The month of July was a busy one.
The kids and I were able to go visit our good friends the Gunnell's. The Gunnell's used to be in our ward here in Houston and were one of favorite family's. They made us feel welcome when we were new and were always inviting us over to spend the holidays with them, so we didn't have to be alone. I was so sad when she told me they were moving! Thankfully they are only about an hour away. Her new home was beautiful and it was really fun to get out and see new places. My kids loved hanging out with her kids and swimming at their pool.
The kids and I made T-shirts for the 4th of July.
We painted a couple of Fourth of July crafts to go outside as decoration as well.
For some reason I didn't get a picture of the rest of the decorations we made...oh well!
7.4.14
Abbie and I flew out to Utah on the fourth of July. Derik was awesome enough to stay at home with the three oldest children so I could spend a few days with my family.
I deprived Abbie of her nap on the way to the airport in hopes that she would sleep on the three hour flight. Lets just say the 30 minutes we sat in the plane while it loaded was awful, she was tired and didn't want to be contained. She fell asleep about one minute into our take off...Hallelujah. She slept for two hours and was really well behaved the last hour of our flight so I really can't complain.
Aunt Cozette was nice enough to chase up to the airport and grab us. We then headed to my mom and dads house to have a BBQ. After the BBQ, my sister Heidi and I headed down to my old elementary school to watch Pleasant Grove City's fireworks with our kiddos. My parents and Emily came a little later to join us.
The sprinklers turned on about two minutes into the firework show, thankfully we didn't get wet.
It was a nice firework show.
Back at home in Houston Derik was awesome enough to take our three oldest to a firework show without me.
7.5.14
Saturday morning was a very special day and the reason I made the trip out.
This BEAUTIFUL sister of mine went through the temple and received her endowments.
Thanks Heidi for letting me use your pictures!
It was extra special for me because for a time in my life I thought Cozette and I would never be able to overcome hurt feelings we had towards each other. I did and said things I am not proud of. I forgot for a while what an amazing person my sister is. She is forgiving, kind, loving and very giving. She is everyone's friend. She is beautiful inside and out. I'm so grateful I got to be a part of this special day.
The icing on the cake was being able to spend some time with my extended family and family friends.
My mom and my sister Heidi worked really really hard to make beautiful decorations and a wonderful dinner for everyone afterwards.
There was so much service given that day. Many of our Aunts and cousins helped warm food and clean up afterwords. My cousin Matt's wife Kim was even amazing enough to offer free babysitting for all our kids while we were in the temple.
7.6.14
We all headed up to my Uncle Dean Cabin, which was a dream come true for me. I love that place and I miss the mountains so very much!
Aunt Cozette and my Uncle Dean took Abbie for a horse ride.
Abbie had a lot of fun snuggling with Grandma Ward, playing with Uncle Bryan's goatee and crawling on the 4-wheelers. I particularly loved the ride through the mountains that my Aunt Pat and Uncle Dean took my sisters and I on.
All three of my children at home got sick and laid around on the sofas all day. I don't know how Derik managed to get so lucky?
7.7.14
I had Cozette chop my hair off... at least the hair in the back that is. I also had her add a couple of purple streaks in as well.
Cozette was also sweet enough to let me snag her car so I could stop by and see Derik's family. I always love spending time with them!
My brother Eric returned home from his trip to Colorado so I tried to spend some time with him as well. We all ended up going to PF Chang's for dinner. Abbie was a monster! But it was really fun to get out with most of my siblings.
7.8.14
I tried to jam everything into my last day in Utah.
Eric tried to teach me to slack line.
We went out to dinner to my all time favorite place the Bombay House.
I got to spend an hour or two at my brother Nyles home holding my beautiful niece and nephews and catching up with my sis-in-law.
My dad treated us all to snow cones with ice cream.
I ran wildly through the isles of Walmart trying to find snacks for our flight home.
7.9.14
I signed up to give my seat up on my flight home in exchange for a free flight voucher,and a later flight home, but the hitch was I wouldn't find out anything about my arrangements until I had checked into the airport. My flight was an early one, so I was worried I'd be stuck at the airport all day with a one year old. When I was checking in before boarding my nine o'clock flight I asked them whether or not they needed my seat. The lady told me they would give me a 400 dollar voucher and first class seats on the next flight out if I'd give up my seat. I was all for a free flight so I took the deal. Thankfully it was only about a four hour wait, and Abbie did pretty good all things considered.
We were the first to board the next flight out and Abrielle had had it with being contained so I was desperately trying to keep her from freaking out. The man next to us actually paid for his first class seat and I didn't want him bothered the whole flight. I kept trying to get her to look out the window. Imagine how I just about died when she touched the window and the dang thing fell out of the plane! Our entire flight was delayed (although not terribly long) while they "fixed it" . The maintenance guy said not to freak out and that it was just the inside of the window and not the outside. I was to busy being embarrassed to actually wonder what kind of shape our plane was in to have windows falling out. A little duck tape later and we were good to go. Thankfully the rest of our flight home was uneventful and Abrielle napped almost the entire flight.
I joined the instagram bandwagon. I just felt like I was missing out on so much being away from my family and friends. It's been really fun so far to see everyone's pictures. Most of what I'll post here next, I posted there so it might be a bunch of stuff everyone's already seen.
The kids got a nasty case of the throw ups, and not a single one of them made it to a toilet either! Second weekend in a row they were sick.
7.13.14
The Mr and I pulled out the pasta maker he bought for me years back and made some homemade noodles for chicken noodle soup since everyone was still recovering from tossing their cookies. We figured since we had it out we'd play around with the different noodle cutters. It was fun and almost romantic to make noodles together!
7.19.14
I finally got this picture my
brother took of Mt. Timp up in my faux window frame. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!
Isaac got the throw ups again and Alivia didn't move off the couch for the third weekend in a row.
I personally hope we get like a three year break from the throw-ups!
We've put our neighborhood pool to good use.
Night swimming is becoming a new favorite.
When the rain ruined our pool plans the kids had a great time out playing in the puddles with their friends from across the street.
We are dog sitting for three weeks, which might help explain where the dog in these pictures comes from. Her name is Sidney and she is such a good dog. She is patient with my kids, she is well behaved and we've loved having her. I almost don't want to give her back!
I caught a photo of this fantastic sunset. It was breath taking, the picture just doesn't do it justice.
I let Isaac's hair get so scraggly. I almost didn't recognize him after I gave him a haircut.
Sherwin Williams ran their paint sale and I went a little crazy I grabbed enough paint samples to open up my own paint shop. I also grabbed enough paint to paint our master bedroom and master bath, the girls room, and the boys room.
I've only painted my bedroom and bathroom so far, but that took me almost an entire week. So I'm giving myself a little break.
For the sake of wrapping things up I'll save the before and after photos of my painted rooms for another post.
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