Russell Family Vacation 2008...WAS GREAT...even if we didn't get to finish!

So...about a month or so ago Scottie sent an email to each member of the Russell clan announcing the "Russell Family Vacation 2008". He had laid out an itinerary that included a weekend at the cabin in Midway, shopping, food, a triathlon (for Scott, Kelli and Kerri), a birthday celebration for mom, and other fun and games...including t-shirts and a chocolate cake from Kitty's. At the conclusion of the email was this statement: "THIS VACATION IS MANDATORY, GET OFF WORK, DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO. NO IF's AND's or BUTTOCKS!" I remember thinking to myself...wouldn't it be funny if "baby Russell" decided to join us that weekend....and so begins the story of the Russell Family Vacation 2008.

Friday night-mom and I drove up to the cabin and met Scott and Mattie and Dad for dinner. The girls (Kelli and Kerri) were still at home attending football games and wedding receptions. We had dinner at Spin Cafe in Heber....great place by the way...so Brooke's friends...next time we want to go somewhere fun, and good (and kind of pricey)...they have GREAT GELATO!!!!

Mattie and Scottie on the way to dinner...and about 21 hours before she gave birth!!!

Mom and Dad at dinner...aren't they cute!!!??!!!!

Kelli and Kerri made it up around tenish...we were all just sitting around in the living room...

....being pretty typical Russells......

We goofed around for a while longer and decided that since Saturday was a big day (more than we even knew at that point) we should head to bed. Mom, Kelli and Kerri and I opted to sleep outside on the deck. We chatted for a bit, and then mom told us to go to sleep. It was a gorgeous night with stars a visible Milky Way (I forget about it sometimes) and a beautiful bright mom. A couple of hours after drifting off to sleep I awoke to a strange, somewhat muffled noised. I thought it was an animal being attacked, or dying or something...Kerri asked me what it was, and then I could tell Kelli was awake...suddenly we realized that it was MOM!!! She was screaming in her sleep, with her mouth closed!! It was so funny...we started laughing and tried to wake her up. She woke up and knew what she had been doing and started laughing too. (I've always had good times out on that deck...that may very well be the best one). So back to sleep we went...until about another hour or so later...when Scott came out and told us that Mattie was in labor and off to the hospital they went....bit of a change in plans...and did this mean that Scott and Mattie were ditching the vacation?!....the MANDATORY RUSSELL FAMILY VACATION?!

About another hour later Kelli and Kerri headed off to the triathlon...of course forgetting their IDs...right as mom and I were about to park the car...so we turned around...and drove back to the cabin from Jordanelle reservoir to get their IDs. They made it in time...and off they went.....

Kelli and Kerri are in there somewhere....

Off Kelli goes on her bike...she was about three minutes in front of Kerri, but I didn't see Kerri leave...in truth I started to get a little worried...

...but all worry was alleviated when she coasted past me on her bike!! She is even smiling!!

and now for the run....at which point Kelli informed me that her legs felt like Jell-O!

BUT THEY ARE A-MAZING.....and finished with big smiles!

The rest of the pictures should be of shopping in Park City, and dinner, and game night...but...Jonah was feeling really left out of the family vacation...and wanted to join in!! Check out the next blog to see the rest of the Russell Family Vacation 2008!