Kansas City, Kansas to Munich, Germany via Nibley, Utah

You know, we Blocks don't do the big family vacation thing - meaning Ryan, Allison, Emi and Annie being in the same place at the same time for the unifying purpose of R&R combined with pure play - very often (Hello? 4 years, people. It's been 4 YEARS!). Sure, we'll do the occasional overnight stint, which tends to coincide with a ward temple trip. (I guess there's a reason to be glad that we have to drive a couple of hours to get the closest temple - so we can stay somewhere with a pool for one night!)

Well, today I am typing this entry in the comfort of Northern Utah's arid climate (I'm not sticky at all - even without the A.C. running! I don't miss the Midwest's humidity one bit!) while on the first leg of our trip - the via Nibley part. Okay, this is also the actual whole family part, because on Saturday, Ryan flies to Munich for two weeks - for business. Next Wednesday, I fly out to join him for one week - for pleasure! Without the girls! But trust me, they are still getting their holiday:

• the non-stop play-date (the best kind - the cousin kind - you know, the play date that ends temporarily when we pack them in the car to head back to Kansas, but will resume immediately when they see their cousins again next summer)
• night games in a neighborhood practically overrun by 3-4 feet tall life-forms (which is in direct contrast to our street back home)
• all-you can-eat-ice-cream (I am not kidding - you should see Bunky and Grandnan's freezer!)
• swimming lessons and 4-H classes
• etc. and etc.. (I always hear an echo of Yule Brynner when I see or hear that phrase.)*

For the rest of the month, I am in vacation mode. YESSSS! Some days (like today) will be carefree. Some days will be packed with places to go, people to see and things to do. Planes, trains, and automobiles - this trip is using them all! So you see, while we may not do these vacation things often, when we actually happen to, we do them in a big way. Stay tuned!

*Yul Brynner - the sexy bald guy parading around a lavish Siamese palace in The King and I, 20th Century Fox's 1956 Rodger's and Hammerstein's musical based on the questionably objective memoir of Anna Leonowen.