Mini Vacation, Birthdays and Summer.

 

I love those words…vacation, birthdays and summer.  That makes for a happy momma right there! We have been busy the last couple of weeks. Here is some of what we have been up to!

I had a birthday. Gasp! Marcus was out of town for a few days, so my friend Jess arranged for a girls night. It was a lot of fun. We had a different group of friends that were able to come to each part. That was fun! We had Pedi's..

Brooke Fish (Weird right?? No relation, at least not close) Me, Jessica and Jess.

Then off to Fuji for some sushi and hibachi. Yum!!! I even got sang too. Why does that always remind me of A Christmas Story?? We have Brooke, Me, Charmin, Jess, Jessica and Amy.

And then off to see a movie. A little Magic Mike! Lol! Jessica, Karla, Me, Brooke and Andrea!

Then Kenna made Marcus and I Birthday Candy Bowls. They were super cute and so yummy. Bowl made with Kit-Kats and filled with our favorite candies. Yum. Love that girl. I also love that boy.

And Seany Poo.  Out of all his gazillion binkies, why, oh why is this one his favorite? Bahaha! I love him.

On Marcus’ birthday, we went to a Minor League baseball game with the neighbors. Our neighbor Jo, took Sean so we didn’t have to chase his little butt around the stadium. Sean enjoyed a bath with little Scarlett. Can you say “blackmail” in 13 years?? Bahaha!

The crew. Marissa, Jake, Troy, Kenna, Maddie, Brady and Nick.

Me and the movie star..aka Kenna. And the Birthday Boy.

Our summer has been filled with pool trips and lake. Bree and Lilli are usually with us. I love their sweet summer tans!

We also had the chance to go to Palmyra NY to see the Hill Camorah Pageant. We had booked our hotel room last July. We decided to swing by Niagara Falls on the way. It was beautiful!! Here is Bree and Miss Riss checking it out.

We stopped in the park for a few to let the kiddos let some wiggles out. Brady was perfecting his cartwheel, while Mr. Independent had to feed himself some ice cream.

 

And Kenner's getting her smooshed penny. She has had that book thing for years. Maybe one day, it will actually be filled!

Sean listening to his movie…then passing out. He really does sleep like this often. It is too cute.

Next day we went to several Church History sights. This one was the Sacred Grove. Was truly beautiful!!

Our friends, the Criser’s! Jessica, Bree, Maya, Andrew and Lilli.

And the home of Joseph Smith… Amazingly, a lot of this is original! They said that 85% was?! This is the home where Joseph saw the Angel Moroni for the first time.

Kenna and Brady couldn’t believe that they slept 3 to a bed!!

Temple peaking thru the trees.

And the big home, up the street. This is where Joseph and Emma lived and where a lot of the transcribing of the plates happened. I really think the kids learned a lot!

Then off to the printing press where the Book of Mormon was first printed. We were able to see the process.

Pageant! The actors came and mingled and interacted with the audience. The stage was insane. Not like Manti Pageant at all where the hillside is used. We were told that hundreds of young men who have just turned in or received their mission papers come to build the stage. It takes 2 weeks.What an awesome experience.

The girlies with Abinidi. We will see him again later. Yikes!

Sister McKenna! Marissa loved visiting with her at the Smith home earlier in the day. She was super excited to see her again!!

Killing more time until the show started.

You know what was amazing? Of course there were protestors. There always is. There was a group that stood at the gates with blow horns. Calling us Morons for believing in Ol’ Joe Smith. He talked/screamed/rambled constantly for the almost 3 hours we were there before the pageant started. You just tuned him out. Pageant started. Pageant ended. While walking to car, he is out there ranting again. Once we hit the parking lot, we could hear him. We heard nothing as the pageant was going.

The girlies friend, Abinidi. Amazing effects. Real fire. Falling rocks. Water. Was an awesome show.

Christ coming down the hillside…

It was really a great trip. We loved it and are so glad we went! It is funny, we lived in Rock Springs for 8 years. Yellowstone is only 2 hours away and yet we never made it! How crazy it that!? So we are really trying to experience everything this area has to offer…and there is a lot to see in the East! We sure are having fun doing it!!

Since Marcus had Mon-Wed off, he took the rest of the week off as well. I really enjoyed having him home! So did Sean. They wake up and hang out on the deck together…eating pb toast. Sean is definitely a daddy’s boy..for sure! Its cute the little relationship they have. I am a lucky girl.

We decided to go to the drive in. Batman was playing. And really, the Drive in is the only way we can take Sean to the movies these days…. Aren’t those blonde curls to die for? Seriously.

And the weather finally cleared up enough for us to hit the lake. Yay!!! I really love that place. Love it.

Random Moments…

When Sean gets his bottle before bed, he barely makes it out of the kitchen before flopping down on the floor to drink up. That’s when you know he is tired.

We pulled another tooth! Marissa has one more to go before she gets the pallet expander off and no longer has to sleep with her facemask.. It has really done wonders tho. Check out a before and after… Goodbye under bite!!! But, man, she is cute.

We also put in a mini fridge. One so that I always have a cold Cherry Coke Zero. Yum. It is in the perfect spot. Was just empty space. I think it is going to get a lot of use!

Sean seems to take up the majority of my phone space. He is just too cute!! He was snuggling with Marcus’ foot.

And really enjoyed his frozen yogurt…

And hanging with his pal, Silvie.

We also have the neighborhood boys. They are all getting ready for football season (tackle, eek!) so come over to do some workouts in the basement. Their great workouts include watching The Biggest Loser on Netflix and doing the exercises they do. Makes me laugh.

Completely pooped after a day on the lake.

Smooshed Ice Cream face…

And a visit to Petco.  Sean loved the gerbils/guinea pig things.

Marissa’s friend Emily REALLY liked the ferrets. Marissa decided as she was putting them away that she would like a turn.

Brady went with Nick to his grandparents house and was able to go fishing in their pond. He was all about catching the fish, but baiting the hook or touching it after was a no go. Such a little city boy. Lol. He wont even try fish. He says it isn't nice to eat your cousins…. Kills me.

Always a happy day when you get a package from Breezy. Cinnabun Popcorn. Even had icing drizzled. SO FREAKING GOOD!!!

Sean found one of Marissa’s baby dolls binkies and was using it as his own. Was pretty entertaining watching him try to keep it in his mouth…

Marissa attended Arts in the Parks camp last week. She had a great time and got to be all sorts of crafty with paint and yarn. She even learned a dance and how to play the steel drums!! It was a lot of fun for her!!

I really hate ants. They are hanging on the deck by Silvies dog dish. Saw on Pinterest that they wouldn’t cross a chalk line. It really works! I felt a little bad for the ones stuck on the pole. I blew them off.

Saturday Morning walks…. Sean would be outside 24/7 if he could. Seriously loves it. Totally content when he is outside.

And our neighborhood crew. These boys seriously play for 10 solid hours each day. I don’t know how they keep going!! Their newest?? Air soft guns!! Eek!

So that’s about it. We leave in 11 days for the beach. I can’t wait. Really. It is going to be great. School will start while we are at the beach…so we are almost done with summer!! Sad! Has been a good one though.

Could be better….if you would come see us.

xoxo Lish