road trip nightmares

Last Friday we decided we needed to go up to St. George. We did actually need to go up there, Nathan had to get the tools and equipment out of Grandma & Grandpa Taylor's garage finally. So we thought it would be a good opportunity to go visit the some friends, and eat at the Pasta Factory while we were there (WELL worth the drive to St. George, I'm just sayin). Anyway, since it was going to be a quick trip, Nicole decided she and Ryiah would go with us. See our plan was to go in the morning and be home by 5. We had a ward party that night that we wanted to be at. The key to those last two sentences is PLAN. Never plan anything. Something will go wrong, and you'll never make it home when you PLAN to.

Let's back track a bit. For a couple weeks, Nathan's truck would make this weird, high pitched noise, not so much a screech, but a noise. It would make the noise for a minute then go away. Also, his brake light was always on, and two weeks ago, his ABS light went on. Not good signs. We had taken it into Tire Works to have the brakes checked and the tires rotated, but they said the brakes were OK but would need to be replaced in the not too distant future. Well, they were actually right. The brakes weren't too bad, it was the hubs, and let me tell you, when the hub barrings go out . . . so does EVERYTHING ELSE!!

As we were just entering Utah, right at the point of entry, there was a HORRIBLE screeching noise, and suddenly, Nate was holding the steering wheel to the right just to make us go straight! Being in the back seat, I could feel the "grinding" that was happening, and luckily Nathan was smart and pull us off the side of the road, quickly. He got out of the truck and there was a HUGE plume of smoke coming out of his drivers side tire. Not happiness. There was no more driving the truck!! So, we called AAA, and my dear friend Evelyn to come rescue us. Poor Makayla was having a melt down. She was so scared!! Nicole and I were laughing and taking pictures. What else do you do? Nathan was over dealing with the truck and Makayla wanted her daddy, so she was with him. Evelyn came and got us girls and kindly let us use her car for the day. We did get the tools picked up, we did get to see the Despains at least & we did get to eat at the pasta Factory. We did not get home by 5, we got home at 10:30, and the trip cost us A WHOLE LOT MORE than we;d had planned. Good thing we had just gotten our tax return, otherwise, Nates truck would still be in St. George & we would be a one car family. We definitely count that timing as a blessing.

Well, here are some pictures to enjoy!