Summer started for us with a bang. The Monday after Mason's freshman year was complete, he had to have oral surgery to correct some wayword teeth. Couple of years worth of braces and Mason's smile will rival his personality. Two days later we packed him off to High Adventure camp with the Boy Scouts in Oklahoma.
No sooner had he returned that Friday, than the whole clan loaded up Mom's new minivan (no we didn't head to Beverly Hills) on Saturday to drive to Utah and deposit him at the EFY summer camp at BYU in Provo. He roomed with his good friend and partner in crime, Seton. Though he won't admit as much to mom and dad, we know he had a great time and made many new friends.
A view from along the way
Shiprock, New Mexico:
All told the trip was 2600+ miles or 28 hours of just driving. While it was worth seeing once (though the SE Utah area around Moab was amazing to see), not a drive we'll be undertaking again soon. We cruised through the Navaho nation, Travis parked his butt in 4 states at once (didn't think that skinny butt would pull it off) at 4 corners. Another place worth seeing once in your life. Traveled through SW Colorado and up through SE Utah and the Moab area on our way to Provo. Really pretty spot.
Travis handled it remarkably well but I have to say, the boy will sit for hours with a DVD player and a Scooby Doo movie. He is a plugged in junkie. He makes for a great traveling partner though.
On the way back we dined at one of the best country clubs in Sante Fe , gotta admit, Dad could get used to that lifestyle, courtesy of good friend Dr Bob. In fact we were so busy yacking during dinner, we forgot to take a single picture of the course, the club, the view or us with Dr Bob. Oh well, means we have to go back. :) What a beautiful part of the country. Club sat up on a ridge and the view at sunset was amazing. Of course the golf course was awesome too and Travis kept asking to play 9.
This is Travis in front of the oldest church in America in Sante Fe, where he lit a candle for his Gramin. San Miguel Mission dates back to the 1200's where the native indians used it as a place of worship then built on by the Spanish expedition in the 1500's. We also passed the monument to the Mormon Battalion which would travel from Missouri to Sandy Eggo via New Mexico and the American Southwest. Longest military march in US history. One of the participants would be credited with finding the first gold in the California Gold Rush of '49. We also passed the site of the western most battle of the Civil War.
Mason flew home from EFY just in time to turn around and get on a plane with the rest of the family. And headed where you ask?
Well for sunny (hah! try humid and Africa hot!!!!!!) Orlando where Disney World and Uncle Don, Aunt Norma, Tamara and Greg eagerly awaited our arrival. Needless to say the kids had a blast, Don wrote an op order trying to wear us out but it was a blast, rides shows food walking more walking and we each dropped enough money to send a kid to college for a semester.
It was GREAT!!!!! Travis made loads of new friends and even scored a kiss from Minnie Mouse.
Of course one of our problems was the kids didn't want to get along, NOT. They really had a blast together and Travis thought he was it getting to hang out with the big kids for a change.
These are the old people at the Coral Sea. Then Dad Aunt Norma and Travis waiting on the kids (lead by Uncle Don) on the California Test Track ride (they went REALLY fast, faster than Mason better be driving)
Returned home to a terrific fireworks show on the 4th, drivers ed for Mason (time to invest in bumper cars) and swimming classes for the short/cute one. Mason's actually a decent driver and Travis now refers to himself as a guppy.
We have band camp on the horizon and a trip to Seattle for Chuck's company trip. Oh yeah, Da Boys and Da Horns hit training camp soon too! :)
If we've been less than social, this may explain why. Now Dad understands why the start of school is so exciting for both kids and parents.
My soccer stars:
Travis Loves the Wide Open Spaces
There are three states in this picture
Our butts fit in 4 states at once.
Good Buds
