We love daddy!

 Still in October - we actually had a productive Fall Break. I'm usually content to do nothing and have friends over for the kids. Jeff wanted a plan for something fun, so here's part of the plan. A picnic with dad at the Train Park in Scottsdale. I even made, MADE, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies - from scratch!
Other fun fall break adventures included a trip to Wickenburg to visit cousins, a 'friend day' and just enjoying the break together. A few fights, a few time-outs, but what family gathering is complete without those events too. :)

Ate lunch, played at the park, put the kids in jail, climbed the trains. A beautiful day at the park - good times as a family.

 

 

 

PS: I was there, someone had to take the pictures, bring the lunch and take the kids back home. :)

JAMBO!

 Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday......thanks for inviting us, happy birthday to you!! :) I love these party places, but we're too cheap to pay for them, so it's nice when the kids are invited to their friends parties. Even more fun when it's the whole family!!

 

Spinning Monkey Barrels: BEFORE we start spinning - similar to the tea-cups

  Let the spinning BEGIN!

 Lucas did NOT love the spinning - you could see his eyes roll back and face go white....time to stop the barrel from the extra spinning.

 Lea didn't mind at all - she would have spun faster if Lucas wasn't about to barf all over us.....

Now this next ride seemed quite simple - all it did was go around in a big circle with a few ups and downs. No big twists or turns, not spinning......but it definitely give your stomach a turn or two. I wasn't going to ride, but Abbey wanted to ride and needed someone to ride with, plus I was going to 'be brave'......

 Brianna, Lea, Lucas - before the ride starts

 and......during - I was in the car in front of them, trying not to lose my camera or my lunch.

 Michelle wanted to ride (Brianna's little sister), so again I rode with her to 'be the brave one'. Again I about lost my lunch and if you're on the outside, you get jammed into the side of the car along with anyone else sitting by you. I thought these two would be done after the first ride....NOPE. Gotta ride as many times as the big kids.....blah.

 Thankfully Alex came to save me and I convinced Abbey it was time for another ride. :)

 The Ferris Wheel is a nice slow ride

 Then the good stuff - check out cute cupcakes, cake pops for Hyrum (1- Sesame Street) and Michelle (4 - My little pony). I wish I'd gotten a better picture of the yummy goodness - Alex made them all. She's amazingly talented and always throws a great party!

 Seriously we didn't get enough the first time - back to the ride....Jeff's turn and my turn to watch with Ammon.

Ammon size rides:

 Ahh the airplanes - up/down, around in circles, all while the operator texts his friends....awesome.

 watching the ride

One more ride of spinning - this time we each got our own. I rode with Abbey only because I wasn't sure they'd let her ride alone. So I got in too.

Happy birthday Aitkens!!

Home again, home again

 3 weeks on the road, 3500+ miles,  more hours in a car than I care to count and a full loop of the Western states......we finally headed home. I think these pictures are of Flagstaff area.

 Finally home around 11 pm and it's 102 degrees........ugh, really?? 

The next day we ventured into this jungle called our backyard. This is what happens when the HOA tells us to 'revive our dead lawn'. You're welcome!!!

 I mean, really, you could lose someone in there.....or something.

 Follow the leader to find your path back home.

 makes me itch all over.

Here's my amazing husband, rocking out to his tunes and taking down the beast of a yard - it's a really nice green..... :)

 That one doesn't look too happy.....

 Oh there's the dance moves! And while Daddy dances.....we watch.

Ammon learns to walk (remember this is still August)

 Lucas plays with dolls, Abbey poses and Lea is hiding out in her room just because she can. It was an amazing adventure this year - can't wait for next year!