The next few days were a blur since we finished up the parks and were able to finally spend Sunday relaxing a bit.
However, we still made it a priority to go to church, and were extremely happy that a lot of the family joined us. I think only one family didn't come because they didn't have clothes for it.
Maiya and Devri telepathically coordinated on this outfit apparently.
Our off-day was spent in the Game Day Lodge which was quite amazing, but still somehow felt small with 18 grandkids. It probably didn't help that it was extremely hot again outside and so no one wanted to be out there. Meanwhile, Devri decided that she couldn't be that close to Arkansas and not check off another bucket list state (ok, ok, maybe it was just a bucket list state because it helps her get closer to visiting all 50). She hopped in the van and drove down by herself.
Meanwhile, on her drive back from Arkansas, Devri found this giant bust of JFK. (Caution: objects in the window may be larger than they actually appear).
Devri for size reference.
She didn't go to this bar and patio, but considered it. She heard it's the best.
Back at the house, this is what most of the kids looked like. At least most of them were playing a game together.
And you thought I was joking that most of them looked like that.
Dinner time!
We can't do a Saville family reunion without Jenny organizing a white elephant gift exchange. The best part of the entire exchange is watching Jenny laughing at all of the ridiculous gifts (a lot of which she brought with her). It is the best! I thought I would capture the chaos of getting it organized here, hence why I'm the only one that is close to looking at the camera.
We went from the youngest to oldest with some rules about stealing, etc. Alaina started us off with a caramel rice krispie treat.
Michael couldn't quite decide on which one to open.
But in the end, he still chose poorly. I don't remember what it was, but he definitely didn't want it. Fortunately, he was able to switch it for something else.
Tyler serenaded us with his mad trombone skills. He's turned out to be just like his dad: quite amazing at anything he decides to try.
With a basketball in the back of the house, it seemed right to play speed/knockout/whatever the kids call it these days. Even dad joined in, and usually did quite well if I remember right. Danny pulled out the win the most though, which makes sense since he actually plays on a team.
The final day (July 11th) we decided to start it off with something completely different: more screens! These boys were entertaining to watch/listen to though. Although Tucker and Skyler were usually playing with them...
The oldest Saville boys.
We wish that Ben and Jenny lived closer, we all know that these two would be doing stuff together all of the time. But after 5 fun-filled days, it was time to say goodbye to the entire family and head off on our own. Alisa decided to go to Nauvoo since it was relatively closer than they usually are to it. Ben went touring through Missouri some more. Lara, Lea, and Mom/Dad headed back home.
Our family wasn't close to being done with family yet, however, since Devri's family reunion was starting in two days in Wyoming. Fortunately, it was only a short 20 hour drive there in a car full of kids that were already tired of driving.
On our way there, we decided to break it up a bit with some side tours. We stopped at the Winter Quarter's temple in Nebraska and took a tour through the visitor's center.
The size of the bunks on the ships that the pioneers travelled to America on.
As you can tell, Michael and I easily fit into this bunk. At least we would if someone wasn't a giant bed hog. I mean, why did he need his entire body in the bed?
This is how John Candy and the pioneers travelled.
They don't talk much about the underside of cowpies in westerns, but here it is.
They had this handcart to test how it would be to travel across the country to Utah from Nebraska. Of course, this was on low-pile carpet that made it very easy. To demonstrate a little more of what it might have been like, the Sister missionary put a single, small rock just in front of one of the wheels. And this is what it looked like...
Apparently it was much, much harder. He finally got it over, but that was just one rock. I can't imagine pulling this thing as far as the pioneers did.
But hopefully they had a little more appreciation for the effort it took.
It's all fun and games until you have to travel across 3 states this way.
Outside of the visitor's center there was a cemetery and memorials to those that died at Winter Quarters. It was humbling to see these monuments and graves of those who suffered so much.
Just past the cemetery, there was the Winter Quarters temple. This was built while I was in high school, and it became the closest temple for us. We came once or twice a year for a temple trip with the youth, and I loved it.
I distinctly remember coming here with my best friend, Justin, and working on the grounds there to plant and weed. Maybe we planted these big trees, but probably not.
The kids at the front doors. It was Monday so the temple wasn't open (they try to keep it closed on most of Monday to help families have a night together).
The angel Moroni is at the top of nearly every one of the temples.
Inscribed at the top is "Holiness to the Lord, the House of the Lord". These buildings are special and sacred to us.
We couldn't leave without a selfie.
I believe we stayed in Lincoln that night (since there isn't much around there at all). The hotel was a solid 2 1/2 star hotel, and this is what the kids really wanted to do.
It might have been the next morning, not sure. Note: we never let the kids watch TV in hotels, usually because we can't stand whatever they want to watch that's on. So this is a rare treat. Yup, we're those parents.
On the way, we found this gem of a rest stop. It had some restrooms as expected, but what you didn't see coming was....
The Lincoln memorial alpha version. They clearly just got the head done and then went, "yeah, that's good for now."
He's like the sphinx of Wyoming.
We never knew we needed this picture so much until we had it.
The hotel in Rawlins that night was much nicer! You know it's posh when you don't even have to provide your own stache.
Who wore it better?
Devri (in a good call) opted to go without the mustache and instead get lip injections.
Gabe most of the trip. He loved putting on music on his headphones and cuddling up in his blankets. I have to say, our kids are pretty amazing travelers. Michael has the biggest voice before a trip in how he doesn't want to be that long in a car, but as soon as we actually set out, everyone just sits back and enjoys the drive. Or at least tries to. Another 20 hour drive down, and we were in beautiful Bedford, Wyoming for Devri's family reunion.
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