One BIG Family Road Trip

Just after Christmas, we headed off to make a big loop throughout the western US.  For starters, we made a one day drive from Marana to Hayward, CA.  It took about 14 1/2 hours, but everyone traveled really well.  Tim and I patted ourselves on the back for the purchase the month before of a DVD player for the van.  The boys loved getting to watch Star Wars and other favorite movies while we cruised along.  

Stop one, the Bay Area, where we had the chance to meet up with my dear friend Tyra and her beautiful little family in San Francisco.  Here are our boys with Tyra's little girl Leila at Pier 39.  Her son Mateo was there too, but a little camera shy.  :-)

 From the city, we headed to dinner with my aunts and uncles.  My Aunt Sue and Uncle Randy were such wonderful hosts and showered the boys with great Christmas gifts, and yet, I somehow failed to get any pictures with them.  My Aunt Nancy and Uncle Steve came by too, though, and each had their snuggle time with little Owen.

Owen and his great-aunt Nancy.

 Owen and Uncle Steve.

 After dinner, we drove up to the mountains to meet my parents, my brother, and his girlfriend at a cabin my parents rented for us all to share.  The first morning we had a "second Christmas" with my family, which was very well received by the boys.  :-)  Then, we headed to a little old western town with the boys.  It was so cute to watch little Chase hold his Opi's hand up and down the street.

 We even took a stagecoach ride.  During the ride there was a mock hold-up, and the boys had pretty funny responses.  Tyler was terrified, believing the actor robber to be the real deal.  Jayden, meanwhile, quickly offered up his bag of "gold" flakes he had just panned for when asked if there were any "riches" in the wagon.  We adults all got some good laughs.  :-)

 The boys and I made a gingerbread house.  Personally, I was really impressed by our icing icicles.

From there, we made the 12+ hour drive to Provo, UT to visit the Monsons.  The boys enjoyed their movies again.

Chase 

 Tyler

 Jayden

 And our sweet sleepy Owen boy.

 Our kids were in heaven to spend time with the Monson kids again.  It was like long-lost cousins reuniting.  They played and played together all day, from the moment they woke up till the time they collapsed in bed at night.  Owen loved hanging out in little Gracie's bumbo chair.

 One night, we got babysitters to watch our kiddos and had an adult dinner at a Brazilian steakhouse.  It was amazing for so many reasons.  The food was great!  Best of all was the time with our friends who we have missed so much.  

We had such a great time that we even talked Tim into extending our trip by a couple of days at the end.  Plus, we decided we have to go visit again... so wait for pictures to come of a Nelson trip to the Monsons part 2 in the Fall of 2012.  :-)

(I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!!!)