Robertson Vacation Curse

It is a known fact that Robertsons run into trouble when they travel.  Apparently, that luck has followed me into this family.  The curse struck again as we tried to do our one and only family trip for the summer.

We loaded up, with a van full of kids (including Wyatt to add some boy fun for Aiden) and a trailer full of camping gear.  I was so excited to be headed somewhere without wifi with Brent and the kids.  About an hour into our drive, the van suddenly puttered and stopped working.  Luckily, we were able to take a quick off ramp, and get into a McDonald's parking lot.  Brent called a local towing/mechanic shop and started working the problem.  I took the kids to McDonalds.

After a few hours of ice cream and cards, it became clear that our van wasn't going to be fixed in time for us to save the camping trip.  Combined with the fact that we had a trailer full of gear to get back home, we called in several favors and went back for the car the next day.

I was very disappointed.  I had been looking forward to family time for weeks.  I had done all the prep work, and now we were stuck at home with no car and no plans.  I started telling the kids about the Robertson curse and a few of the adventures we had as a result.  

October 2000 at the beginning of our adventure.  

This adventure always stands out, October 2000.  Spending the night on the side of a mountain in Zion's National Park when we got lost hiking the Subway.

Poor Annie had to experience the curse with us. This was us huddling at night to stay warm.

Shara and Cody wrapped in garbage bags trying to stay warm and get some sleep on the side of the mountain.

This discussion led to some perusing of my old photos and we came across a family home evening in college where we played the flour/penny game.  In an effort to have some fun in the midst of our sorrows, I said we could play.

All the kids took turns cutting flour with a knife and whoever made the penny fall had to go in after it with their teeth.  There may have been some intentional falls.

In the end, we made a fort in the family room and slept there.  We ate all the camping food we had prepared (I always like to eat well when in the mountains), and had some no screen family time.  Sometimes the Robertson curse does create great memories.

P.S. Long story with the van.  But, after putting in over $4000 into it within a one week period, it needed a new engine and we decided to cut our loses.  Several weeks later, we got this bad boy and I am loving it!