ROAD TRIP TO SLADE REUNION!!!!

So so much driving!  Lots of tired kids, but a fun road trip all around!  On the way back to Idaho we took to of my cousin Travis' kids with us to his house where we slept overnight.  Tyler loved his son Gabe!  And Gwendalin and McKenna loved his daughter Leah!  It was a treat!

Alpine Slides!!!

While we were in the 4 corners area we headed up north of Durango to the ski resort "Purgatory."  We bought passes for us to each do the Alpine Slide one time - Gwennie and McKenna were not sure if they wanted to do it because it was so steep, but they decided to go ahead and I think they were thrilled with the decision.  It was super fun.  Tyler forgot to pull the brake at the bottom and barreled in to the sled at the bottom of the slide and hurt his finger and his chin....but he loved it!  The ski lift was so peaceful!   I took Dallin with me on my sled (he wasn't quite tall enough) but the rest of the kids got to ride on their own. 

Red Mesa...

 

We got to take the kids to the ranch where grandpa grew up.  He was there with us, which was a plus, because he told many stories of his childhood....burning houses down, making chickens swim, etc.  The kids were utterly intrigued.  We didn't venture into the milk house where they used to milk the cows...there were several windows broken and it looked to rickety and dangerous but the kids saw the outside and threw rocks on the roof.  After that we were able to go down to the creek and play barefoot in the water.  I got to hold Abby's hand (Jason's youngest) as Jason's bare feet couldn't handle the creekbed.  :)  My Texas LOVED the creek...he stayed in looking for creatures until we made him get out.    It made for a really fun morning doing the ranch and then the creek....we concluded the day with the Alpine slides!  In the evening on the last night  we went to my cousin's house just outside Durango and had dinner (made by Aunt Chris and her family) and then had karaoke entertainment by all!  Even I got drug up there...singing songs I never knew existed because several of my cousins are about a generation ahead of me in life.  Oh, and we also did a little hayride out to the "sacred tree" where my great gm and gp Slade were able to get there bearings and find there way home when they thought they were lost for good.  It was sad to see the land so dry, but the place itself (Redmesa) is still one that will always have fond memories for me.  Everywhere we went to each activity for this reunion we had family....and on this last night Dallin looked around and said "Why are these same people every where we go?"  He was so flustered by it!