My machine....

Micah had a business trip in Bloomington IN the week before the 4th. We had also met up with Mother & Daddy on Easter weekend to switch cars so Daddy could do a lot of work on our VW (they have ALL the tools & know how there). So we needed to switch cars back, plus Micah had wanted to go home for a nice relaxing summer week. Since his business trip was scheduled only a few hours away from K-zoo, we decided to go the weekend before, then drive down to IN for the 2-3 days of his trip, then go back up for the last few days of the week/end. Great timing for all of it. This is where the machine part comes in. Micah has driven to Provo straight from Abq a few times, but this was about a 22 hour drive and he proved to be a machine! With only a 10 minute fillup-bathroom break (thanks to the amazing mileage we get) HE DROVE the ENTIRE 22 HOURS STRAIGHT! He is now offically 'my machine'.

I tried to capture the arch in St. Louis but it was hard to get a straight shot with the sunset while going 65 mph on the highway, but you get a glimpse of it in these 2 shots

On the way to his business trip in IN, we passed RIGHT BY the exit to this famous spot just during the re-HYPE of it!! (anyone know what this is?!?) ...Micah didn't want to stop & sightsee, though...there probably wasn't much to see besides a memorial or something though

This seems to always be the most popular chore when we're back home during the summer

We spent the 4th with longtime family friends, The Hamptons, which consists of a traditional BBQ, home made ice cream & fireworks! We have no pics, but we even played croquet! (which reminded me of the block parties we used to have at Vern's house)

Cassandra is working at EFY all summer & it was Savannah's first summer going! Since Cassandra was the only sibling missing out, and we were driving back to ABQ that way & dropping off Savannah, everyone took the 4 hour drive to Normal, IL to take Savannah to EFY. Here we are early in the morning before setting out with the newst additions of VW,

the Silver Fleet

Family Picnic in Normal

I think Savannah's trying to do a goofy pose, otherwise I would put up a different one.

What a happy bunch!

As the family splits off into 3 different directions...