Family Vacation, 2015!

A few weeks ago we decided to vacation with Aunt Ev and Grandma.  Grandma wanted to see Mount Rushmore and we were happy to oblige!  We rented an RV and hit the road.  We had an ADVENTURE (more good than bad!).  So grateful for Grandma and Aunt Ev and their kindness and patience to travel with Mike and I and our WILD crew!!

Day 1:

We picked up the RV and loaded in a TOTAL rain storm. It was exciting!  We hit the road and headed to Colorado.  Things took longer then we had anticipated, so we pulled into Grand Junction and over a yummy pizza dinner decided to change our plans. Instead of heading into Denver for the night, we got a KOA in Grand Junction and spent the evening relaxing--playing miniature golf, setting up the RV, watching the summer movie, smores, and fighting Ben to get him to sleep.  (We finally had to strap him in the stroller and park him in the dark!)

KOA's are such a nice way to RV.  We had a great site and there was great stuff to do for the kids. Aunt Ev braved a hurricane type storm out in a tent, and we battled the children in the RV.  Not much sleep for anyone! ;)

Day 2:  

This morning required a stop at Walmart--we bought a pack n play and saved our sanity.  We headed into Denver after a relaxing morning and got prepped for the activity of the evening--a Colorado Rockies game!  Ev loves the Rockies and has taught my kids to do the same.  We had so much fun!  Ball park hot dogs, a playground, rootbeer, and a home run made for a great night.  We loved our time--thanks Aunt Ev!!

 We drove outside of Denver for our next KOA.  It was probably a good thing it was dark when we arrived cuz we may have tried to move on--it was RUSTIC!  But there were TONS of bunnies and a small playground, so the kids were set. :)

Day 3:

We spent some time on the WIFI--working and getting things worked out with our realtor--and then hit the road to Rushmore.  This was the best day of driving, in my opinion, and the kids did great.  We were still battling little sleep, but at least had a few chances to catch up.  We arrived at the Rushmore KOA in time for dinner and loved checking out the place. It was AMAZING! We could have spent a week just at the campsite!  However, after dinner we headed to Rushmore to catch it before it got dark.  It was a really neat thing--totally cool to see it in person. Even getting rained out didn't damper our spirits!

 

Ben decided to get sick this night. I will be forever grateful for all night showers and laundry.  Lots and lots of barf all over me--it would have been a HORRIBLE event without a shower.  As it was, a Priesthood blessing and some faith and we made it through. Whew!

Day 4:

We spent the day touring the area. Sturgis (the motorcycle rally) was alive and well and there were bikers EVERYWHERE!  We drove a bit of Custer State park (not nearly enough, it was beautiful!) and endured a fancy lunch with some VERY grumpy children.  We decided to hit the road late afternoon in order to get a jump on the road home. Originally we were going to head home through Yellowstone, but after driving for 4 days in the RV, we decided to head home quicker.  

 

Day 5:

We pulled into Casper the night before and lucked out to get an AWESOME hotel. We would certainly stay there again.  Fish for the kids to feed, a fabulous Continental breakfast (best I have ever had), indoor pool, and NO RV SLEEPING!  (Best part!  So glad all the adults were done with the RV...not just me!) :)  We woke up after real sleep and hit the road. We stopped at Martins Cove on the way home and I was sad to realize that the hike to the actual cove was 5 miles--much longer then I remembered it from my youth.  We skipped the cove and enjoyed the visitors center. It was worth the stop.  We came home to more torrential rain--packing and unpacking in a monsoon...who would have guessed!

This was typical Ben for a good deal of our trip. Poor buddy! (Poor adults!)

Top 5 Favorite Moments:

Mount Rushmore

Pictures of the state signs on the side of the Road

Pinochle

Home Run at the Rockies Game--the look on Joshy's face was priceless

Sturgis

Let's go again! Stat!

We had creative sleeping.  Poor Elizabeth...she spent the nights on the shower floor!