Continuing Summer 2012 Travel

Thursday, July 26th, 2012

The Oba and Holm families packed up their vehicles and headed toward Salt Lake City and Nampa, respectively.  Nana used the trip to spend more time with Grace and Mari in the back of the van.

Lynn, Janson and girls were on the way to Nampa for a Holm Family Reunion.

Doug, Ellen, Tony, and Eli spent the night in Meridian, ID.  The girls came and used the pool and hot tub, even Tony joined in the water fun.

Friday, July 27th, 2012

We drove the scenic route from Meridian to Salt Lake City. (Actually if someone knows a scenic route let me know for next time.)  My sister Carol's family were vacationing in Heber, Utah so we invaded their home, in Centerville.  We met Sara there .

That evening Doug, Eric, Sara, Tony and Eli went to the Real Salt Lake vs Vancouver Whitecaps soccer game.  Real Salt Lake were the victors!  While they were watching their soccer game, Ellen and Ashlyn trotted off to a wonderful quilt shop - The Material Girls. We eventually chose some fabric to cover the pillows to Ashlyn's white couch.

Saturday, July 28th, 2012

Eli had his trip to Redman's barber shop for his creative hair sculpture. Mostly there was family time just sitting around talking and watching the Olympics.

Sunday, July 29th, 2012

We made monster cookies, went to church, grilled out with Carol's family and our family.

Monday, July 30th, 2012

Ellen, Tony, and Eli flew to Minneapolis, MN picked up their vehicle and drove to Marshfield.

Tuesday, July 31-Aug9th, 2012

Doug stayed in SLC one more day and spent time with Sara and then with Ashlyn and Eric.  He then drove to Meeker, Colorado to spend time with his mother and step-father at the 'guest house'.  He did some small projects and watched some of the Olympics.  As he left for home he drove over Ripple Creek pass and took some photos- see below.  His vehicles just seem to head east and south when he hit's Denver, though.  He came home through Kansas City and was able to watch Sporting KC and the Seattle Sounders at the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Championship.

He was sad to see that most of Kansas crops were completely dried up.  After leaving the mountains of Colorado he didn't see any green vegetation until he was in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota.  As he was nearing home he took some pictures of a beautiful sunset on Lake Dexter in Dexterville, WI

We miss our family that are so far away, but memories, email, text, skype, and phone calls will have to do for a while.  We are blessed to have so many ways to communicate with those we love.