Pit stop with the VanDusens!

Once I was finally completely done with school (thanks to Henry, the Cargills and the Pritchetts for getting me through my last few weeks in Boston), I met up with EmmaLee and Ezra in St. George.   On our drive to finally settle in Gridley we stopped to meet up with our friends. They happened to be visiting their grandma who lives at the perfect halfway point for the trip!  She owns the Double Eagle Resort at June Lake in the Mammoth Lakes region.  She has an awesome cabin that the Van Dusens were staying at that totally had room for us and other family that was visiting (with still more room to spare).  As you will see it's in an awesome place and it was a joyous reunion for Emily and Ezra.

They almost tackled each other when they hugged when we first got there.

We went hiking to see some cool waterfalls.

Apparently they had record precipitation this year because this waterfall doesn't usually exist.

Sorry we were too frustrated with the internet here to re-post with the proper orientation.

Lyla was already looking too grown up after just a few months.

We really wish we could have stayed there for a week.  There would have been plenty for us to do, but we were happy to be on our way to Gridley!

Utah in July part II

The last week of our trip was much more exciting than the first 4 weeks. Four days before my youngest brother Josh's wedding my dad got in an accident. We had been at an FHE with some of my cousins and their families at Gunlock reservoir and afterwards my Dad and brother headed up to Enterprise to drop off my Dad's motorcycle for new tires, or some kind of repair. On the last stretch just before you come into town my Dad hit a deer. Luckily my brother was following him and was able to call 911, stop traffic, and let us know what was going on. It was definitely scary, but in the end my Dad spent one night in the hospital and came home with a broken collar bone, 5 broken ribs and lots of road rash. They said that if he had not had on his helmet he would have died. I saw the helmet and I am pretty sure they are right. So fortunately for us all he was able to go to the wedding. My mom and I took care of his dressing changes, helping him eat, and helping him get around. I took the night shift the night before the wedding, so by the time the reception was over my Mom, Dad and I were exhausted. Luckily my sister took Ezra off my hands so we were able to get some sleep. Thanks Jamie and Tony! Ezra was sad that Grandpa couldn't play because he had "really big owies" but luckily we had already been there a while. Bob got stuck at school and missed the wedding by 3 days, but it was a beautiful wedding and we are happy to have Samantha as part of our family.

I believe that point of impact was where you see the truck parked in the background. 

The deer ended up here, my dad was a little farther, and the bike was even farther.

Luckily he hit the deer right in it's belly because that is the softest part.

Unfortunately that meant my dad was plastered literally with blood and guts.

Notice the intestines on the side. Sorry if it is too graphic for you.

Here is his bike covered in blood. We were amazed it wasn't more damaged.

My dads helmet looked a lot like this except with more deer poop on it and a big chunk scraped off it.

The tail light and handlebar both look like this on the side that slid on the ground.

It broke out a blinker light and his rear view mirror and 

scraped some spots but all inall it is still in working condition.

 We could have had some pretty good family pictures if Bob had been there.

Dang that BU!

 It was super hot and my Mom was on the verge of passing out so 

here ended the family pictures at the temple!

 I promise that Josh is slightly taller than me but I was wearing heels

and Jamie has on even taller ones.

 I feel like cute little Sam makes us look like a family of giants!

Clearly these happened first but I am too lazy to change up the order.

We finally make it to Gridley, but not for too long!

I will let most of the pictures do the talking. We enjoyed cousins,Grandparents, having a yard, a pool, and just space. I am so glad that Ezra will be raised somewhere besides just 22 Marion Road!

Ezra went poop in the toilet for the first time so we had a treasure hunt to celebrate.

Unfortunately he did not make a habit of it.

I have never been so happy to not have to go to the laundromat!

Brief Bunker Bonding

We got to spend less than 24 hours with the Bunkers, but as usual, they packed a lot in. We spent Sunday night at their wonderful house. (I am jealous of people who have houses, especially people with nice big ones.) I thought it was great the way Avery and Austin acted as if they had just seen Bob yesterday. They were climbing all over him and having a great time. Austin pretty much just seemed scared of me.

The next day Jared took us to see some cool things while Avery was at school. Then we met up with them for lunch and checked out the new Mormon Battalion Visitors Center. Unfortunately we had to head to LA, fortunately it was to see our new niece Abby who was born that day!

I think that is Coronado Island in the distance.

You can see Ezra is excited to be a Pacific Ocean kid now.

See I told you we were with the Bunkers. 

You were probably starting to doubt with the lack of Bunkers in the pictures.

The boys had so much fun playing with this water pump.