Visiting the Family

We took a little trip to southeast Idaho earlier this June.  One of our neighbors from Idaho Falls had a daughter that was getting married, so we took the opportunity to go visit Jason's parents and wish the newly weds good luck.  At the reception, I went up to the son and said "it's good to see you Brandon" and then we walked away.  Jason was like "you know that his name is Brad right"?  Wow my awesomeness never ends!

My friend Katie came to see me in Blackfoot while we were there.  She just had her baby like a week earlier and drove from Rexburg to see me.  Am I loved or what?  Her baby is super cute, and Katie is like the best mom ever!

It was good to visit with Jason's family though! I only got a few pictures of the kids in their huge Maple tree out front. 

 I am telling you this picture had a crow in it somewhere.  We spent a long time trying to get this crow out of the tree.  Kay hates the crows, because they make so much noise in the morning and the tree is right outside her bedroom window.  Turns out crows are really smart.  This crow was mocking us I swear.  Okay maybe crows are just smarter than me and my kids, alright.

 We got a few snapshots of the kids, yes Jason is one of my kids, in the tree.

 Elleree took this picture of me.  I need to ask.....am I getting a receding headline?

 I really do love Maple trees!

This tree is like over 30 years old, and is great for climbing.

Walking/Hiking

Twin Falls, it turns out has some pretty cool trails that you can walk/hike.  I say walk/hike because some of them can be pretty intense.  We went on this one at Shoshone Falls.  It is beautiful, but you have kick it into 2nd gear to get up it if you know what I'm saying.

 These pictures were all taken of the falls at various points on the trail.

 Yeah notice how the falls are getting smaller and smaller.

 And smaller and smaller.

If you look really closely you can see the trail, and if you look even closer you can see the parking lot.  It's good exercise for the kids. Heck who am I kidding, it's good exercise for me.



Big Vacation

Once a year Jason and I try to go on a big trip with the family.  Last year was a bit difficult things being as they were, so this year I was determined to go somewhere.  The trick is going somewhere that is family friendly, not to far away, and not too expensive, we are a family of six now.  So I chose Seattle.  Jason had never been, it wasn't too far away, we have family there, and it has a lot of attractions for kids.

 This is our cheezy picture with the fake background, but I like it because it is hard to get pictures of our whole family anymore.

 This was the real Seattle skyline from the Spaceneedle. Better picture? Debatable. After coming down, was the only time Truman or anyone puked the whole trip.  Which is saying something if you know anything about our family trips. In his defence I was a little woozy myself. 

 Stopped at the Children's Museum.

 Great picture of Elleree in her purple cast.

 This Children's Museum was a really good one.  I am becoming quite the connoisseur of Children's Museums

 It has a butterfly house.  Truman was determined to get one to land on him.  This is as close as he came.  Too bad.

 The next day was the Zoo.  My two monkeys, I mean boys ran around.

 Aren't the little bronze statues convenient for picture posing?

 Best part of the Zoo, Bamboo the Elephant.

 For a fee you could feed her.

 It was actually kind of fun.

 She was pretty amazing.

It made for another good photo opp.

 Next day was the Aquarium.  Which I have to say is not so impressive.  No offense.  Seattle can't have the best of everything right.

 I forget how "green" Seattle is, they have a huge section dedicated to the conservation of the water.  Which I am just going to be real here is not why I go to an aquarium.  I know I'm not PC for saying it, so moving on.

 After the aquarium was Pike's Place Market.  Jason had to see the fish fly, and pick up some Salmon to grill.

 Next day was a harbor cruise.  I know the picture is awful, but it was my only one, and the cruise was really interesting even if the kids didn't care.  They sat and ate salt water taffy, that kept them happy.  Beckett ate Truman's head, that kept him happy.

Then a stop at the "gum wall",  Dillon's only must see attraction in Seattle. 

 The kids had to leave there little piece of goodness there with the rest.

 I, for my part was really grossed out and chose to keep my gum in my mouth.

 Then there was the visiting with the family.  We spent most evenings with Dennis, Miste and Spencer.  Tucker had to work and Cooper was on a camp out.

 We went to a BBQ at Dennis's brothers house.  That was the only time we got to see Tucker.  Apparently Beckett loved him.

 I have no idea what Truman is doing to Copper in this picture, but as always Copper was a good sport!

 Beckett love, love, loved Miste.  Dennis on the other hand not so much.

 Spencer with Kelly his cousin, Ali and I babysat her when she was like 3, now she is in college. I don't want to talk about it.

Beckett just likes some people and not others.  He really likes my dad too. 

 The last day we went to the Museum of Flight.  This was Jason's favorite stop.

 It was a little harder, and more boring for the kids because there was alot of reading.  But they did have some fun things to do and Jason loves this kind of thing!

This trip made me realize how nice Denise and Miste were those two summers letting us come and bum off them.  They had kids, jobs, and were not rolling in the dough, but they took in two girls, made them welcome, and took care of them.  Because of that Ali and I had experiences that we never would have had otherwise.  So, Thank You Dennis and Miste you are both wonderful people.

Dillon's Baptism

I seems crazy to me, but after all is said and done, I am old enough to have a child who is baptized. 
We have only been in this ward for a month, so it was pretty hairy getting things arranged so that he could get baptized on the 4th of June but we made it happen.

 What a cute little pair!  I am very grateful that Jason was able too baptize Dillon.  It seems to be something that I take for granted, that Jason has the Priesthood.  But I am grateful he is worthy to perform the ordnance's and blessing that we need!

 Yes, I am a bit out of place without my white jumpsuit, but I am confident that they look much better in them than I would!

 Thanks to all the family and friends that were able to make it!  I know that it is sometimes hard to travel the distance, but we appreciate the effort and the support!  This is the first time in quite a while that me and my three siblings have all been together at the same time!  It was fun!

You can't really see it in this picture but Jason is holding Elleree.  Turns out the day before she broke her leg jumping on the trampoline.  Awesome.

 Alli was able to come and stay for a couple of days, not long enough, but it never is.  Rylie was amazing with Beckett.  She could always get him to stop crying, and a couple of times she got him to sleep.  No small feat considering he is a major momma's boy, and he is almost as big as she is.  I love Eli in the background in his diaper pushing the stroller.

This is our trash can after our neighbors dog decided to knock it over. It was spread all over our yard but I got most of it cleaned up before I thought to take a picture.  He did it one more time before I was smart enough to put it in the garage.  Some would say that  I'm a fast learner, and they would  be right.

Another Graduation

Yes, another graduation, Kindergarten that is.  Tuesday was Truman's big day, so cute.

 They did a super fun programs with lots of songs.  My favorite was Tootie-Ta.  I make him do it all the time at home now.  Next time you see him ask him about it.

 Of coarse they asked the kids what they wanted to be when they grew up.  Some said whatever their dads were, a lot said they wanted to be vegetarians that was pretty funny.  Truman said he wanted to be a firefighter.  I don't know where that came from but hey, whatever.

Truman alternated between picking his nose and sticking his hands down his pants.  I was such a proud parent.  I just wish Jason could have been there.

What a trip

 So we planned a trip to Mackay on Memorial weekend.  Problem was, you guessed it the whole week before the kids were sick.  I ended up getting it on Friday night (after Elleree spent the whole day sitting on my lap coughing in my face).  Saturday was miserable because I was sick and it was Elleree and Beckett's worst day yet so we decided not to go.  Then Sunday we woke up and the kids were fine, I was still the only one sick.  Needless to say that was not enough of a deterrent for Jason, so off we went.  Monday the kids had a great day.  That Morning he took the kids fishing.

 They spent the day playing outside.  Then that evening we had a BBQ, and roasted marshmallows on my mom's new fire pit we got her for Christmas.  To answer your question, no I did not get dressed that day, remember I was sick.

 Notice how I said mom's fire pit, because we gave it to both my parents, but my dad did not want it.

 No, this is not my dad mad because the fire pit burned a spot on the deck, because it did.  He just always looks like this.

 The kids enjoyed themselves.  Turns out you can make some pretty good smores using Oreos and marshmallows instead of the usual ingredients.  Just so you know. 

 As we were leaving a moose decided to take a little jaunt through the tourist park.

I have never seen a moose in the tourist part before, it was kind of cool.