4 National Parks, Grandparents and a college freshman

 Towards the end of July 2020 we headed out on a two week road trip.  The initial purpose of the trip was to drop Brevin at BYU-Idaho but we extended it and decided to mix in a few other sights and people along the way.

The first stop was Grandma and GrandPaul's house in Ivins Utah.  It's pretty toasty there in July but they've got a great air conditioner so and a lovely home.  We love spending time with them!  While we were there we ate at some of our favorite restaurants, hiked a few places and even made it out to hike The Narrows (again) at Zions.  I don't think I recorded it, but we also went out to their house twice in June and then this time in late July.  Can you tell we are both unemployed and our kids have no sports?!  

The trip went like this.

A few days at the folks.  Zions national park.  Visit Caleb and Kyler in Provo at BYU.  Eat at Tucanos (our favorite Brazilian BBQ place.  Stayed at the Sharps (UT cousins).  Drove up to Idaho.  Spent a day at Yellowstone.  The boys hated the sulfur smell.  Saw lots of wildlife, waterfalls and natural hot springs.  Got Brevin checked into and set up in his new apartment.  He was the first one there.  Said goodbye.  Headed back to the Sharps for a night or two.  Drove down to Moab, UT.  Hiked the Delicate Arch (heat, altitude and humidity almost did me in).  The view was worth it though!  Also went river rafting on Colorado river.  Lots of fun.  Water levels were down so biggest rapids were level two.  We were supposed  to mountain bike the next day but the temperature dropped like 45 degrees so that didn't happen.  Next we drove to the Grand Canyon south rim and rented bikes there.  It was fun riding along the rim and seeing deer.  The next stop was Phoenix so I could meet with an ALC field operations guy and my hiring manager, Felila.  Our AC broke in our vehicle and it was a long hot drive in Phoenix the first week of August.  I don't recommend.    Finally, we headed home.  All in all it was an awesome trip.

Hiking the Narrows at Zions is one of our favorite things to do.  

Ryder just takes off.  He's so fast!

Preston dragged at the beginning but then picked up speed.  These are mud handprints of other hikers along the canyon walls.  Hiking sticks make all the difference on this hike.

We love Maverick gas stations.  They have elaborate soda options.  So yummy!

It was fun seeing our BYU boys.  This is in the bookstore.

Bowling in the WILK is another McMahan favorite.

Caleb's room (complete with Ron Burgundy)

Kyler's room.  They only live about a block apart this year.

Breakfast at the Sharps in Bountiful, UT.  Looks like the Swiss Alps!

Hot Springs river float in Idaho.

We had a lot of fun going on the crazy rollercoasters at the Lagoon and then spent some time at their waterpark too.

Rexburg ID temple 

Roadtrip people. Glad we took the van so we could have a little more room to spread out.

So this was a Roadschooling miracle.  Ryder had a virtual meeting with a math tutor and the meeting kept dropping because of a poor signal.  We were praying that we would find a McDonald's or something soon so we could have wifi and he could continue his much needed tutoring.  Then we found this gem:  Island Park Library.  Most adorable library and exactly what we needed.  Prayers answered!

Yellowstone beauty

Yellowstone geysers

Preston really didn't like the smell so he got creative and put pine needles in his mask. Science!

Lots of little hikes and vistas in Yellowstone.

We hiked way high up to get an incredible view of Old Faithful.  

Here's the view (and Brevin).

Buffalo (or Bison)

Brevin's new room at BYUI

We ate at 5 Guys Burgers and Fries and thought it was so funny that their potatoes actually came from the same town!

Sunset from the Sharp's in Bountiful