Nothin' beats...

...a package from "the uncles"

This morning we were out running errands and Kate saw a UPS truck and said "maybe he is going to our house to give us a package from the uncles." I really thought "probably not," but I said "maybe."

When we got home from a rather crazy trip to walmart, there was actually a package from Uncle Dylan, Uncle Jordan and Dylan T.!!!!

The kids absolutely LOVE the sometimes very silly and crazy packages that come from their always very silly and crazy Family in Utah. As Kate calls them "the uncles."

Thanks Uncle Dylan, Unlce Jordan, and Dylan T.!!!

We miss you crazies!

Holiday World and French Lick

It was burning hot from the minute we got to Holiday World. This is the first ride Kate went on, yet she is already hot,sweaty, and tired.
Kate was so hot that she looks as if she was having no fun. But I promise she was having a blast. The kids especially loved that there were unlimited free soda at Holiday World (since I don't drink soda, they rarely get it)

Parker had such a great time. He even went on some big kid roller coasters. And liked it!

We were able to stay at the Baden Springs Resort in a suite. It is a beautiful resort. The kids loved that there was a couch and a tv in a separate room from the beds.

Kate loves to swim so much...

That she got so tired...

she told me that her legs were broken, and so she couldn't walk back to our room. She got very dramatic about it. Oh please!!!

What is it about a hotel room that kids just always love it?

Kate and Lily...the cutest little best friends

this is the view of the resort from the pool

This is the inside of the resort. There is a huge atrium in the middle, and this is one side of it. This picture actually doesn't do it justice.


We went to a water park in French Lick, IN.

these two are inseperable!

On the way home Elle was getting pretty tired...

and then she fell asleep.

We had a really great time getting away for the weekend enjoying family and good friends.

Lauren learns to sew

Lauren has been asking me for a few weeks now to teach her how to sew. So I figured that a pillowcase would be a good project to start with. She really had a great time and did a really good job for her first time sewing.
This is her finished pillowcase.

Good Job Lauren!!

It's always fun when family comes to visit

Grandma Marcia came out to spend time with the kids, and watch them while Dustin and I went to New Orleans for Dustin's work trip. Grandma and the kids stayed very busy while we were gone. They went to the Children's museum, Conner Prairie, the movies(a couple of times), and the pool A LOT! The kids had soooooo much fun with Mom and Dad gone and Grandma there to spoil them.

And then Mom and Dad came home, but the fun didn't end there.

On Monday Mom, Grandma and the kids went to an Indians game.

And then on Wednesday we picked Brittney up from the airport. And on Thursday we went to the Children's museum.

And then we went back to the Children's museum on the next Tuesday.

We went to Sam's club and bought a lot of super fun fireworks!!

Grandma went up to Michigan to pick up Oliver's kids.

Abby and Kate had such a great time playing together.

Brittney and Dustin both LOVE fireworks!! Brittney was surprised that it is legal here to light off all the fun fireworks that are illegal in Utah.

Lauren and Justin had a great time together as the oldest of the "kids."

Jake and Kate LOVED the sparklers. They had one in their hands throughout the whole evening.





This was Lauren's first time to hold a firework as it went off. She loved it!

You better run fast...you never know what will come flying out!


Brittney,Taylor, and Dustin did the majority of the fireworks lighting. They are just "big" kids.

Brittney is trying to figure out "what exactly does this one do?"

Tuesday night we had a fire and s'mores. It looks so light out in this picture, but it was really about 9:30 at night.


Lauren, Parker, Brittney, and Kate looking at the firefly that Parker caught. Everyone tried to catch fireflies, but somehow Parker was far more successful that anyone else.


Also on Tuesday, we made purse notebooks.

Dustin cut off the corners of the notebooks, and then we modge podged scrapbook paper on it, and then added flowers and ribbon handles. They are so cute!!

Abby and me having a TON of fun at the pool. She loved playing with me in the pool, but she wore me out.

Lauren, Parker, Brittney, and Kate.

I think my kids could spend every day at the pool and still love it.

We had a great time with family visiting. We were sad to see them leave. Family is so important, family is everything! I wish we all lived closer together. But until then I am willing to spend crazy amounts of $ to fly my family out to visit their Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins. Because, as crazy as my family is...they are still my family.

New Orleans

New Orleans was such an interesting place. It wasn't really what I had envisioned it would be. In pictures and on TV it is hard to tell that it is a really dirty and run down looking place. We only went to the French Quarters, maybe the rest of New Orleans is much nicer. It was super HOT there and humid. But, getting away for a few days of no kids was really nice and just what I needed (But, I have been home for a week now, and am in need of another break). Dustin was in meetings most of the time, so I just roamed the streets of the crazy town, and laid by the pool a lot.

There are so many people on the streets trying to get money. This guy was completely silver, and also had a silver alligator(stuffed) on a leash. And a silver top hat upside down on the street hoping to get some money from people.
I am embarrassed to say this, but I thought that New Orleans was on the gulf coast. I was so wrong, this is the Mississippi River. No oil here.
Dustin and I on the air boat getting ready to go see some Louisiana wildlife.

We saw a bunch on Alligators. And they were up REALLY close to us.

Our tour guide had a bag of marshmallows with him. As it turns out alligators LOVE marshmallows. I would have never though that.

There is moss all over the trees in the River/Bayou/marsh.

We had our own "Crocodile Hunter" for a tour guide. He was sorta funny, but mostly crazy!