This Is The Place

It's a drive that we pretty much know by heart, and a routine we have down to an almost

exact science.  After weeks of anticipation and a day of packing, everyone goes to bed ready

for the journey which starts early the next morning.  Pete and I are up around 4:30, and by 5:00 a.m PST the sleepy kids are in the car, the cooler is stocked, and we hit the road. 

 Leaving So Cal at that hour gets us out of OC, up over the El Cajon pass, and into the high desert in maybe half the time it would any other time of the day.  I immediately settle in to sleep in the front passenger seat, and just over two hours later, approaching Baker, CA, 

gateway to Death Valley and its giant thermometer, I wake up. 

If needed, I take a driving turn.  We pass through Vegas around 9:00 a.m., 

and drive on to our first stop which is usually in St. George. 

The kids sleep and read, eat breakfast and entertain themselves, 

excited to be on the road again.

  After lunch and the change to MST it's about 1:00 p.m. by the time 

we leave St. George and set out for Salt Lake.  We've usually

picked up a new Redbox movie for the kids to watch on the DVD player, 

and it's Pete's turn to nap while I listen to podcasts or music on my iPod and drive. 

  

Sometimes we stop in Fillmore, which is just about the half way

point between St. George and Salt Lake, for snacks and a bathroom break. 

The anticipation builds a bit more after that point, and we consider it

a minor victory when we finally spot the "Y" on the mountain as we come

through Santaquin. We wave at our cousin's house in Provo (where they aren't living

these days) and push on towards the Point of the Mountain.  

It's always great when we come around the mountain, 

and see the Salt Lake Valley to the west, and the mountains

 by grandma and grandpa's house to the east. Phone contact

 has been established with all relevant parties, 

and our ETA, usually between 4 and 5 p.m.  is the time everyone

 starts congregating at mom and dad's house to greet the Richardsons.

It's time to get this party started!! 

We love coming to Utah. 

We arrive on a Saturday this year, and by Sunday afternoon we've enjoyed

a delicious dinner and family time, and some of us set off for 

 a late afternoon, long warm walk down the hill from grandma and grandpa's

house, all the way to CD's house in the heart of Holladay.  We stop at the giant

hill at Churchill Jr. High where we get in some of our best sledding runs in the winter.

Today it is lush and green and inviting us to stop and roll down it.

Harriet is head over heels happy to be here                     

looking towards Mt. Olympus and grandma's neighborhood up the hill

               Harriet showing some sweet sass in mom's glasses 

perfect tree for climbing - Jack can't resist

on the street near Carol's home - I may as well not 

even exist at this point - my kids adore CD and battle

each other constantly for her attention which she gives

freely and lovingly.  A great start for our summer vacation!