Updates...

We have had a very eventful summer this year. For the past few years we have not done much as far as vacations in the summer, but this year I think I made up for it. The older boys go to their dad's house during the summer but I rarely do anything fun with them during the summer. This year we went to my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary party in Mayhill, NM. You all know where that is right? My guess is not. It is a tiny town of lees then 200 people in the middle of nowhere. They have a small cattle ranch and lots of room to explore. The boys love going there. We were able to spend 4 days there this time and they got to run all over, help feed the cows, and Jared learned how to bake. Jared has always been the one that loves to learn in the kitchen and he really learned tons this trip. My grandma is about the best baker that I know, so I would say she is an expert. She instructed us on how to make cinnamon rolls and cakes from scratch. The results were super yummy! We ended up making 4 batches of cinnamon rolls. They would disappear as soon as they were cool enough to get out of the pan. I decided that I HAD to get a bread maker for home so that I could make these yummy treats for Blaine to enjoy too. He was not able to get off work, so he was not able to go with us this time. The wedding party was a hit, lots of family were able to attend, and lots of pictures were taken. I am still editing them but I will post a collage or slide show when they are finished.

The trips there and home were long, but so worth it to see my family that I had not seen for so long. The trip takes about 7 hours if you stop one to two times for gas and a potty break. with 4 kids 14 to 1, it took 9 hours to get there and 8.5 hours to get back. When we got back there was a rush to get the older boys' laundry done and them repacked for their flight at 7 am the next morning. 5 loads of laundry does tent to take a while so I was up late and did not sleep well (I never do when I know they are leaving, I really hate it.) They were on time for the flight and as luck would have it, the flight was delayed one hour. I got to spend one more hour with them! I really enjoyed hanging out with them in the airport, Jared was being super silly from lack of sleep and Josh was having fun on the inside, he just did not want to look silly in case anyone was watching! Teenagers!

My sister was here for the whole next week. I was so excited to spend time with her. We talk at least once every day and I was glad to have her close by for a short time. We let the kids play while we chatted for most of the week. We also took a few shopping trips!

The next week, Cayden, Kayla and I headed up to St. George to Blaine's family reunion. Blaine could not get time off work, so we went without him. Another 8 hour road trip that took 10 hours this time. not really a fun time, but well worth it. We got rained out of going to the lake the first day and instead played at the pool by Grandma Maggie's house. Friday, the family headed to the Grand Canyon minus us. I was not really up for another long car trip, so I stayed in St. George and hung out at my sister's house. The boys played in the backyard, the little girls took very long naps, and we made Kayla lots of pretty hair bows. Then we went out to dinner and the kids played by the water fountain and threw in pennies, each time trying to get the penny into the little bucket the the girl in the fountain sculpture was carrying. Saturday was the reunion part of the get together. I was impressed with how interesting Maggie had made the info. She even made books with family trees and journals of many family members for us to take home. It was really cool. After that, we took the kids to the pool for mare swimming. Ann and I were in charge of the kiddos and we forgot the sunscreen. Jenny brought some later but I forgot about it and needless to say, no one had any one. Fortunately, the only one who got really fried was me. I just feel so bad when the kids get burned and they hurt and it was my fault. If I get burned it was my one fault and I can not complain to anyone about it. Sunday morning we packed up and headed home. I was thankful that our trip lasted only 9 hours and was so happy to be home in my own bed.

That summarizes our last 3 weeks. I have tons of pictures but I have not gotten them all edited yet. I will post pictures soon!