Winter Gathering - and the CORN

So instead of going to the Dells this year for our annual family winter gathering we decided to just all hang out at our house for the weekend.  Dogs, money, work schedules ....  just a lot to figure out and opted to just spend a relaxing weekend together.  It was relaxing - Andi, Jimmy, Brooke and Kaydence; Nick and Kelsey; and us.  Grandma Gretchen just happened to be visiting the week before so she ended up being with us for part of the weekend as well.  Bowling pics were the only ones we got, however, the one I wish we had gotten was of the CORN.  On Sunday afternoon we were all upstairs playing scattegories.  After a while Matt decided to get dinner going and went downstairs to get some supplies - that is when he found the corn.  Rylee and Brooke (who most often do naughty things together - its like they gain courage to do those things they know they shouldn't but really want to) were downstairs playing quietly as they had been doing all weekend long.  It seems though they had enough of tinker toys, dollhouses, and imaginex and went into the home school room to play with the corn.  ** Sidenote - We have a little swimming pool full of dry feed corn as a sensory area in our homeschool room. **  Rylee and Brooke decided to make it rain corn - literally.  They threw it up in the air by the scooperfuls.  To say there was corn everywhere was an understatement - on the bookshelves, in the closet, in Andi and Jimmy's suitcase and all over their clothes, the bed and linens, on the table, computer, play money......  To be honest to look at the room one would think there wouldn't have been any corn left in the pool.  Even later that night I wish I had gotten proof of their delinquency.  A few days later I thought about recreating the scene but then thought better of it when I remembered I didn't have all the helpers to clean it up.

Happy Monday

So I was trying to help Rylee make her family home evening dessert so it would be cool enough for her to frost after she got home from 4K today.  Typical Monday morning in that I had a ton of things to do.  Rylee was getting the pans ready so I decided to scrape the beaters off so all would be ready to get in the oven.  I lifted up the beaters and while I was reaching for the spatula Bella decided she too would help and turned on the mixer.  Chocolate cake mix flew everywhere.  At first I was like, "Oh, great I don't have time for this" but Bella was kind of scared and Rylee dumbfounded so I just grabbed the camera and tried to make the best of it.  I didn't realize until after dental appointments, drop off at 4K, music, classes ....  that some had gotten on my face.  No one bothered to tell me so I ended up with cake batter across my face all day.  I asked Elizabeth why she didn't say something and she said it just looked like a big scab - I am not really sure which was worse.  Note to self - always check the mirror before you leave - even if only the car mirror for a second!

Kalahari

School at the waterpark

Cierra at the lilypads

Elizabeth keeping herself entertained in the little section

Cierra preventing water spray on Bella

 Bella who really didn't like the water
- hard to keep entertained in a water park then huh?

Rylee got a good bump on her head
from a water slide

the smiles say it all - we did all we could every day - it was so fun 

Rylee liked to hide in the water tubes on  "shore"
at the wave pool as she didn't like the waves

We got back today from a three day trip to the Kalahari (an indoor waterpark) in Wisconsin Dells, WI.  Matt had a business trip there and well we decided to go.  We didn't have to take the girls out of school - we just brought our home school stuff with and studied each day before we went swimming.  Matt was gone most of the time to meetings and other events of his conference but we had so much fun anyway.  So exhausting but a lot of fun.  One day we spent 11 hours in the park!!!!  Yikes - I was asleep every night at the same time the kids were.  It was a super trip.

OK I know I have been absent for a long time.  It is my goal to catch up and soon.  I have not forgotten.  All of you that have not given up on me - thanks ;-)

Came across this video today.  OK so I know he is an apostle but still to have so much faith...  my goal

http://www.ldsliving.com/story/66771-mens-hearts-shall-fail-them

Matt got a deer

Matt got 2 deer this year.  A twelve point buck and a doe.  Stay tuned for more pics this spring as the debate as to where to put the mounted buck is on.  Good thing the mount takes six months as it will take us that long to agree where it will go.  I always said no to a mount but this one was a beauty and will be a tribute to my Dad as it was on his property.  Feel free to put in your vote - Matt mentioned above the fireplace and taking down the kids pictures - although at this point he says that wasn't really an option - I was thinking more of not the living room at all ---- stay tuned !
As always it became a family project to process the deer.  Judd and Jen came to help with the doe which was split between them and Nick (Matt's hunting partners this year).  Then Kelsey, Nick and Andi helped with the buck.  Kelsey really wanted to learn how to do it.  She was a trooper for sure and did everything she was asked - even when ticks were crawling on her - wouldn't believe it myself without the pics :-)

Argh - Hey matey its a birthday party

Jimmy heading up the youngest's treasure hunt

Walk the plank, matey!

Kaydence

Isabella

Elizabeth, Rylee, Brooke, Cierra

The girls decided this year their birthday party would have a pirate theme.  Each girl got to invite one friend plus all our family was invited.  Dressing as a pirate was optional but each person that came in costume grew the girls smiles.  The biggest attraction was the plank that Matt made out of spare wood in the garage.  It was totally the girl's idea to have a plank that once they walked off could land on the trampoline.  Matt really had to put on his thinking cap to pull this one off but ended up with Daddy of the Year award in his daughter's eyes because of it.  We also had a treasure hunt, tack the eye patch on the pirate, make your own pirate hat, and food all labeled in pirate lingo including hard tack - chips, blackbeard's biscuits - cupcakes, Captain Morgan's ale - lemonade just to name a few.  Just can't believe these beautiful girls are getting so old.  When we started these themed birthday parties Rylee was a chubby toddler not much older than Bella - looking back at pics makes me get pretty choked up.  We always have so much fun planning and having the party I guess that I have to remind myself that each party means that they are growing up - way too fast.

Random summer pics from our summer fun

Family camping trip 

Fishing in one of Dad's fav spots

Matt and Bella keeping us warm - it was so cold the whole week

hide and seek - Nanny Jen and Rylee

doing skits in honor of Dad over the campfire

Judd & Jen

4th of July

4th of July

Bella chasing seagulls at Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL

Bella snapping beans - gotta
start them young!

making games up - we should be hired by Matel

Picking blueberries (or our traditional ice cream eating after)

blueberries everywhere

Elizabeth getting the bags ready to pack berries

eating is really part of the u-pick experience - Michigan

cuties after a school fair

Chicago temple

Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL - it was so hot that day
we were cooling ourselves in the underground seal display

Nick & Kelsey tie the knot

Kelsey and girls prewedding

Kale (best man) with Elizabeth as ring bearer & Cierra, Rylee and
Brooke as flower girls

Our family and then one 

                                                                                                                            big family together

My favorite wedding pics.

So the wedding was just beautiful.  It was so hot outside (probably one of the hottest days of the year) but good memories and just a beautiful day.  I am so happy for these two and can not wait for them to start their life together.  Plus we get a great addition to our family.  If you want to see more pics you can see them at Kelsey's blog which you can find in "my blog list" at the far right of my blog.  Tons and tons of awesome pics - these are just some of my favorites.