Nebraska & Iowa

We stopped in the middle of Nebrasks to see this original Pony Express Station stop.

Josh mailed a postcard to Dad (who was already working at his new job in FL) from the Pony Express Station's mail pouch.

We stayed in an awesome farmhouse in Iowa (built in 1900) with our friends from Guam.  We hadn't seen them since Josh and their youngest (Ben) were newborns.

The barn

Josh loved all the weapons

Once again, Josh and Rachel loved the cats and tried talking me into getting a cat despite my cat allergies

We made lots of detours, such as to see this pioneer cemetery

What a view from the front yard:  corn as far as the eye can see!

Colorado

 Rachel spotted  a little prairie dog on the side of the road in Colorado!

 This would've been a beautiful view....  if there weren't so many bugs on the windshield!   But bugs on the window are better than a splattered bird on the window (which happened a few days later, but thankfully the window was not broken when the bird crashed into it).  Josh was the hero who cleaned it all off at the next gas station we came to.

In Colorado, we stayed with my friend Jen from my BYU days.  We were in the dorms together in 1990-91, then 5 of us BYU friends had a reunion in 1998, and Jen and I hadn't seen each other since then.  But thanks to her and Aaron's great Christmas letters, I felt like I knew her cute boys already.  Above are her 2 youngest, Tanner and Jake.  Tanner was begging me to leave Madi with them to be his big sister.

Pioneer Day in eastern Utah

 12-year-old Justin has been driving for about 6 years.  When Isaac stayed with these Riley cousins during his summer break (from BYU) in August, Justin taught Isaac to drive stick shift.  Isaac said it was humbling to be taught to drive by a 12-year-old.  Isaac loved helping haul hay and move sprinkler on the farm for a week!  It was a great break from textbooks.

 Josh loved the Pioneer Day fireworks.  Utah is the place to be for Pioneer Day!

 Madi and Eliza went on motorcycle rides with Cory (Aunt Lora's nephew).

 Olivia

 Audree

 Shane and Rachel

Waching the big fireworks

Utah fun: Visiting Isaac and more friends and relatives

  

Entering Utah, our most-visited vacation spot!

 We stopped in Brigham City to see our friends from Travis AFB days (1997-2000).   We met at a park then had milkshakes.  And we saw the new Brigham City Temple (above).

 We stayed at my Aunt Mary's and Uncle Steve's and we always love seeing them.  Josh loved their hot tub, too.

 We always managed to fit everything in the car each morning.  It was nice having 2 empty seats!

  

We headed south towards Provo, and dropped Eliza and Madi off to stay with their cousin, Charissa.  We passed the Mt. Timanogos Temple (above).

Isaac is loving BYU

Isaac wanted to show us some favorite spots in Provo, including this hot dog place (above).  Isaac loved it because he was already calling Josh "J-Dog" before he ever found this place.

Provo Temple

Uncle Jared's pancakes

Isaac loves riding the ATV with cousins Bowdy and Josie.

Josh and Raysha are the same age (their birthdays are just days apart).  Aunt Heather helped Josh ride Raysha's horse.

Now Rachel is driving

Grandma Shirley came to visit

Josh didn't sit here for long, after he nearly crashed into Rachel's legs (she jumped away in the nick of time)

Cool playhouse made by Uncle Jared

Josh wanted a kitten so badly!

Coolest library, in Provo

Eliza, Charissa, and Madi

Bowdy (with a monkey in a tree) and Josh (with Yoda)

We also stopped and saw Tinsley and Missy, our friends from Guam (2000-2002), who were visiting their Grandma in Provo.  We called and met them at a store (briefly) before we headed out to eastern Utah to see more cousins.