Utah with Cousins!

So on our trip we bummed off of anyone that would let us stay at their house. So sleeping arrangements were sometimes quite creative. At Shantay's she has a little closet for storage under her stairs complete with a child sized door and even light inside it. Paisley's new room- our little Harry Potter!!

How is it that babies are born loving babies?! I wonder why they do?

This was Paisley's big helper cousin. She was always looking out for her. Demitri found the perfect spot to have early morning scripture study (between the parking lot and the road looks safe right?).

This is our sweet Daphney that freaks out occasionally about every day things like getting her picture taken. Obviously I don't do it enough... ;) Everyone in that office was covering their ears while the lady snapped this one for the pass card. This is the best one we could get. 

Demitri loved all the different bed arrangements but most often made caves to sleep in. My little caveman!

This is a giant jungle gym made only for little kids so if you are six foot tall don't attempt to take four kids that like to head in different directions up there- they are much quicker.

These pics are from the museum of curiosity which I love. So many rooms to explore.

Overview

So turns out that I made this video to send to Shane so he could see what we were doing on vacation while he was slaving away back at home working... The first minute is from our trip getting to Idaho and the last minute is our adventures in Idaho. 

In Idaho we spent one day picnicking with Shane's grandma "Playdough" (The best my kids can say). She prepared a ton of wonderful food and thought of everything like a pro parent- you know napkins and such. However, the wind was terrible that day, and I spent most of my time chasing the napkins, plates, and food as they flew towards the lake my kids were currently drowning in rather than eating. For some reason now that my child thinks she can "swim"(at the time she could only kick backwards with a jacket on) she isn't afraid of the water at all. She threw all of the sand toys into the lake like you would a pool and I had to run around and try to catch them, but not having my swimming suit on, because we were supposed to be eating some were lost to sea. My daughter wanted to rescue them and I tried to explain to her that we couldn't because of the boats out there, and she exasperatedly cried out, "but we have to TRY!"
We ended the day with the kids trying superman ice cream which is Shane's favorite and discussing details for Grandma Playdough's funeral. What a hoot!! She is having a lot of fun
  planning her own party for when she dies.

Check these out! Adults can ride these and they are so fun, but there definately is a learning curve. Demitri and I rode them in the backyard while the sprinkler was going so if you weren't fast enough you got soaked. 

Next Stop

 Welcome to Cheyenne Wyoming!

 The crooked head thing is genetic I think. Heidi and I used to always get into trouble for it.

 In Cheyenne we explore some of the botanical gardens. I think there was a ton that we didn't see but we stayed in the children's part. They were real laid back and allowed the kids to wade in where ever and create fun.

 Demitri loved the Teepees and drums even though turns out I have never explained Indians for them. You can't pass through Wyoming without that lesson.

This is the checkerboard table that relaxed parents can play on while their perfect children play on the three story tree house. My kids take more supervision....

It is all about the stops...

Don't worry I won't share about the gas station stops. 

I loved this stop along the way. This is Yanney Heritage Park in Kearney Nebraska. If you are traveling on 80 this is a must stop place because it is fun for the kids and right off of the interstate. 

There are two interactive splash pads and three park areas to choose from. We did not do this, but you can rent paddle boats and kayaks at the office there to take out on the lake. It was a beautiful stop and a great place for a picnic. 

This is a random tower they have built there because we don't have mountains to hike in the midwest...?

On our Way

 Our vacation this summer started with the journey and we had a blast the whole 17 hour trip!

At the Lincoln Zoo I took before and after pictures of the kids. The two top pictures are the smiley excited faces. 

For the after pictures (below) the kids were so tired and worn out that they stopped for a break on the way to the car and I had to snap proof of our success in wearing them out! A job well done. Too bad we also felt the same way...

We have a  weird thing for posing with turtles.

In may a fossa at that zoo bit a toddler that stuck her hand into the cage. Turns out that is not recommended so I watched my kids closely...

Tovi

We have been trying to memorize articles of faith in our family. We are creating this pet caterpillar that the kids named and love to make grow as we memorize/discuss depending on capability. 

We also are using these cool posters on this blog. 

However I think they would work better for older kids. 

Normal Life for Me!

         There are some days when my brain is in shock and I say to myself, “you cannot make this life up.” At these points I wonder if I knew exactly what I was getting into when I was prepping to come down to Earth. Did I know, or did they just say, “it is something you just have to experience as you go.”

         One thing I know is I don’t see other people living life like I do…. Is it my life is CRAZY or people just don’t share the raw unfiltered details. The poor mother, of the four year old boy that got stuck in the gorilla enclosure, has been quickly judged by millions because media shared one of their life mishaps. However, I willingly share my blunders for your reading pleasure!

Anybody else ever lived a life like this?

Example #1-

         We had a family vacation, road trip in which Shane almost drove off the road.  Not too unimaginable right, but why?! … Well have you ever had some baby praying mantises hatch in your car? Of course the driver was distracted, because from the passenger seat I was making praying mantis mating calls to all the little bugs so that they would come close enough that I could suck them off the windshield with our house hand vacuum that we brought with us. Yes, it was a memorable ride.

Example #2-

         We were at the church where a large amount of people were gathered together after a baptism. A child came up to me and said Daphney needed help in the bathroom.  As I approached the bathroom I saw my daughter peeking out the door accompanied by several other children who were crowding the bathroom entryway. Then I noticed water on the floor and that she was covering her nude privates. I only wish it had been that she had an accident like a normal person’s life story.

         I proceeded on into the bathroom to help her find her shorts when I discovered my son. He was grinning ear to ear standing pantless next to a toilet whose porcelain lid was shattered on the floor. He was using a cord from the back to spray water everywhere like an amazing squirt gun that sprays whenever he flushed the toilet. I passed the kids that Demitri was targeting and dodged the toilet water that Demitri had eagerly turned on me. At this point I hear another mother come in and say, “what do you mean there is a shower in the bathroom?” What a mess!