Wisconsin: Part Three

Monday was the day before we left for home. It was kind of like the grand finale. Everyone was looking forward to it all week. It was suppossed to be the hottest day- there was even a heat warning. It was the day we went to a water park! The kids were so excited. We woke up, put on our swimsuits, covered everyone in sunblock, loaded up the cooler, grabbed towels, and piled in the cars.

We started driving to Wisconsin Dells . This place is known for the largest water park in America. As we got about half way there, it began raining. It did not stop the rest of the way and when we got there, it did not look like it was going to end soon. But, there are also several hotels with water parks and some of them indoors. So, we checked the weather and called around to figure out where we should go.

We ended up going to this huge indoor water park at a hotel resort call Kalahari. We got there around ten in the morning and did not leave until about ten at night! It was a fun filled day. There were water slides everyone could enjoy, even the little kids. There were some scary ones Kylie was brave enough to go on, family raft rides, a lazy river and wave pool, even surfing that Collin tried. Kylie, Breah, and Orion tried the knee board. Anyway, it was a lot of fun for everyone.

Some cute shots Tanja took of Collin and Clare and Craig and Samantha.




The next morning, we packed up to go home. But first we stopped at the "The Original Pancake House." It was so delicious! I had pancakes with strawberries and homemade whipped cream. Oh, and strawberry syrup. Mmmm. It tasted like desert. Then Craig and his family brought us to the airport and we said our good-byes. It was kind of sad. No one was ready to go back to the regular routine yet. The kids asked several times if we could stay longer or come back again. I hope we can soon! It was a great family vacation! Fun adventures and wonderful company.

Our family right before walking into the airpot. The kids did well on the way home, especially considering the delays and eventually cancellation of our connecting flight. We were suppossed to reach Salt Lake City at 7:30, but arrived at the Provo airport at midnight!

Wisconsin: Part Two

Friday we went to the Zoo. Then to a buffet for lunch. After lunch, we went to the University in Madison and watched how they milk cows and the kids got to pet them. Next we walked down to the Dairy Store and had delicious ice cream. Again, we finished the night off swimming.

Saturday we went to the Madison Children's Museum. It was seriously so awesome. There was all kinds of activities for the kids to learn from. There was a shadow wall, crane, gerbil wheel, dress up cloths, water room, tree house, green house, chickens, and tons more. I could have stayed there all day. When the kids got hungry and tired we left. Craig had to go back to work for the day and Tanja met up with her Grandparents, who had been gone for the winter. We spent the afternoon swimming and resting. It was nice get some down time.

All the kids Sunday morning before church. It was the only picture we got with all the kids. After church we drove out to Michigan Lake and Milwakee. It was beautiful. The breeze and cool air at the shore made the crazy heat bearable. Craig barbequed chicken for dinner. The kids loved the water and beach. It was a nice Sunday.

Collin pulling Addison on the cooler. It was her ride anytime we had it with us.

Wisconsin: Part One

Our little family decided to take a vacation to see my brother's little family this summer. They live outside of Chicago. After looking into things more we decided to stay in Madison, Wisconsin for several reasons. We have visited Chicago before and felt like we had scene all the tourist attractions. There is no hotel close to their home, and their home cannot squeeze an extra family. Madison had cheaper airfare, hotels, and restaurants. Everything we wanted was close to Madison. It worked out great for us. But, it was a little funny introducung ourselves in church, then explain where we were from and why we were visiting. :)

Our first night away, we slept about 4 hours at Anjie's house so we could be at the airport by 5 am. The kids did pretty well on the airplane. Clare had a hard time sitting still for so long, but I did not expect her to. :) She took a nap on the connecting flight which was a great relief. (That is one of the few times she has ever slept in my arms. I have always laid her down and she goes to sleep on her own.) Breah's ear were bothering her big time when we were landing. But we made it! Craig and Tanja drove both of their vehicles, so that we would not have to rent one. That helped out immensely!

Samantha, 3 1/2. I have never seen anyone as small as her swim so good. She is a fish!

Nathan, 7 years old, and Addison.

The first day the kids were all dying to swim in the awesome hotel pool. Of course, we visited it almost everyday. Swimming was a good icebreaker for the cousins. They had not seen eachother in two years. For little kids, that seems like a lot longer. But they cliqued immediately, ganging up on their dads and showing off all their swimming skills.

Breah, Kylie, and Jacob, 7 years old. All of their kids could swim great, with no help at all. My kids are working on it and loved all the toys to play with.

The next day we went canoeing. We got a great reaction from the employees when we told them that we wanted to rent canoes to take 8 kids 8 and under for a ride. We divided up into three canoes. It was beautiful. The weather was perfect and the scenery was great. We did not realize that the wind was making it easy on the way out. When we turned around to go back it was hard work! I was incharge of Clare, so I did not get as much exercise as the other adults. ;)

Side note: The poor lady was overwhelmed finding enough kids life jackets, that she handed out kayaking ores for everyone. When she realized the mistake she made, she responded with, "well, you have blown my mind!"

Sometimes it was more like bumber boats than it should have been! The employees were relieved when we all returned safe and sound. After canoeing, we found a big park with a fun playground to have lunch. We grilled hotdogs and ate lots of fruit. Clarissa pulling Orion, 8 years old, in the awesome wagon.

After all that we still managed to go swimming at the hotel, eat PB and honey for dinner, and go to the local baseball team game, the Mallards. We ate the most delicious deep fried cheese curds there! My mouth waters thinking about them! :)

sleeping under the stars with daddy

4th of July

Highlights of our weekend in Boise with Melanie's family:

Taylor receiving his Eagle Scout award at age 14.

Xaden getting baptized and confirmed.

Blessing Baby Boston.

Swimming, swimming and more swimming. Roaring Springs Waterpark, neighborhood pool, our hotel pool, and Grandma and Grandpa's hotel pool.

Listening to Clare talk herself to sleep everynight. And Breah telling her to be quiet over and over everynight.

Eating Phillips out of house and home!

Lots of cousins to play with.

Driving around Boise looking for a twist ice cream cone. Not vanilla and not a shake. We ended up at Iceberg. We ordered four mini cones and a shake for Collin and I. The cones were HUGE and the shake could have fed our entire family.

Going home through Craters of the Moon. The kids saw volcanoes and lava for the first time.

Clare stayed awake the entire drive home and through the fireworks.

Rolling into Idaho Falls just in time for the big firework show!

Thanks for the great hospitality Melanie! We had a blast!

swimming lessons

To Bone and Back

This year Collin did To Bone and Back with me. It was so much fun! We were on a team with our friends Chris and Bita. I ran the same leg as last year. Last year I was not as prepared as I needed to be. I did not run my leg once before hand, or even drive it. I was very surprised to have so many hills. As soon as I was done last year, I planned to do it again and be able to run the entire leg. This year, I was so happy when I ran my entire 5 miles, even up the huge hill! I did it in about 57 minutes too! I was so happy! It was a lot of work training for it, but totally worth it! Collin did awesome too. He ran the last leg and cruised down the hill, passing everyone!

Collin, me, Bita, Chris, Valerie, Katy, Diane, and Brooklyn were on our "just for fun team". We had so much fun with everyone. It is fun to meet others and cheer them on. And it is a great way to spend time with friends. Collins parents brought the kids to cheer us on too. At the end they had a jumping house and face painting for the kids.

Clare was taking a nap during the facepainting. She loves her baths. And this shows that she is finally growing a little bit of hair at 22 months old!