33 days,13 states and $2100 in gas. Our journey has come to an end. We are on our way back home today. I will take with me memories that will be treasured forever hopefully into the next generation. A little bit of our souls was bonded with each an every stop we made. The time with my family was so great. seing my grandma at 80 years old and just to know that she looks amazing was so priceless. My grandmas house and the area where she lives was a huge part of my childhood so it always feels so good to bring my kids back to the same spots so they can have a memory of that same area. Spending time with my family and letting the cousins play together made me feel so gratefull to have such a close family and the joy that they share together just playing (there were fights, so it wasn't all bliss)and hanging out. Being able to play outside and roam around is just something they don't get to do in California so all 3 really took advantage of that. The new additions to the family where just so cute and fit right into the family. That has to be the hardest part of leaving knowing we got to know them but they won't remeber us.

We had so much fun with our kids. It wasn't all smiles but for the most part we all got along in some situations we were tested as a family but we stuck together and now can look back on our experiance as a great bonding of a already tight family unit. I asked the kids to try and think of there most memorable or favorite part about the whole trip and they all said that was way to hard they loved something about every part. Even when they thought we were going to die on the Buffalo river, they said it was still worth it.I do have to say after over a month away they all said they were home sick but mainly because they wanted there own bed. I guess sleeping together every night and usually with a cousin or 2 is what they could of done without. Ending our trip with our friends and family was the absoultly perfect way to go out. We got to share somwhere we fell in love with with the people we love and they all loved it as much as we did.

This trip was on an extremly tight budget, we did the best we could and had a fantastic time but with out the help of our loving family and friends it would not of been possiable so we want to say thanks to everyone that helped us either with a place to stay, a meal or two, money, or their skills. This increadiable journey would not of happened with out you. Thanks Mom & Dad, Stephanie & Jeff, Bridgette & Jason, Maw-Maw, J.J., Aunt Cassie & Uncle June, Don, Don's Dad, Jenn & Pete, Sara & Mo, Bommie & Papa, Grandma & Poppie and all the special campers we have met along the way.

The Mottes

I can't believe it is our last night on our adventure. We took a couple of little hikes today and played in waterfalls. We layed in the river as long as we could and then just had a relaxing night. The boys played football and we watched some more out door movies. We plan on playing some poker and just enjoying our last night.Tommorrow is going to be hard but time to get back to work and soccer practice starts Monday.

The guys went hiking early this morning on a 4hr. hike to a place called Angels Landing. it is a hike that is on the edge of the Mt. top and areas with only inches of walking space. Not for the faint of heart. They said it was breath taking at the top but it kicked their butt. They came back starving and ready to get in the water.

After our long walk mave got a bloody nose. It was a little Hot and dry. They said it was a record breaking heat today. So as soon as we got back, off to the river we SAT! The kids floated up and down and we just sat and relaxed. We stayed down till about 8:00 and then headed back up to make dinner. Another Movie for the kids and another night gone =(

We had such an amazing time today on the Narrows hike in Zion. Bommie and Papa came with us on the first part of the hike and got to see the kids play in the water and then they took the shuttle back to camp and we continued on. we found some cool rocks to jump off of, the boys went a little higher than the kids and girls but still alot of fun. i even made a jump in but the picture isn't very flattering my big ole boobs made for a funny site. Again every corner was a new view. The whole crew all 20 of us had a great time.

We made it to Zion! Sara and Mo where here when we got here with all those cute little kids we haven't seen in over a month. Our campsites are right next to each other. Bommie and Pappa came later in the afternoon and Vickie & Virgil arrived a couple of hours after. The kids were so excited to see them. Butters too. Jen & Pete came right before dark, just in time. The kids were getting impatient to see there cousins. We watched a movie on the projector outside for a little while. The kiddos wanted to sleep in a tent since they have never slept in a tent that they can remember. Mave and Maddy made it but Makailey ended up in my bed sometime in the middle of the night. We are looking forward to a day of hiking and swimming.

We just drove and the kids played games with Don. We stopped at some pretty rest stops with great views. We made in to Utah and slept at another rest stop. The kids are excited to see their cousins,friends and grandparents today. Jeff and I can't believe our trip is almost over. we both feel like we could be gone another month. Looking foward to some nice camping.

We had an un expected stop along our route and we found some nice BLM land in Grand Junction Colorado so we had to stop and play for awhile. The terrain was perfect and the trails were fun with lots of hill climbing.

We left Dons house wanting to stop and see everything we could see. The grades where a little steep and with the new smoking brakes we went 10-20 mph up and down the Rockies. We stopped at all the rest areas we could. The views we were able to see today was breath taking. Vail was so pretty you could just imagine the life those people have. Really a place shouldn't be that majestic. The temperature changes were nice it was actually cold enough to put on a jacket in the higher elevations and hot enough to want to jump in the rivers with all the white water rafters at the bottom.

We stopped a couple of more times off the 70. They have a scenic stop every couple of miles either along a river or lake. We didn't catch any fish but it was fun trying.

We ended our stop and go day at Rifle Falls. This place was so cool we would love to camp there but it was all booked up and quite the tiny camp area. We parked on the road and walked the short walk to the falls and it didn't disapoint us. There were trails all around it so you can go under it and on top of it. They had caves that none of us were brave enough to go into. We took the trail to the top and on the way Makailey yells"look there is deer poop" There was toilet paper next to it. So now we are teasing her about the deer that wipes. We did however see a deer right at the top of the falls. On the way down the hike we heard a girl scream, oh wait Don scream because a snake ran across his foot.There is a nice rest stop with a lake right on the 70 so that is where we landed. Jeff ran down for so fishing before the sun went down and caught a fish. He is on a roll.

We made it to Colorado. We stopped by a lake so the kids can cool off a bit and then we went to Don's house to stay the night, so we can leave tomorrow and start our Colorado adventures. The tires on the trailer are wearing off on the edges so hopefully that won't affect out trip. We replaced the worst one and hopefully can rotate them in the morning. The back brakes were sounding terrible so the guys are trying to re-pair them now. Tony and Gregg I hope Jeff retained all that info from the front brakes.

This made us get the heck out of Kansas. The clouds where touching the ground and the wind was insane. The lightning was fun to watch. It got bad at one point we made the kids find there seat belts and buckle up. We didn't want to stop because we wanted to GET OUT!