Almost since Ray and I purchased our Dodge Caliber we have hated nearly everything about it. So, the last little while we have been doing some research and decided that we really like the Chrysler Town and Country Touring Van. Well this last week we decided to start shopping around for one we might like to buy. On Thursday we headed to town and looked at van's at a place that was getting ready for a weekend blowout sale, and decided that we loved the Clear-water Blue color. So on Friday we headed to Ogden and Layton and looked more seriously at vans. We found a silver van in Layton that we had decided on, but had to head home to pick up kids that were getting out of school. So this morning we headed back to the car place to sign papers on a silver van, but instead started getting a run around and stupid story of how they couldn't get us the silver one we wanted but that they could sell us the a white one that we told them yesterday we did not want. So we thanked them and went on our way. Well we decided to go to the Auto Mall in Salt Lake and look around. While there, we stopped at Larry H. Miller Dodge and just happened to see a silver 2010 Dodge that we liked that looked just like the Chrysler we had wanted so that man went in to get the key for it and while he was gone I spotted my van sitting right in front of me but up another isle of cars. 
I quickly went up and climbed in and let the kids check it out and told them we would test drive it today. Well we ended up test driving both the Dodge and the Chrysler so that we could get a feel of both vans. I of course was still in love with this van and so we decided to make the trade. 
They gave us a pretty nice trade in value for our Caliber which made the purchase even sweeter, and I am as happy as can be with this van. It has some pretty cool little things it does, like the doors both open on there own, and the back door opens as well with just a push of a button. The windows all role down, and the ceiling has a dim light that is lit in the dark which is just cool. It has stow and go seats which Ray loves, and it is just a very comfortable van to ride in. 
2010 Chrysler Town and Country Touring Van
While we were filling out papers the salesmen brought Ellie over one and a half dozen roses and asked her to give them to me, and then he gave both the kids these MP3 players which the kids think are pretty dang cool. Ellie says the Pink ones are hers, and the Red and Yellow are mine.
I quickly went up and climbed in and let the kids check it out and told them we would test drive it today. Well we ended up test driving both the Dodge and the Chrysler so that we could get a feel of both vans. I of course was still in love with this van and so we decided to make the trade. They gave us a pretty nice trade in value for our Caliber which made the purchase even sweeter, and I am as happy as can be with this van. It has some pretty cool little things it does, like the doors both open on there own, and the back door opens as well with just a push of a button. The windows all role down, and the ceiling has a dim light that is lit in the dark which is just cool. It has stow and go seats which Ray loves, and it is just a very comfortable van to ride in. 2010 Chrysler Town and Country Touring VanWhile we were filling out papers the salesmen brought Ellie over one and a half dozen roses and asked her to give them to me, and then he gave both the kids these MP3 players which the kids think are pretty dang cool. Ellie says the Pink ones are hers, and the Red and Yellow are mine. 
On Saturday Ray told me to go pick something up for myself that I would like to have. He was working his week on, and so he couldn't, and also he said he did not want to pick me up something that I would never use, like that would EVER happen (ok maybe it has). So off the kids and I headed to Logan where we went to several different stores browsing the isles for ideas on what I might like. Then I decided while at Sam's Club as I watched Jake help a little girl up who had fallen and was crying. A new camera. My Canon is big, and hard to carry around everywhere I go. And I am always missing out on little moments my kids have, or wonderful little photo shots of them being adorable. And all this cause my camera does not fit well in my purse. So with this in mind, I headed over to the camera isle and picked out the cute little SONY camera.
I love it, and the best part is that I can carry it around with me everywhere I go. :) I am truly blessed with two of the best kids a mom could ask for (tantrums, smiles, fits, loves and all) they make me happy to be a mom, and I would not trade them for all the riches in the world!
We enjoyed some time in Rawlins visiting the Old Rawlins Museum, 
(There is a story about how young Indian boys to earn rank would have to dig a whole under ground and get an eagle to land, at what time he was supposed to grab the eagle by the leg, and pull feathers for his hair. If at this time he caused the eagle to bleed he would have to retreat, and wait a year for another try and becoming a man).
(This was my favorite part of the whole museum. Lots and lots of old cameras!)
(sadly the Old Rawlins Prison was not open to tourists) so we decided to explore some of the small towns in the area. The picture above, and below were in the town of Sinclair. 
Some of the small towns were blocked by snow closed roads that left us having to turn around in search of other towns we could explore.
We stopped in one old town and bought a couple of silly post cards that Ellie thought were pretty funny. 
(the picture above is of a cowboy on his horse in deep snow) (the picture below is of a redneck family cheering on a bear who is chasing a jogger) Ellie got quite a kick out of these two cards.
On our way home, we followed the Mormon Pioneer, Oregon, Pony Express and California Trail. We stopped and read many of the monuments that have been placed along the trail, and got some fun photos of a momma moose and her calf,
a golden eagle (who flew away from a nice hearty meal of antelope road kill as I tried to capture a picture) 
and lots and lots of Antelope.
The kids had fun hiking some of the old trails, and playing on rocks near the famous Slit Rock.
I wonder if the pioneer children were as excited to run up this dirt trail as mine were? :)
Jake liked hearing about the Pony express riders and their bravery as they traveled alone on horse to deliver mail from the West to the East and back again.
To me this picture below was breathtaking and heartbreaking at the same time to think of my ancestors trekking through this type of wilderness.
The kids had lots of fun hiking all over these big huge rocks. They were pretty brave and hiked up pretty high. I love this picture below with the sun in it!
Even Maddi had fun hiking around with the kids. (lol) 
Split Rock- the pioneers used this split rock as reference point as to how close they were to where they were going, and as confirmation that they were on the right path.
A few weeks ago we took the kids to Salt Lake on the Front Runner. We made a whole day out of having fun in the city. When we first pulled into Salt Lake on the Front Runner we jumped on the TRAX and headed up to Temple Square where we found the Church History Museum and decided to take a tour. (the flowers below were so pretty and huge, they were everywhere)
While inside the museum, we found lots of fun things to do. The kids had fun dressing up and taking dance lessons. :) 
I would like to introduce you to a future General Primary President! (isn't she a beauty?)
Check this out! A future Apostle. He is one handsome man... (love this kid!)
In the basement of the museum, they have pictures on all the walls sent in from primary memebers of the church. There are temples, churches, families, baptisms, you name it it was on the wall. They also had these cool touch screens that you could draw your own picture and either post it on the screen for people to see during their visit to the museum, or you could send it in an e-mail to yourself. The kids had so much fun making beautiful drawings to share.
Anyone who knows Jake knows that his favorite animal is a Lion, and if he had his way he would probably either own a Lion, or be a Lion. (lol) So when he saw this Lion in the Museum he couldn't jump on it fast enough. I am not sure he was supposed to be there, but he was happy!
Of course the kids loved the escalators!
Ellie insisted on having her picture taken with the (BIG) city in the background.
After the Museum, we headed to lunch at Chuck-A-Rama, and then headed to the Gateway where we enjoyed window shopping a bit. 
Once we were about ready to head home, we stopped by Build-A-Bear and let the kids each pick out a bear to take home. They both chose the MP3 speaker bears. They have a speaker in the foot, and a little pocket on the side with a wire to hook to the MP3. The kids love these bears!
All in all it was a very long, but extra fun day. The kids always enjoy the Front Runner, and I am glad it is something we can do as a family once in a while.
