New Mexico

Lance was able to take some time off for the 4th so we decided to drive to New Mexico and spend a week with Lance's family. Other than the 14 hr drive each way, it was a total blast!

We stopped by the Monticello temple in southern Utah, which is apparently 30 seconds off the road and yet we had never seen it before. Beautiful and worth (accidentally) waking the girls up.

Reagan was thrilled to spend time playing with her cousins. One of the very first things she did was a dance show with Grace, to Let it Go (what else?). 

 We spent lots of time at the pool and Lance and I both got sunburned pretty bad.

The kids' absolute favorite pastime was riding their new scooters up, down, and around the driveway. It was impressive how quickly they mastered it!

Of course, by the end they had to spice it up a little bit.

With 5 kids 4 and under, a lot of time was pure chaos, and sometimes nap just happened on the fly. I snapped this of Reagan when she was napping:

 And before I could immediately take another, she woke up and did this:

 So. Precious. Lance can get Daryn to sleep at church way better than I can.

 

My very favorite part of the trip was Saturday Night. Lance's dad was singing at a Boys and Girls Club fundraiser (George Strait impersonator) and we all (the middle generation) got to go and do some dancing!

 There was also a silent auction where Lance and I won a darling picture of a little blonde girl who looks like Reagan playing with a puppy. I love it and it's now hanging in our house. 

The Man himself. Kind of.

A beautiful evening.

 

 For FHE on Monday, we all went bowling. Reagan's very first time! She caught on quickly, and would get very upset when her ball only knocked down one or two pins.

 Even Mumsy, who used to be a champion bowler, and is still pretty spry, got in on that action.

   

Bowling selfie!

 Between all those things, we managed to squeeze in some other fun activities. 

T-ball! Reagan got in a good whack on her very first time.

The park.

 Rides in the Think.

Lots and lots of story time. 

And some fun for this cutie, although she did spend quite a bit of the trip clinging to me in fear that someone other than her mom or dad would try to touch her.

Luckily Ander was one of the few she tolerated. 

  

Other than that, we spent our time shopping, eating, and reading- everything a vacation should be. Oh, and celebrating Independence Day. That get it's own post! Before we knew it, it was time to pack up and head home. We were all tired, so we drove in shifts, each happily taking our turn.