Spring Break

So I took that mothering plunge--the one I'd been avoiding, even dreading for years--and drove all the way to Utah and back BY MY SELF. That is by my self with six kids in the car! I was nervous about doing this 11 hour drive with no other adults, but I figured it'd be a learning experience. I was just hoping it wouldn't be the type of learning you pay for with a horrific car accident. Yes, concerned about getting sleepy behind the wheel big time. Handsome Husband kindly located a book I wanted to read on the greater Phoenix Library page and downloaded it to my ipod. Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson works almost as good as caffeine (I started sipping my diet coke at 9:00 a.m) to keep my mind awake and alert! (Really you must read both of his books. I am obsessed with them and could write an entire post on my thoughts about this man's astonishing accomplishments).

So here's some pics of the trip. It really was great!

The wedding was beautiful, the spirit strong.

Fiddler at the Hale was great! See how adorable my niece is?

Camp Fancy Nancy was awesome. The highlight of the girl's stay.

Also, we attended a "It's Not Delivery, It's DiGiorno" party. I've been wanting to do one of these ever since I first saw their pizza commercials in the early 1990's, right?

Visiting with my awesome siblings was, well, awesome.

And that turn to Panguitch we missed on the way home? (The kids were duking it out in the back over some "he touched me"/"she's looking at me" infraction. This distraction caused me to miss that turn to Panguitch (again, I might add. . . I did this about 4 years ago driving down with Nancy, remember?). But this time, when I stopped in Cedar City to inquire after the mountain pass I took last time I missed the turn, I learned that Mountain Pass # 14 is closed for the winter! Ai yi yi. After consulting a map in the gas station with the attendant, we chose to head south and drive through Zion's National Park. She did not mention that to use the road through Zion's National Park would cost me $25. Ohhh. So that's why we don't normally drive this way.

After paying my $25 dollar fee, I instructed the kids to look out the windows at this lovely view we just paid big time for (in money and in time. . .my missed turn cost me an extra hour and half!) Luna got out the camera and we took shots while we were driving. There was a super long winding tunnel and gorgeous mountain peaks the likes of which I've never seen before. I even pulled over once to take a picture.

The moral of this spring break review story? Driving to Utah and back with no husband = A true learning experience, just like I'd figured.