the streets of laredo

Not really the streets more like the nice subdivision where my sister and her family live. We got to spend a couple of days hanging out, going to church, eating a lot of tacos, and polishing off krispy kremes. BEST EVER.

the sky!

just some early morning legos in matching jams.

On Saturday we got everyone ready and Morgan took us to this imports place. It's all outdoors- just huge piles and crates as far as the eye can see filled with the most amazing things. Furniture Holiday decorations. Wooden bowls. Giant wooden bowls. Farmhouse stuff. Metal everything. Window panes. Corbels. It was mind blowing. We did some really fun shopping, the kids got all dirty and eventually we piled them all in morgans car to corral them until we were finished! This place was legendary. We we talk about it forever.

just a lil snuggle with a show

they have an aquarium in their front room.
everyone was happy about that

one year and one day apart

Is this the greatest thing you've ever seen? Poor Morgan was out there nailing in stakes and climbing to the top to attach the water hose... it was like a billion degrees out! The kids LOVED this so much, they are still talking about how fun it was.

just wanted to man the water gun

pre church-legos

On Sunday we went to the little church branch there and helped with primary. Morgan is basically tap dancing for two hours- getting substitute teachers, making sure the nursery is covered, leading song time and entertaining kids without a pianist. Directly after church she cooked a giant dinner for all us plus four missionaries! She is for sure getting into heaven.

Monday we sadly drove back to San Antonio to fly home. The kids all cried when we had to say goodbye- sweet Margo was just bawling. MARGO I LOVE YOU. I wish I had taken more pictures of the kids together, and I don't even think I got one with Morgan... I guess that's what happens when you have a bunch of kids and you are trying to keep everyone happy and busy and alive. I'm so glad we were able to squeeze this trip in before school started! 

deep in the heart of texas

Well in case we needed to do a little more traveling this summer, we made a last minute trip to Laredo. Morgan moved her family from Phoenix to Laredo in June so JR can do his three year residency there, and though it is farther, IT DID NOT STOP US. It's on the border of Mexico. I've been referring to it as Texaco.

Drive to 3 hours to Oakland, fly to San Antonio, drive 2 1/2 hours to Laredo. With the kids because what fun is traveling without bringing half your belongings and three other people to entertain!

The flight was smooth- the kids were really well behaved and had enough activities to keep them happy- there was an extra seat for Thatcher (hallelujah!) and he even napped for an hour and a half in my arms. The kids could hardly wait to see Archer and Margo though and it felt like a long day (probably because it was, in fact, a long day.)

Couple things about Texas in general- people politely address you as "ma'am" and it doesn't feel offensive. The skies are huge. And it is NEXT LEVEL HOT. I feel like my hometown has a reputation for heat, and we all know I complain about it enough, but it doesn't even touch the OUTERSPACE FIRE HOT of Texas. Morgan is reading this and rolling her eyes, cause she doesn't think it's that hot- she moved from Phoenix so that should let you know why. Anyway, be inside or be in water or be naked somewhere cause those are pretty much your only options. #HUMIDITY.

I digress. The first few days we spent in San Antonio at Sea World and Aquatica. We thought it would be great for the kids to be together and do some fun things and also who doesn't like seeing whales up close. (Me especially. I think we actually went to Sea World mostly for me.)

Mom immediately bought two whale spray bottles for like one million dollars each and the kids got to work keeping us all "cool." We saw a bunch of animals and sat through some shows- here's the thing though. I kept looking for the big glass displays- the big tanks you can sit in front of and watch all the big animals swim. The orcas come right up to the glass (I'm sure it's not glass but whatevs.) and you can get a really up close view. Orcas, Beluugas, dolphins, you know what I mean. And there were none! In order to see those animals, you had to sit through a show- which we did- but we sat really far up and it's hard to grasp the scale... anyway. It became a running joke the rest of the day.

We are smiling but inside our souls are melting.
it was still fun tho

late night hotel pizza party

Fitzy

The kids had their swimsuits for the splash pad area but we
were idiots and wore full clothes and it was a very poor decision.

eventually the kids just stripped and ran around in swimsuits.
so hot. this was right when the whale breeched.

my face is melting

bye whales

aquarium over in Discovery Cove. Outside SeaWorld. Lol. 

pretty worn out.

ALRIGHT SO THEN we got smart and the next day decided never to return to sea world but instead do the waterpark. This was sooooo fun and so much cooler- the key is to be nearly naked and be in some sort of water. We took turns taking the big kids on the tall slides (Archer, very brave.) and the littles played in the splash pads and the little slides. Morgan packed lunch for all of us, bless her, and we basically had a paradise day.

you could not pay me enough money to wear one of these costumes in the san antonio heat

aquatica! doesn't it look so fun!

cousins.

it's hard to have bangs and swim but also look at my lil ginger

happiest kids.

so happy!

Fitz you yummy round baby !

this was right before we left and basically everyone cried.

on the way from the play area to the car, Thatcher fell asleep like this. totally out cold. 

very excited about this souvenir from cracker barrel 

Would I visit SeaWorld again? Def not. I feel like writing a yelp review or something. But we would go back to aquatica- we did a day and a half there and could have stayed longer! The kids love to be together, and honestly they just loved whatever they were doing.

Couple fun things I wanted to remember: Isabelle did the big toilet bowl tube ride with me and we loved it but I also thought I was going to die a little bit. My legs were sore the next day from climbing all the stairs! lol. The kids had dippin dots and I don't think they had ever had them before- it was awesome. Thatcher was pretty happy just to slosh around and sit on all the water toys. Lincoln did any ride he was tall enough for- even this crazy lay-down-on-the-mat one. This would be such a place to come with the kids are a little big older and could just go off on their own! They barely needed us.

 After our second day at the waterpark, we packed up and drove 2 1/2 hours to Laredo to Morgan's house....and that will be part two.

utah wrap up

I planned to take the kids to thanksgiving point on Sunday, but SURPRISE everything is closed on Sunday. We ended up driving up to Draper to the aquarium which ended up being way fun, I hadn't been since it had moved from downtown salt lake and upgraded about a million percent. The thing I liked the most was that every exhibit had a little viewing platform for the little kids to stand on and see- you'd be surprised how many places we have visited aren't kid friendly! We were there right when it opened and it wasn't very busy at all, we stayed a couple of hours until it was lunch/naptime. 

Every room, every exhibit, super excited about it.

penguins were a fav

I wish you could zoom in and see their faces.
First petrified, then fun.

not a fan

butterfly! Iz loved this

and linc caught a ladybug, lol.

We were in this room a lot- Isabelle was totally scared but eventually stuck her hand in the tank and then loved it. She wanted to pet all of them. 

the best part of this is the sting ray photo bomb

BLESS THIS BABY. After a quick stop in Cafe Rio (my second of the week, no shame.) we drove back down to Provo. Thatcher fell asleep in the car, TRANSFERRED from the car into the stroller so we could shop around Nordstrom Rack for a bit and the transferred AGAIN back to the car. Had an epic nap. We did some back to school shopping for the kids and picked up a few birthday items. I just love walking into that store because you never know what kind of gems you are gonna find. Always shoes. 

angel puff pie fluff baby

We popped in to see my friend Adrienne- she was my college roommate my freshman year at Chipman Hall 100 floor. We had some hilarious late night shenanigans and there's hardly a memory from the first few years of school without her in it. Now together we five boys and two girls between us. Years pass between our visits and it's like no time as passed at all. 

"I once ate these donuts out of the garbage."

After our visit we went back up to Sandy to see Chip- he was almost busted out of that rehab place! A couple days after we left, he went home. Chip has such a special place in my heart! We spent so much time at their house for Sunday dinner when we were in college. Jazz first met my entire family at their cabin up in Heber (and then got snowed in!). It was at one of those family dinners that Jazz got down on one knee and proposed to me. We are all rooting for him.

Dinner at Zachs

Linc = best day ever.

AND THUS CONCLUDES OUR TRIP.

We got up Monday, piled in the car and drove the 12 hours home. I WILL SAY. I think we managed the trip really well- packed so much in, the kids were really well behaved and helpful since I was flyin solo.  We even had fun! I enjoyed being with them.I did miss my other half, I appreciate what he does for us as a family on vacation (unloading suitcases and hauling everything into the hotel with all the kids was painful.) The drive was smooth! Long day for everyone, Thatcher was pretty over it by the end and the next week or so anytime I put him in the car he had some PTSD. Was still worth it and I'm so glad we went.