Weekend with Nan and Poppa

We went up to the mountains to visit Nan and Poppa and Danica, Greg, and Max. The trip there was fun and the kids were fabulous. We stopped at a Sonic and we all had the pleasure of watching Blair swat flies for 30 minutes while we ate. Quite entertaining!

We arrived and took some pics while we waited to see the family. We hung out for about an hour before Blair took Brooklyn to meet her mom to go back for school.

The weekend was filled with fun activities. A highlights were the tractor ride they each had with Poppa, the fourwheeler with Greg and Blair, and the golf cart rides into the woods. They have their own mini golf cart. They got to lift the scoop on the tractor and drive it. Poppa got stuck in the rain putting the tractor back in the garage. We got to see lots of rain up there. However we all missed the hundred head of elk walking through the yard at 5am. Danica and mom and I went shopping and got a cup 'o joe together. It was great catching up.

The kids had a blast catching butterflies with Nan. Elefun was a hit. Greg lost at wrestling wars with the kids when Max and Zoe through in their right hooks.

We had the best steak dinner with shrimp thanks to Nan (and Poppa grilling) and the next night D and I made lasagna soup. We had plenty of coffees and hot cocoas and the kids were snacked out. Max had his share of Aunt M's gross snack foods like Oreos.

Overall, great weekend in the mountains with family. Couldn't ask for a more beautiful place and the cabins are gorgeous. The kids keep asking to go back. We will make another trip soon.

First Communion and Last Weekend

This was the last weekend together as a family so we hit a favorite pizza place here. We had good family time and the kids got to play haunted house with dad (running through the house in the dark with nerf guns).

Sunday was Brooklyn's first communion. She completed the teachings about it with Blair and understood what it means and was ready. She has been so looking forward to it all summer. Normally the church teaches the kids in a class, but the class is during the school year. So, Blair worked on it with her each night all summer until it was finished. You can tell she was very excited. We wept like a bunch of baby's when she sat and took communion.

The first set of pics is of the kids at the mall doing the spinning cups; one of our regular places to take them. They all love it!

Weekend with MOMMO and MIMI

Busy, busy! Thursday, Mommo, Mimi, Justin and Brandon came up and off we went to a kid fun center that has a great buffet, roller coaster and bumper cars, bowling and video games. While you eat you watch the old fashioned cartoons on a theater-size screen. Brandon, Brooklyn and Justin had a blast in the bumper cars and Zoe and Leyton braved the roller coaster with Katie and Blair. Then Zoe won the jackpot at Deal or No Deal and won 500 tickets because she picked the winning number out of 20 suitcases. Go figure...time to take her to Vegas! Juanita sent us home with a peach pie that we stuffed ourselves with this weekend (only Blair and me of course).

Friday we attempted the theme park. We did it all. The three older kids rode all the scary ones. I did a few with them and Katie. Blair and Johnnie and I took the little ones to the small kid section where we rode the frog hopper about 10 times...Then on to the water park. We swam and Leyton did the water slide by himself, per his request. He landed it just fine! What a boy! Brooklyn and Brandon braved the water bucket dumping on their heads and Justin stood and secretly doused little kids. Zoe did the slide with dad. Katie and I took Brooklyn and Brandon to the SeaDragon. You can tell by the picture of Brooklyn and me that we thoroughly enjoyed it..UGH!

We did a few more rides and then off for naps. That night, Brooklyn went to Abbie's birthday party with Becca, our nanny and my very precious friend, for a rock star night. She came back with painted nails, a rock star hairdo and great gifts. She did karaoke and a dance jam. I hit the mall with Mommo, Mimi, Justin, Brandon, Leyton, Zoe, Blair, Katie and Jenner to go to a diner and the play gym. We stuffed ourselves with yummy chicken strips, burgers, shakes, onion rings and fries. YUMMY! Then I went school shopping for the kiddos and they played on the gym for a bit.

Today we had a big mexican lunch and cake and ice cream for mimi's birthday celebration. The kids enjoyed time together outside and then picture time inside. Mommo did "little red wagon" on the piano, a long-standing tradition in our family now. Then they headed home.

Tonight we hit Souper Salad with the kids. They loved it. It had a small Vegas diner feel to it for some reason tonight, and we had a wonderful time. We met Faith, our waitress and mom of five on her own. She had the pleasure of listening to Zoe and Brooklyn in the bathroom discussing Zoe's bowel movement. We became immediate friends as she fully understands with a houseful herself.

Tommorow is Brooklyn's first communion. We are so proud and excited. She has been so ready to partake all summer and finally understands and has finished the class for preparation. Zoe will be there to see and will receive a blessing as well. Leyton and Jenner will terrorize the nursery. They love our church and we are so thankful. Will update with pictures from the communion in a day or two.

Altogether, a great weekend with family and so thankful to have visitors.