Saturday, October 10, 2009

Trip to Montana

Well, in the end of August we made our first trip back to Belgrade since we've moved. It was really weird reversing the normal drive, but it was so fun to go back. Mark's dad turned 70, and we planned a semi-surprise John Wayne movie themed party for him. Everyone dressed up, and we had a popcorn machine, John Wayne trivia, and an ice cream sunday bar.
This is the boys in front of a monument dedicated to sage brush. I think its kinda silly, but Mark is in love with sage brush so we had to get a picture.

These are all of Lynn's grandkids who made it to the party, standing with the duke.

Mark dressed up like his dad for the party. There were many times we all mistook Mark for Lynn, and he was a good sport about it.

First Day of School

Mark and Kale both had their first day of school on August 24th this year. It was so exciting! Kale absolutely loves school, and its so cute when Mark leaves in the morning and says to Kale, "have fun at school buddy!" and Kale yells back, "ok, you too dad!"






This is Kale at his desk at school, and that is his teacher, Mrs. Stephens, behind him.


Right front and center for circle time!

Just Lucas

These are just a few adorable pictures of Lukie. This kid is too cute for his own good!
Stuck under the bar stool

Daddy drew a tattoo on him...

Random August

August flew by, and I don't have a lot of pictures to show for it. We started out the month with our first trip back to the bitterroot since we'd left. We went back for creamery picnic and I don't think I took a single picture. Then it was back to Utah for a few more family reunions, some fun outtings like Lagoon, and then the first day of school for Mark and Kale. We finished out the month with another trip to Montana, this time to the Gallatin for Mark's dad's 70th birthday.
The kids playing on the snake statues outside the Mayan. Horrible food, fun experience for the kids....

At a family reunion. Kale never fails to find the kid with the DS

Vegas!

On our way home from California we decided to break up the drive and stay in Las Vegas for a few nights. We got there on Sunday night and stayed in Circus Circus. That night we didn't do anything except eat at the buffet, which wasn't really good, except for the chocolate milk :) Monday we just hit a few of the free attractions. The Tigers at MGM, MnM world, etc. It was so hot, and we were so exhausted, and so tired of spending money, that we actually decided to leave and go home first thing Tuesday morning, even though we had a whole nother day of stuff planned for Vegas. We were glad we went home, it gave some time to actually relax before I had to go back to work. The next time we go to Vegas it definately will NOT be in July.
This is the whole family in front of New York New York, but the nice guy taking our picture wasn't able to get any of it

Mark and his lady friend
We caught the 3-D movie and m&m world






aren't they so cute!

California Family Reunion

Okay, this is way more of a photo post, but there was just so many good ones! Way back in the end of July, we decided to load up our van and attempt a 14 hour drive to California. Yeah, crazy, but it was so worth it! We had our family reunion in California this year, and we were so excited to go! I had to work the night we wanted to leave, so I loaded up the van before I went to work, and drove the car in. Then, at about one o clock am Mark loaded the boys into the van and came and picked me up from work around two (am.) Kale wasn't feeling well at this time, so we laid on the cool grass outside my work hoping it would go away. Finally we got in the car and headed for the freeway, only to find out the onramp we were headed towards was closed. So, after zig-zagging back and forth, back and forth, we finally found on onramp that was open and we were finally south bound. About ten miles after that, Kale notified us he was going to be sick, and I pulled over just in time for Mark to haul Kale out of the back door of the van and throw up all over the parking lot. Whew, just missed one there! Finally about three o clock we were ACTUALLY on our way, and all three kids are wide awake. Not what I had planned. We arrived in Parowan about six in the morning, just in time to have breakfast with Casey's family before they loaded up and we started our caravan for the rest of the drive. We drove right through Vegas and ate lunch at a cute little diner out in the middle of nowhere. At one point Casey and I split up, and he took one route, I took the other. Ours was really fun, we passed fields of flowers, orchards and orchards of all kinds of trees, and even a field of oil pumps. We arrived just in time. The whole family, and by whole family I mean over 70 of us, were all decked out in captains hats and enjoying pizza by the ocean, watching the seals and birds fish. The rest of the stay in California was just heaven. Our rooms at the inn were AMAZING, the beach was beautiful, the town couldn't have been better. We didn't do a whole lot while we were there, just enjoyed the environment and the family. We played in the sand and water, walked the farmers market, had good food with the family, and of course our usual talent show. When it came time to leave it was probably one of the hardest things to do. We can not wait to go back!
Luke riding on the luggage card. We could BARELY fit all our stuff on one, its amazing what one family can manage to cram into one small minivan.

My little beach boy.



This is me and my embarrasing organization. I put each of the boys clothes for each day into a bag and labeled it. That way in the morning I could just whip out a bag and wala, all the clothes right there, no digging! I know, I know, you're all jealous, right?
Kale running in the waves
Jack running in the waves
This is the beach. The pinkish building on the hill in the background is the inn where we stayed.
Robert, Katie, myself and Mark in the ocean

One of the best thing about family reunions is all the cousins! I don't think I dealt with Luke once the whole time, he was in good hands with Amber!
This is the view out our window
sand babies

This was taken the night we got there. It was freezing.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Look-a-likes

Here are just a few pictures of myself and Luke at about the same age. Everyone says he looks like me, what do you think?










Thursday, July 9, 2009

The Perfect 4th of July!

We tossed around a lot of ideas for the fourth this year, but ultimately decided to not overplan, and just go with the flow. We started out the morning with a parade. We had a perfect spot, and including Jeannie and her kids, we ran into a friend of ours and their family.
(here comes the next float!)
The weather was ideal for the parade, and the kids got tons of candy. I love that 99 percent of the candy thrown at the parade was salt water taffy, seeing as we had a view of the salt lake :) After the parade we gathered at the Gill's for a quick, thrown together bar-b-que, yum. After visiting in the air conditioning during the hottest part of the day, we all went our separate for a very short period of time, before we met back up with Casey and Jeannie's for dinner. Again, we opted for indoor eating instead of attempting to juggle crowds, 7 kids, and 90 degree heat and the local festivities. We killed a little bit of time, and then headed over to the park to mark our turf for fireworks. We all went and bought a treat from the vendors, and settled in, waiting for it to get dark.
(these kids wanted snow cones)
(and these ones wanted cotton candy)
The fireworks were amazing, even though we were getting showered with debris :) I couldn't have planned it better if I tried!! I love the fourth of July.