Missouri Trip Day 2

After breakfast on Friday we started our last 10 hours (which actually ended up being 12 hours) with a stop at the biggest cross I have ever seen in the middle of a field. As we pulled up to it we realized it was much more than just a cross. 

 There were the 13 stations of the cross...or the events leading up to the death of Christ

 And of course the empty tomb. It was so neat and the girls really enjoyed it. We spent some time chasing the butterflies in the grass.

 Somewhere in the middle of Oklahoma we pulled off the toll road (of course we didn't get a receipt when we paid the first time so we had to pay the toll again) trying to find the Walmart so we could get out and let the kids play in the toy aisle for a little bit and grab some lunchables for dinner. Haleigh, however, woke up from her nap and had to pee so bad she was crying. Well mom came prepared!! I pulled out the potty from the back and sat it on the sidewalk and there she went :) The quick trip to Walmart ended up being over an hour as we walked through the door and Zhara's only pair of flip flops broke and then of course there were no shoes in her size...except ones that light up and cost twice as much as plain flip flops would cost.

 After 2 very long days of driving we FINALLY made it to our hotel in Springfield MO. We honked every time we crossed a state line and by the time we made it to MO we were all a little silly. We were laughing when I would run off the road and the girls would say the car was farting. We drove past some of rebuilding from the massive tornado in Joplin from 2 years ago. Our hotel was really nice and the girls really liked 3 story fountain

We had some visitors to our room...the Lundquists. Charlotte really liked the Lundquist men

 and the other girls really liked the Barbies they brought with them. It was so nice to see family.

And of course our first meal in the hotel had to be EL TACO!!!! The best tacos and cheese dip EVER! It tasted so good....even though the taco's were a bit cold.

Time to sleep and get ready to see family family family.

Trip to Missouri- day 1

My mom and I had planned to take the girls to Missouri over their fall break in October but my grandfather was admitted to the hospital and it wasn't looking very good. He had surgery set for Wed July 24 so my mom and I started talking about going out to visit since the girls had a break from swim and didn't start school until the following week. We decided on Tuesday night that we were going and headed out Thursday morning. The girls were excited...I was a bit nervous as to how this was going to go because it is a LONG drive.

 We made our first pit stop and found a Burger King with a play area. The key to the long drive is lots of stops....and stretching!!

 We were all smiles

 But then got tired.....

 So much for a second driver...although truth be told I think I wanted to be in control and I drove the entire way there and the entire way back.

 The girls were so excited about hotel living. We stayed the night in Amarillo Texas. We lost 2 hours and so although it was only 9 to us it was 11 to everyone else in the hotel. Yea tell that to kids who have been in a car for 13 hours. Everyone slept well though. Haleigh slept on an air mattress between the beds and she thought it was the greatest thing.

 The best part, however, was breakfast in our PJ's (or the clothes they fell asleep in) at the hotel with waffle's shaped as the state of Texas.

End of Swim Celebration

Each summer the end of the summer swim season is Champions on a Saturday that lasts for about 6 hours in the heat of 105. It's fun to watch the girls for the 30 seconds they swim but in between "heats" it gets a little boring.....and David can sleep anywhere!!

 They always have a celebration/fundraiser at Peter Piper Pizza so we went and celebrated how well the girls did. Through the summer they both improved their times and Zhara finally worked up the nerve to dive off the starting blocks. We enjoyed the summer meets and having both Zhara and Alyssa swimming this year.

 The girls had their friend Faith come watch them and then she celebrated with us and they ended the night by crashing in the living room....after a scary moment at the front door. I had brought the little ones home while the big girls waited for ribbons. When they got home they rushed to the front door and I heard the loudest scream I had ever heard. I was annoyed thinking David had scared them and the babies were sleeping so when I went outside and was attacked by a crying Zhara and Faith I was surprised to find out that they were screaming because as Zhara rang the doorbell a tarantula came out from underneath the flower pot on the front porch and touched Zhara's foot. I kept telling the girls " it's okay they don't hurt people they are just big but everything is fine...just take a deep breath" but inside I was thinking " Yep I pretty much would have screamed just like her and possibly peed my pants." Oh the joys of the desert.

Grandma's house

Time at Grandma's house in Page is always filled with fun. Shells and bird baths just their size.

Grandpa set up the tent that Mom and Aunt Aimee used to play in when they were kids.

Always fun when the sprinkler is brought out

 The older girls got to stay at Grandma's by themselves for a few days after we left for home. Zhara got her nails painted

 Alyssa and Grandpa did an art project

 Grandma's neighbor is an art teacher for special needs in Page and she taught the girls how to free lance paint this picture....and I think they did a pretty darn good job!!!

 In Aug we took the older girls to Lake Powell and the younger girls stayed with Grandma and Grandpa for a few days by themselves.

They all had a great time....but Grandma and Grandpa were worn out by the end. I am so thankful that my girls get to make these memories at Grandma's house and thankful that my parents are willing to sacrifice their time to have them at their home.

4th of July

We spent the 4th of July in Page. We left the morning of the 4th at like 4 am and got there right before the parade started. 

The fire trucks started the parade out. Usually they are running their sirens but this year just a few days before 19 fire fighters were killed in Prescott and so they rode in silence with all the victims names on the side of the trucks.

 As usual Grandpa took Charlotte out of the sun (AND away from the crowd...is that for her or him???)

 Zhara wanted to spend the 4th in Page because of the parade. She loves that they throw out stuffed animals each year. This year she came home with a bear the size of Haleigh. I'm still trying to find a way to secretly get rid of it...............

 It was slightly hot outside.

 The girls gave money to the fallen fire fighters families...in the boots

 We enjoy walking around gathering up free stuff at the event in the park after the parade. 

This year there was a band from Phoenix who performed before the fireworks.

 Then we waited for the fireworks

 While we were waiting the girls had glow necklaces and Alyssa was swinging hers around after watching David move his super fast to make some weird noise....only Alyssa's wacked David smack in the middle of his eyeball, which caused him to have a black line in his eye for about a week. She went over and sat by herself and when I went to talk to her she said something about how Dad will hate her because she made him blind. It was kind of sad because she was really worried that he would hate her forever

 The firework show was amazing as always!!!