Our Year of Travel 2013

It is definitely worth noting our travels in 2013.  We drove and flew from sea to shining sea, twice.  The excess travel was uncharacteristic for our family.  It seemed that just as we unpacked from a trip, we were packing for the next.  We consider ourselves lucky to travel wherever it is that family may be.  In fact, our first trip of the year involved Kyle and I sitting down at the Marriott in Florida with a vacation specialist who, after an hour or so of his best efforts, couldn't convince us to purchase a time share.  How boring to spend your vacations visiting family.  You guys should go somewhere exotic already, said he, more or less.  This is our reality when, until the last few months, we've lived a good 14/24 hours drive from family.  My best reality is visiting and being with family.  This year is proof of that.  I'd have it no other way.

Anyway here's a look at our year of travel, boring as it may be to some.  And basically it's my last ditch effort to update a years worth of our lives since I have been so awful at it lately.  It might feel like it takes a year to get through it.

March 

Orlando, Florida

Spring Break

We drove to Orlando to meet Lynn and Tricia and her boys for a fun-filled week.  There we celebrated Reese's 5th birthday and first UTI.  Extended travel hours mixed with exciting daily agendas proved to be just the right combination to spur that.  We loved our time with Tricia's family and Lynn.  Her boys are so sweet and we adore each of them.  

A quote from Ty popping up from his horizontal position in the car as I announced our crossing into Alabama from Mississippi along this trip: "Awe, I didn't get to treasure Mississippi."  Yes, 'tis a quick ride through the bottom of those states when you're used to say, Texas.

March

SLC, UTAH

Young Women's Conference 

Jaden and I flew in early to spend time with family in Provo.  After which, we took the front runner from Provo to Salt Lake with my sister Miriam and her daughter Lexee to meet up with our Southern besties, Reagan and Sabrina Owens, in Salt Lake for the conference weekend.  While in Provo, Principle Grandma Patsy arranged for Jaden to read aloud to Lexee's 1st grade class.  It was darling. Also, we got a good laugh from the class trying to make the connection of relation between Principle Anderson, Jaden, Lexee, Miriam and myself.  Next time we'll just let individual introductions suffice.

June

Albuquerque, New Mexico

An entirely way too short stay at, my sister, Deborah's place along the way to our month long travels in Utah, California and everything in between.  Much to my dismay, I did not get my fill of her or of her half-dressed babies -- as Deborah's babies always are!  Also, I'd like to note here that I am sporting my go-to traveling outfit in the pic below. Apparently, as I learned at the end of our month's travels, it's Kyle's least favorite outfit of mine.  I don't know if that speaks to the outfit itself or just it's overuse, either way he chose a good time to make we aware of it, I think.   

June

Moab, Utah

Arches National Park

Lucky for us that Ryan and his family just happened to be vacationing in Moab as we drove through the area.  We randomly rang him 30 minutes outside of Moab where we conjured up the idea to hit up the Park.  Which provided us with our very own tour guides for this trip, none better than the Ryan and Marshall duo.  I have to mention Reese's deep concern for her safety as we made our way through this part of Earth.  Coming from the flat plains of Texas she truly felt claustrophobic driving between these monstrous rocks.  Her first thought was that they were dinosaurs.   Oh, am I ever so glad we made this trip exposing our children to, you know . . . rocks, hills, mountains and the like.    

June-July

Provo, Utah

Provo deserves a shout out.  It rarely gets one when we visit.  And really it's where we spend the duration of our time hopping from home to home.   Those homes being Miriam and Scott's and Pat and Kirk's.  Thank you for always bending over backwards to house us, entertain us, feed us and make memories with us. 

Gorgeous Bridal Veil Falls

Another breakfast at Miriam's and a fairy dance production in Pat's backyard. 

June

Salt Lake City, Utah

The front runner to SLC, again.

Here we (Miriam, Scott, Lexee, the Chris and Brandi family, Ty and Reese) are with my Mom's brother, Glenn Rowe.  He is a Historian for the Mormon church.   One who happened to retire this past Fall, but before that happened we snuck up for one last tour of the church's archives.  I've visited as a child but enjoyed taking my kids this time, minus Jaden.  Hindsight, I wish I'd have pulled Jaden from her soccer camp as I think it would have been most interesting to her.  After a walking tour we convened in a conference room for an hour with historical items on display complete with Glenn's personal and professional opinion.  He was generous with his time.  Of course, the visit made me want to better keep my own family history.  And, well, we've seen how that's gone . . . 

July

Park City, Utah

The Harris/Anderson family reunion.  It's always impressive to me that this group is able to get together as often as we do.   There are quite a lot of moving parts for a mixed family to gather.  So props to the group for continuing the tradition.  

A visit to Ryan's court room for a mock trial that the Harris/Anderson family members put on.  Kyle was on trial for, allegedly, stealing Grandma Patsy's iPad.  He left a free man.  Even though his own daughter, Reese, voted against him.  You wouldn't guess it, what with that innocent smile on her face (below) following her act of betrayal.  Jaden and Kate were awesome prosecutors but the jury had been compromised, with softies.  What a memorable and educational experience for this group. 

High Tea at the Grand America.  Indeed, it was grand.

July

St. George, Utah

July 

Grand Canyon National Park

That's a big, big world for this little 5 year-old to take in.  

July

San Juan Capistrano, California

When you can't get any closer to your cousin.  I love this shot.  These boys are two peas in a pod who thoroughly enjoy one another's company.

Returned home to

The Woodlands, Texas

And not Pearland, Texas.  Alone Kyle painstakingly moved us with little help over the 4th of July holiday, while we did celebrate and relax with family -- mostly his.  Isn't that awful.  

We love you, Kyle! 

Parades and cake!

October

Boston, Massachusetts

York, Maine

North Conway, New Hampshire

I can't get enough of the East Coast or these ladies.  Both the ladies and the East are beautiful to me.  Here's hoping our tradition will live a long life.  This year we swapped Maine for Rhode Island and it did not disappoint as is evident in the oceanfront pictures below.  

What I won't do for a good picture.  And how we got the shot above.  Thanks for snapping this shot of me in action, Kamiko.

A little mountain top PiYo.  I can now cross that off of my bucket list.  

Driving around New Hampshire we came upon a field with about 8 of these beautiful horses.

November

Laguna Beach, California

We've been here before and it's always a good place to be.  Not just because it's unbelievably gorgeous but because it's where we first talked of marriage almost 15 years ago.  And I'm so glad we made that a topic of conversation all those years ago.  We'll never say no to an all-expenses-paid trip.  Even when the children have been motherless, due to that mother's fair share of Fall travel.   

November

Denver, Colorado

This trip was very last minute.   It all started when one sister conjured up the idea to convene followed by another sister jumping on the band wagon, followed by another, by another . . .  until they're all in for except you.  That's when you get creative.  When the stars align and all 6 of your sisters will be in one city -- you get your tail.  And the fact that they're gathering over your birthday weekend can only help your cause when swinging the idea to your husband and kids, what with all of your recent escapades.

It was a delight to get a glimpse of Sarah's life -- meet her peers, walk her campus, update her wardrobe, stuff her fridge and force her to sleep in.  She has a year and half left in the PA program after which we'll all expect her to pay it forward in the form of easy-access-to-antibiotics on a moments notice, right?  Good on you, Sarah.  You are kicking butt and taking names.  We're proud of you.

Thanks for the sweaters, Mom.  We dubbed ourselves the polka dottie hotties.   

November

New Braunfels, Texas

Thanksgiving

We had a lovely Thanksgiving with Pat and Kirk, Nick and Katy, Jasmine and Shane and all the cousins.  Nick and Katy allowed us to bombarde their beautiful new home for the feast.  And we did feast.  We are thrilled to have Jas and Shane back in the states and specifically in the state of Texas.  Here's to many more Thanksgivings together -- especially if Jas is going to be in charge of pies.

December

St. Louis, Missouri

The day after Christmas we drove to Mom and Bob's home.  Matthew left, what he calls, his bachelor pad for a couple nights sleepover with us.  He is still Ty's favorite and it is obvious that Ty is still a favorite of Matthew's.  We also got to spend time with Elle and Alfonso.  We got to see Elle's newly purchased condo that is so quaint and Alfonso made us a yummy dinner.

  

 

  Mom showing off the (her) new organ that, apparently, they were in desperate need of.

Matthew tickling the ivories while demanding the other two play their invisible trumpets.  They did oblige.  And Matthew totally looks the part! We were cracking up.  I believe he was singing too.  Love him.

A visit to Old Charles Town.  Here we learned the origin of the saying "mad as a hatter" and "sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite."  I will explain upon demand.  I've got too much to blog right now.  

I'm kicking myself for not having taken any pics with just me and my Mom on this trip! 

And lastly, this is what traveling does to and looks like on our family: 

This why my phone has no room for pictures to be taken on it -- Reese's selfies.  

But oh how we love forcing our kids to hangout with us for hours on end.  They really are great travelers.   So that's it.   Until the next trip then.