We're Back!

We are back from our two week trip to Washington state! We had a great time. I think the more times we fly the better the kids are. It wasn't without incident, but we rarely have a day that is. Even with poopy panties, a crying baby, a crazy 4 year old who wouldn't stay with us in the airports, dropped food, and all that, we also had a big girl who sat by a stranger and across the aisle from her mom, a friendly 2 year old who said "Hi, my name is Madeline" to every passenger we passed while bording the plane, a loving brother who held his baby sister, and compliments from strangers on our family. One of the best parts is we went the whole trip without anyone getting sick! The kids all had fevers before we left and now we all have colds, but we were healthy while traveling and having fun!

We started our trip with Mike's family. Almost everyone was there. We had a blast. We spent a day on the river Wakeboarding and tubing, we went to parks, swam in Uncle Matt's and Aunt Sarah's pool (which we will miss when they move), had some fun family pictures (which I will post when I get them), watched Devyn get baptized, celebrated Mike's parent's 40th wedding anniversary with a yummy dinner with just the adults (thanks for babysitting Morgan and thanks for dinner Kendall). We had a great time. We weren't real good about taking pictures while we were there, but I've posted a few. The kids had fun playing with their cousins and meeting their brand new cousin Aubrey (who was also blessed while we were there).

We then headed out to my parent's house. We were able to see 4 of my 6 siblings - so not bad. We had a really good time there as well. We were able to make it to the river twice - I went skiing and had a lot of fun. We coaxed (forced) the kids back onto the tube and Mike even went wakeboarding. The kids jumped on the trampoline, played with cousins, went 'slip n sliding', had water balloon fights, played with Tate (their cousin's dog whom Lilah loved and chased all over the house and Madeline hid from), made masks, watched another new cousin, Tanner, recieve his blessing, made a lot of yummy food, and much more. We really didn't do any better with the camera there.

We had a great time and I wasn't ready to come back to the stresses of real life. We aren't going back at Christmas, it's just too much (money, time, work, ect) to make the trip twice a year. We are sad that we won't be there again until next summer - but we are excited at the prospect of my mom and Mike's mom possibly coming out this way this fall... The kids talk about their family all the time and miss everyone already.

I wanted to thank everyone (not in any particular order)
Thanks Dan and Raeleen for sharing Devyn's baptism with us, it was very special
Thanks Jenny for being such a fun aunt to the kids and giving us a break
Thanks Matt for helping Mike exercise his second amendment and improve his aim
Thanks Sara for coming over to see us even though little Aubrey was only a few days old
Thanks Morgan for saving our kids when they fell off the tube!
Thanks Michael for sharing Stephanie with us at a time when you needed her (I'm sure you passed)
Thanks Betsy for that really good lunch you made for all us after the blessing and for letting Madeline borrow some of Ella's clothes!
Thanks Trina for driving so far to see us and for bringing Tate - Lilah LOVED him
Thanks Nancy for laughing at Mike's jokes while we watched TV... it was amazing to be apart of Dance History with you (it still moves Mike to tears)
Thanks especially to our Moms and Dads for being such generous hosts and for all the work it took to have all of us there.
Thanks Pops for taking the kids on a Jeep ride even though Calvin was afraid of the badgers.
Thanks Grandpa for all the great Super Peach Delights.
Thanks Grammy for playing Hello Kitty bingo with the kids - they loved it!
Thanks Grandma for filling up water ballons for the kids (even though I kept getting you wet while trying to tie them) the water ballon fight was hilarious - especially when Grandpa got wet.


Anna Elise slidng (her cousins in the background)


Calvin doing a 'real slide'



Here is Madeline 'sliding'

Lilah getting warmed up for family pictures - she is so cute!

Riding the 4-wheeler at Grandpa's

I'm a little rusty, but I absolutely love it and isn't the River beautiful?

Tubing with Uncle Matt, the kids LOVED it =-)

Falling off the tube with cousins' Morgan and Faith (my kids SCREAMED, Calvin wouldn't let go, we dragged him in while Madeline tried to drown Morgan)

In the hot tub with Grammy

Anna Elise playing with Grammy's dress up clothes.