I didn't even want to write about this day because it is the worse day I have had in my life so far!!! :(
You will understand as you read further down.
So on day 4 we had bought tickets to go ride the Heber Creeper. Weird name hu?!? It is a train ride with a scenic route. We had to drive a ways so we thought we would have a picnic in an area close by. It was so green and lush. It was raining a bit but stopped by the time our lunch was over so the kids were able to run around and play. Not that the rain would have stopped them.
We get to the Heber Creeper which is in Heber Ut.
It was an hour train ride. The kids had a good time and they had a snack shop so of course the grandparents loaded the kids up with lots of sugar.
So here is where the day went sour. As you know, when you are traveling with lots of people, the kids like to switch cars and ride with their buddies. So the previous day and on the way to the Heber, Ryker rode with his cousins Brody and Brae in their parents suburban. So we all went potty after the train ride and went out to the parking lot and had 4 different cars to pile into. We loaded up and we had Rigdon,Amelia and another cousin. We ASSUMED Ryker had got in the suburban with Brody and Brae. Shaun and I even looked at each other and said should we check on Ryker but everyone was driving off so we just followed. We were going to drive 45 mins.......yes 45 mins to Park City for dinner then home to Salt Lake. We got to the restaurant in Park City and we all got out of our cars and started to meet up with everyone. I saw Brody and Brae but not Ryker so I asked where Ryker was. I'm getting tears in my eyes as I type this because I will never forget the AWEFUL feeling of what happened next. Wendy said they didn't have Ryker in the car with them. All the adults said they didn't either and that is when we knew we had left Ryker back in Heber!! I started bawling and Shaun and I jumped into the van and headed back to Heber. So you remember how long I said the drive was??? 45 mins!!!! Cari came with us and was trying to find the number to the Heber Creeper station. I had a prayer in my heart but was so sick in my stomach!! I called the police and they connected me to the police in Heber. I told them what had happened and they were going to send a policeman right away. By now Ryker has been all alone for an hour. I couldn't stop thinking about him and if he was ok and safe! While waiting on the phone with the 911 operator as she was waiting to hear back from the cop, Michael called Cari and he had gotten in touch with a worker at the train station and said he was there looking at the toys and they were watching him. A few seconds after that the police man got there and said he was fine. We still had a 30 min drive and I was just so grateful Ryker was safe and waiting there with the police officer. Now all I could think about was how Ryker was feeling!!! Did we scar him for life, was he scared out of his mind???? We finally got there and I flew out of the van to get to him. I hugged him so tight and he started to get teary eyed. Probably because I was sobbing like a crazy lady. I thanked the police officer and we went on our way. The train station workers gave him a bunch of free stuff including a coupon for a free ice cream cone. Ryker was beyond excited about that. I think I was way more traumatized than him. I asked him what he was thinking as he waited for us and he said he was looking at the toys in the gift shop for awhile and went outside and noticed all our cars were gone and didn't see any of us. So he went back inside and kept looking at the toys. He wasn't too freaked out because kids have so much faith in their parents, he knew we would be back to get him. Well I have learned my lesson......first, ALWAYS listen to the Holy Ghost when he prompts you to check on your child and second, make sure your child is in a car when driving with many people. I love my Ryker-boy and I don't ever want to go through that AGAIN!!!
