Fall 2012 Trip to Winnemucca

We made our annual trip out to Winnemucca this past weekend to visit family. When I tell people I am going to Nevada to see my family they get the idea that I am going to spend the weekend poolside, or in all the fun shops on the Strip in Vegas...well that is not the case! Winnemucca is a little mining town out in the middle of the desert. Their idea of shopping is heading down to the Walmart! I think the closest mall is in Reno which is over 2 hours away. I'm not sure how my family does it! I would go crazy without at least a Target nearby!

However, we always have such a good time, and I love going to see all my cousins and my Uncle Denny! Irelyn went last year but she was only 3 months old so she did really well in the car, sleeping the entire way. This time was a different story! She did not enjoy the 7 hour car ride...that is until Grandma Carol brought out the Cheetos! She made such a mess, but she was a happy camper after that! Oh how this little gapped tooth smile melts my heart!

While we were there they had a Hot Air Ballon Expo at the recreation park. I was so excited to go because I love going to the one in Provo, but it starts soooo early so we never make it! This one started at 7am which is actually 8am for us. The wind kicked up so they didn't get all the balloons up and out of there, but it was still fun to see them all.

Braden, Irelyn, Raquel & Jessica

 Irelyn's Halloween costume this year was inspired by her Uncle Denny and late Aunt Dawn. They are big time into the car shows and have always dressed up their little grandkids in poodle skirts and saddle shoes to go to the shows. I knew Irelyn needed her own poodle skirt, and that she needed to get her picture taken in front of Uncle Denny's Mercury Cougar just like her second cousins had before. However, she wasn't having it! She was so grumpy that morning so we didn't even get a smiling picture! Oh well she still looks like a doll!

We decided since there wasn't much to do in Winnemucca that we would spend one night painting pumpkins. Me and my first cousins once removed (yes, I actually went on and figured it all out to see what we actually are :) stocked up on paint and pumpkins and went to town!

Jordan's, Irelyn's, Raquel's, Jessica's, Jessica's #2, and Braden's

 I love hanging out with these guys! Even though they are 10-15 years younger than me, we still have so much in common and have so much fun! I can't wait until they come to Utah in a few weeks, I have some big plans for us!

I was so happy that Irelyn had so much fun too. There were times when she was a mama's girl, but she really took a liking to my cousin, Lance. I've always thought that he and my oldest brother Greg could be twins. They both look a lot like my Grandpa Thomas. She loves her Uncle Greg, and I really think that she just assumed that my cousin Lance was him. She spend a good hour just laughing and playing around with him and his hat! She also loved her second cousins, and wanted to spend most of her time with them!

It's always so much fun to go, and I hate that we only get to stay for a few days! Friday to Sunday just wan't enough! It especially wasn't enough of a break between 7 hour car rides! However, this time Grandma Carol bribed her with a sucker, and mom downloaded Megamind onto her Kindle, and the drive went a little smoother!