~Our Thanksgiving Trip to Utah~

Our Thanksgiving Trip to Utah

(In a Nutshell)

A Day in Des Moines 

(we hung out most the day at Bass Pro Shop where we played with all the free toys that were set up, went bowling at Uncle Buck's Sea themed Bowling Alley, mailed our letters to Santa, and then MET Santa:)

An Awful, Stormy Drive

We hit the road at 6:30pm, Friday night. By 3:00am we reached Laramie, Wy and hit a major storm that closed the roads down behind us and caused us to drive very slowly. 

First Day in Utah

Maddix's Baptism, dinner at Cafe Rio, and the BYU Game for Maddox-Travis-G.Gpa Herb. 

Second Day in Utah

Grandparents took the kids to church while we recovered from our drive. We went to the temple and took pictures in the most gorgeous weather. And that night we had the Johnson dinner.

Third Day in Utah

Did some shopping, spent the afternoon with the cousins, and then went on a surprise horse drawn carriage ride through P.G. and around the Timp Temple; it was a surprise Christmas present from my mom, and we really had such a great time! 

Fourth Day in Utah

Lunch with Gpa Vaughn at the creamery, dinner with my sweet friends at Mi Ranchitos, and then a game night playing The Newlywed game with Trav's siblings. 

Fifth Day in Utah 

BEST trip to the temple. We did dealings with Travis's family and I got to take my own family names with me. Then I was able to sit in the lobby and read my scriptures since I wasn't in a hurry to do the two hour drive back home; I wish we lived closer to a temple. We hung out with my mom awhile after. And then that evening we did Addie's birthday cake smash. 

Sixth Day in Utah

~Thanksgiving Day~

Day of 4 Thanksgivings 

Morning started out with the turkey bowl with Trav's family and my sisters; it was so fun to finally be around for the annual football game!! 1st Thanksgiving stop: My mom's. 2nd: the DeBucks. 3rd: Papa ken and Nana Marilyn's home. and 4th: My Gma Janet's... it was a long, but fun day. Then we played more games after the kids went to bed. 

Seventh Day in Utah

We went to the park with the cousins and soaked in some of the last sunny weather we'd be getting for awhile. My mom came by and we chatted, cleaned, and said goodbye. That night we went to dinner at Los Hermanos with G.Gpa Herb and the DeBuck family. 

Eighth Day in Utah, Bonus Day

It took us 7hrs to drive to Evanston, find the roads closed, and drive back to the Johnson's where we ended up snowed in for the day. We picked up a present for Travis, on sale, and that night we enjoyed some Aunt Janelle time (Marshmallow wars with the boys, and a ride on her wheelchair for Addie). 

Ninth and final Utah Day

We waited for the i-80 to open up and enjoyed a large pancake breakfast until the roads FINALLY were done being closed! However, just because the roads were opened didn't make them safe... We had to drive EXTREMELY slow due to black ice; we passed several jack-knifed semi trucks. We didn't make it as far on the drive as we hoped, so we spent the night in North Platte (Barely on the edge of Nebraska); we were SOOO happy to leave Wyoming behind! 

Tenth Day and Finally Made it Home!! 

Thankfully the roads were finally clearing up, we could drive at a more decent speed, and we hit one more storm before FINALLY making it home!! 

It took 7hrs (failed attempt), 13 hrs, and then 8 hours before we FINALLY made it home! 

HOME!!!! 

NEVER WILL I DO THAT DRIVE AGAIN THIS LATE IN THE SEASON!!!!