Second year Day 116 - Monday April 8, 2013

I decided to just sleep until I woke up without an alarm so I didn't get up until seven.  We all got showered and by then Arrianne was ready to head over to visit before school.   Bridgett and I ran to Jamba Juice and got steel cut oats for everyone (our favorite!).  We sat around and had a last visit.  It's only about 2-1/2 weeks until Arrianne will be done with finals.  We all miss her so much.  Bridgett really misses her and can't wait for her to be home.  Arrianne finally left at 9:30 and we headed to Jenn's to drop something off and kiss everyone quick.  Then we hit the freeway and headed to my mom's house.  It's so hard to have time to get to visit and I feel really bad about that.  I had hoped to visit with her yesterday, but I was just too tired to make the drive to Salt Lake.  I even thought about staying another day, but Mark has to leave tomorrow to Glendive to the funeral of a friend of ours and he will be gone for three days.  I want to make it home before he leaves so we can at least say hi!  It was pouring rain by the time we got on the freeway.  I ran into moms and spent about 25 minutes there.  She starting crying right after I arrived and I really wished that I could have stayed longer, but at least she cheered up before I left.  I really miss being able to spend more time with mom and well, all of my family.  I got on the freeway and headed home in the rain.  By the time I got north of Salt Lake it was really raining and the fog made it especially challenging to drive.  We pressed on and made it to Idaho, where we met with snow flurries off and on.  I called to the office and had Melissa check the road report for Montana before leaving Idaho Falls.  It looked like everything would be OK.  Monida was slushy and a little stormy, but not bad.  After that the weather was good the rest of the way home.  The girls held up pretty well.  By the time we hit somewhere around Gold Creek, I had them switch places in the car and then Stephany rode up front until we made it to Missoula.  It would have been better if there were three places up front of something.  The back seat is just not that comfortable and it was cramped because we had so much stuff with us.  More than half of the back seat was covered with stuff.  Anyway, we did finally get home and it was so great to be home!!  Mark and Tyler met us and unpacked the car for us (THANKS!).  I was really tired of loading and unloading the car!  The girls and I just plopped down and felt so glad to be out of the car!!  Bridgett was really excited that tomorrow is her birthday.  She was up late and so will probably sleep in some.  However, Mark has to leave by 9:00 so she won't be able to sleep too late--we have to open presents before Mark leaves!!