Where in the world are the Risenmays....

Here's a brief update on where we've been for the last month. or not so brief as we've been very busy! 4 states, 4100+ miles, 67 + hours in the car (almost 3 days worth!), visiting with 400+ family and friends, packing and unpacking the car at every location - about 10 times! I'm a pro at packing now...and very exhausted to just thinking about it.

We left July 2nd for Idaho Falls, stayed with the Webbs and enjoyed a great 4th as always with Jeff's family there and his friends from high school. Best Fireworks show West of the Mississippi.....not bad. :) The Webb kids and our kids are very close in age and always have fun together. They each have a friend - we always appreciate them putting up with us... I mean putting us up when we come to visit.

Left from there on the 5th to Boise, where Jeff hopped on a plane and head for home to work. Starting a new job and leaving the slave world of public accounting he no longer has a months worth of vacation....sad to see that go, but happy to be out of there! I drove 5 hours with 3 kids by myself!!! The car was extremely loud, but I'm actually grateful because then I wasn't bored and tired. Silver lining, I guess. We only stopped one time to find Abbey's bottle under my seat and I think we made record time.

Arrived in Richland, WA (I grew up here and was staying at my parents house). They decided to go to Nauvoo for the week and see my sister and her family in the Nauvoo Pageant. So my parents and both my sisters and families all left for the week were in town. I might be offended by that, but it was fine. :) The kids took swim lessons and I was able to hang out with my brothers and their families. Nice to know they still don't mind taking care of their little sister. :)

Left Richland, Monday July 13th taking my 14 year old nephew Dallin after he arrived home from Nauvoo the night before. I decided my trip would be more fun if I had a helper and I knew Dallin wouldn't mind hanging out - although I forgot to warn him about typical Risenmay behavior and there were a few shocker moments. :) We drove to the Oceanside, OR to spend a week with Jeff's family - no Jeff was still at home working. They were all very helpful with the kids and we had a great time. Abbey was still not liking anyone so anytime I walked by without picking her up, she screamed, if anyone else even dared look at her, she screamed, you get the idea. We enjoyed the beach, hiked and the Tillamook Cheese factory.

Back to Richland on Friday the 17th and to Twin Lakes the next day with immediate family. (Another 5 and 4 hour drive).

Twin Lakes is great! We stay in little cabins - not top of the line, 5-star cabins, but a one room, shack with a bed and a fridge. My kids sleep on the floor, Abbey in the port-a-crib and everyday we fold up their stuff to have room to move around. Fun huh!? :) We ski every day, have church on Sunday, family night, kids night and more fun! Aside from my family there were 4 other main families - grand total of 170+ people in our group. My family has been going for 35 years and the other families came along a few years later. It's hard to explain what a great vacation this is for our family every year. Lucas skied and Abbey skied with my dad (he's 71!).

Back to Richland on the 25th and ready for another trip to Logan, Utah on Thursday the 30th for my dad's family reunion on July 31st and Aug 1 - the Sorensens. Jeff flew into Salt Lake that night and my dad and I picked him up there to head back to Logan. We get together every 3 years and it's a great experience. Grandpa Sorensen was an only child and he passed away in '86 and my grandma passed away in '96. Their posterity totaled around 240 not all biological, but nonetheless we're all family!

My parents were leaving for the MTC after the reunion to Norway! We had a few tearful, but happy moments together as we said our good-byes. We're planning a trip there hopefully next year if we save up enough.....working on it.

Headed home on Sunday Aug 2nd. About 8:30 Sunday night as we were approaching Flagstaff, I looked at our phone, noticed the date and gasped. "uhhhhh, Happy Anniversary!" :) Not a big deal I forgot, because we're usually on our way home every year around our Anniversary. So 8 years - wahoo! At least we were together and the kids were sleeping and almost home to crash before Lea had to start school the next day. 1st grade - wow, I'm old. :)

Pictures to come, but now just imagine, a lot of time in the car, movies, McDonald's toys, Hannah Montana hoedown throwdown, gorgeous weather, singing in Norwegian, family skits, plenty of water to play in and LOTS of family (we consider our friends to be family) to be with - makes for a month of memories to last a lifetime! Can't wait for next year! :)