Last Getaway

Although 11 days before you move ISN'T ideal to go away for 3 days (not to mention a week before the biggest test of your medical career!), we HAD to go to our reservation @ Jellystone Park where we went "camping".

The boys immediately wanted to get to the lake and start boating around. During the week there were MAYBE 4 other families there, so we basically had the place to ourselves. The girls and I hung out at the park while the boys boated.

 Isn't this picture the absolute BEST?!?!?

 Then the girls came over and wanted to race (if you'll notice, Iris is molding herself to Brooks' body)

 It was all fun and games until Aleeya fell off her bench and whacked her head..........and Iris was just crying because......well.......she wasn't a fan.

 The boys could just go out whenever they wanted as long as they had a life jacket......isn't that water soooo clean?

My kids just loooooooooove "camping" (as they called it), especially because we had a cabin. :)

Kids in the loft and Royce can't touch their stuff. Perfect. Well, actually what they LOVED was watching the NBA playoffs at night (we don't get those channels at home). Man, we sure know how to rough it.

Over the few days we hiked, caught some frogs (check out the teeny one!) and lizards

 mini-golfed (this happened to be the place that Brooks challenged me to a round....if I beat him he would give me $100. Talk about a motivation...........and ARG, I lost by 2!!!! I my defense I haven't mini-golfed in 11 years!)

 Swam a LITTLE, but the water was freezing.

They also had a "water the flowers with Yogi and Cindy Bear" activity that Aleeya was SO excited for!!! (the boys just went swimming......NO THANK YOU!)...you can see the row of cabins up on the hill that we stayed in.....nothing big and fancy but it was great.

 Aleeya was in heaven and loved every minute of it and complimented Cindy bear over and over again on her pretty dress.

Iris, on the other hand was pretty scared of them (are we surprised?!?!?) 

Then I got her to stand in a picture with them.......she clearly wasn't too thrilled.

And by the end Cindy bear actually got a hug from Iris...........

But Yogi bear was OUT OF THE QUESTION!

The kids' FAVORITE part was this "gemstone fossil panning place".....because it wasn't going on, so it became a GREAT mud creek for them to play in since they couldn't play in the lake. I love the NAME of it, and Camden's face next to the sign. hahaha

 Mud, hide-n-seek. You're it if you get hit by a mudball.

 Aaaaaaaaaaaaand, SOME of them lost more then others....... :)

It was nice to get away for a little while, away from boxes, responsibilities, etc. before Brooks leaves for Florida (for 4 days for his national test) and we pack up the truck. Such an enjoyable trip.

Rather Fitting

I think it's rather fitting that on my and Brooks' 11th year anniversary of us getting married, we have the ultrasound for #7. 

Why is it rather fitting? Well, as you can imagine, being married to Brooks (I'm sure he would say vice versa as well) has been full of surprises. 

So to ADD to the long list of surprises we found out today that this kid has ZERO and I mean ZERO chance.......

Because my little boy Royce will be surrounded by GIRLS!!!!!!!!

Eventful Saturday

Saturday started out calm........a little too calm for my kids. After Bronson's baseball game Bronson came in and said, "I'm bored".

Not a MINUTE later a chipmunk ran in our house. THANK YOU CHIPMUNK GODS!!! 

It entertained them all (and the dog) for a good time. They would catch it (see?)

 then he'd escape, catch, then bite Camden finger (he still has 2 teeth marks) and finally got outside and away. But it was just enough time to keep them entertained before we went over to a friends' house, "Mr. Jeff". There are two men my husband LOVES to be with on his softball team and both of them met up with our family for a fun night of spoiling my kids.

Steak, salad, lobster (ummm, not me, thanks), cheesecake, the works.

Then we loaded up everyone for a quick drive down to Mr. Jeff's pond. Iris was not so sure about how loud it was....

 Here are some of the fun fishing pictures......since he has his pond stocked all the time with fish, you basically wait 30 seconds (if that) and you'll get a bite. My kids loved it!!!!

 Iris and Royce seemed most interested in the worms......aka-the bait. Looks like when I cook dinner all I need is a can of worms and they'll be entertained for a while.

 Up close and personal w/ Royce

 More worms....

 Wow.......is all I have to say about this picture. ;) He's so funny.

 The freezing pond......he wore his swimsuit JUST for this moment.

 Shortly after, Camden actually got thrown in by Mr. Jeff. He was shivering the whole time after. He's such a skinny little beanpole.

 Bishop Hibbett helping my boys get the hooks off the fish.........because heaven knows I had to monitor Royce by the worms.....I mean, someone had to.

 Mr. Jeff and Aleeya. It was so handy having 6 adults for 6 kids........I could get used to that.

"I'm Belle"

"I'm Belle" is the quote I hear from Iris all to often..........but on her (early) birthday party this week, it was actually the truth. She REALLY. THOUGHT. SHE. WAS. BELLE. (thanks to a borrowed dress-up from Gracie). I can't get enough of Iris' face in this picture!!! She's so happy.

I walked down the pinata aisle in Walmart and saw a princess castle pinata, and the FIRST thing I thought was, "That looks the EXACT shape as oatmeal canisters!". (seriously, I'm a pinata nerd and need therapy) So I went home and made a princess castle pinata. Since I knew 3 year olds couldn't whack through cardboard, I made a trapdoor on the bottom w/ the strings (you know the one-string-opens-up-the-goods thing). The princesses all loved giggling after their string wasn't the right one. 

Everyone dressed up like princesses and ran around and played. It was precious.

 And climbed trees.......

 Then we did cake and icecream. THESE TWO (Mallory and Iris) are trouble together and I found them constantly snitching on the food. hahaha. Notice the "Mexican Fish" pinata in the back I had to make last week as well for a church party thing. Looks so out of place w/ the princess stuff everywhere.

 I love this picture w/ Iris' little cheek all ready to blow and their cute princess coloring pages in the back.

 Not the best picture, but everyone I took Iris is looking around at her friends and smiling like, "I'm so lucky to be surrounded by my favorite people." She was having the time of her life.

 Playing w/ new princess toys and changing Ariel a gazillion times. Wait, THEY didn't change the dolls, I HAD TO!!!!! EVERY. TIME!!!

Okay, this last picture REALLY stinks, but they all loved their "mermaid" hair and really got into character...........but the best part is Royce. He woke up from his nap to all these princesses. He had NO clue what hit him.

Although Iris isn't officially 3 until June 2nd, she thinks she's three now..........and will adamantly stand her ground about it. So let's just all pretend she's three or not even bring it up to her, deal?

Dear, dear, Iris..........I mean "Belle"........what would we do without her?