Iowa trip July 2014

One of the first friends Nathan made in our new ward was a boy named Spencer Keller. These 2 boys had a lot in common and were only 3 days apart in age. They really enjoyed hanging out together. Well a year and a half after meeting each other SPencer's  Dad got a new job in Clinton Iowa so in February 2013 Spencer and his family moved :-(   Soon after we started planning when Nathan could go visit. It ended up being just a little bit more money for me and all the kids to fly their to visit then what it would cost for me to fly with Nathan there drop him off and then fly back a week later to pick him up. Plus Nathan wasn't really loving the idea of being away for a whole week by himself and the girls loved the Keller family too especially Jessica Spencer's older sister who the girls loved to have babysit.

So on the 4th of July the kids and I flew from Mesa AZ to Moline IL and then rented a car and drove the hour drive into Clinton Iowa.  We all survived the 3.5 hour flight and hour drive but it was very stressful.  Amanda screamed the first half of the flight. It was very hard to be the lone adult to take care of a screaming 20 month old as well as a 4 7 and 11 year old.  THe older kids did pretty good and were quite helpful.

 

 We did have a great time and the Keller's were very hospitable to put up with 5 extra people in their home for a week. It was hard being away from Preston for that long and we all missed him terribly. We were very grateful for facetime so we could see each other as well as talk. 

Here are some pictures of what we did while there. 

Nathan jumped off a high dive for the first time and really liked it.

 We got ice cream at McDonald's

 Just a random cute picture of Amanda. She was my sleeping buddy during the trip.

 Played at the park during a rainy morning.

Nathan and I along with Spencer and his Mom took a day trip to Nauvoo.
The boys skipped rocks in the mississippi river.

 I held Nathan on the steps of the Nauvoo temple just like I had 11 years prior at the temple Open House.

 Playing at another park near the mississippi river.

 The day we said goodbye. It was bittersweet. Sad to leave but glad to be going home.

 Nathan said he had a really hard time smiling in this picture.

 We got lost on the way back to the airport and we barely made it in time after turning in the rental car. The flight itself was much better. I got a few new toys for Amanda and she had a bag of candy to chew on to help with her ears hurting. I also gave her some dramamine so she slept the last part of the flight. I was definitely more prepared for the flight home.

 

Photo Book

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Family Reunion at AZ Biltmore

In June Preston's family had a mini reunion at the AZ Biltmore prior to his parents leaving on their mission. We spent the weekend there and had a great time. We did some dining together.

Took some pictures. For the record I did not come dressed and ready for pictures at breakfast that morning. I was planning to head to the pool after. Oops.

All the grandkids.

The original group.

 We did a lot of swimming and going down the waterslide. That was a lot of fun. 

 

 

A lot of us played the game bubble talk in one of the hotel rooms.

 One of the nights the hotel had smores and fireworks.

 Amands kept saying WOW! when the fireworks went off. She enjoyed them.

It was fun and we will have to do it again the summer of 2015. All the grandkids will look much different. It will be fun to compare.  :-)

June 2013

Taylor had her Dance Recital where she performed a tumbling routine. She did great.

 We made a trip to Peter Piper Pizza

We visited our old home that we are renting out so I could take some pictures to post online. Amanda found this spot to sit. It brought back a flood of memories as our oldest 3 did the same thing at one time or another. We moved out prior to Amanda's birth so she never had the opportunity previously.

 

This is just a random shot of what Amanda does if I try to put her down on the ground to walk and she wants me to hold her.

Preston turned 37 and Father's Day all rolled in to the same day. We celebrated over multiple days.

Since Preston is not a cake fan I made him a pecan pie.