Carpinteria Thanksgiving Where Everyone Got Sick

I had a head cold before we started this trip. I also had started off November in the hospital for 5 days with a bowel micro-tear. It was a stressful time. I started a new strict diet, was taking steroids, but was feeling ready to get out and carry-on with our annual trip to Carpinteria for Thanksgiving.
On the drive down Lincoln threw up and by the time we got into the hotel I was also not feeling well. We made it up to our hotel room in Barstow and Lincoln fell asleep in the tub.
I was so exhausted. We made it 8 hours and had several more before we would reach Carpinteria. I also didn't want to get anyone else sick in case this was a stomach bug and not just the 4 bags of Doritos Lincoln ate on the drive down. I text my family that we would be turning around the next morning and cancelled our hotel rooms and begged them to refund us. They did allow the refund so we went to sleep and prepared to leave the next morning. By morning everyone was acting fine, and despite my pleadings to just head back home, Sheehan had uncancelled our hotel reservations and told his family we would still all of them for breakfast. Colleen stayed that night with us in the hotel.

 We joined the Mauldin's for Thanksgiving dinner. I didn't get to eat most of the meal with my diet restrictions but I had not doubt it was really delicious given the cooking talent in the Mauldin family. It was really windy and cold all week so it was nearly impossible to be outside at all. Unfortunately the weather didn't get any better for thanksgiving day so we ended up eating in our (or other people's in our case) motorhomes.

I brought a bunch of crafts to do with the kids and Julianne and Devyco were kind enough to let me make a mess of the trailer crafting with the kiddos. 

Our kids had a great time playing in our hotel room. Rae brought all sorts of stuffed animals to play with.

We were lucky to get a quick visit in with Uncle Eddie and Jayden Blair!

 

We were able to visit Grandma Patty and Payne at Ihop on the drive home.

It was fun, we made memories with our families, a few more family members did get sick (so we prob brought the stomach flu), and we were exhausted. We made there and back safe though which is a blessing!

Sundance Lift Family Ride

We drove up to Sundance with the boys to ride the lift up to Bear Claw Cabin Restaurant at the very top of the mountains. You have to change several ski lifts to get all the way to the top and it took at least 30 minutes to get up to the peak. The 360 degree view made it all worth it. It felt like you were going to walk off the edge or get blown off the edge! It was an exciting adventure with our little boys. Alyssa kept Rae for us. I didn't trust her on the lifts. I ate everything and discovered I cannot do that anymore. I became so nauseous the entire ride down I had to lay my head down on the bar and just keep my eyes closed. Crohns is an adjustment and I'm trying to figure out my new normal. No more hot chocolate for me.  :(

On the drive up we took a picture of Bridal Veil Fall running slim as we enter enter into Fall. 

Yosemite June 2018

This Yosemite trip made my heart so full. I can't imagine anything much happier than my family all together and the cousins giggling and playing together. The memories were made!

Uncle Aaron gave all of the kids headlamps and Aunt Michelle made of the kids their own monogrammed reuse-able water bottle.  

The kids loved swinging on the hammock

 It made me so happy to have Grandma Bev there with us. Her and Papa Clyde started the Family tradition of going to Yosemite annually. She hasn't come as often the past few years. It was such a treat to have her along this year. Mr. Perry is always so happy to help and was a great cook. Our family knows how to make camping food GOOOOODDDD!!! Heck, we know how to make all food GOOOOOODDDDD!!! Truman made us all laugh because the next thing we knew he was covered head to toe in dirt!

 

 

 
 

 

 We had talks around the campfire and went on short hikes. We played jumprope and played with a stomp rocket in the woods. The ladies all went to brunch at the Awhawnee Hotel. The food was wonderful and the company was even better. Such great memories. This is my idea of heaven.