Finally the Texas Trip

So, have you ever had one of those weeks, where you feel as though you are running non stop!!! Well that has been the last week for us. We got home Saturday night, instead of Sunday night (thanks to driving straight through...except for a stop in Bloomfield NM at my Aunt Peggy's home (Thanks Peggy & RJ for letting our kids run wild in your house and get their wiggles out!!)) So on Sunday the meetings, emails, phone calls, etc. started. Then Monday I spent all day cleaning, unpacking, washing, etc. Tuesday I had 3 meetings during the night, Wednesday Steve had meetings, Thursday I had 3 meetings again, and then Friday night we decided to go swimming with the kids (after I started feeling better...I forgot to take my thyroid medication that morning until noon, and lets just say by 2:00 I was shaking everywhere, and not functioning; so Thanks to STEVIE who took all my phone calls and let me rest.) So swimming was nice and relaxing and helped calm my nerves. Then today I had a big sewing project going on for trek all day. So finally I have time to write about TEXAS!!!

We drove down the first day, stopped at the Monticello temple to eat a picnic dinner, and then spent the night at a nice hotel in NM (after getting there at 12:30 AM), and got up the next day for our 10 hour trip to Gatesville. About 5 hours from there, Benjamin got car sick and threw up everywhere (poor guy). But other than that the kids did extremely well.

Then Saturday we got up, cleaned up our car, and headed to visit friends in Waco. We went to Sam's Club for lunch first and groceries (by the way it is the cheapest place to get lunch for your entire family). Then we headed over to the Gropps house. It was a wonderful visit, spending time seeing Becky, Mindi & family, and Sheila & Heather. It was nice to be able to talk with Becky and see that she still has the same personality, that I love so much. But at the same time it was hard to see how much she was suffering, and realize that this would be my last time to see her...Becky I love you...and I love all the hugs I got from you...and I miss you. Keep up your optimistic attitude...and don't let my dad beat down your door anymore! Mindi & family you guys are my heros. All of you are superheros in my book, for all the service you give to your mom, and the hours you spend helping her. Thanks for being such a great loving example.

Then we went over to Sheila & Barry's house, where they had the monster water slide...that I wish I would have had a swimsuit, because I would have went down it. My kids had a blast going down it and playing with all the kids there. Heather & Mindi your kids are gorgeous and so much fun!!! And I got to see Chris over there also...Chris thanks for always making me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world!!! I loved seeing you and getting hugs from you!! And thanks Barry and Sheila for letting us come over and see you...and Heather thanks to your kids for the swim clothes!!

So the next day Sunday, we went to church. Well except Emily, Steve, and Tyson went home after Sacrament. Emily got heat stroke from being out all day the day before...I hate the Texas heat!!!! It was the first time Ben went to nursery on his own...yeah I know it is about time!!! And it was great seeing the old Branch and seeing all my friends from there. Sandy, I love watching you, you are just as bubbly as you were when I was growing up! Thanks for your example!

Monday, we just hung out around the house and town. But we did go to Gatesville's Drive-In Movie ($5 a carload for the double feature) and watched Kung Fu Panda & Indiana Jones. It was a blast!!!

Then Tuesday we went to Irving to see the Texas Rangers play. The hotel was a roach motel...literally. But the game was a blast and the Rangers won!! And it even rained to cool off the temperature to the 80's!!! The breakfast at the hotel was decent because of the texas shaped waffles, but not anything else. But the hot dogs, drinks, and chips for the game cost $42!!!! Outrageous!!! Who charges $4.50 for a hot dog!!!!

On Wednesday we went home and stopped at the outlet mall to shop. We went to the local Bar-B-Q joint in Gatesville to order lunch/supper or lupper! When we went to order it, the lady told us the sides, and Steve asked "What are hush puppies?" She looked at him strangly and asked him if he was from the North. We all laughed at him, as he said, no just Utah. She just smiled and said, "Let's just stick with the fries & tator tots!" It made me laugh to realize my husband was such a Yankee!!!

Then on Thursday, Joy and Ava came to see us and spend the afternoon together. Ava & Emily spent the afternoon doing makeovers and playing polly pockets. It was fun to have a little girl for Emily to play with. And it was a blast hanging out with Joy again! It was just like high school, where we could just relax and talk about anything and have fun! And while we did this, Steve and Byron went out behind my parents creek and cleared trees and cactus's. But while doing this (even though I warned him, to wear pants) Steve got eat up by chiggars, fire ants, and mosquitos! He is still itching from the bites!!!!
Then on Friday we just had fun swimming and hanging out at my parents home. Saturday we got up at 4 AM and left for Utah and got there at 1 AM Sunday morning!

Texas was a blast, and a great relaxing vacation....but next time I will come when it is not so stinking hot!!!!! Sorry some of the pictures are fuzzy, but that's what you get when I forget the digital camera, and used a throw away camera!!