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.

aaaand we're back

WE ARE BACK IN SCHOOL.

Mixed feelings about all of this. Overall, we had a stellar summer. Lots of swimming, play dates, lazy mornings and movie nights. Then we had that horrible fire (which is still not quite out yet, almost a month later) and our town was covered in ash, outside plans were all cancelled, we worried about our friends' homes and our beautiful recreation areas. Bummer is an understatement. But we snuck in that trip to Texas at the end there and returned 36 hours before dropping the kids off at school. Nailed it.

I'm sure a lot of moms feeling like this- I love the flexibility of summer. But, when school starts again and we return to our normal schedules, it's such a welcome change. The kids are happier when their brains are being used, when they are stimulated more and when they get to see their friends... I love love love getting to spend one on one time with Thatcher, and I think the kids are happy to see me after school. I'm much more fun when I'm not giving them summer chores and checklists! Not gonna lie, that last month with Lincoln was a little dicey.

The kids both got the teachers they requested this year and were grouped with some of their buddies. Give Linc one of his friends and he is seriously good to go. Isabelle has this cute little group of 4-5 girls that have been together for four years now- she was so worried they were going to be separated. I went to back to school night this week and met the teachers, saw the classrooms... Izzie's in third grade now and I feel like this is the year things get more serious? They start worrying about test scores, being able to type a certain speed, hand out bigger projects. Makes me a little sad the fun school years are kind of over for her.

The worst part of school is getting up at 6:20. And packing lunches.

The best part is Thatcher is still sneaking in a nap before I have to pickup the big kids. So for a glorious hour, I get to eat lunch and watch a show in peace.

Isabelle, queen of accessories

Of course Thatch wanted in. The first couple of days he was MAD when they left but now he watches from the window and waves and says BYE in the cutest voice ever. 

also sidenote. these potter barn backpacks are going on their second and third year.
worth a little extra money, they still look brand new.

had a date with I-80

I took the kids on an almost 2,000 mile roadtrip to Utah and back last week and everyone survived! Lots of caffeine and movies in the car but we made it and we had soooo much fun. To recap:

We spent the first half of the week with my sister in law and her family. She has kids that are a bit older than mine and my kids LOVED that- they felt so special. Lincoln has been talking about a sleepover with his Utah cousins forever and it finally happened and he was thrilled.

pulled in the driveway, cue pioneer day festivities

Adi and Thatcher

Thatcher was so mad he didn't sleep here!

Isabelle and Adi

Ellie and Thatcher. Isn't she so pretty! Sheesh

We made plans to go downtown and do Temple Square/ City Creek and on the way a tiny piece of tire flew up from under another car and under my car and did some damage. Such a bummer. Britta took my big kids while I waited for roadside assistance (bless Thatcher for taking an appropriate timed car nap!) and a few hours at Big O and we were on our way again.

BEST BABY REIGNING CHAMP

BEST FAV LOVE YAY

so much slime making

"Mom I just can't leave these cats."

The next day we loaded up again for an attempt at downtown and this time we were successful. I haven't been to Utah in four years, haven't been downtown in maybe 8-9 years since I moved? Maybe longer? I don't know. Everything is different but also the core is a lot the same and I wanted to show my kids some famous places. 

JSM Building- my parents had their wedding reception here

Salt Lake Temple

We walked around the north side of Temple Square and decided last minute to pop over to the Conference Center so the kids could get an idea of the massive scale of the building. This sweet volunteer gave us the mini tour since we were short on time (toddler attention span) and led us downstairs to get a better view. There was even someone practicing the organ! Lucky day!

We got out of the elevator on the lower floor and my jaw dropped. Right there across the room was my most favorite picture! It has come to mean so much to me since we had Maxwell, it hangs right in my living room so I can see it every day. It's so much bigger and even more detailed in real life, it was such a fun treat and the icing on the cake for this day. Hard to contain the tears, just felt like a little message from heaven. Hi mom, I see you. I'm with you. 

Visitor's center Christus

did a little shopping at City Creek and we wore Linc out

Fizz with all the cousins! Thatcher tryin' to swipe Izzie's drink.

We were all sad to leave on Friday for the second half of our trip- Linc kept trying to negotiate some way he could stay there with them and I could pick him up at the end of the week! Lol. The big boys shared their xbox and nerf toys with him and I am 100% sure he would stayed there forever if I had said the word. Isabelle was so happy to have some girlfriends to do play makeup and hair with... we came home with a giant bag of slime that she is pretty proud of too. Maybe my fav part was just sitting on the couch staying up late and chatting in real life instead of on the marco polo ap! Thank you Britta and fam for having us, for sharing your space/food/cats and making us feel so comfortable!