what a drag

Diapers these days...they are really made to last and stay on even if they have to fight for their life.

It never did fall off. 

But daddy finally saved Rhett.  That is, after we all got a really good laugh.

we wish we had girls in our family

It was a happy day when these 3 cuties got dropped off at our house.

Lots of painting, and play dough making, and coloring, and cookie making, and games, and back yard swimming, and stories... 

 We had a great pre rain/sprinkle walk that turned into an hour plus of rain watching. 

A good thunderstorm can hold any one's attention!   

 Sacrament meeting was just a little comical... :) But I can't complain too much since Doug did walk in the door about 5 minutes before it was time to leave for church!

So fun! 

And the best part?  We get to return the "drop off kids and run" in October!

Wahoo for family close enough to trade!

Packard Party!

After 5 years... and with 24 grandkids in tow (not all pictured on the dock below) we finally ALL got together! We headed to an awesome cabin up in the mountains.  (Heber, Arizona) My parents were such the super grandparents.  They can even entertain all 24 kids by themselves, in the dark, with no power, in the middle of the worlds loudest thunder/rain storm.  :)  Can your grandparents beat that?!  Just kidding.  But I did marvel as I watched my mom serving, playing, entertaining non stop all day/ every day.  

We had so much fun at this nearby rope swing/diving tower.  All the boys loved showing off their mad  back-flipping skills. 

We entertained ourselves by horse rides, exploring around on the quads and Polaris, listening to Papa's famous Bear story, eating delicious food, a 500 and 1,500 piece puzzle, the Limerick Game (oh the laughes!), and lots of sitting around and catching up.    

And there was one really great performance of "Daddy's Nose."  Except in our case we all have Grammies Nose.  My mom gave a fun, interactive genealogy spot light on her parents. 

I loved every minute of hanging out with these guys!

We continued the fun back in Gilbert for several days with lots of water parties and homemade ice cream.  (And yes, Rhett did get dressed up like a girl about once a day.  My favorite was Minnie Mouse, but no picture of that.) 

... and all good things must end one day. 

We are back home in Texas and are happy to be back to our house and our friends.  (And all the home projects that waited so patiently for us to return....)

2 posts for 6 weeks of fun, not bad!

Our Tour de USA

We've been gone for a long time.  Trying to remember way back to the beginning is almost hard to remember.  But I for one, don't want to forget the good times.... from New Orleans, to Georgia, to Arizona, to St. George, to Park City, to Provo, to Gilbert, to Heber, to Gilbert... it was a adventurous summer full of wonderful, wonderful memories with our family and friends.  Out of the 500 + pictures from the 2 months, I'll try really hard to just hit the highlights...

Up first: New Orleans.  Highlights include Dicky Brennan's steak house (with 2 kids!), my jazz singer on the streets, staying at the Marriott, our new Marti Gras masks, IMAX, and St. Louis Cathedral. 

Next Stop:  Columbus, Georgia to visit my brother and his fabulous family! Highlights:  Peach/ Pecan farm, bike rides & butterfly garden, visiting Fort Benning's war museum and 4th of July carnival, pedicures, Isabel's new room, and fireworks!

 3rd stop: AZ just in time to celebrate the 4th with both the Packard's and the Lewis' together. 

4th stop:  We got back on the road and drove North with the Lewis family to St. George to see Grease at Tuacahn, Park City for a week of COUSIN'S CAMP, and then Provo for a few days to check in on our old stopping grounds. 

No matter how crazy living out of a suitcase is, keeping your kids on a normal sleeping schedule, all the travel, etc...this time together with Great Grandparents, Grandparents,  Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, is so priceless.  And the Mafia games were pretty good too.  :)

 to be continued...