It's a miracle! I'm finally adding a post.The day after school let out we left for Iowa on May 27th to visit my parents and my sister Steph and her family for a week. It was our first big road trip as a family, 20 hours one way! We had a great time, it was so wonderful to be back home and show the kids were I grew up.
On the first day after church, the kids, Mary especially, couldn't wait to take a walk to the river by Grammy Jane's and Grandpa Tim's and collect clam shells. It was a pretty cool day and Mary was even willing to take her shoes off and wade in the ice cold water to get the big ones. Lydia kept busy collecting the tiny spiral shells in the sand, while Adam acted like he was in a race to get the most shells. Hazel was just happy throwing sand around, and Joy, well, it just wasn't her cup of tea, so she stayed home with Grammy Jane.
The next day was Memorial Day and David's 37th birthday. We went to a five minute Waverly parade, but it was worth it because we were able to see Eliza play with the marching band in the parade. We went to see the movie Thor ( a must see!!) and had a fun celebration for David afterwards. He is holding up this body building supplement he'd been wanting for awhile, and showing off his muscles too, which is what he's been doing 90% of the time for the past year since he's been on his exercise kick!
The kids had a little water party the next day. They loved playing in the back yard. So much to explore!
Joy was determined not to get wet. THAT didn't last long!
On Wednesday, June 1st, we celebrated Hazel's 2nd birthday. Mom made a delicious coconut cake and I decorated it. Hazel LOVES ducks!
Aunt Stephany gave these red shoes to Hazel. She is in love with shoes and she loved these so much that she wore a hole in them after a month of wearing them. You can see she is wearing them in several other pictures after this one.
The next day we went to Nauvoo. On the way we stopped at this mega mall in Iowa City where they had this carousel, an ice skating rink, and a children's museum. You can see Hazel checkin out her red sequin shoes.
Me & Joy
At the children's museum, Lydia made fast friends!
Hazel driving an airplane.
Adam joined us half way through after a failed attempt at iceskating. Him and Hazel went down the slide together and somehow she got all twisted around. She loved it though. The taller the slide, the more she likes it!
Mary ice skating, she loves it, Joy hates it. She sat in the sidelines. That's pretty much how it is with everything with those two. Whatever the one likes, you already know the other likes the opposite!
Adam pouting after falling down.
We left for Nauvoo after that, and an hour and a half later checked into the hotel and headed to Carthage jail. We pulled into the parking lot and who else, but Tammy and Emily had just pulled in at the same time waiting to surprise us! They had driven all day from Ohio to meet us and be with us for just one day! Of course everyone else knew but my family, it was just an awesome surprise!! We were doing some temple work for Grandaddy and Tammy really wanted to be there with us.
The cousins!
Steph and Tam
The next morning after going to the temple, we toured a little around Nauvoo. Adam got to help out in the wagon wheel shop. I think he felt very important there.
The Black Smith's shop.
Tammy and Lydia showing off their horse shoe rings.
I LOVE this picture! Super Cool!!
By this time we were so hot and miserable, but we still managed to get a family picture.
The children's area, what the pioneer children might have played on.
Thank heavens!! Air conditioning! During the presentation Hazel kept trying to get into everything she shouldn't and one time David got up to get her she pointed to the bench and said, "Dad, sit down!" Very clever that one!
Taking rest before saying our goodbyes. It was an awesome 24 hours and a great experience for the kids. We left for Utah the next day and stayed at an awesome hotel that the kids loved. Thanks Mom and Dad for helping us have a great trip!!
