Month long road trip recap

Here's the moving crew - Ezra, Chris, and Andy- that brought all our junk out of our home in Buffalo. Brent was the master magician that fit all of our belongings in a 15 foot pod. It took way more time than we thought it would and we left Buffalo for Utah way behind schedule. But of course made excellent time with Brent at the wheel. It took us 33 hours to make it to his sister Debbie's in Cedar Hills, UT. The next three days we spent in Springville at a lodge up in the canyon with about a hundred  Pieper relatives.

 This is Marcus's Great Grandma Pieper- the lady that started it all.  He kept running around the place saying, "Where's Grandma Pieper?" For some reason it was love at first sight.

We finally made it to Washington at the end of the week and met up with the Casper's at Brent's sister Jill's home for some fun time around the pool.

Brent cleaned up the spare Buick from our garage and tried to figure out how he could get it back to NH and swap it for the old one we have been running. With no running AC or Title, and little time on his hands though he was forced to leave it behind. He's still trying to convince me to fly back with a couple kids and deliver it here. Since we all know I am such a good cross country driver now. Our old tan one ain't running well at all.

Marcus thought Grandma and Grandpa had really big front steps.

And really wished he could stay and be a farmer boy. He loved the big open spaces and we could hardly keep track of him. This was all new for a city boy.

Savannah spent her 11th birthday at the mansion. We planned a pool party.

I have no idea who invited this dude or what happened to his shirt but the guy acts like he runs the place. 

This was Savannah's first birthday in 4 years that we haven't been on the road moving or leaving on a trip. It was probably her best ever.

 Candice and Alainna are the young fun aunts who take care of our kids at all the reunions. We hope they can keep it up now that they have started their own families.

And it was the only night that we were able to stay at the mansion. It's tough to book a room at Grandma's house these days.

Caroline and Marcus each had a Grandpa in Summerville, OR. Can you guess which one is the real Grandpa Fielding?

We all gathered around the old cowboy for picture. These are all my siblings except Ciana who hadn't made it up from California yet.

Marcus made instant friends with his four year old twin cousins -Aidan and Avery from Dallas.  He really needs a brother. I have never seen him enjoy the dirt so much.

Spencer just started his own PI firm back home. I caught Jeremy and him discussing the possibilities of Jeremy leaving the exciting life of Dallas behind and getting back to his roots, while they waited for their turn behind the boat on the Snake River. This was one of the best days in Washington for me. I remembered how much I loved the sun and the river when I was growing up. I began second guessing our future in New England. Especially if the rest of the family moves back home.

I LOVE getting together with my brothers and sisters. It seems like it just gets better and better.

Somehow I got over it, though and have settled in just fine over here without them. As long as we can do this for a   week once a year I should be okay. Brent? 

We had our annual Casper Reunion at Jill's and it was easy for Grandma Casper to steal Marcus away from his Grandma Pieper now she wasn't around anymore. He is definitely a Grandma's Boy.

This was probably my second favorite day in Washington. I always look forward to the Casper swimming races (which I had a pretty good showing in this year, right Chelsea?) and of course the annual family talent show. We had a pretty lame entry this year at the talent show. Caroline sang a song she made up for her cousin Will on the spot after she found out it was his birthday. She couldn't keep his name straight though and sang Happy Birthday Austin throughout the whole song even after Savannah ran up to remind her that his name was Will.  She was so embarrassed. We are still trying to figure out who the heck Austin is.

Our very last stop before heading across the country was at the Casper Cabin in Priest Lake, ID.

I swam and swam and swam with the kids. It is my new favorite sport. Actually it is probably the only sport that I like and probably could've been competitive in if I would've figured this out earlier in life, rather than at 34.  I am looking to join the adult swim team here in NH.

All of my sisters were supposed to come and hang out with us. Alainna opted not to at the last minute and we were all pretty mad at her about that choice. Especially, Ciana who drove all the way from California with her five children to join us.

I am so glad that I endured all the stress, packing and unpacking, and DRIVING that this big trip entailed. It was totally worth it.