PartVI- Day 2 & 3

Our second and third day were pretty good...until, well, you'll see. But we stopped at a train station- A REAL TRAIN STATION- to Cade's udder astonishment! He LOVED it to say the least. We didn't ride any train, just walked around and checked them out.

(yes, that was a no-make-up day...and a rough pervious night look:)

Stopped at the familiar Lincoln monument near Lincoln, NE.

Here we are int he car...fun times:) (well, mostly).

Goodbye Part V- On the Road

Our first day on the road was a smooth one. We stopped in Wyoming...(these pictures are out of order, but I can't seem to move them for some reason).
The end of the day- fun swimming! Our hotel as lovely- nice bed...Hampton Inn is the way to go.

We stopped at Little America- yummy icecream.

This is the official good-bye. Yep, it was sad. Don't like thinking about it...sniff, sniff.

Driving through Logan Canyon was BEAUTIFUL! This is a picture of coming down towards Bear Lake...if you can see, the lake was completely covered by a blanket of clouds. It was really neat in person.

Goodbye Part IV- Loganites

Ok, it's time to get this posted! We said good bye in Logan, and Jami and Mom came up at the same time...so it was SO great to see them again-though we had to say good bye again as well!
Jami was a good sport watching all the kids for us while we made one last trip to the temple (as we knew we wouldn't be able to make it as often here in MI- the closest one is 4.5 hours away). We were able to visit G'pa Stones. Doesn't he sparkle with joy!? What a wonderful spirit he has. Loved to see him. And I'm so sad I didn't get a picture of G'ma Stones with the kids!! I have really kicked myself for that slip-up! But she was great to see as well.

Cade enjoyed watching Grandma sew on her embrodery machine:) It has lots of buttons you know...Cade's favorite thing!

Our family (minus Adelle and adding cousin Addie), prior to Shane and I going to the temple.

I just thought that 4th North was GORGEOUS! It was all covered in a light covering of ice due to the inversion...and it was just magnificant...don't ya think? So Pretty, had to share.

Saying Goodbye Part III- Grandparent's Whicker

We enjoyed a day with the Grandparents Whicker. Aren't they such a happy couple! I think we wore grandpa out, after his hard day's work- but he's still smilin'!

Silly Cade.


Brinly took a likin' to her Great Grandma W.'s needle work. She was right next to her the entire day watching her work her magic with her fingers, thread, and needle.

So, Grandma got her her own little set of sewing cards to help her learn. She LOVED it! Brinly has a lot of sewing genes in her family, so this may ignite that flame!

Sisters.

Hulse Home- Goodbye's Continues...

After the Harward's we headed up to visit with Kathy and Scott before we headed north. Our trip felt so last minute...thanks for putting up with our planning! We did go to the SL visitor's center... that is always enjoyable and uplifting. I always come away from there with a redetermination to be a better mother, who teaches my children more directly and consistently the principles and doctrines of the gospel. This time was no different.

Here is Jaydon and Brinly with the Christus.

Here we are walking around the Conference Center- obviously, we were cold-- we have since adjusted somewhat to the Michigan winters (this was a rude awaking to the bitter winter from our tame Las Vegas winters). Kathy makes us look pretty wimpy in her little jacket...my kids and I ready to go hike the glaciers:)
Cade found the trains...Geo, Geo Trax (as he calls them) are his number 1 favorite toy- fortunately, Jaydon was willing to let Cade go to town with them. He loved it.




Adelle, our little cutie, began crawling right before we left on our trip. This captures a little of her new found freedom of exploring. She really enjoyed the zippers on our suite cases. Cute girl.
Thanks for the great visit Hulse's! We miss you.

Humility:

Unfortunately, I learned more lessons this morning…
1. Don’t hesitate when you are prompted to stop what you’re doing and say your morning prayers, b/c you might forget.
2. Don’t underestimate how easy it is to wreck in slippery, snowy, and icy road conditions. Yep, on the way to school this morning, we hit a pretty slick area, started fish-tailing, started spinning (then I hit the brakes- which I know is a NO-NO in this situation)…and spun across the road into a lamp post and fire hydrant. Fortunately, the Lord protected us all. Adelle started crying, but settled down after a few minutes. Brinly said that it was “FUN” to crash…as did Cade (which is a direct result of too much TV, in my opinion…reality is not there).
3. People in Alpena are incredibly NICE and bend over backwards to help you. FOUR People stopped to see if we needed help! In LV, when I had my flat tire, not 1 car stopped (which I was glad b/c LV has some scary folk). One especially kind couple, the parents of a gal in Brinly’s class, stopped and took Brinly to school, and then came back and took us home. So very kind.
4. Always find someone to put on your child’s emergency contact card…even if you don’t know anyone. The school was hesitant to let this couple pick up Brinly after school, b/c it was just over the phone….I didn’t have anyone to put on it b/c I literally didn’t know anyone…still don’t…except for this couple, now.

Anyway, we made it home and have all the arrangements made to get a rental and have the car fixed. I’m scared to go driving in this weather now…I’ll be driving SUPER slow, and people are going to think I’m crazy. Oh well. I don’t what to go through this again. I’m starting to think I’m a bad driver…too many accidents.

Things I've Learned This Week:

1. Don’t leave a bottle of laundry detergent capless on top of the dryer and leave home. Your washer may become unbalanced and vibrate that ¾ full- 92 load- bottle of concentrated liquid soap to the floor…and soak up comfortably in your carpet.
2. Don’t let your 2 year old wipe his own bottom after using the toilet. He might wad up the entire tp roll and flush the toilet. The toilet might in-turn start a flood in your new rental home.
3. Don’t ignore your impression of “that sounds like water running…” when you hear the toilet flush upstairs while you’re on your computer.
4. Don’t store your paper goods on the floor of the bathroom closet b/c the toilet might overflow and ruin your stock of tp and paper towels.
5. Don’t say, “Do you want me to do that to you?” when your child does something mean to the other child- they might in turn use it on each other.

And it’s only Thursday

Good-Bye Part1: The Harward's

Jami and James graciously allowed us to stay with them in their basement apartment. We had a lot of fun. Brinly and Addie always enjoy playing together and you'll see below what Cade fell in love with.

Adelled was given some ice cold peaches and the reaction was this face:

Poor girl!

Jami and Adelle hit it off as well. Adelle really savored being held by her Auntie Jami.

Not such a great picture of myself, but I couldn't leave without pictures with my sisters!

Cade's love continued- trains...it'll be a theme throughout our entire trip.

Brinly and Addie having a great time!