Six Flags

I think this was everyone's favorite day of the entire trip. Six Flags with cousins. It was approximately 8 billion degrees out and we sweat like crazy but there were ZERO lines. We rode anything we wanted and for many rides we could get off and right back on or even just stay on and ride again. Perfect!

The day before everyone came to mom and dad's house and we helped the kids make tye dye shirts--they turned out awesome! The kids loved them and we loved being able to spot all of them so easily.

Papa and Brenton on the Scrambler (it has a new name these days but I don't remember it)

Andrew and Matt on the Colossus

Happy kids!!!

Hank and the kids getting ready to be soaked from the big splash after the Tidal Wave. They rode the Tidal Wave 3 times in a row (no line). Everyone was drenched when it was done (and totally happy). By the end of the day, even some adults and old children were experiencing diaper rash--ha ha to wetness!!

A train ride at the end of the day. We were there from open to close.
Couldn't get enough of the tye dye. I loved their shirts the entire day!

Happy Whitney on the spaceship ride. The grin didn't leave her face all day--she's a brave one!

Waiting for Thunder River. More getting soaked--the kids loved this ride.

Mary and Whit on the swings.

I could post more and more from this day but should stop. Happy happy day.

Enough said.

We're Havin' a Party (Tea Party that is)

We held our 2nd annual Cousin Tea Party. When Aunt Ginna died, Kellie and I each got a set of china. Last year, Kellie had the idea to have a tea party with her china. It was so much fun we had to do it again. The kids were excited to dress up, eat on fancy dishes, and dance.

The pre-tea party picture. It was Aunt Megan's birthday so we had to send her a greeting. Check out those fancy party clothes. We love that Ethan chose to be a tiger. :)

Oh Andrew, that hat!!

The tea-partiers

A fancy meal indeed--finger sandwiches, grapes, strawberries, cheetos, party punch, and donuts for dessert.

Who knows how much longer the boys will be up for the tea party. In the future, we might end up with waiters. :)

Nauvoo

Part of our trip plans included heading to Nauvoo for 4 days. Rita and Clem were helping out with the pageant again this summer and Dan and Wendy decided to come out too. We haven't seen them since they got married 2 1/2 years ago and it was SO great to see them again.

As usual, our kids want to head straight to Pioneer Pasttimes.

They loved getting all dressed up in the 100 degree heat. CRAZY!

An attempted family shot outside the blacksmith shop.

We even made it to the Old Nauvoo Burial Grounds--I like it there. Apparently Whitney does too
We stayed with Rita and Clem at a house they are renting. It had a zipline and we had fun!

And of course we pulled the kids in a handcart at the pre-show activities. Next time, I think we'll make them pull us.

But the best part of it all was being with Uncle Dan, Aunt Wendy, Grandma and Grandpa. (as a bonus we got to see Uncle Glenn and Aunt Annette too)
We LOVE Dan and Wendy. I think Mary and Andrew will always hold a special place in their hearts for Uncle Dan. He lived with us for 6 weeks when Whit was a little baby. In kid terms, I think that means they are bonded for life.

Took the horse and carriage ride with Grandma and Grandpa

Hung out with (or better said, climbed on) Aunt Wendy

Got to see more of Grandpa than we thought we would--what a treat!

Checking out the lockers at grandma's school/sewing center

Matt and I even got to sneak in a temple session with Dan and Wendy. Thanks for babysitting Grandma! Dang that temple is beautiful!

What a great trip! The only way it could have been better would have been to have the other Singer families there too. Hopefully we'll get the full family reunion soon!

I Want Candy!

Vacation has come and gone. How do you consolidate over 400 pictures into blog posts? Very slowly, I guess. :) I need to make a general trip post still but here are several posts of some of the specific highlights. It was wonderful, it was jam packed, and it went too fast. Happy to be home now, but wishing we could still be with everyone.

This post owes a thank you to my friend, Micki. Her family has done quite a bit of traveling and I'm always impressed with the fun adventures they have on their way to their main adventure. She stops in the quirkiest and coolest places and I wanted to start being a cooler mom like her.

On our drive out to MO we stopped at Daffin's Chocolate Candy store. They claim to be the world's largest candy shop and, while I don't believe it, it was a lot of fun. Plus the kids were excited all day waiting to get there (which is more fun than driving and just waiting to get to the hotel)

Check out that long row of bulk candy. The kids thought it was heaven when I told them they could each pick 10 pieces...you would have thought I said 100. :)

They enjoyed seeing the 400 pound chocolate turtle and other chocolate sculptures.

Plus they all got a chocolate sucker, there were like 20 molds to choose from.

A random shot of sillies at our picnic en route!

Youth Conference

At the end of June, Matt and I got to help out at Youth Conference. We were a 'ma and pa' to a group of 10 kids and we went up to Palmyra, NY to check out the church history sites there. Megan came and watched the kids and Matt and I had a mini-vacation, you know, the kind where you sleep in separate dorm rooms and are responsible for 10 teenagers. :) It really was a lot of fun!!!

On top of the Hill Cumorah

Our family (minus 1--he was in the pageant and had to come and go between things). This picture reminds me that I'm grateful to still be taller than all of our children. What a wierd day it will be when I'm not!

Looking Good, Feeling Gorgeous

Oh, Annie....

The pictures probably say enough. This child kills me! Annie started the day out in dress-up clothes and kept them on all day. I believe this is a gymnastic outfit for a 6 or 7 year old. But, add in a flashy headband, bright white sandals and you've got yourself one stylish girl.

She was running all over the backyard and I couldn't stop laughing at how hilariously cute she looked. Matt's just excited to have some beautiful pictures for her wedding video one day.

Oh to feel so unself-conscious and confident!

Meeting Felix

We finally had a non-crazy Saturday and healthy children at the SAME TIME! It called for a quick drive to Boston to meet cousin Felix. He was born at the end of April but was in the NICU for a few weeks. Once he got home we had sick kids and then company for 2 weeks with a baptism thrown in there that really threw off our chances to get to go see him. We'll last weekend we made it. The kids were excited to hold him and meet their newest cousin!!!!

Thanks to Phil and Jen for having us and letting us maul the little guy. We're only bummed now that they are moving in August too far for quick Saturday day trips. :( Hopefully we'll squeeze in a few more visits before they go!