Once we packed up camp we jumped in the car and headed right back out on the road. The trip from Richardson's Grove to Payson was a long, seventeen hour trek, interrupted only by a short, uncomfortable motel stay in Wendover. Just a side note: Never stay in Wendover. Ever. It's possible you would get a half-way decent night's stay if you stayed on the Nevada side of town (it is split between Nevada and Utah) in one of the three casinos that make up the majority of the town, however, those fine establishments don't take dogs. Staying in any hotel that takes dogs is, at best, not a great experience. Staying in a hotel in Wendover that takes dogs is just not something you ever want to do. Take my word for it.
We wouldn't have done it, but we were hitting Wendover around 2 in the morning and both Robert and I were too exhausted to keep driving the next three hours through the monotonous Salt Flats. When both the driver and the back seat driver are dozing at the same time, I guess it is better to risk the fleas in Wendover.
Moving on. After we piled out of the car at Grandma Scribner's house, we started the preparations for camping that evening. Soon enough we piled back into the car and headed up to Payson Lakes to join up with the Scribner reunion. There we hung out around the campfire, played games and sang songs. Robert and the big kids ended up staying the night while Jason and I went back to G-ma's for a good night's sleep.
The kids playing cards in the back of a truck.
Maggie, Peter, Dad and Naomi
Baby Joseph
Josh
Spence on the guitar.
Robert got this great shot of the moon. Isn't it cool?
The next day the kids spent the afternoon out on the lake. This was a cute picture of some of the kids. Austin, Oliver, Laina, Ellie, Ethan, Miles and Yve.
Ellie
Jack, Myles, Lucy, Oliver, Yve and Stephanie
Lucy, Jack and Yve.
Once when I was driving back with Rob to the house, we put Bella into the car. She usually sits between the two middle seats, but when we looked back, we saw that she had commandeered the actual seat. She's too big to fit, but it looks like she made do. We took a picture and then made her get down. Silly dog.
Once the camp was broken down, we returned to Mom's house. Robert was able to stay for a day, but had to get back to work by Sunday. So after he left, I stayed for a few more days to visit a little more with the family.
Alaina and Lucy.
Russ and Jason.
One day Mom took out the slip and slide for the kids. Everyone but Jason thought it was pretty awesome.
The kids at an antique store. Bottom to top. Jason, Naomi, Porter, Oliver, Ethan, Yve and Lane.
I was able to take one afternoon and visit with my sweet friend Arianna Petty Warren and her new little babe, Bryce. Aren't they sweet?
And so...the grand Western Trek came to a close. I piled up everyone, (yet, once again) into the car and drove off to Las Vegas. We were completely exhausted by the end of that trip but we were very pleasantly surprised when we walked into the front door of the house and found that Robert had cleaned the house until it was shining and beautiful before he left for his trip. I really can't think of any gift I'd rather have. It was almost too clean to let the kids out of the car...but I did anyway. Eventually.
