On July 31st we drove to California so that I could stay with my parents while Brandon flew to Colorado for his second job interview with Pacific Dental. We decided to go ahead and have Brandon fly out of LA because then I could stay with my parents and have something to do instead of being stuck at home without a car for 2 full days. Then we also decided it would be great to make it to both of our family reunions. That following week in the beginning of August my moms side of the family decided to have our very first family reunion. Then since Brandon's family reunion was at the end of that same week we figured we could kill two birds with one stone and make it to both. We had not originally planned on going to either because Brandon was still in school and I was going to be 32 weeks pregnant! However, we figured it would be really cool and a nice break from this Arizona heat to get out and see both of our families! So we did!
We spent some time in California first, while Brandon went to his interview.
Side note: On Brandon's flight back to California from Colorado he had an emergency landing in Las Vegas because one of the engines in the plane went out. Luckily they were able to land normally but they had to wait for a while until people figured out what was going to happen. Luckily they were able to get on another plane that same night and that one didnt have any problems. Although he didnt get home until 3 in the morning. It was pretty crazy but I am just glad that he got home safe and sound!
Here are a few pictures from our trip to California.
The sunset that we saw on our way to California. Ethan saw it and thought it was a fire! haha What a cutie!
Eating some fresh Blackberries from GG's garden! Yum!
When Ethan was a newborn we would lay him in this very bean bag. Now he is way too big for it! Crazy how time flies!
Practicing for when his baby brother comes! :-)
Being silly at Chick fil a!
Then we helped my sister move to San Diego that weekend when Brandon got back into town and that was pretty much our stay in California. Then on Sunday we made our way to Utah and stayed in Las Vegas at my Grandparents house that night in order to break the drive up a little bit. Then we drove the rest of the way to Paysen Utah Monday morning. We got to my Uncles house just in time for dinner. So we hung out with everyone that night and then when it was late and past bed time we headed to the hotel to let Ethan go to bed. It was nice staying in a hotel especially since we had a pool to swim in. Although we only used it once because of everything that was planned for the reunion. It was fun just to see everyone and to see my Uncle Johns new place and to see my Uncle Ted's farm that they live on. Ethan had fun riding on the 4 wheeler that they had and he had fun sitting in the dirt throwing dirt on the little baby pigs! haha I also got to be there for my sister in-law Hayley's baby shower that my mom threw for her with our family. So that was nice to be able to be there for that since this was their first baby. Anyways, we were there from Monday through Wednesday.
The few things that Ethan would do to keep himself busy while on the road!
What studly boys I have in my life!
Then we got up early Thursday morning to drive to Idaho Falls to surprise Brandon's family. No one new we were coming except for Brandon's brother Jason so it was pretty fun to see how they all reacted. So we got up to Idaho Falls around noon and then Brandon had to run some errands in IF before we left for the cabin. Then around 4 we headed over to their Gandparents cabin in Ashton Idaho where all of the fun began!
The weather was SOO nice and we had a lot of fun spending basically 2 full days outside. Ethan loved playing with his cousin Mady and actually doing things outside for a change (since we have been stuck inside for the past few months because of how hot it is in AZ). It was nice just relaxing and sitting outside enjoying the nice weather and the fun company of family for a couple days. We braved sleeping in a tent too. I was a little bit hesitant to sleep on an air mattress in a tent with how bad my back has been this pregnancy but I figured it was only 2 nights and I wasn't quite sure if there would be any room for us inside the cabin. So we tented it. Which was nice partly because of how cold it was at night. I loved sleeping in the cool air. I never got hot that is for sure and that was a nice break for me. However, Ethan did not do too well. So the first night sleeping in our tent we did not get much sleep. He kept waking up crying so in the middle of the night we decided to bring him into bed with us. As soon as we did that he fell silent and went right to sleep. The bad thing was that I have a huge tummy and have to sleep on my side and Brandon has to sleep on his back or his arms fall asleep. So i was trying to give him enough room as I could and he was trying to stay away from me enough to give me room as well as from Ethan. Plus Ethan is a little furnace so Brandon was dying of heat. So by 3 in the morning he decided to put the quilt we had brought onto the floor next to the bed and just sleep there. Once he did that we all slept great the rest of the night. So I think we got 3 hours of sleep or so, but who really knows. I never really sleep well when Ethan is in the same bed as I am because I am concious that he is right there and I feel like I always have to check on him and make sure he is doing ok. So anyways, the next night as soon as he cried the first time Brandon immediately moved to the floor so we could all get a better nights sleep! Which it worked really well except for me still having to get up to go pee a few times during the night! Other than that the trip was a blast and we were sad to have to leave and drive back home to the heat! So here are a bunch of pictures from the Reunion in Idaho!
On Friday evening a storm blew in for a little bit and it got super windy and tried to blow away our tents. So we had to take them down until the wind let up. Thankfully it did not rain bad while they were down or we would have had wet beds for the night!
Good ol' ring toss with my huge belly!
I just love these two handsome boys!!
Ethan and Mady had so much fun playing with bubbles!!
On Saturday morning Ethan and I went on the "fun run". Or rather the fun walk for me and Ethan.
What a cute little boy I have!
We were glad that we went to the reunion especially after finding out that Brandon's Grandparents sold the cabin. So it was a good thing we went and were able to enjoy the reunion at the cabin one last time.
Saturday afternoon we headed back home. We stopped in Paysen Utah and stayed with my Uncle John that night thankfully and then drove the last 10 hours back home on Sunday. It was a lot of driving and we were all so very ready to be done for a while. Ethan was a champ basically the whole time. Especially since we have a DVD player and he could watch Toy Story since he LOVES Buzz Lightyear! haha
Kind of weird but I had to take a picture of Ethan and his very first (and possibly last, since I would rather not eat there if I dont have to! haha) Happy Meal from McDonalds.
And this I just thought was cool. I dont know if you can see the face in the clouds but it was super apparent while we were driving so I tried to capture it on my phone! I thought it was pretty cool! haha
Anyways, so that was our vacation. It was A LOT of driving but it was fun and worth the trip and memories! But, it is always good to be home even if it is blasted hot! :-)
