Dad getting the van topper (thanks to Aunt Rachie sending us one in the mail!) all ready for our road trip.
The amazing surprise {snack} sacks and road trip activity books that the Cashes made for each of you kids for our long trip to Utah.
Even some goodies for the parents! AND they brought us breakfast from McDonald's the morning that we were heading out on our trip. Those Cashes. Gold.
Last last minute details...getting excited about our trips!!
I saw this idea on Pinterest and loved it! I scoped out the biggest cities along our path, wrote down the 10 biggest cities for each day and then would write them with wet erase markers on these little laminated cards. It helped us to see our progress each day. We also rolled a dice to see where we would put the mini red clip. Once we got to the clip we would hand back a special activity or snack depending on the situation.
Mom helping Alex get a selfie with the Alexander sign :0)
The Perry's neighbor let the boys take a spin
Seeing Chelsea for the first time in A LONG time!..
...I think it was when this girl was Aimee's age.
The garden that Aunt Rachie had been helping work on here in Kansas just a few weeks prior to our visit.
Chelsea did such a great job decorating their house. Everything was just darling.
Brie loving her girl time!...
I just love these two!
Chelsea has 5 girls and a few years ago started to home school the oldest ones. This was the first time that I've ever looked at homeschooling and thought, "this is something that I could possibly do." I loved the way she had created a friendly, cheery, inviting, cute place for her girls to learn!
Hours and hours of beautiful green plains and farmland...
...
...then near the end of day two we hit the Rockies in Colorado!!
Meeting cousin Abi (first Sheets' cousin!) for the first time in Breckenridge, CO!
Pictures with Bompa & Mémé before breakfast at the hotel
Uncle Matt & Aunt Erin
Brie with Aunt Rachie--so cute!
Mom & my little ham, Lij :0)
Aimee & Aunt Rachie. My heart melted a little.
All of us after sacrament meeting in Breckenridge.
Boys ready to head to the Ranch! You kids had been waiting for this moment for MONTHS with SO much excitement! :0)
Getting a tour of the Tumbling River Ranch, Uncle Matt holding the babies
Don't worry a whole LONG post will be devoted to our time at the Tumbling River Ranch!
Me & Aunt Rachie trying on silly hats at a gas station on an unexpected early trip home to UT with Bompa & Mémé
Mémé elevating her knee after seriously hurting while doing the limbo :0(
Back to Bompa & Mémé's 5 hours before the rest of you. It was an unusually quiet Sunday afternoon! I dug through my old box of journals that had been missing. Thanks to Mémé for finding them!
Starla had a delicious early dinner waiting for us when we got home. Bless her!
It's good to be "home" in Provo.
Starla & Prim, Rach & Rue drove me over to the new Provo City Center Temple to walk around and take pictures. It was beautiful!
Brie, Alex & Lij made it home with Aunt Em & Buck! They were thrilled to se the dogs!
We got back to Provo Sunday afternoon and had 1 1/2 days to do laundry, get the kids repacked for their week in Utah and to finalize our luggage for EUROPE!! It was busy, but no complaining here. Heather & Kingston even came to keep me company while I did some of the packing!
Monday evening we headed over to Aunt Em's new classroom (at Meadow Brook Elementary in Springville) to get her supplies moved in and to start decorating.
She stayed true to her heart and went with a beach theme :0)
You kiddos were seriously the best little helpers. I was so proud to see how hard you worked and with very little complaining!
This is where you 3 sleep at Bompa & Mémé's house.
Typing up notes for you kids to read each day that we were gone.
And we're off to Paris!!
(Don't you worry, at least one giant post will be devoted to our trip in Europe :0))
And we're back! Read his screen ;0) Uncle Tim was our awesome welcoming committee who got us home via Front Runner, Trax and the Malibu.
Breakfast at Bompa & Mémé's
Sorting through the souvenirs and goodies, trying to figure out what to give to which person, especially those dear souls who watched the kids while we were gone!!
I love the greenery at flowers at home.
Visiting Em post surgery. Leave to Aunt Emmie to have CUTE toes :0)
Wednesday morning was turning THIS...
...into THIS! We needed to be all packed up and ready for our road trip home Friday morning.
Brie looking at the beautiful baptism dress that Grauntie Elaine bought for her several years ago.
a little thank you for the WONDERFUL week at the ranch.
Our little fam going to visit Aunt Emmie at the hospital. You kiddos were so cute to pick her out gifts: Alex-flowers, Lij-gum, Brie-Bean Boo :0)
Rebecca, Owen & Julia came to Granpa & Nana's house to chat for a bit. It was great to reconnect!
Pioneer Park splash pad with the grandparents and cousins!
Me & Aimee, Aunt Heather & Kingston
Maya, Brie and Lilli
Me & Aunt MaryAnn with 3 of the babies: Aimee, Caleb (finally got to meet that cutie!!) and Carrie.
Cousin fun at Grandpa & Nana's!!
Our cards made the board! Yay for keeping snail mail alive :0)
Goodbye to our families and Utah and back in the car for our road trip home.
Had to stop at Little America for ice cream cones and a potty break and pitstop
Aimee demolished her cone!
Me & my sweetie
Lincoln monument in Wyoming
My boys :0)
In our hotel room, oh Paris, we miss you already!
You cutie pies
This is how we've been having you kids sleep the last few hotel stays, lined up across the short side of the bed and Aimee in her pack 'n play. It's worked pretty well, especially if you're extra tired.
Aimee has started to fold her owns for prayer.
This is the first Marriott I've stayed in that actually incorporated the area culture into the interior decorating. I loved it! Come on' Marriott, let's try this in other places too!
At breakfast the Europe cup was playing in Paris! Can't believe we had been there earlier in the week!!
Stopping in Nebraska to see the family that housed Bry after his and his mom's accident.
The wife said several times how grateful they had been for the Gradens: the sweet spirit they brought in their home, their calmness in the situation and their love for each other and that it was such a great example for their kids to witness.
A beautiful sunset as we were leaving. It made Dad & I both think of Grandma Vicki.
Attending sacrament meeting in Nebraska. Dad & I both felt strongly that we were supposed to be in that meeting to interact with certain people and that Heavenly Father blessed us for taking the time to be there admist a long drive home.
Driving back in to our beautiful corn country. The sunset was gorgeous crossing over the bridge from Peoria and fire flies welcomed us home in the most magical way! We ended up parking near an empty field at the end of Sheperd and Airport and getting out to watch as the fireflies literally made all of the tops of the fields sparkle. Dad & I danced there in the cul-de-sac, as you kids chased around catching fireflies :0), and compared the magic of that experience to hugging on a bridge over the Seine as the Eiffel Tower glistened. Both, we agreed, were equally magical to share together :0)
You boys ready to wash the van!
Hello luggage, I'm not ready to tackle you yet!
In a rather impromptu way had the Nowlands over for a pull together meal. They brought left over curry and we provided the sides and dessert. It was great to catch up with them after both of our families had been gone for most of June and with them leaving the next day for 6 weeks in Taiwan! We love the Nowlands and will miss them this Summer. You kids all loved catching fire flies...
Getting all the little souvenirs to give you kids after Family Home Evening
Summer vacation at home starts now. Bring on the fun!
Out for a morning walk with you cute kiddos!!
Playing out back
You guys always get excited about playing with the water. Though this Summer we are much more cautious about it so that we don't see flooding-of-the-basement-take 2!
Sending a card to your ranch counselor, Sabrina.
Brie writing to her ranch crush, Finn ;0)
Our "Summer Corner" was inspired by the Perry's awesome basement school!
Little Lij sending a get well card to Mémé. You picked out the dalmation Beanie Boo for the envelope :0)
