Cross Country Road Trip, Driving West

We've been planning our cross country drive for over a year.  We were excited, but quite frankly, a little worried too.  This was either going to be really fun or a complete disaster.  I wasn't sure what to expect...
On our first day we drove from Virginia, to West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and into Illinois.  It was a long day in the car (14 hours)  but it was so exciting to start our trip!   The kids were so good!  They colored, listened to music, books on tape, watched the countryside change and Calvin started his quest to find all 50 state license plates.  Although it was a bit long, we had an enjoyable day in the car!

Getting gas in western Virginia

Mike stretching his legs

These were our good behavior clothes pins - the kids decorated them!  If they were good, they had 3 clothespins, if they weren't, they lost clothespins.  If you didn't have atleast 2 clothespins when we got to the hotel you lost swimming time!  They worked very well!

On our second day we drove to Carthage, Nauvoo, and then into Iowa.  Spending half a day in the car is much better! 

We watched  video at the visitors center and toured the jail at Carthage.  The window on the left is the one that Joseph Smith fell through.  We didn't take a picture, but I was amazed that they still had the original door with the bullet holes in it.

This is the jail that Joseph, Hyrum and the others should've been in that day.  It's also where they hid John Taylor after he was shot.

Carthage Jail - the 2nd story window on the right is the window Joseph fell out of.

We drove to Nauvoo and right before parking at the temple, Madeline pulled out her tooth!  We loved Nauvoo - the kids had  great time and we loved walking around and enjoying all the sites.

Anna Elise trying to help Madeline with her tooth

The temple!

Some of us were more excited to be there then others =)

Making a family rope

Dressing up and playing pioneer games

We also went to the blacksmiths shop and got prairie diamonds, Brigham Young's house, and learned about candles, bread, and a few other things!

Then we drove through Iowa for the rest of the day.

On our third day we drove through South Dakota.  We took a quick detour and drove through a small portion of the Bad Lands.

 I was surprised that they let us walk and climb all over the rocks.

It was really windy and the rocks were "slippery' and hard to walk on, but it was still really fun!

We saw goats and a ton of little prairie dogs along our way.

We then went to Mt. Rushmore!  It was windy and cold - but so cool!

Posing

Calvin holding up the presidents

Anna Elise trying to pick George Washington's nose

 Madeline squishing George Washington

The kids finally got their nose picking picture at the vending machine in the parking deck.

We stayed in South Dakota that night.  The kids had fun swimming and chilling at the hotel. We made sure that every hotel we stayed at had a swimming pool.  The kids would probably say that was their favorite part of the trip!

Our final day we drove through Wyoming and into Idaho - we made it to Idaho Falls just in time for dinner with part of the Allen clan!

Mountains

Buffalo

Mike smelling the Ponderosa Pines - did you know that their bark smells like vanilla or butterscotch?  I didn't believe him, but we all smelled them and they smell delicious!

The speed limit in parts of Wyoming is 80, but unfortunately not this particular part.  The cop was very nice- it wasn't nearly as bad as it could've been.  I was also impressed at how fast it was- it only took 10 mins.

We were so glad to finally arrive in Idaho Falls and know that we didn't have to travel again for 4 days!  The trip was fun - but we were ready for a break!

Happy Fathers Day!

Mike was able to drive a Ferrari!  He got a lap with a professional driving and then he got to drive two laps.  He did great and had a good time.  The kids had  blast watching their Dad and checking out all the cars. It was a fun afternoon!

The kids checking out a Lamborghini

Mike driving the Ferrari

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!

Calvin participated in the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby.  There were 4 participants from his troop and Calvin took first place!  It was a fun evening and Calvin was very excited!

One of his winning races

Summer Fun!

After getting home and recovering from our trip we were busy trying to pack the rest of our summer fun into a few weeks! 

Celeste needed to work on a few things so she got a BIG Girl Charp (as she called it).  She was able to get dressed by herself, go to the bathroom without help, walk on her own, sit on her own chair at dinner - things that 'normal' three year olds at our house usually do.  It worked really well!



Madeline borrowed her big sisters bike and hit a rock.  Unfortunately she fell right into a thorn bush, a very big and pokey one!  She had scratches from head to toe!

Mike hung one of our old tires from a tree in the woods behind the house and the kids have a great time swinging on it.

Mike and I celebrated 13 years of marriage by going to the temple, out to dinner, and getting an ice cream treat!

We had to go to the beach atleast once so we decided to try a different beach - Buckroe - and we LOVED it.  We are definitely going back next summer, hopefully more then once!

Calvin competed in the Cub Scout Cardboard Regatta - unfortunately his boat didn't float upright (again) but he had a great time swimming (again).  We learn more each year about cardboard boats and hopefully can make something that floats and stays upright next year ;) 

We have been working really hard on our new 'yard' (can you call clay, weeds, and wild forest a yard ?).  We have been busy planting 18 decorative and fruit trees at the front of our property - we are hoping they can provide some shade, privacy, and fruit!  We have made big plans to eventually trade our clay and weeds in for some grass.  We'll see how that goes in the fall.

The Last Day of School

There is this horrible "Fred" movie (if you are not familiar with "Fred" movies then count yourself lucky and please don't look them up - they are awful!) that has a song in it that all of my kids were singing the whole last week of school  "The last day of the school is the best day of school"  over and over again.  We were all excited for school to end!  Lilah is so excited because once school ends, it can start again and she will get to go! (She has been ready to go to school for about a year now.)
 Instead of being frustrated that they didn't "do" anything the last week of school, I decided to just be glad that the kids were having fun and enjoying themselves.  I can just count the last week of school as free babysitting and then it doesn't bug me as much!
We started the day off right with doughnuts for breakfast!  They had a half day and came home for lunch.  We went out to get some celebratory ice cream that and ran a quick errand.  As I herded my five kids through Target (and tried to keep them quiet and orderly and put everything back that they pulled off the shelves and keep Celeste from being run over because she insisted on laying down on the very bottom part of the cart, by the wheels) I remembered why sometimes it's a bit of an adjustment when school gets out and why I don't go out as much in the summer.


Here is a typical "photo shoot" with Madeline:

Mom says "smile" and this is what I get 

Ok - Madeline, smile with your mouth open.

Ummm...not like that - smile and say cheese

Madeline just give me a regular smile.

Can you look at me and smile?

After school ice cream treat!  Anna Elise didn't want ice cream and Celeste didn't want to be in the picture.

Girls Weekend

I had an AWESOME getaway!  It's been several years since the girls all got together so it was about time to have an Allen Girls Weekend!  We all (6 sisters and 1 sister-in-law) traveled to my mom's house for several days of relaxing and fun over Memorial Day weekend!  I flew out to Washington State on Thursday.  My sister Janet and her cute little Stella picked me up at the airport, took me to get my haircut, and then drove us out to my parents house.  The rest of the girls trickled in that evening.  We stayed up WAY too late talking, laughing, and catching up!  On Friday we just hung out and relaxed.  We did a favorites exchange (why didn't we take a picture of all of our favorites?) where we got goodies, kitchen gadgets, and some beauty things too - so fun!  We also worked on a puzzle, played bunco, got beautiful quilts from my talented and amazing mom (yes, she made 7 quilts for the weekend!) and ate some yummy food.  On Saturday we went shopping!  Little Stella hung out with her dad, but Trina's spunky Taelyn got to come with us and did so well!  We drove to Seattle and hit several stores.  I know I stocked up!  When do I ever have a chance to go shopping with my sisters and mom without my kids?  Never!  On Sunday we went to church and relaxed.  Early Monday morning my trusty driver, Janet, drove me back to the airport.  Can't wait to do it again in another couple of years!  I LOVE my sisters and wish I could see them more often.  You gals are awesome!

Meanwhile, back at home, my kids were living it up!  My little ones had so much fun playing at my friends houses on Thursday and Friday.  Over the weekend Mike took them all out to play!  On Saturday they went to the Bass Pro Shop to see fish, color turtle magnets, and hang out.  He also took them to lunch and then home for some fun.  On Monday they went to a Memorial Day presentation, the James River, and a neighbor's BBQ.  They got mom treats and flowers to welcome me home.  I appreciate the great dad that Mike is to our kids!

There we are:  L to R Stephanie, Nancy, Betsy, Trina holding Taelyn, Mom, me, Janet, and Jana

Our haul after a day in Seattle...not bad!

The kids at the Bass Pro Shop 

 At Lowes checking out the riding mowers

Wading in the James River - yes, several of them ended up soaking wet.  Kids don't 'wade'!