sometimes the destination is better than the journey...

I'm so behind in my blogging...Oi!

For Labor Day weekend, I headed to the O family reunion at Tahoe with Dad, Vance, Abby and Jane. Living North-of-Zion like I do ended up adding a couple-point-five hours onto my trip, so I give you permission to feel a little bit bad for me. ;)

We left Vance and Abby's house at 4pm on September 2 and began our long, long sojourn west. It was fun playing with my spanking-new GPS (although, let's be honest, there weren't many turns, and there was literally nowhere to get lost along I-80--where the Salt Flats reside--for something like 550 miles).

We were traveling with a 13-month-old, sweet baby Jane, and she was really a trouper! I think I might've whined more than she did. (And I did not whine much at all!) We stopped for gas and food and beverages a couple of times. (Stretching one's legs is, like, uber important when a tall, leggy individual is crammed in the back seat of a Saturn Aura for hours at a time.) Jane was always thrilled to get out of her car seat, where she was allowed to toddle around. (She's quite the walker these days!)

keeping Janie occupied with two binkies...

along the way, Vance told us that this was the "oldest tree in America"

I don't know if you knew this, but the drive to Tahoe is quite boring...

We arrived at our destination (a large cabin in Tahoe City, CA) at about 1:15am (CA-time, 2:15am Zion-time). Jane conked out along the way. (I may or may not have been jealous.)

sleeping beauty...

We were greeted by Uncle Curt and his family, and ushered to our rooms where we slept like champs.

Friday morning, we went for a nice walk to the Lake with a handful of Curt's family. (So you know, this O-family reunion involved my dad (Wade), his two brothers (Curt and Shawn), and as many of their kids as could make it.) It was a lovely walk, in case you were wondering.

Jane perched on her daddy's shoulders...
(she kinda loves it up there)

this picture was Vance's brilliant idea
it made us all laugh. a lot

Jane also likes to walk...

kisses from grampa at the Lake...

family picture at the Lake...
Vance, Jane and Abby

I might as well just tell you now: most of the pictures I took were of Jane. What can I say? She was totally the cutest thing there! So now you know...

Oh! Here's one!
cousin Paul holding his boy Alex
Camden (Becca's son) and cousin Tim

Later in the day, we went shopping (in pursuit of a Tahoe hoodie for moi), and then went to Emerald Bay to have a look around...

not that you can tell from the pic,
but the water is really clear and, well, really green at Emerald Bay

me and Abby above Emerald Bay

I love how this picture turned out;
too bad I don't know who it's a picture of...

that night, Vance got Janie laughing pretty hard
while getting ready for bed...

me and cousin Lexie (I love this girl!)

Next day, we headed to Reno to this fantastic Rib Cook-Off. I guess it's an annual event that draws people from, like, everywhere. I heard there were some guys from Australia to show off their mad BBQ skills.

So. Umm. Eating meat off the bone grosses me out. So I got a pulled pork sandwich. It was fair. (Lisa B's pulled pork is my favorite. Always.) Also, it was really hot in downtown Reno at the rib cook-off, and that affected my mood slightly. (Oopsy!)

the spread...

Jane on grampa's shoulders, reaching over to pat her daddy's head

After sweating in the nasty Reno sun, we headed to Curt's house so the boys could watch the BYU game against Washington. (Oh boy! The O family love their BYU!)

Boring stuff, if you ask me...

Abby, Jane and I tagged along with Shawn, Pauline and Lexie to a nearby park to walk about the Truckee River. It was kind of glorious to get away from the football for a bit...

Uncle Shawn was really good with Janie...

me and Abby...
(not bad for a self-portrait)

Back at the house: Abby and I played outside with Jane and the other plethora of children. We ate our dinner at the bitty kiddie table, since the bitty kiddies took over the dining room table...

Abby and I realized Jane is no longer a baby:
she loved the "big kid" toys, and threw a fine tantrum
when it was time to go inside...

Abby and Jane at the dinner table...

sweet Garrett ate pizza with us at the kiddie table outside...

here we have Hannah...

and cutie-pie Alyssa...

Janie loves her grampa...

super cute pic of Camden and Becca...

good news: BYU came out victorious!

Immediately after BYU won, we all caravanned (not a word) back to the cabin at Tahoe and stayed up visiting.

On Sunday morning, we went for a walk with Shawn's family. We ended up at a park and had ourselves a good time!

fathers and daughters:
Vance and Jane, and Dad and me

Jane getting ready to go down the big slide with her mama

After church, we had a scrumtrulescent lunch (the most amazing French Dip sandwich I've ever eaten, along with fresh watermelon), packed, and the Wade-O family bid adieu to the rest of the fandamily...

The O-family brothers:
Wade, Shawn and Curt

The road between Tahoe and Reno took us over two hours; should've taken less than 45 minutes. UGH, I loathe traffic! (I blame it on California because I can, and also, it just feels right.) Jane still traveled like a champ, though, I tell you. She had a horrible 20 minutes (just before we reached Elko--and dinner), but otherwise was a little angel.

See? Angel Jane!

Watching Baby Einstein (to help stave off the boredom)

Because of the stupid, stupid traffic to Reno, our trip was about an hour and a half longer than it should've been. We got to Vance and Abby's house at 2:30am. Yucko.

As gross as the super long drive to Zion seemed, it was lovely to be in Utah for most of Labor Day. Slept hard, then got up and headed to Layton to play with Jackson and Seth, and to meet Aaron and Amy's new little squirt Emmett.

Seth and Grampa...

Dad made a valiant effort to get a good picture of the four of us...
this is close enough

Seth wanted to play photographer;
I think he did a good job!
(Amy and Emmett)

So sweet!

Seth showed me cool pod thingies he found on a walk...

Jackson fell asleep on his chair...

Went back to my folks' place for a bit, and I got to see Goose, Janel and their goslings. (It was a really good day!)

me and Kaylee...

I love my Marshall...

Okay, so that, clearly, was overload. Sorry. I'm not quite done, either. I've got to catch up on last weekend (which was also spent in Zion). I'll get around to it sooner than later. I hope...