family vacation

We live about 1700 miles from our family in Idaho.  According to MapQuest it would take us about 26 hours to  drive that distance.  This is with ideal weather, no gas stops, and and an in-van potty.  If we were semi-realistic about it, we could possibly do it in two days.  Then possibly two days back.  Chad can only take a week of vacation at a time.  That would only leave us with three days to pretend to be rested so we could enjoy both families.  Oh, and we can't afford to fly.

Luckily, we have Steve and Em just 550 miles away!

It should have only taken us 9 hours to drive there.  Sadly, we had less than perfect weather.  There was a severe weather alert issued for the state of Kentucky, and it was in that state that after seeing many accidents, that we had a small one of our own.  In Tennessee we "handled" the problem.  At any rate, we made it safely to Oxford, Alabama, their home sweet home.

We had a wonderful time!  They had a list of things we could go see and do, but to be honest, we just wanted to spend time with them, and be a part of their lives.  It is what we miss most.  We went to a junior basketball league game, we made meals together, we had family scriptures and family home evening.  We went on walks, Zumba class (just Emily and me) and church together.  It was awesome!

One of the highlight activities was the cutting down of a tree in the back yard.  Chad had boasted to Steve that the tree he recently cut in our back yard "fell within 6 inches of where I wanted it."  After several hours of work, the tree they felled fell about 180 degrees in the wrong direction!  We agreed there was divine intervention since it did not fall through the roof of the house and into their dinning room.  It turned out that the Lord's landing place was a much better spot than the one they picked. 

(Please note that it was tough to keep the kids in the house during the felling project since Steve and Em have a yard that is every kids dream.  It also has a trampoline they were crazy about!)

Out of the remains of the tree, Steve and Chad created benches  that they arranged around what will soon be a fire pit!  As if the back yard could be any better!  Also note the compost bin to the left of Chad two pictures above.  They also spent an afternoon building that, and several hours "composting."  Chad loved every second of it!  Steve kept saying he was sorry he was working Chad so much on his vacation.  Chad's response, "This is better than going to a tropical beach!"  Since we came home, Chad has proved this statement is true buy scouring Craigslist and purchasing 4 saws for some projects of his own! We loved it!