As I mentioned in my previous post my parents were kind enough to watch my kids while we were in Maui. What I didn't tell you is they were also watching my brother's youngest boy, Blake, who has downs, while they were in Lake Powell with their older kids. They just had Blake for the first three days, but still...my parents are saints!
Here's Adelaide with Blakey in the tub. Isn't he the cutest?! Not only the cutest but seriously the nicest most easy going little guy. I just love him!
After my long red-eye flight from Maui to SLC I hopped in my car (that I left at my brother's house) and drove to St. George to my parents house to pick up my kids. Here's a pic my Dad snapped as Addie & my mom watched me walk up to the front door (it's a glass panel door.)
It was so fun to see my kids again! It's amazing how much more you love them after a week away. :)
After spending a few days in St. George hanging out with my parents we loaded up in my Dad's car and headed to Mesa, Arizona. My sister, her husband and their 3 oldest kids along with my brother, his wife and their 3 oldest kids all went to London/Paris for 10 days so my parents offered to watch my sister's 3 youngest kids along with my brother's second to youngest kid. Once again, my parents are saints. So all together we had three boys (the twins & Jack) who are 3 years old, two girls who are 7 years old and Addie, who was 11 months.
(L to R: Abbie, Jack, Luke, Maddy & Max)
The girls were a dream...seriously so nice and helpful and just played together nicely non-stop. Addie slept practically the whole time. I had her sleeping in a pack and play in the closet of the room I was staying in (don't worry it had air vents) so it was pitch dark in there 24/7 and I guess that's why she seriously took 4-5 hour naps and slept 13 or so hours at night. She was easy peasy.
As for the boys....well...aren't they cute?! ;)
The first Sunday we were there was Father's Day so my brother Ryan & his family, who also live in Mesa, came over after church for dinner and dessert to celebrate.
It was fun to actually spend Father's Day with my father. It's been a LONG time since that's happened.
My mom and I made green chili enchiladas & salsa, and my sister-in-law, Emily, made a delicious salad and fresh guacamole. Then we had tres leches with strawberries for dessert. It was my first time making this dessert and it's now my new favorite. So yummy!
On Monday night we went to my sister-in-law's parents home in Paradise Valley for Family Home Evening. We ate a delicious meal Emily prepared, swam and had a lesson on talents.
This picture isn't what it looks like, but it makes me laugh.
For the rest of the week there was a lot of watching movies...
...swimming (we did this everyday as it was the only way to be outside in 115 degree weather)...
...dressing up (in fact the little boys lived in costumes this week)...
...eating good food...
...sometimes in the buff...
...going to In-n-Out Burger...
...and Coldstone...
...enjoying chocolate popsicles...
...playing computer games...
...and generally acting silly!
All of this fun resulted in very tired kids...
...and one VERY tired grandpa!
Every other night we bathed the boys in my sister's giant tub and then...
...marched everyone up to bed. Literally we marched, left, right, left, right, left. The boys loved it!
On the last night I sent my parents to my all time favorite restaurant, Tia Rosa's, for dinner to say thank you for watching my kids and they brought me back some of the delicious food.
(Please excuse the outfit here...I'm in my running clothes since the ONLY time to go running in Arizona is 10pm or later. Okay, I suppose you could wake up at 5am and go, but who are we kidding, I don't wake up that early...ever. So my Dad and I went running late each night and even then it was still 95 degrees outside, but at least the sun was down. I always love running with my dad, even if we have to do it in the blow dryer state!)
On our final day (which was a Sunday) we snapped a few group photos before church.
Getting my kids to look at the camera and both smile at the same time is like moving the children of Israel. Ugh!
Although it was a very tiring 10 days with LOTS of noise (how old do I sound?!) I'm so glad Jack got to spend so much quality time with his cousins. He had so much fun and loves them SO much! I LOVE these three CRAZY boys!!!
After our stay we packed up and drove back to St. George on a Monday and then I woke up and drove my two kids all the way back to Colorado the next day. Here we are at an Arby's somewhere along the trail home.
Ahhh, home at last with their daddy! They were SO excited to see Jeff! Jack pretty much hasn't let Jeff out of his sight (except for work) since we got home.
It's so nice to be home. I missed Jeff and I missed home. I had a wonderful 3 weeks away, but as cliche as it is to say, there really is "no place like home."
PS to my Mom & Dad...I LOVED being with you for 2 weeks. I loved our late night chats and I always have a blast hanging out with you two. I LOVE you!!!
5 comments:
You have had a wonderful and very busy summer so far! I love all of your cute pictures! You have such good looking kids!
I gotta start taking notes as I go or something... WHEW!
First of all, you look great. So tan and I'm loving the beachy-wavy hair!
That pic of Addie & your mom (in which she 100% looks like Missy to me!) is PRICELESS!
Ya'll got some good genes! Every one of these kids is SO CUTE!
That Jack swimsuit shot is so funny! Reminds me of his baby pee shot. :)
I love, love, love that the boys lived in costumes the whole time. The shots of Jack in each one are killing me! SO CUTE and what a ham!
Great jumping into the pool x3 shot!
Can't believe that one of Jack under water! Anderson will definitely NOT do that! Yay for lessons!
Eat naked. Awesome.
Love the walking w/ grandpa pic.
Love the you w/ Tia Rosa's food pic!
Love, love, love the Jack sandwich hug pic! Keep that one FOREVER and use it in every family video/book ever, always.
Finally, I'm so confused... isn't this Stacy's transition house??? It looks so put together and decorated!! Weren't you just down there packing?? Can I borrow her energy?
Your family is so great! Worth all the traveling and craziness and re-entry. Totally.
I just did such a similar trip and I am so glad I am not the only crazy one. I can always count on you and Wendy for true MTMness! Love you and CANNOT WAIT for CODY!
ps. are we running while we are there?
You are SO NICE to have helped during that long week while we were in Europe! I L.O.V.E. the pics of the boys in their dress ups...so fun! I also love the photo of dad holding hands with all the kids. You are ALL SAINTS to have helped to make it such a fun week for us in Europe. Thank you!!! Your kids are so cute, Mindy. I love all the photos in AZ. Sorry it was so hot! I am glad you made it home safely! I love you!!!
Wow, Mindy, we had quite a run, didn't we? Dad and I could not have survived the whole kid experience without you! We really did have fun amidst the noise, chaos and dressing into costumes, then undressing to potty, etc.! Good thing we had that schedule on who wears what costume what day! I 'm dying for another piece of that tres leche cake - Yum! Sure love you and your darling kids!
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