Mommy Fails....

....to bring her camera anywhere this week.  Yep - we had lots of fun - went lots of fun places - and I forgot my camera every time..... sigh... 

Monday we headed off (I did manage to bring my camera to Texas though)  So here we are packed into the car and ready to go!  The drive went well.  It was nice having my mom to help out - especially at rest stops!  We started early and made good time and got in at a reasonable hour!  

We spent most of the first 2 days getting settled and playing in the pool (and getting a bit sun burnt despite putting sunscreen on since we were out there for 4 hours!!!)

Wednesday, the Tolberts came over and hung out with us most of the day - the Lori and I went out to dinner together after I got the kids to bed.  It was so nice to see her and the kids - and hopefully they will stop in and hang out with us for a few days on their way back to Texas from Utah.

Thursday morning, we went out hiking - had a lot of fun walking around and the kids had fun getting wet.  James and Eileen were the only ones who stayed mostly dry.  After a morning of walking, we headed back for lunch, then spent the afternoon in the pool.

Friday, we headed to a place called Kid Mania and the kids had a blast running around and goofing off.  Taz and Anna ran amok together and Taz is calling Anna his best friend again.  James just wandered the whole climbing area himself - he especially loved the slide.  We went and put James and Kai down for naps - then Sandi and I took the older kids out on the boat

We forgot the tube, but the kids still had fun swimming.  Sandi and I had some fun wakeboarding - but it was windy, and a bit choppy.  Eileen tried waterskiing and did a great job - but when she fell, she forgot to let go and had a bit of a scary experience.  Scared us all a bit - but otherwise she did great.

Saturday was mostly a hang out and swim kind of day - when Sandi came to pick up Taz and Kai after work, we all went with her to her house and checked out the big 4th of July party put on by her town near her house.  Then came back to her place for dinner.

Sunday, we went to Sandi's ward and she and I sang a musical number - then Sandi asked  if I wanted to just come and help out in nursery - so I did and we all had a blast playing and singing songs!

Next week is going to be rather crazy - but Dan gets in Tuesday - so all is well!

Busy Busy Busy!

This last week has been nuts!  We've been helping keep Heather entertained after her surgery - the girls have been hanging out with her and playing games with her most days.  I spent most of the rest of the time trying to get ready for our upcoming trip to Texas.  Saturday morning, my mom arrived for all the family stuff this week.  She promptly threw her back out and spent most of our Saturday evening at Jill's house sitting in pain.  We had a really nice evening with family - some family that we don't get to see nearly enough - it was a blast.  My cute little kids charmed everyone (LOL - yeah they were on their best behavior)  Sunday after church, we got some more packing up done, then headed out to Aunt Joan's Funeral Service.  It was a really nice service and after we had a nice time at the reception.  It was so nice to get to spend time with family.  I really am blessed to be related to such awesome people.  We stay up late finishing packing up the car and getting ready to go.  Texas here we come!!!

More Sleep Please....

Dan was home on Monday - a one day break between trips.  Instead of being with him, Eileen and I spent most of the day at the hospital while a friend had surgery.  Dan watched the other kids and we read, crocheted and chatted.  After my friend had gotten checked into the hospital, Eileen and I went and ran some errands together - we got hair cuts and got her some much needed new church shoes.  It was nice to have some one on one time with Eileen. 

Tuesday, Dan left for another trip bright and early.  Tuesday and Wednesday were spent visiting Heather at the hospital and keeping her company.  Thursday she got to leave the hospital.  I had to go run some errands for her, and then we headed over to piano lessons and then had to drop stuff off for Heather before heading home for dinner and bed.  Dan got home late Thursday night!  

Friday, was errands and stuff again.  Eileen went to hang out with Heather for a bit to keep her company and then I packed up an overnight bag and some crafts and left the kids with Dan to go hang out with Becky.  Every year she escapes to a hotel room for a night with some projects to work on and this year she invited me to come along.  We quilted, crocheted and watched Pride and Prejudice (yes the LONG one!) and ate junk.  Really - I hit the jackpot when I married Dan - not only did I get an amazing husband and father for my kids, but I married into an awesome family.  Becky and I had no shortage of good fun conversation and even got some stuff done!  :)  

Saturday was normal Saturday insanity, with the addition of me having my final choir concert for this season.  The concert went well and after I grabbed some dinner with some friends from the group as well as some former choir members that I miss!  As usual, I managed to get on one of my favorite topics - books and what books to read next!  

(Evie dressed James up as a princess....) 

It was so nice to be able to be at church as a whole family again!!  I had a nice chat with my dad for Father's Day - but I was an awful wife - I really should have done more for the best Husband and Dad ever - but I've been trying to get something done for him for the last 3 weeks and just couldn't ever seem to find the time to run out (sans kiddos) and grab what I wanted for him....  Well - anniversary is coming up and I'm all ready for that at least.... 

Summer Fun

We've been keeping busy while Dan's been out of town.  I let the kids paint themselves pet rocks - Eileen's is a hampster, Anna's is a mouse, Aaron's is an alien.  (Evie's changes depending on who she last talked to)  

Eileen and Anna also built lego houses for their pet rocks.  

I was taking pictures of the kids rocks - and James wanted in on the fun - but all he could find was play-doh.   So here he is showing off his lump of play-doh.

Wednesday was our last choir rehearsal of the season and it went long - even for a tech-rehearsal!
Thursday was piano lessons as usual - it's really neat to listen to them play - it's amazing how quickly they are getting good!

Friday, the kids finally managed to get piano lessons done so that they could go to the zoo.  We got there around 1 and somehow managed to hit perfect timing to watch all the fun shows.  The kids even got to pet a snake and a little alligator.  We had fun wandering the zoo and looking at all the animals - Eileen had fun showing off how much she knows about animals!

Here are the kids pretending to hide in a penguin hole.

Friday night, we had Eric and Lydia come over and play while their parents went on a date - we all had a blast playing, eating hamburgers, and making (and eating) cupcakes.  I got paid in funnel cake!  mmmmmm

Saturday, we picked up Heather and headed out to Kid Spree - we bumped into lots of other friends there too.  The kids had a blast - we were there from 10:30 to 3:30 and still didn't do everything - but the kids had a great time doing what we did have time for!

They built bird houses

Played musical instruments (I was amazed at how well they did - they were able to get good sounds on all the instruments!)

Rode Ponies

Climbed all over emergency vehicles and other big trucks

Got to meet some animals including this bearded lizard and some birds of prey.

 And tons of other stuff - they made slime, won prizes, ate junk, played in sand, painted paper chickens, petted animals, went on big slides and such.  I took tons more pictures - but really this is big enough already!!!

Dan got back home and met us at church - the kids all really missed him and had a blast climbing all over him and playing with him.  Poor Dan was exhausted after a long trip working 16 hour days - but the kids cut him no slack!  James really missed him.  During church, I had to change his diaper and after I said - "ok lets go back to nursery!"  Even though he really likes nursery - his answer way "no i go find daddy!"  He wasn't whining or fussing - but he wanted to be with daddy.

James' vocabulary is growing rapidly - earlier this week I asked him to go to his room so we could get him dressed he said "no, I'd rather go downstairs"  LOL - how many 2 year olds talk like that!  Also after asking him if he wanted to go outside, he said "I wanna go outside any thousand times"

Summer Craziness!!

Monday was Labor Day.  With Dan home - we got ourselves a new grill, (Thanks mom and dad!) and invited a bunch of friends over to hang out and eat and get wet!  Heather provided the slip n slide and pool and water balloons, I provided sponge water bombs, the Putnams brought water guns, and we all had a blast!!  

As we were getting everything ready - the kids were playing outside, I was mowing the lawn and Dan was working on the Macaroni Salad when Anna (who was swinging) fell and got her arm twisted in the chain.  It looked bad enough that I wanted to take her to get it checked.  We headed to the ER where they were very kind and mercifully quick.  Thankfully, her arm was just bruised and all she needed was a bandage and ice pack - thankfully no broken bones.  She made sure before we left that she was still going to be able to get wet at the party.  

The day was hot and beautiful - perfect weather for a water party - the food was good, the company was GREAT and we all had a great time!  

Tuesday and Wednesday passed in the normal manner - choir, fun around the house.  Thursday, all insanity broke loose!!!  We had an extra kid - we were babysitting a little girl and the kids all loved her and played with her making it easier for me.  As we were leaving the house to go to the little preschool-graduation party for Evie's preschool group, I found that the van had a flat tire - not just a little low - totally flat.  Dan came home and put on the spare and took us to the park for the party, then took the van to get the tire fixed.  After it got fixed, we headed over to piano lessons.

All the older siblings were out of school, so the kids all had a lot of fun - Aaron had a blast with his long-time friend Brigg - whom he doesn't get to see as often as we would like - but they still are best buds when they get together!

It was another hot, sunny day - so we played some games with water and sponges.

Friday, we had the little girl again - for the afternoon only this time.  I went visiting teaching in the afternoon to Amanda Clarke - I'm looking forward to getting to be her visiting teacher!  And again in the evening to finish up.  Ashley wasn't feeling well so we brought her some soup and rolls and ice cream.  :(  

Saturday, the lawn needed mowing again - Anna decided that she wanted to help :)  She found that it's a bit harder than it looks when mommy does it.... She managed to finish a 4' x 4' section before she was too hot to go on. 

We also had another little girl come and play at our house while a friend was packing and moving.  I sent Dan to help with the moving and then I watched their little girl to keep her out from underfoot.  She was a total sweetie and we all had fun together!  

That evening, Dwayne and Nicole came over to make jelly!!  We had a fun evening together (we always have fun with them) and made a TON of jelly - and we have a long ways to go before we are done!!

Dan left for the airport again as I hustled the kids off to church.  He's going to be gone the better part of the next 2 weeks :(  We survived today though - only 13 more to go...