::Twin Falls::

We just got back from our annual trip to Twin. Matt's dad and brothers and a few uncles and cousins all go up to play in a golf tournament, and most of the wives and kids like to go too. It's one of those trips that's fun, but we don't really know why. I guess it's the change of scenery (and maybe the swimming every day).

The kids were awesome in the car! They didn't sleep for the whole ride (about 2 1/2 hrs), but they were so good!

Matt didn't golf the first day we got there (the tournament didn't start 'til Friday), so we tried to find something fun to do together.

Go Carts!

buuuuut...

...a few of us are too little to ride 'em.

So we tried their mini golf course. To say it was lame would be a gross understatement. The kids got bored with it after about the second hole.

So then we kinda just played around...skipping holes, picking up the balls, trying to jump the ball over the obstacles (it was kinda ok because we were the only ones in there). Coop thought it was the funnest thing in the world to put the ball in the hole and watch it come out the other side.

Then we all went to the golf course to hit some golfballs...

The next day (Friday), Matt golfed pretty much the whole day. The kids, Sarah, and I went to the park and then to Sonic for some drinks (mmmm!)...

(a few seconds after this picture, he decided

to sit in the puddle-so that was nice)

We saw Despicable Me too. It was pretty cute (what I saw of it). We took Coop, and we all know he's NOT good in movies, so I took him out a few times, and he finally fell asleep. The big kids loved the movie. They keep saying "little tiny toilet." I must've missed that part.

(Dinner @ 5 Guys...Addyson-4, Porter-4,

Chloe-6, Brylee-almost 2, & Cooper 20 mos.)

There was lots of playing in the hotel room. I swear that's the best part for the littles. They LOVE hotels (I remember that when I was little. Billy & I used to jump from one bed to the other)! They thought the couch-bed was the greatest thing in the world!

Then on Saturday we decided to go back to Hop 2 It (we went there last year). It's a lot like Kangaroo Zoo, except smaller and really smelly!

The kids LOVED it!

(Porter, Cooper, & Brylee)

Most of the group went home on Saturday, but we usually stay an extra day. Matt & J like to get in one last round of golf. So Sarah, the kids, and I went out to see the falls. They were beautiful, as always.

(looking from the platform-when we first saw the falls, Coopie said "eee watah!!")

Then we headed home...

::the 4th::

"I thank God for my life. And for the stars and stripes. May freedom forever fly, let it ring. Salute the ones who died, and the ones that gave their lives so we don't have to sacrifice all the things we love..."

-Zac Brown Band

We had a pretty busy weekend. Since the 4th was on Sunday, we got to kind of celebrate for a few days. We started off our holiday by going down to Grandma & Papa Kitty's to do their sprinkling system in their front yard. Matt did the whole thing in about 2 days. It was a lot of work, but he did an awesome job, and they're about ready for sod.

(their house)

(Coopie helped too)

(Port-Port couldn't get enough of the tractor)

While they were working on the yard, Mom and I took the kids to Kangaroo Zoo...

...they had SO much fun! They loved the slides, the jumping, the climbing, the hiding...I went down a couple of the BIG slides with Coop, and he loved it! He giggled and squealed the whole time. Coop's favorite thing was this little alligator. He just kept wanting to walk across it over and over again. Portie loved it all! And Chloe got so worn out, she started to get mad that there were SO many things to do in there.

We had a great BBQ when we got back...

(our family, Grandma & Papa, & the Denams)

Grandma bought some fireworks for us to shoot off in the street...

(fireworks in our jammies)

The sprinkling system was a lot of work! Matt just wouldn't quit! He worked from Friday night until Sunday afternoon. We came home on Sunday night. Monday morning was when our town had all their 4th festivities (why not do it Saturday? ugh!). We started out with the Freedom Run (a 5K). I ran it with Amberlee (Matt's sister). We've been running together for a couple of weeks, and it's so fun! It's awesome to have a partner to run with, and way fun to run outside instead of on the treadmill! Anyway, our goal was 30 min or less, and it took us 31 minutes. Close...we'll do better next time :)

(there was a great turnout)

(almost done!)

(headed for the finish line)

We had some of the town breakfast, and headed home. Matt went golfin' with his brothers and dad, and the kids and I went over to Auntie Sarah's to SWIM! It was way fun.

Thanks for havin' us, Sae!!

After our swimming, and a bit of shopping :), we headed for our house for a cookout. We had grilled chicken, hot dogs, and some grilled salmon. My dad gave me a great "recipe" for salmon on the grill, and it was gooood!

To close out the holiday, we met up with a bunch of Matt's fam for some fireworks. There were some games, some snacks, and some talkin' while we waited for it to get dark. One little girl got a little impatient right before they were about to start. It's hard to wait, but the fireworks were so great! We get to sit pretty close too, so that makes it even better!

(Cooper-19 months)

(not a great picture, but I thought it was cute how he's looking up at the fireworks)

I can't say enough about my love for this country and for those who defend(ed) our freedom. It means everything to me, and I'm thankful every day for it. The troops were in my thoughts most of the weekend. I thought about them over seas away from their families, not watching fireworks, no BBQs, not enjoying any of the things we were. I tear up if I think about it enough. My gratitude towards them and those who've done the same in the past can't be properly put into words. I'm just thankful.

Oh! And perhaps the most important part of the weekend...

This little doll received a name and a blessing...

(Billy & Baby Mia-5 months old)

::if we only had a real pool...::

...we could be floatin' in the water, playing water games, sliding down a slide, jumping off a diving board, having sno-cones...

But we don't. So here I sit, in Matt's (way comfy) chair, watching the kids play in the blow-up pools...

But they don't seem to mind. They LOVE it! They ask just about every day if they can play in the water, and this was the day for the pool! Cooper wasn't quite ready to get IN the water, but he touched it, put one foot in the pool, and laid on the slide. Baby steps.

It was fun, even though it was just blow up pools :) The kids had a great time...

BUT I do still want a real pool...some day.

:)

::can you stand it??::

Just about every time we're at the store (which is pretty often), Chloe begs me for some fake nails. They have all kinds, and she just gets, well, giddy over them- all the sparkles, flowers, etc. I've never wanted to buy them, because, really? Are we at the I want fake nails stage already??

I guess we are.

But they are princess ones, so that makes me a little less sad about it.

I think I better note that she wore them for all of 1 hour. She quickly realized that she couldn't do much with those things on-other than hold her hands out very daintily :)

I can't get over how much she's grown up in the last few months. She's into nails, hair, taking pictures, jewelry (well, she's always been into jewelry), pink Nintendo DS (she desperately wants one for her birthday), bigger-kid TV shows (iCarly & Fresh Beat Band to be exact).

AND...

Yesterday she told me she wants her own iPod. A pink one.

In other news...

Yesterday morning after I took Chloe to cheer, I came home to wax the car (because apparantly I scratched it at the carwash last week). We left the car battery on so Portie could listen to Imma Be (4 times in a row!), and my neighbor walked over to talk for a bit. We talked for close to an hour-cheer, swimming, piano lessons, going to seeing a movie after lunch, etc--the car battery on the whole time! When it was time to pick up Chloe and drop off Porter, the poor battery was dead! So I walked back over to her house and asked if she could jump us. I parked in the middle of the garage (so she couldn't pull in), and I had to push the Tahoe out and hurry and jump in and push the brakes before it ran away down our driveway. Anyway...we got it jumped, we were a little late for gym and picking up Chloe, and I felt really dumb. Go me!!

::rain::

We got a little sprinkle tonight.

We had to get under the front porch.

We all sat & watched, hoping for a good show.

(but that's kinda rare here-this ain't Texas ;) )

umberellas.

running up and down the sidewalk.

hiding.

Mary Poppins envy.

(I love this one, only Bubb's big toe is touching the ground)