May was full of adventure so buckle up, this post is a doozy.
We started out the month taking Aunt Nattie to the Pella Tulip Festival. Tanner, Natalie, and the oldest three went on a bike ride at Red Rock that morning:
It rained most of their ride but there were only a few tears. Thanks to Aunt Nattie teaching them how to dance in the rain.
The bike riders met us in Pella for the parade. It's the first time I've brought the kids since Chet was a little baby and we were in Kirksville. It was about time. We enjoyed the parade and the beautiful tulips.
A little girl in the parade gave Vivi this carnation and she was so thrilled.
And then Tanner miraculously found where I had parked, even though he wasn't with me at the time. In my defense I thought I had pinned where I was on google maps...but I actually had just shared my location with Tanner. Prayers were said and a lot of questions were asked that I couldn't answer: "Do you remember this open field? You didn't even pay attention to what street you parked on? Does anything look familiar?" Bless him and his patience with my lack of directional awareness. But he found it. Only on pure inspiration.
We went to a Mexican restaurant where we learned that Asa really likes salsa...eats it by the spoonful, no need for chips.
Chet and Austin had their piano recital that weekend and both did so well. Chet worked really hard on his Chariots of Fire and had a goal to be able to play it without the music, something I was not aware of. I don't know whether he was nervous but I definitely was. There was no need for worry though because he knocked it out of the park.
We had to drop them off early so Tanner and I thought we would go on a little walk before the recital. But a bird decided to poop on my foot and shoe so I hobbled back to the car so I could get cleaned up.
We went on lots of walks in the beautiful spring weather and always had to stop and see the new calves.
There were lots of soccer practices and some games. Asa only ran out onto the field during one game; I was busy watching Eliza and then heard, "Who's kid is that?!" It was mine, running in the middle of all the action. He attempted many times, so the fact that it only happened once really isn't all that bad.
Asa and Vivi "helping".
Love these soccer players.
I had a great Mothers Day with my family. The kids all made me such nice cards and even took pictures with me (which is all I really want for Mothers' Day). Tanner made a delicious dinner and I felt very loved.
We went to Living History Farms for a field trip.
Our favorite part was exploring the old houses. There was a bedroom with children's toys that were a hit and Eliza and Vivi enjoyed dusting and sweeping. Who knew all I needed was a feather duster?
We did some yard work and burned. Of course after all that fire we had to follow it up with hotdogs and s'mores. We needed to celebrate not burning down the property this time.
We left for our trip out west at 4:30 in the morning and did 14 hours the first day. But we were running on the adrenaline of getting to see cousins and there really wasn't much complaining.
We had to see the baby mules and foal right when we got there. And ride motorcycles and four wheelers. The kids didn't want to leave the Barr's; can't say that I blame them. But we headed out the next morning for Mesa Verde. The drive was so beautiful that it didn't feel very long. I always miss the mountains so it fills my soul to be back surrounded by them.
We did one guided tour at Mesa Verde and it was really cool. We mainly kept Vivi and Asa in backpack carriers but at one point when there was a lot of talking we decided to let them out to stretch their legs. They both headed right for the edge of the Kiva and tried to fall in, so back into the carriers they went. We explored the museum and walked around a little, but cliffs and toddlers don't mix, so we didn't really hike. But we loved learning about the people that lived there hundreds of years ago.
We got to our cute little Airbnb and I loved how everything was labeled; everything...down to the weight capacity of the chairs. But it was clean and was by a creek so the kids and I were both happy. We went to church in Cortez the next day and had planned to do some exploring but it poured rain the whole day. So we relaxed at our Airbnb until Amanda messaged us that they were able to get into the rental for the reunion that day. We packed up our things so fast it was like the leaving for the airport scene in Home Alone, except we didn't forget anyone. The drive was beautiful and we were so excited to get to "The Mansion" as my kids had been calling it so the six hours flew by.
We went on a hike the next morning before the rest of the family got there. It was the perfect length especially since we didn't use the carriers. But Asa walked a lot and Tanner and I took turns carrying him.
Chet caught his lizard. He tried the whole time we were at Mesa Verde without success, so he could finally relax after this.
Tanner and Austin climbed further in while I stayed with the other kids as they looked for polliwogs and played in the mud. AT some times of the year there is a mini waterfall here.
Look at that pose...Vivi did a pretty good job on the hikes.
We had such a wonderful time at "The Mansion" with all of my family. There was a lot of ice cream consumed. And cookies...and birthday cake(Mike and Katie both had birthdays!)...and licorice...and just food in general. It was a Young Family Reunion after all.
Grammie and Papa Ralph took the big kids to the temple for baptisms one morning and that was really special for them.
Cannot handle how big these kids are getting. All such good kids doing great things.
Such a beautiful temple!
Look at those lovebirds.
Bennie and Vivi were meal buddies. Vivi always wanted to sit by him and he was so patient with her antics.
Vivi and Sofia with matching hair.
These arcade games were a real hit. If the kids weren't outside swimming or in the gym, they were here. It made for some really nice conversations among the adults.
Some of the men went golfing one morning...
And Grammie got matching pajamas for all the girls. Katie had already gone to bed before this picture was taken but she was there in spirit...probably laying across the back of the couch. We talked so much and loved getting to know Shanni a little better.
The pool was amazing and there was hours of pool time each day. There was also an amazing luge-like slip in slide that we tried really hard to kill ourselves on. But there were only minimal injuries and lots of fun.
The big kids had a blast on the slip in slide.
And thanks in large part to Aunt Mandy, no one drowned.
Irie and Ace
We tried to hold baby Collette as much as we could.
Grammie and Papa Ralph stayed home with ALL the kids so that the adults could do a temple session. It was so neat to get to do a session with most of my siblings (Tyler stayed behind with his girlfriend Shanni and helped control the chaos). We even got to explore the temple from the baptistry to the very top floor.
Asa kept think Emmie was me when she was wearing her glasses. He usually picked her over me...little stinker. Look at the adoration on his face; I can't handle it.
We took family pictures and it went way better than I expected it to.
Just look at all these beautiful people!
It was hard to end the reunion after such a wonderful time, but we were excited to extend the party with my parents, Dan, and Tiffany. We couldn't check in to our new places right away so we did some things to fill the time.
The littles hadn't been to the temple yet so we walked the grounds and went to the Visitors Center.
Then we toured Brigham Young's summer home and the missionaries leading the tour said all our children were very well behaved. So glad we can fake it sometimes.
We then got some In-N-Out and weren't even mad about the long drive through line because it let the littles take a good long nap. Except Vivi, she was too concerned about getting her milkshake that she insisted on. After eating we went to a park with a splash pad and tried not to melt in the St. George heat until it was time to check into our condos.
That night we got to get together with our friends the Robertsons from medical school. We visited while the kids swam in their pool. We had so much fun talking that we didn't even get a picture, but Ty and Chelsey ran into Chet and Mariah at Costco earlier in the week and sent a pic:
So grateful for good friends after all these years.
The next morning I woke up to Vivi and Asa with the stomach bug that had been slowly going around at the reunion.
Chet and Tanner went with the Harris boys on a mountain bike trail. Matt, his boys, Layton, and James all bunked with us in our Condo. Tiff was a trooper and took Mariah, Austin, and Eliza to the pool while I stayed at the condo with the sickies. I'm so grateful we were in a place with a washing machine and dryer.
Sweet Babies. Also grateful for TVs; we don't use them very often but they sure come in clutch at times like these.
The next day we got to get together with the Hills and meet their new baby. It wasn't long enough but our kids hit it off right away and we're ready for them to move to the Midwest. Tanner and Marshall took the big kids to another (good ol' Utah) temple for baptisms bright and early in the morning.
We were so glad that Tiff and Dan were just down the sidewalk from us. We ate most of our meals together and the kids all had so much fun with each other. It was hard saying goodbye that morning. I love my siblings and their families so much.
These two are going to be great friends one day. I'm hoping Tucker's gentle nature will rub off on Asa.
We hiked up with Layton and the Harris's to a reservoir. All the kids jumped off this big rock into the ice cold water. I watched from a distance. The closest I got to the water was wading in it. I don't do cold.
There was really soft sand stone and everyone had fun playing with the soft rocks.
Vivi and Asa were in such good moods considering they had been sick the day before. Vivi became buddies with some people and they were nice enough to let her use their sand toys.
Chad and Heidi met us at the reservoir with a whole passel of boys.
Gordon got a good shot of us with his GoPro. We went back to our condo for a late lunch and then had to say goodbye to the Chad and Heidi crew. The visit was too short but it was so good to see them all.
Also had to say goodbye to my beloved Chacos of 17 years. Walked the soles right off.
That night we went to the Lagoon at the condos that had been closed the whole time we had been there. Even though there had already been lots of swimming no one could pass up the chance to use the condo's paddle boards.
Asa and Vivi were happy with more time in the sand.
James spoiled us with a fancy dinner of elk steak, potatoes and brussel sprouts that night.
We spent so much time in the water and my poor kids were so chapped by the end. Their baby Midwest skin just couldn't handle it. Next time we're going to have to slather them in Vaseline every night.
The next morning we got up nice and early and said bye to the Harris's and Layton. We love this family so much. Mariah said, "they're our extra cousins." And that's really how it feels.
Always a good time when these three get together. James left early that morning so we missed him.
Vivi's stomach bug seemed to come back that first day of traveling home so we had to make a lot of bathroom stops. This one was a good one: it was called Ghost Rock and made the perfect picnic area.
We spent a night in a hotel and poor Chet got sick that night. He was pretty miserable the first half of the drive but perked up when we stopped for pizza. No one else seemed to get the bug and we made it home safely.
There wasn't much rest when we got home. We had an Activity Days talent show that Vivi and Eliza got to participate in even though they aren't old enough.
Lots of yard work was done. Chet and Austin have done a great job taking care of the lawn this year. Chet mows and Austin runs the weed whacker.
Mariah got her tonsils out and didn't even act goofy after anesthesia (her siblings were so disappointed). She has been such a trooper through recovery.
We ended the month with crepes for breakfast to celebrate Eliza turning seven. She made sure she got to open presents first thing that morning because the rest of the day was spent at the soccer fields for the last games of the season. Eliza scored some goals on her birthday!
