A Deer of a story

We were invited to Laura's home (Paul's sister) for Kellie's (our niece's) birthday. It just so happened that her birthday fell on a Wednesday and of course Paul had thanksgiving off so we made a trip out of it. We decided to drive up there on Tuesday night after Paul got off of work and drive straight through to Colorado Springs. We were officially on the road at 12:22 am Wednesday morning and arrived in Colorado Springs at 8:12 am. that same morning less than eight hours for over 530 miles. Laura texted us that morning asking how close we were, I responded with oh about 5 min away, we were just trying to find our way to her street. She was shocked, I guess we made it there in record time. And our children were asleep all but the last 30 min of the drive, talk about Heavenly!






That day was wonderful, we had a nice breakfast cooked by Laura when we arrived. Alona and Kellie were able to go to the store to pick out the cake for her birthday. When they came back we had a nice lunch and ate the cake with the table fully decked out in princess attire. The girls loved it! Then Kellie opened her gifts, we waited a little while until Paul woke up and then went skating at their local rink. The children really enjoyed themselves, Alona skates all on her own, Abbi held on to the sides and Mommy helped Kacen go around three times before everyone was pooped.
Then we went to Louie's pizza the children savored the moment of going there with their cousin Kellie family that remembered all the details more than a week after they were home. It was so nice to spend time together there. Cousin Kellie got a really cool princess radio that everyone was so excited for her to share.
The next morning was a nice breakfast of cinnamon rolls. Laura treated us so nice while we were there, fed us so well! Abbi now asks for cinnamon rolls for breakfast at home. Jesse loved playing with his cousin Delia on the floor, it helped him learn to roll having someone he really wanted to get to. The children played outside a lot and played with uncle Brian, he kept them entertained. Brian is like a really TALL older child. They have a play room at their house my children would go in their with Kellie and play for hours. So many things to do in their play room I loved it. In the mid-afternoon we had thanksgiving dinner, it was delicious Laura! She did a wonderful job and made it look so easy. After dinner we took a stroll around the cul-de-sac and then got ready for the long drive home.

We were so blessed the first time around on the long drive, I knew at least something would be off on the drive home. We stopped and got gas, got drinks and headed out of town. A little less than three hours in to the drive we made a pit stop for Paul and I and started back on the road. Another 5-10 minutes later we were coming around a bend in the mountains (of course, we were in the rockies ;)) and right in front of head lights was a deer, a doe staring straight at us. She missed the bumper, went in to the front of the van, on to the hood. The breaks were hit immediately, Paul turned the van just the right ways to get it stabilized during that the hood flew up on to the windshield, the deer flew off of the vehicle. Paul rolled down the windows and looked out them to be able to pull off to the side of the road, he is amazing to have been able to get it there. I am so thankful to have a husband who is an amazing driver and also is so stern on having everything being as safe as possible for his family. Not only did we come out alive, our children didn't even stir.

None of the children were awake during the incident, Alona woke up after we had pulled off to the side of the road, Abbi and Kacen woke up an hour in to and the baby just a little bit later. We called the insurance first, and then called the police. The police showed up with an entourage, an ambulance and fire engine. The paramedics just came to my window and made sure that we were all all right. The fire fighters were there to clean up all the antifreeze that was leaking on to the side of the road. And then about 2 1/2 hours in to our stay in the van in twenty degree weather (I am so glad it was not below zero like it is now) the tow truck driver showed up. He had a flat bed tow truck that the van with all but Paul still loaded inside was hoisted on to. We rode that way all the way to a motel in Rifle, Colorado about five miles back. Yeah the tow truck wouldnt move us any closer to Utah, but they would move us back :) I texted my sister during the accident we also called Kelly, Paul's stepdad, who we all fondly call Papa. He had a van, there was hope of us getting home!

The tow truck driver took us to a motel six right off of the freeway, where he wrangled a deal for us. A bed room with two double beds in it for the price of one where we could stay until we got there (3:30 am) and leave at check out (11:00). Our children were jumping all over the beds and super excited when we got in the room, it took them over an hour to fall asleep. I was able to sleep for an hour and Paul stayed up so that he would be able to be awake when Kelly came to rescue us. Kelly really came to the rescue, he drove all morning. And got there right at check out 10:50 am! And drove us all the way home. He is an amazing man and we are truly so grateful to him, we would have been stranded in Colorado if it weren't for him. It was a very long drive with four children that were wide awake, picking on each other, ornery irritable, hungry and well just tired of being in the car while awake. They were good sports! It was a beautiful trip home as well, we saw so many things that we were not able to see in the dark night on the drive there.

Our van was totaled by the deer it was estimated to cost 4500 in repairs and almost the same estimate for labor on the van. We are very lucky to have had full coverage, we are very lucky to have had cell phones, seat belts, family and blankets. The deer busted the radiator and all components that made it work. So the more than three hours in the cold, were just that Cold.

We now have a new van after two weeks of going with out a second vehicle, a very rough, humbling two weeks. And this past week I was happier than I have been in awhile, Paul has been waking up at a normal hour. We were able to use that time to look for a new van and buy one yesterday! I am so thankful to Mandi for watching Alona so that we could take the extra time that we needed to bring the van home. It is a 2000 Toyota Sienna XLE, it is white and has power doors! I can push a button and the doors open and shut from my key ring, also can push a button and the doors lock and unlock. The other van did not have those features.