For those of you who don’t know, Mark manages the household event calendar and in October of every year, he busts his tail to take the family on a special “surprise” trip. Sometimes friends are in on it, other times the kids are even part of the scheme but the one person who never knows anything is Nikki. (Tell me this mom hasn’t learned to live spontaneously.)
Call it his second job during the month of October, Mark puts his blood, sweat and tears into every trip. Here’s the running tally:
2013 Montana & Wyoming: Yellowstone National Park and surrounding areas
Mark has never been more excited about a trip (nor more nervous, he claimed). And for good reason. Planning an RV-camping trip isn’t for the faint at heart. We have ALWAYS wanted to do this and, well, Mark pulled out all the stops and made this massive attempt to plan a trip through Yellowstone.
A 30-foot RV? Where the heck did he learn to drive one of those things? I was highly impressed with his maneuvering – I couldn’t have done it if you paid me to.
Of course, he massively nailed it. Way to go. It’s a ton of work but SO much fun (save for a little claustrophobia sharing most of the day with four other people in a camper). And it’s virtually a rite of passage for the American family. So get out there into the wilderness. You’ll never forget/never regret!
A rite of passage: Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone Park.
2012 Memorial State Park, California
Dad was on his way back from a short trip and the kids came running to me on Thursday morning with a bunch of clues – a long stick and a washtub – wha? I was trying to rush everyone out the door. “I give up,” (within about 30 seconds) I said, exasperated. “Camping!” they all shouted, “we’re going camping!”
“Why in the world would Dad plan a camping trip?” (For the record, this is the one type of trip for which I alone do the planning.) “You guys are totally faking me out.” They walked away kind of dejected. Their faces said, “She didn’t believe us.” My mind said, “They sure are good actors!”
An hour later, Mark called me. “So did the kids tell you where we’re going?” “No,” I replied, “they totally lied to me.”
Brilliant thing was, they weren’t lying. And Mark had to call to confirm to because he was sure I was readying to pack a few unnecessary items like a nice blouse and pant for a potential “evening out” and maybe some makeup to go along with it…. neither of which would have fared very well in a dusty campsite.
Best part about it – it was a “friends” year. And not only was there one other family – there were EIGHT. Yes, THIRTY-FIVE people in all, and all arranged by my dear husband. Um, let’s see, Kuramoto, Tinson, Raymond, Fischer, Corso, Odom/Clawson, Lavrich.
Pretty darned incredulous if you ask me. I’m not sure how he’s going to top that one. But somehow I’m sure he will.
Camping in the redwoods – this is less than half the crew. Unfortunately, my big camera wasn’t an essential part of the gear so I sufficed with my point-and-shoot.
2011 San Diego, California
Family-only this year, and I knew we were flying. (C’mon, with a 1-year old, you gotta throw me a bone.) Legoland! The beach! The San Diego Zoo! It was a perfect trip for everyone, even the little trouper who could hardly walk.
Man, did he love that panda. Mark’s holding on tight, I think Jacob might have jumped in to play with it.
2010 Eugene, Oregon
Mark’s givin’ us a little Movalson love. Jacob was hardly five weeks old and we were shuffling off to Oregon. I have to say, how did I think traveling with a newborn was so hard (when I only had one child)? This was a piece of cake and a delightful break from managing three kids. I was totally surprised when we arrived at the airport and totally thrilled outta my head. We spent the weekend touring around quaint little Eugene, catching up on old times and new and even taking in an Oregon/Stanford game (at which baby and I stayed indoors at the back of the VIP lounge the entire time – have you ever been warned about how LOUD Oregon’s stadium is? You’ve been warned.)
We slept late, ate well and had a remarkable time. Thanks for being part of our tradition, MommaMov (and Poppa and little kiddies, too!).
Yeah, there’s a little guy under that cover-up.
2009 Anaheim, California: Disneyland
Family trip (just the four of us) to visit the happiest place on earth. And that it was. Caitlynn only looks disappointed because the sun was right in her eyes for this shot. Trust me, she was shaking in her boots at the sight of Cinderella’s castle in all it’s tangible glory.
2008 New England: Mass, Maine, New Hampshire
This was one of the MOST phenomenal trips. Ever. Leave it to Mark to pull something like this out of his sleeve. I was totally in the dark on this one (mind you, I don’t go hunting for clues, either). Long story short: One, long plane ride en route to the East Coast. Arriving in Boston, I knew we were destined to cruise up to catch our old friends, the Lajoies in Maine (think Martha’s Vineyard-type beach, lobster rolls and summer rain).
The ensuing drive up the countryside was breathtaking enough. Rather haphazardly, we came upon a bustling little town faire, nestled in among the crisp, bronzing trees and green, rolling expanse. “Ooh, let’s see what this is all about,” Mark exclaims rather spontaneously. My, how ironic to find old ski team friends, Donohues, waiting in line at the carousel there. “Well, since you’re here, why don’t you follow us to this spacious log cabin in the back woods of New Hampshire?” Mark inquires, ever so excitedly. “What a splendid idea!” they agree. Imagine it! The home has already been warmed by a fire and ski team buddies, Karlhubers, happen to have spicy chili and cold beer waiting just beyond the front door (okay, it might have been spaghetti, but there was definitely cold beer). Before I could get all the way up the stony path to the front door, coming down the walkway was an individual with a strangely familiar gait. No. Wait. Could it be? My little brother? In the flesh? No. Flippin. Way. Holy fishsticks, was this SOME trip. Mark, how will you top it?
We closed out the venture with a stop back in Boston to lunch with the Martins. Ah, East Coast in fall, how I love thee.
The crew at the log cabin.
2007 Albuquerque/Santa Fe, New Mexico
Family trip to the Balloon Fiesta! 4:30 a.m. wake-up calls with two, agreeable youngsters is one sight to behold… but wait till you catch sight of those balloons! This is a must-see if you haven’t yet been. In my opinion, it was the most brilliant display of colors and lights I have ever witnessed. Cameron, just a few months old, slept through a lot of it, but Caitlynn’s eyes were as wide as saucers as she watched these enormous floating canvases fill the sky. My heart still skips a beat when I think back on the beauty and brilliance of this annual event. Trust me. Must see.
2006 Planned Hawaii trip
Our last ‘hurrah’ before baby #2.
2005 Pajaro Dunes, California
Starkey, Posch, Haggarty, Fischer & Jay.
2004 Palm Springs, California
“Family” trip (Caitlynn tagged along in Mommy’s belly). We didn’t exactly take pictures of each other sunning by the pool so use your imagination.
2003 Charlottesville, Virginia
Aguilera (Woo), Gilbert, Lerner (Blond), Leta, Lennon. Just like being back in college – beer and tailgates, football and hot-tubbing!
2002 — no trip —
We had just returned from our near-four-month world trip and we were ready to stay home. You can see that our brains were in full tilt by our final week of travel. This was taken on a beach in Thailand three, whole years before Caitlynn’s birth and five before Cameron (I’m not sure why we thought he would come first). We had to keep this photo out of our albums for that long so as not to divulge the secret names we were going to give our kids in the far future! Oh, and for the record, the jobs came, the car came (we sold one before we left) but to this day, a puppy has never found a home with the Reynolds’. Someday, I’m sure.
2001 — no trip —
Nikki was in grad school; saving for tuition and headed to Carmel for the Jones’ wedding.
Happiness in the Oval at Stanford University.
2000 Seattle, Washington
Todd, Scott and Wendy, Troy and Dave… pics a’comin…
1999 Vancouver, B.C.
Solo trip up north and a quick visit to Whistler… I can dig some old film up somewhere…
1998 Pullman, Washington : INAUGURAL TRIP!
Susanne and the “Cougs”! I am going to have to dig up some hard copies here. Bear with me. This is well before the ubiquitous digital camera…
eah, there’s a little guy under that cover-up.
2009 Anaheim, California: Disneyland
Family trip (just the four of us) to v