Just hangin' out...

We're getting adjusted to being home from vacation and finally getting caught up on life. A couple of days ago we pulled out our Arts & Crafts box and the kids went to town...

This was Savannah's first time doing watercolors and she loved it, as you can see. She had done paint-with-water before, but thought it was so neat to paint whatever color you wanted.Zach wanted to use everything in the box...so he made a collage of stuff (the sun was from preschool though).

Jacob got some books about planets from the library and one of them had ideas for activities. He made this mobile (with a little help from Mom) and hung it near his bed.

Today the kids made a "fort" in Savannah's room (basically just boxing themselves in to a particular area)...and they played in there for an hour and a half!!!

Color pounding...

Connor's new favorite activity is what I like to call "Color Pounding." He pounds the tips of the crayons to make little dots all over the page. I have yet to see him make more than a dot.I let him pound as long as he wants...until he starts eating the crayons. Today it lasted a whopping minute and 10 seconds.

Home at last!

So this is a few days overdue, but life after a trip is crazy! On Tuesday night we stayed at a hotel in El Paso and had a slumber party. We watched ELF on TV (Christmas in July?) and stayed up late. Savannah was up for an hour and a half in the middle of the night with a bad runny nose.I took Connor down with me to get the luggage cart and gave him a ride back on it (we also desperately needed his morning milk from the complimentary breakfast...he's not a happy camper without it). He loved the ride and did not want to get off!

After we packed up the car we went in to have breakfast. Connor was really still for a long time, but with his eyes open. He looked like he was in a trance or something. Then I glanced down and saw this...dead asleep totally sitting up. His head wasn't even bobbing or anything...the kid's got good balance even in his sleep!

We were happy to get home and see Dallin and sleep in our own beds. We flew Grandma home on Friday afternoon and already miss everyone tons!

Fun in Tucson!

On Tuesday, July 22nd my mom and I started the long drive back to Texas with the kids. But we didn't go far before we stopped for a fun detour. We met our friends the Robinsons at our favorite zoo in Tucson. We really appreciate them toughing out the heat for us (any sane person who lives in Tucson avoids being outdoors between May & September). It was so fun to see them and go to the zoo again...we haven't been since we moved to Texas.

My best friend from Tucson, L, has an older daughter who wasn't there. But B is the same age as Jacob, and Zach & Z are the same age. B is 2, right in-between Savannah and Connor. Most of my zoo pictures seem to be of Zach...I guess he just loves the camera more than the others (or they get sick of it a lot quicker). Here is B, Zach, & Z with the elephants.

Jacob, Savannah & Connor by the giraffes. Grandma bought Savannah this pink bear on clearance at the gift shop when we first got there. It has hardly left her arms since then...

Zach, Jacob & Grandma by the lazy rhinos (okay, it was really hot...they were trying to stay cool).

There are peacocks that just walk around all over the zoo. It's fun when you get to see them do this...

Zach posing again in front of the polar bear. Yes, a polar bear in Arizona. Don't worry...it has a nice cold swimming pool.

At the new and improved "zoo school" you can see fun things like this lizard-thing in nice air-conditioning. You can also pet snakes and neat stuff like that.

Savannah introducing "pink bear" to the baby ducks...

Connor wasn't that interested in much of anything, but he did seem to like the sea otters. Too bad we were completely roasting by then and had no desire to stay longer.

Afterwards we went to McDonald's for lunch. This picture was taken a couple of minutes after I spilled an entire tray of drinks (nice sticky ones like Sprite & Lemonade) all over the floor and bench. Sorry for the weird faces...I think they were in the process of turning back to their food.

Grandma is the best Connor-entertainer. I don't know how I could have made it home without her.

Fun at the LeSueurs

Well we have had a very fun trip to Arizona!!! Sorry there's so many posts and pictures, but it's also for our family journals. This past week we've been at Grandma & Grandpa LeSueur's house and having lots of fun. My kids are going to be so bored when we get home.

Making cookies with Grandma...A ninja turtle crowning the king

Hanging out with Grandpa

Zach loves knights...

Jacob and Zach watching Ben 10 from Grandma's bed

LeSueur Ice Cream Party!

Last night we went to the LeSueur Ice Cream Party that they do sometimes. I missed the reunion last week in Utah, but there was still lots of family who showed up last night. It was so fun for me to see everyone!!!

My cousin Ryan is the same age as me and we did a lot of growing up together. I miss getting to see him more.Breanna, Brylee, Melissa (this was at her house), me, Mikayla, Kalene, and Maria (Ryan's wife)

Diana, me, Parks, Marianne, Lanette, Ashley (I think), Heidi, Lisa, Melanie

Me with my Aunt Sandy and cousin Kristen...I grew up living right behind them as a kid and spent tons of time at their house.

Day trip to Holbrook, AZ

On Saturday my mom and the kids and I took a daytrip to Holbrook, AZ (almost a 4-hour drive). First we visited with my Uncle Mike for a couple of hours. He was supposed to be out of town but has been laid up all week with some back problems. I was happy he was there though so I could see him a little! The kids had fun playing with his daughter Amy...she is my cousin but is exactly the same age as Zach.

Zach was the only one of my kids brave enough to venture into the chicken pen. He even helped gather eggs...Zach tried to catch a chicken to hold but they were pretty nervous around him.

Me with my Uncle Mike Nilsson (he is my mom's only brother)

Savannah & Zach took turns giving eachother rides on his temporary walker chair

The kids had an Easter egg hunt with Amy...Easter in July!

Then we visited with my brother Justin for a while. (If you read this blog often you may be wondering...yes, Dallin and I both have brothers named Justin. They are 5 days apart in age and both tall and blonde. It was very confusing for my kids for a while.) Justin is working as a Corrections Sherriff (or something like that) at the prison there. Hopefully his wife Ana Paula and his baby Joshua will be able to join him soon. They are waiting for Ana Paula's visa to go through. Uncle Justin bought special treats for the kids and we watched Fantastic Four with him.

Connor woke up with a fever Saturday morning before we left. I think he's just teething. But it did help him sleep a lot of the drive and not get into stuff too much at Justin's house.

The kids were so excited when Justin got out his handcuffs, especially when they figured out their little hands could just slide right out...

...until he hooked their ankles together. Jacob got a little paranoid.

Zach found some other good uses for them too...

We went out to eat at Denny's and I was really excited when I got the check and all my kids' meals were free! I didn't even know it, but apparently kids eat free (with an adult meal) on Saturdays. I love that kind of stuff.

The boys with Uncle Justin right before he left for work (he works the night shift).

Of course we had to get a picture in front of the dinosaurs for Grandma...

Chuck E. Cheese with the LeSueurs

On Friday evening we went to Chuck E. Cheese and met Uncle Steven & Aunt Sarah (Steven is my older brother). Yes, my kids get spoiled at my parents' house...but they don't get to come here very often so I don't mind. Fun memories...

Mommy & Savannah "riding" a motorcycle...
Jacob's getting pretty good at Skee-ball (or however you say that)...

Zach came running over with this whole long wad of tickets and said "I got the Bonus Jackpot!!!" He was so excited...it was the cutest thing.

Connor was pretty interested in "Chuck"

Playing games with Grandma...I think she had even more fun than they did!

Zach on the giant rocking horse ride...

Connor with Uncle Steven