We're back! {Epic Trip West 2013 Preview}

We have been planning this trip for over a year.

We calculated, scheduled, priced, booked, reserved, graphed, prepared, listed, printed, laminated, coordinated, and organized.

Our first *ever* big family vacation

and our first summer without being in school, 

giving birth, or moving!

We named it epic.

And it was.

We coordinated our travel with two family reunions, meetups with friends,

and Trevor's out-of-town work schedule.

This is a preview to get me going

(over 2,000 photos are in my file from this trip...that is after I cleared out about triple that)

and to dust of the ole' blog!

A sampling of what we did on our trip:

...

we laughed 

(and played many a game)

Trevor & Miss N at a Sonic stop in Nebraska

we got dirty

(and engineered sand creations)

The kiddos on the sandbar at Bear Lake beach in UT

we kissed

(and cherished the together time)

Bear Lake, UT

 we explored

(and enjoyed breathtaking views & sunsets)

Mama & Miss N: Colorado National Monument, CO

we enjoyed many a picnic

(and this is the face my kids are probably most familiar with)

Mama & ducklings: Picnic lunch at Provo temple
(it was closed for maintenance--otherwise no picnics allowed on grounds!)

we were inspired

Families are Forever: SLC Temple Square, UT

we reunioned

(and built new family relationships/strengthened old ones!)

Jackson Family Reunion: Park City, UT (the grand kids)

we hugged

(and celebrated the chance to be together!)

My family--from TN, MA, WA, & MN (missing Spencer & SharaK!)
Sunday evening family time in Kamas, UT (Wagstaff family farm)

we swam

(and spashed, and paddled, and jumped: 

3 splash pads, 3 pools, 3 lakes) 

Bear Hollow Clubhouse w/Grandmama & Granddaddy: Park City, UT

we met bears

(not really but we were in bear country, fo' sho')

Our family + bear = Cooke City, MT

 we pioneered

(learned/heard many family history stories and stopped at several family homesteads)

Finding names of Jackson ancestors in old store ledgers: Randolph, UT

we enjoyed nature

(except those sunburns in UT and those mosquitoes in MT)

Yellowstone National Park--a river with Miss N

we dutifully posed

(too. many. photos!) 

Trevor & the kids: Mt. Rushmore, SD

we stopped

(for food, for bathrooms, for work, for play, & for VIEWS)

Colorado National Monument + our home on wheels

we got our feet wet

(and learned valuable life lessons...#1: make a plan but BE FLEXIBLE)

J, Granddaddy, N, Trevor, & Miss N: Sunset at Bear Lake, UT

we relaxed in the shade

(and found shapes in the clouds)

we went on a mountain trail

(and didn't fall off!)

Horse ride in Cooke City, MT by family-owned Skyline Guest Ranch

we logged many sights

(and crossed them off our trip bucket list...one by one...) 

Sunday morning at Mt. Rushmore, SD

 and we made it safely,

exhaustedly, triumphantly

back home again!

Now, we're in detox mode.

At least I've got my blogs going, right?

See latest posts 

on my me-blog here