Saturday February 23rd, 2013 Drive to Cincinnati

We got up early, well Reed did, he always does and he started packing our stuff to the car, for another long drive.
Its super cold out, but sunny, happy about that !!!
The drive today was very nice, would be better it the trees had leaves on and there was some green !! but as we got closer to Jenn's if got greener, we love Kentucky it just seems so groomed and clean.
Didn't stop except for gas, we just ate snacks we had with us in the car, saw lots of beautiful country, Loved it.
Got to Steve and Jen's about 6:00 pm,, so fun to see the kids, they have grown a lot in the last 8 months.
Steve and Reed unloaded the car, the temp out side not to bad - its in the 50's, we got moved in and pretty settled, for the next 3 weeks.

February 22, 2013 Branson Mo.

Well we got here in Branson late Saturday night the 16th of February, I was super sick the whole way, I couldn't help drive at all and it turned out to be a 13 hour drive, we went up through Nebraska, instead of Kansas along 70, it added almost 2 hours to our drive, but it was beautiful, and I really enjoyed it even sick.
I felt so bad for Reed having to do all the driving, but he did a great job, I guess we do what we have to do, when we got here, they were closed, it was 10:30 pm, so they left directions and keys etc. but it was super hard to find and we were so tired and it was so dark and cold.
Reed put me to bed and unloaded the car all alone, he was exhausted, I don't think we can do this all the time if we have times like this one.
Sunday we stayed in I just rested all day, too sick to go out, Reed made all the meals and took good care of me.
Monday we had a time share presentation and we did go, it was really hard, but we did it, and nothing the rest of the day.
Tuesday Reed took me to the DR. we went to Urgent Care, I have Bronchitis, Pneumonia , and an ear infection, I'm a mess, he put me on Levaquin 500 mg, qd for 10 days and cough syrup, and an inhaler and Prednisone 20 mg 3 x day.
The next two days just stayed in and it was ok, cause we had horrible weather, ice storm etc, Reed just worked, and we watched a little TV.
Finally, on Friday we went to a show called the Hughes Brothers, it was such a fun show, turns out they are LDS, and such a talented family fun to see and enjoy, we loved it.
After we went to a restaurant called Shogun, it like a Benihana type Japanese Place, it was fun and really good food, nice to go out, we were ready,
Now on to Steve and Jenn's to see the kids, we are looking forward to a nice drive tomorrow, and a great visit with the kids for Birthdays, Baptisms and tons of fun.

Wednesday - February 13, 2013

Just an update, Ben seems to be on the mend, he still has swelling, but not as much pain, and can walk, with his legs bent.
I'm still sick, mostly cough and I feel kind of hazy, and no energy, I just want to lay still all day and sleep "crazy". Reed is still just fine as well as Steph, they both at time think they are getting it - but they don't, I'm so thankful, this is so bad.
Brooke started Gymnastics today, she called so excited, she will be in for 2 times a week Wednesdays and Fridays.
Buggy got her Valentines done today for her class, she and Bean are giving Bubbles and a cute saying.
Eric flys home today from Irvine, we will see him tomorrow.

Tuesday - February 5th 2013

Ellen finally went to school after missing 3 days last week, Olivia stayed home from school yesterday - she was just to sick to go, Talmage and Reese are also sick, but we had a good day at home, made sugar cookies for FHE, and Valentines, each of the kids wrote on them something they love about the other people in the family, really cute activity, then they will hang them around the house for the holiday.
Reed booked a flight to SLC so he can get his infusion for his RA, and he will have to go back in 2 weeks, this is a small bump in the road, but we will get though it, and hopefully have a better plan for next year.
Ben is still unable to walk, he is in a wheel chair and will be for a few days, this disease lasts about 4 weeks, its just such a weird and rare problem its called HSP, and it usually is only found in kids and mostly males. Started with a swollen ankle and the top of his foot hurt him, then little red sores up his legs, then it spread to the other leg, its so crazy how fast this all developed, it turns out that its form of Strep, and Jen and Brooke both tested positive for that and started antibiotics, after a few days and test, they found that Ben has this form of Strep.

Sunday, February 3rd, 2013

Today we still have sick kids, so Reed and I stayed home with the two little ones and sent, Steph and Eric to church, with the girls, they never get to go together - usually one of the kids is sick -
Eric for sure had to go he was teaching Primary. Got the girls nails done for church - picture of Bugs nails below.
While they were gone I fixed dinner we had Ham and Funeral Potatoes and corn, it turned out really yummy.
Reese is pretty sick - she has come down with this cold, and she is not a happy girl this afternoon.
Kids are going up so fast, it fun to see how much they have grown and changed.
So fun to be here with them and to be here long enough to really enjoy the day to day activities, like Gymnastics and School stuff that is going on in there lives.

Travel Day to Steph and Eric's

Reed got up about 3:30 and got me up about 4:00 to get on the road, we have most everything ready to go, just had to pack the cooler and fold the last load of laundry and pack it in the luggage, not to bad - the hard part is getting it all to fit into the car, its like a puzzle, but Reeds getting really good at it.
We actually got on the road at 5:30 am, and drove and drove and drove, we only stopped for gas and one time McDonalds for breakfast - still didn't get to Steph's until 6:30 pm, such a long drive and it didn't help that we ran into traffic coming down the canyon into Denver, it was stop and go or miles and miles, it added an hour to our drive.
They had dinner ready for us when we got there, it was yum and we were ready for real food !
Kids are so cute and happy to see us, but they are all kinda sick - sad!
Reed and Eric unloaded our car and we got the wrath for packing so much stuff, but we will learn ! - Maybe -. Hopefully Reed didn't hurt his back again, I was worried, he was carrying heavy luggage up stairs, not good.
But the drive really was pretty and the day was perfect for driving, a little overcast.

February 1st 2013

Another beautiful day, today I made Breakfast Burritos for breakfast, and started to get some of our stuff organized and packed for tomorrow check out. Talked to Steph, now Tadge and Bug are sick so they are just camping out on the couch and watching cartoons. Talked to Jen, she is feeling better, and Brooke and Ben seem to be doing better, her and Brooke are on Antibiotics for Strep, so they will get better quick, so far Ryan and Steve are ok. and Steph, Eric and Reese are ok so far. I didn't go to the gym this morning, instead I took a 6 mile walk to the Boot Barn, it was a nice walk but pretty warm, no shade. Saw lots of cute boots and great belts, but I didn't buy anything, I want to go shopping with my girls.
Reed and I as soon as I got back drove over to Boulder to see it and the Hoover Dam, it was so cool to see the new freeway built, last time we came over here they were just building it, so amazing to see it - and the dam - it so hard to believe we can build things like this.
Not impressed with Bolder City, its pretty yucky, we did find a spot with views of Lake Meade, and found a lot for sale, they want 400,000 for a hideous, peace of ground - this place is not for us.
The pictures are of the Hoover Dam and new highway.
We went out for Chinese food, yum, came back and did laundry and took a nice long bath, we have a great tub here.
Decided to get everything ready to go tonight and load the car in the morning.
This has been a great week !!!

Wednesday January 30th 2013

Did my regular exercise routine this morning, its a beautiful day, we just played here at the condo, and went next door to the gift shops and used our coupons they gave us, had a great dinner at the Seafood restaurant, we shared a Pan Fry with Caesar Salad, really great food. The picture of the cowboy and his horse is huge and stands in the South Point Casino, they have a Equestrian Center here and there are lots of horse shows and lots of Cowboys, really fun the be here and see them, the bummer is they didn't have any shows during this week here, so sad !!!

Last day of January !!!

I just love that I can do my nails, and they stay so pretty for a week or more, I LOVE it.
I just love that I can get up any time I want and not hurry to go and do anything, unless I want to.
I just love that I can stay in my PJ's all day it I want.
I just love that I can talk to my girls anytime I want during the day, and better than that I will get to be with them and the kids more often during the year, I'm living the dream !!!
I just love that I can read the books that I have been wanting to read for so long.
I just love that I have the time to knit and do fun projects.
I just love that I'm not stressed out all the time.
I just love that Reed and I get to spend a couple of years traveling across the country and seeing some of the wonderful things our country has to offer.
These are just some of the things I have to be so thankful for, and I count my many blessings everyday, and thank my Heavenly Father for Loving me so much, and blessing me beyond belief, I really don't know what I have done to deserve the wonderful life I have.

Reed and I went to west Las Vegas as soon as he got off from work, just to look and see what is over there - Its newer and there is a very nice area called Summerlin, that we like a lot, I took some pictures of a great Condo that we love and there is a shopping center that is so beautiful, we loved it.
Drove back to the strip and parked at Bellagio to go see the gardens and walk up the strip to the Venetian - its so amazing how many more people are here today compared to the last 3 days, they all come starting Thursday it seems. We ended up at the Wynn, the pictures posted are from the Wynn by the theatre entrance its just so beautiful, we feel like we have seen all the best and won't come to the Strip again this trip.
Got back to the Condo and went next door for dinner at the South Point casino in the Mexican restaurant upstairs, we loved it very good food.