St. Louis Lasts

Knowing we were moving in a few weeks there were a a couple last things we wanted to do.

I wanted to see the Nauvoo Pagent. It's a three hour drive so I grabbed Emerson, Aleeya and Iris and we drove up with the intention to drive back that same night. 

I know, I'm getting crazy in my old age.

We drive through some country roads that are straight, go on forever and no one is on the road. 

PERFECT for letting Emerson take the wheel since he keeps asking.

The temple there is just so pretty. It's fun thinking of my ancestors helping with the building of the first one that looked like THIS. (the first one was burned down after "The Mormons" were driven out of Nauvoo, so this was rebuild with the same plans/etc to look just like it)

The Nauvoo City fair was SO fun. Had I known it was going to be THIS fun and entertaining for the kids to do all the old-fashioned stuff I definitely would've gotten there earlier.

I don't mean to brag, but I DEFINITELY was a pro at the stilts thing. #heelsgoodforsomething

We did the potato sack race a ton of times.

Riiiiiiiight before the little cheater turfed it.

Payback..... gotta go all the way to the line before turning around!

They braided these headbands out of fabric.

It's hard to describe out refreshing and dreamy this outing was. The weather was amazing and we played "500" with this knitting loop and two sticks thingy. 

There were a lot of groups there with reserved seats so we opted for the VERY back row! This way we could sit on the backs of our seats and see over all the heads. So pretty with the temple in the back.

(the stage temple)

There is a two lane road to get out of Nauvoo and a bazillion people there. So we slipped out early to beat traffic. We TOTALLY did since we had a long ride home. The kids wanted a night picture with the temple though.

We also had a few last baseball games to wrap up. This one I was doing solo since Brooks works later and I just could NOT keep the babies from drinking out of the puddles......MUD puddles! (iley)

WHILE I took that picture, Wynn started drinking out of another.

I kept cleaning them off in the bathroom and they would do it again!

One more family trip to the zoo. St. Louis zoo is pretty amazing, big and IT'S FREEEEEEE!

The twins look so much alike here.

jellyfish accentuated by the cutest little face.

I was having St. Louis guilt that we lived there for a year and NEVER went up into the arch. Apparently it's grounds for kicking us out! 

I grabbed Camden, Emerson, Aleeya and Iris and headed there one morning.

The little bubble elevators to go up are NOT very big at all....and kinda jerky.

Mississippi River view on one said, St. Louis City on the other! (Cardinal stadium on the left)

Apparently on really windy days it kinda sways up at the top. Thank GOODNESS there was no wind!

Afterward we went to go try St. Louis' famous homemade Fitz's rootbeer and watch them make it.

I'll admit. It WAS pretty amazing.

Camden bought his own six pack because he said it's the best root beer ever.

Bronson didn't come with us because he was gone for a week on a church trip to New York. He wasn't very good at sending me pictures (I know HUGE surprise) but I DID get a few from his leaders.... which I can't find now. But it looked like he had a blast at Niagara falls, Palmyra, Cedar Point (tallest roller coaster in the US or something) and Kirtland.

(Brooks wasn't there to make him smile)

NOW it is time to box up everything..... Brooks did a ton while I was off galavanting around, but now it was time for him to go out of town for work for a few days. This is how I felt about packing up.

#didntiJUSTdothis ?!?!

Ultimate Ursula Utah Getaway

Y'all, my sister Jess is one of the most theatrically TALENTED people I know...and with a voice to match. For the past many years she's been in musical director/training roles. But THIS year, she swtiched sides and tried out for the Little Mermaid and (OF COURSE) landed the part of Ursula. 

When your sister lands a part like that, you don't have a choice but to buy a plane ticket to go see it.....

and see it I did. THREE TIMES!

The first night I went with my mother-in-law, sis-in-law and two of my nieces. I love my Smith family.

They weren't even technially related to my sister, but Adriana was JUST as loud as I was!

(we CLEARLY don't see each other enough)

We met Ariel!

But THAT'S not who I came to see.....

I mean, I bought a SHIRT AND ALL!!!!

I can't even BEGIN to describe how much she NAILED that part. Like STOLE THE SHOW, I-told-everyone-she's-my-sister-for-bragging-rights, most-powerful-villian-EVER type of stuff. 

I was BUSTING my buttons with pride.

The next day I went up to Mom's. I told her to put me to work, so we went through all of Mom's books to purge. Like the "Lucky Grandma" shirt I borrowed? (and wore to the grocery store)

It was different being at home w/o my Dad there. This was my first visit since. But it didn't hit me until I went into my mom's bathroom to borrow something and I saw this...

It was my dad's shaving bowl/brush/soap. I used to watch him shave all the time when I was younger. This is how he would lather his face to shave and it was always present in his bathroom.....even still smelled of him. Some reminders are harder than others.

My mom and I went up to Pickleville Playhouse on Bear Lake for a matinee and then we realized we had the WHOLE night open. So why not drive another 2 hours to go BACK to see Little Mermaid again!

This time my brother Patrick and his family came (along with Jessica's daughters/husband again.....they went every night!)

My nephew I'm sitting by (Joseph) was such a good sport. During the show he leaned forward and my mom-reaction was to start scratching his back. Apparently that's like TORTURE/ticklish for him but he was so polite (And stiff) and waited five minutes before he said, "Thanks Aunt Baloo" and sat back. hahaha. Why didn't he TELL ME!?

Me and my college-aged niece. WHAT?!?

I seriously LOVE being an aunt!

One of my favorite pictures of the trip...... my older brother with two of his sisters. I LOVE my family

Mom and I drove BACK up to her house to make sure we caught my sister-in-law's wedding the next day...... wait, maybe she's my sister-out-law now? I don't know, but I love her and wouldn't miss it.

As an added bonus I saw some more of my nieces and nephews!!!

Then Mom and I drove back DOWN to see Jessica's play again....but THIS time I got to see one of my favorite peope in the world!!!!!! ..... my OTHER sister!!!!!!

(To answer a few questions: YES, I did wear that Ursula shirt to every showing. And YES, I did wash it.... I mean, I worked up quite a sweat wearing it with all my jumping up and down, hugging and cheering)

I ALSO had been saying I'm Ursula's #1 fan. Sarah said she wanted to be the #1 fan this time, so I decided I could be Ursula's #2 fan for this performance. "I'm #2! I'm #2!" 💩💩

All the Degn girls

More nieces! (I'm sure Emma really loved my armpit)

Have I mentioned I love my sisters?!?!?

The marjority of the time I spent at my Ursula's Jessica's house with her girls.

We decided to paint swimsuits on all the naked Barbies with nail polish

They turned out so cute

Ava (who is Kellyn's age) was just my little buddy.

Even when I was getting ready..... there she was keeping up a conversation....whether I joined in or not. "Aunt Baloo........ Aunt Baloo......." I just love her.

We went to my sister-out-law's (?) wedding reception and sneaked a pic with her. 

Then met my brother and some of his kids (they live in Washington). It was so fun to chat!

Sunday afternoon before I flew out, I wanted to spend it with my favorite parent-in-laws.

They really are the best hosts. Pat even made me chocolate covered cinnamon bears and we had a large breakfast. Then she played with my hair,...... (WHICH I LOVE!) while she tried out new dos.

WHOA! My hair looks all two-toned here. Cool bun!

Then I made had Pat and RA drive me to the house that Brooks was born in. 

I love how RA and Pat told me all the things that had changed and it was so fun picturing Brooks there. When he was still young they moved to THIS house that he spent his whole childhood-graduating years in.

Such an AMAZING trip!

Speaking of amazing...... BROOKS held down the fort like a champ at home..... even going as far as to take all 10 kids to our friend's Lodge, with a lake and all sorts of fishing.

#overachiever #makinmelookbad #iLIKEitthough

Johnson Shut-ins

Johnson Shut-ins is this magical state park in Missouri with all these rocks, cliffs to jump off into the river and fun wading areas.

We decided to take the whole family there....NONE of which are in the above picture, because I got THAT off the internet. I couldn't take many pictures because my job was to make sure the twins didn't drown because they are OBSESSED with water. I finally had to take off their life jackets because they were too big and they couldn't get up Christmas-story-snowsuit style.

I DID manage to get one shot of this cutie.

See the diaper in the front? It actually served as my phone-hider and basically my wallet. Because who REALLY is going to look for something to steal in a DIAPER!!???!!! 

#imagenius #yourewelcomeforthetip

Too bad there isn't audio to this one....Everly was screaming. Did NOT want to go in the water and DEFINITELY didn't want Dad who would make her get wet. 

He finally released her and she spent the rest of the time sunbathing with a wedgie.

PERFECT! One less kid to watch!

Then the boys started the manly rock throwing contest that entertained them for for a while. 

I PROMISE you my kids like being outside and in the water..... even though some pictures don't show it. haha. This is from when Brooks took these 5 on a canoe/fishing trip with another dad with his 4 kids. It's a miracle they all came home.

 (The one in black shorts isn't mine.... but kinda blends in, no?)

And SPEAKING of water, THIS girl had swimming lessons over the summer!!!!!

I've never signed a child up for lessons before because we've taught them. But I was NOT going to be at a pool with FOUR who couldn't swim and I needed her to learn FAST.

She was SOOOOOO happy.

She smiled during the whole lesson and would wave to me over and over.

She would jump in the water and come OUT of the water with a smile on her face!

Kellyn DID learn to swim but the REAL MIRACLE of the whole swimming lesson thing is how Everly would sit during the lesson every week like this.

I'm serious, she wouldn't move a MUSCLE! #unHEARDof

Wow, maybe I CAN start taking her in public....... huh.

My swimming beauties about to go to the neighborhood pool. Lovin' Everly's swuimsuit on backwards. #photobombingbrother