind of funny between the dvd players, video games and iPods how they can all be entertained.
not necessarily okay….but also much appreciated for such a long drive.
and another photo from the back seat…
i love dramamine.
it's my new favorite travel friend.
they were all out for a long time…it was awesome!!
we arrived at our friends' UTAH home early afternoon.
so good to see them!
so nice of them to let us all crash with them…seven is not a small number.
their oldest son josh took us to the skatepark near by so we could see his skills.
not too shabby….
as a mother i was nervous and i kept flinching.
josh was fun to watch
but can you imagine that view at the park? it was everywhere….mountains!!
pretty cute right?
josh is the nicest guy..my kids just adore him.
our friends we stayed with, rod and lynette, were our youth pastors when craig & i were in high school.
(long long ago..)
they had to put up with so much from us as kids…and now they had to put up with OUR kids.
they moved to utah a few years ago to be part of a church plant called Daybreak.
we got to go to it!
that was awesome…we saw their ministry up close…met their friends…we loved it.
rod and allie, their 14 year old daughter play guitar on the worship team.
then you walk out of church and there are those mountains again!
i couldn't get used to it.
we all ate lunch with other friends jason and nicole and their kids after church.
10 children and we actually got to talk…we went to playplace.
what a smart choice…i wouldn't have thought of that.
i noticed that one child is missing here…a twin.
he must have scooted right out of the shot.
they played on this curb for a long time.
so funny what they choose to entertain themselves.
it was fun to check in with jason and see how utah is for them.
they moved to utah from oklahoma.
and i finally met nicole! i've heard about her for years. she's a blog reader. ;)
i got annie down for a nap and immediately the big girls left for….
it was all i had hoped for…i miss that place.
i found goodies. (not the stuff on the car…that's an ikea display)
lauren found goodies.
we saw this license plate right after….very appropriate.
we met up with everyone else for dinner.
pizza.
such good pizza!
then over to boondocks where josh works.
it's got an arcade, lazer tag, go-karts and bumper boats.
so basically….heaven for my kids.
everyone rode go-karts but annie.
oh yes…that means me.
i got to ride.
we said "we're just going for a sunday drive"
and after four laps we asked to quit.
we were the only two out on the track.
we pulled over and i shouted "we're bored!"
the guys were disappointed in us.
the thrill is just not there for me…no desire to beat my friend in a go-kart race…crazy, i know.
we got back and put everyone to bed.
they had a big day of skiing to rest up for.
i sat on the floor in lynette's living room pinning flowers on shirts for etsy.
we all watched a movie…talked and laughed…just like old times.
don't you love the real friendships…that never change…over years and miles?
i do.
ok…that's it for this post.
you are awesome if you made it this far.
it's like getting trapped watching someone slides…sorry.
but just think of the mountains when i bore you.
princesslasertron - those purple pants are soooooooooooooooooooooooo cool
traci - oh meg!! it looks like you had a wonderful vacation. lots of smiles in those photos. that is the greatest!! utah was beautiful. i would definately love to go back sometime. glad you had a good trip and made it back home safe and sound.
Jennifer P. - You were soooo close to me :)! The Wasatch Front mountains are looming, no? In the late 80’s/early 90’s when all the girls wore that “wall” of bangs–the guys in Utah use to call it their “wasatch front”!
Glad you all had a good time and got back safe!
Randi - What a great vacation! We have a photo with that huge bear … he’s in a gas station, right? He looks cleaner than when we last saw him. 🙂
emily k - whoops. guess its not your nephew. pictures of cute boy distracted me.
Steph - Oh Meg, what a great trip! I felt like I was there. 🙂 I can’t imagine looking at those mountains all the time like that. They are gorgeous! Yeah, we don’t see that in Illinois. lol I loved reading your post and looking at all of your posts. How fun! Yeah, I’m with everyone else, Josh is a cutie! 🙂
emily k - what a fun vacation [: looks like everyone had fun… seems to be a rare thing these days. fun pictures, gorgeous mountains. looking forward to april 11 :]
p.s. your nephew… way cute haha.
Alyssa - love the pictures!! the scenery is just GORGEOUS!! i wouldn’t be able to get used to it ethir!!
meaghan easterhaus - OMG!!!! you have so many comments! these pics are totally gorg!!!! we’re about to move to ft. collins to work at CSU with athletes in action…a ministry of campus crusade. we’ve never been (going in a week for the first time!!!) these pics are killing me! i want to be there so badly! love your fam!
Sue - Your vacation looks like everyone had fun. Those mountains are breathtaking!! The mountains in NJ don’t look anything like that!!
Much love from NJ,
Sue
xoxo
Melanie - Not boring at all! I kept looking at your photos of the mountains – they’re so beautiful, they look fake! Coming from northern Illinois where we barely have hills, these glorious mountains are a site to behold. Thanks for sharing.
ang - This is such a small world!!! I’ve been reading your blog for the past couple of month’s-since Cora was diagnosed. I’m looking at your vacation pictures thinking, man, those people look so familiar! I’m pretty sure that Rod and Lynette grew up in Henderson and still have family around here. I remember when they would bring their kids to the pool and thought they looked like such fun people. Plus, I went to school with Jason’s brother. Wow. Crazy. Looked like a fun trip!
Jenn - Love seeing your pictures! Utah is on our someday list.
Erin - Thanks for sharing your vacation with us! I’m from Nebraska, so I know the sense of wonder that comes when mountains are in sight!
Rachael - I quess I SPY in the car just dosen’t cut in anymore! Rachaelxo
Kirsten - Thanks for taking me along on the trip!
Ashley Ann - The spilled hot chocolate and syrup cracked me up…that is pretty good for 5 kids. I would count it as a good breakfast
Amy - The trip looked awesome and soooo beautiful!!
Aubrey - you CAME to UTAH?! If only I’d happened to go to Ikea that day. But then, you wouldn’t have known if I HAD seen you, I’m so shy, I would have been hiding behind a display gawking. Yes, I’m weird that way.
I keep hearing things about Daybreak, but we like it north of Salt Lake.
Your pictures of the mountains are so surreal–it’s funny, I guess after 15 years, you don’t even notice the mountains anymore, except to be ticked if there’s snow on the tops of them in July. But I do miss them when I go somewhere else because I don’t know if I’m going north or west or up or down. Too bad we didn’t get a whopping snowstorm while you were here–we’ve had plenty this year and are due for another next week. wa-hoo.
I have to know–what’s that pizza place you went to?
Sandy - I’m guessing you didn’t have to play your ‘find the teenager’ game when Josh was around?! 🙂 Thanks for sharing your trip with us – it looks like a GREAT time!!….and far better than being trapped by family videos! 😉
Lisa Liddell - Wow wow wow, looks like an amazing place to visit, and it is so true what you say about true friends, time and distance mean nothing. bless
Lanny Stanard - wow look like a great time and even a trip to Ikea! love it now go get Waffle I’m having withdraws! stop by soon there’s some new changes happen…
Lanny 🙂
elisa - Ha- I thought the same thing about Lauren and Josh. 🙂
Loved that last picture of you!
Still planning to stop by next month and say hi!
Ashley - sounds like a wonderful time! The mountains ARE so beautiful. Don’t you just love family trips? I’m glad your back.
Diane - Makes me want to visit Utah! Looks gorgeous there. Talk about photo ops, you got some awesome pictures in.
Gini - Looks like a most amazing time. I will tell you, after 36 years in CT, the 8 years we have lived here in NV – I have just about fallen in love with our mountains. Though not snow covered as much as in your photos – you grow to miss them when you are not around them. It is almost like they are hugging our life everyday. Great great pictoral!
Shana - I totally see why Lauren had so much fun…that josh is CU-UTE!
Irene - But I love your entries – even if very long! Your updates and great photos were missed while you were away. I only came across your blog over the past few months (first time commenting!) but have flicked through much of the back-catalogue – thanks for sharing!
Irene
carissa... brown eyed fox - is Utah not SO pretty! we love to go there… we’re actually only 20 miles from the border!
what a fun trip! and it looks like EVERYONE had fun!
oh the drive… i agree… in the car… you can not have enough electronics… they sure help A LOT!
on a trip to see friends sounds like a perfect week!
had i known you’d be in the area… i would have hunted you down just for a hug! 🙂
i bet you are SO glad to be home!!!!
i will pray that all that laundry goes smoothly!
bless your heart!
Shannan - Looks like so much fun! And there’s no way that Lauren doesn’t have a crush on that cute boy, right? Does it make you mad that we’re all saying that? If it does, then I’m sure we’re wrong. I just know that it would have been my dream at that age to stumble upon a cute crush while on vacation. I’m pretty sure I read about it once in a Sweet Valley High book.
Lisa - It looks like you had a great time Meg. You’re family is so cute! You really have a great eye for pictures too.
Take care,
Lisa
Rachel - Meg; these pictures are great! What an awesome group of friends you have.
We are moving to Colorado from Florida next weekend…travelling with a 24′ truck towing a car and me and Love in the other car…oh boy….am I nervous for my hubby to drive that truck with a car attached but I can’t wait to see those mountains!
kristine - great start to your vacay! gorgeous pics! isn’t it amazing?! you could have stayed w/ my sis in ft. collins (jennifer!) Four kids but no pool 🙂
kirbey - I love the pictures, they are amazing! Your blog makes me want to hurry up and have kids, and learn to sew!
adrienneK - such great pics i think my fave is the one of……josh in the air on the bike very good pic mama!!!
<3
adrienneK
Staci - Oh are you KIDDING me??? I could never get “bored” reading your trip!!! What fun! And yes, I agree, friendships like that are just priceless 🙂
Brooke - it looks like you had a truly amazing time…my dad lives in northern utah and we trekked it out there this christmas and he too had one of these gorgeous mountain views right out his back door…i definitely wouldn’t mind doing the dishes as much if i got to stare at that while doing the chore.
love all the photos..especially the bear hug one..so cute!
Laura Phelps - So, exactly how inappropriate is it for me to have a crush on JOSH???????
Wow.
Cute.
Looks like that “kid” that was on Lipstick Jungle.
Oh dear…am I a COUGAR?????????
Helen - For a girl that’s only been out of the UK 4 times in her 23 years, your post has just stirred up a whole load of wonderlust in me. It looks an amazing part of the world to live in or visit. Thank you for bringing it to my small corner of England. All I have to do now is see it in real life!
Keep up the great blog and those brilliant photos!
Best Wishes
Helen
andrea liese - you are never boring to me and you are just a stranger, lol. looks like a fun trip, love all the pics
Tess S. - those mountains are breathtaking!
Julia - We get to experience the mountains when we go on vaca to NC – nothing as grand as the Rockies though.
I love the glass goggles pics!
Ashley - What a fun trip and great pictures!! Those mountains make an every day activity so amazing. How neat to actually live there!!!
AnNicole@OurSuburbanCottage - I moved to Oklahoma from Utah about 3 years ago, and I MISS my mountains. I totally feel like a dork, but your photos made me giddy. I was going “Oh, I know that place! Oh, she had coffee at Beans and Brews! Oh…I LOVE Daybreak!”. Thanks for the snapshot of home :).
Jess - Looks like a wonderful time! The fact that you take such awesome photos makes your blog so interesting to me. We have talked about going to CO for years now, it looks beautiful. I check in daily…I just love going back and looking at your pics over and over and over! I DREAM of having a craft room like yours(esp. the chalkboard wall). Not that I craft..yet…you make me want to!
Kate - My favorite is the random people on horses in the picture with Josh catching air on this bike. Only in Utah!
sarah - Ps. and I’m glad you guys got to take a big girl trip to Ikea! that place is fantastic.
sarah - I Love hearing about it all!
And seeing the great pictures 🙂
I especially enjoy that Lauren was capturing photos of her sisters.
And the mountains …. oh man! Makes me jealous!
Kaitlyn - I read the whole thing and I absolutely loved it! I’m longing for a trip like that. I love seeing your kids having fun. I LOVED the mountains. Thank you for sharing!
Bailey - Your fascination about the mountains was funny to me, but I guess because I live in Idaho I just take for granted having mountains all around me. Can’t wait to read parts 2 – (?) !
Lee Ann - Loving every word. I’ve been looking….waiting….for a post. Is that odd? Ya, it probably is. But I’m over it…being odd. 🙂
Looks like you all had a great time. And yes, those friendships are THE BEST!!!!
Wendy - Did you eat pizza at The Pie? Looks like you hit most of the hot spots. Fun, fun, fun.
Meg - I loved all of these pictures! Awesome post!
Amanda - In the ‘sleeping in the car’ picture is your son wearing a “The Hippies Were Right” shirt? I have that shirt…I wore it yesterday…
Darby - I read the whole thing and loved every minute! Those moutains! Oh my! Absolutely breathtaking and they’re everywhere!! How beautiful. Glad y’all are home safe!
Kara Janzen - Awesome Megan!!! I LOVED reading about your trip since I actually KNOW Rod and Lynette!! It was so fun to see pictures of them. Such a small world! Looks like you had so much fun. It’s so beautiful there–maybe we’ll have to make that trek sometime. Also, it was good to see you the other week in KS. Maybe one of these days I’ll see your kiddos again. Take care!
Kara
Jennifer - P.S. The mountains… took my breath away… like I could reach out and touch them! Wow!
Jennifer - Oh my gosh… I loved looking and reading this post! I actually felt like I was on vacation! I had a smile on my face the entire time!
Ok… any chance that Lauren and Josh might hook up? Because he is a C.U.T.I.E.! (Just curious. wink. wink.)
Glad you had fun… or are you still there? If so, have lots more fun… and shop at IKEA for the rest of us that wish we could go!
Smiles,
Jen
jennifer - It looks like you had such a wonderful time! We moved to CO almost 5 years ago from CA and I still am in awe of the mountains here. And they’re even more awesome in Utah, so I know what you’re saying! Hope you enjoyed your quick pass through Fort Collins. That’s where we are and we love it.
God is so good to bless us with friendships. There is just nothing quite like a good, true friend.
Thanks for sharing and welcome home!