This summer didn’t look quite like our usual adventures, but it turned into a season packed with family, road trips, business dreams, and even a few misadventures (hello, poison ivy). From scorching hikes and pool dips to exploring the idea of buying an RV park, here’s how our not-so-ordinary summer unfolded.
Highlights:
- Southern Utah heat + family + fancy pool = daily fun.
- A girls’ getaway in Park City with surprise balloon décor.
- RV park dreams that turned into an almost-business adventure.
- A very itchy three-week lesson in poison ivy.
- Summer in Waco with friends, fun, and plenty of busy days.
A Summer with a Twist
This year was different. With Ben still looking for full-time work, we skipped the big travel budget but made the most of what we had. That meant a Southern Utah trip with family and squeezing in a girls’ getaway.
St George: Family Reunion
Pop Pop Rulon, Joanna, Hi-D and her girls, Trevor’s family, and Amber’s family all joined in a Airbnb in St George. Yes, it was blazing hot we knew that going in but the trip was for the kids. Between playing at the Thunder Junction Dinosaur Park, hiking the red rocks, and cooling off at a fancy pool right across the street (sometimes twice a day), the days balanced out beautifully.
Girls Trip Weekend: Park City
After Utah’s red rock adventure, we headed to Lehi to stay with our good friend Candace. Her son and Bronson are great buddies, which made the stop even sweeter.
Of course, no summer is complete without a girls’ trip. We escaped to Park City for a night, just friends and no kids. Jenni let us use her condo, and when we walked in, it was decorated with balloons—leftovers from someone’s 20th birthday celebration. Totally random and totally hilarious.
The RV Park Close Call
Back in the early days of our marriage, Ben and I lived in an RV for 16 months. It was a blast, and we’ve often dreamed of owning an RV or mobile home park one day.
This summer, Ben found a property southeast of San Antonio at a tempting price. We visited, explored, and realized it had good bones, but also a big problem. It was in the middle of nowhere, with hardly anyone around to fill the spots.
Still, Ben gave it a shot. For 8 weeks, he tried different strategies, even considering buying trailers to rent-to-own.
One weekend he was driving down with money in hand to buy a trailer for $11,000 to then hopefully rent it out.
He talked to his uncle, who asked one simple question: “What if they don’t pay the rent?” That stopped him in his tracks. He turned the car around and called the whole thing off.
San Antonio Zoo
Not all was lost in south Texas, though. We visited friends and spent a day at the San Antonio Zoo, which was bursting with flowers and vibrant plants.
Poison Ivy Problems
As if summer hadn’t already been eventful, I had my first-ever run-in with poison ivy. One innocent walk past some overgrowth, one sneaky leaf, and bam three weeks of pure misery. Lesson learned: beware the ivy!
Waco Wrap-Up
Back home in Waco, we filled the rest of summer with friends, fun, and busy days. Even without a big trip, it turned into a season worth remembering.
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