Crazy Eights!!: 7/1/09

This Summer, The kids and I got to go to North West Washington to visit my parents for 2 1/2 weeks, and then Benson met us there for the last 5 days and flew home with us. This was a record stay for us, and a lot to ask of anyone-=), but we kept busy and I think my parents survived fairly well.
To start off, due to a car accident (thankfully not ours) and the traffic it caused, we missed our 5:30pm flight by 5 minutes and were rescheduled for the next morning's 5:30am flight. We drove home, left all of our suitcases in the car and slept in our clothes. So when the alarm clocks went off, we literally rolled out of bed and into the car. I have to admit that I was already nervous to fly solo with 5 kiddos, but then to leave that early, I had no idea what kind of moods the kids would be in when they were that tired. But thankfully, my kids did better than I could have even asked for!

The first week my brother Ian and his wife, Bonnie drove up from Cali to see us and my sister (currently in Seattle) and her two little boys drove up and we spent the first week together. We kept very busy! We went on a fairy around the San Juan Islands, we picked
strawberries, visited Canada, swam at the wave pool, played in the ocean, held star fish, climbed trees, played with puppies, ate cherries, celebrated the fourth of July on the lake, lit off fire works, and drove to Portland to see Benson's grandma Smith.

Luckily on the way home, Benson was able to take Kennedi with him and somehow we all ended up @ the airport about the same time! Whew! We were tired, but had a blast! Thanks for showing us a great time Mom and Dad!

Some people in my parents' ward had St. Bernard puppies and baby goats. I think that was one of the highlights of the trip. Kennedi kept grabbing them by the face and kissing them - I know I should have stopped her sooner, but it was too cute not to capture it.

More puppies, luckily we had a plane ride home, so no one could try to beg Mom to take one home.

Peyton and Grandma hit it off from the start. When we ask him where he wants to go on his mission, he says, I'm going to get on an airplane and go to Grandma's house.

Kennedi, trying to see what was the baby goat found so yummy.

Dallin, showing off his hard work.

Kenndi, not sure what really goes in the bucket.

We literally did spend hours in trees, something we can't do so well here.

Us, taking off on our first fairy ride. And, yes, that bright, red head in the back is me. That's a whole 'nother story.

Much to the mother's relief, the kiddos instinctively laid on their bellies to look at the jelly fish.

Peyton and London were inseparable the entire week. 3 year old boys, have everything in common.

Kayaking anyone?

I'm guessing that's Ashy's new picture pose.

Talie, who loves all animals, had a blast with the star fish, until a very concerned parent discovered that she had put one of them in her back pack. Talie was finally consoled when I convinced her that they would just dye and stink really bad.