Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
60 Hour Road Trip- Part 5 & 6 Arizona annd Heading Home
Our last stop of our 60 Hour Road Trip was Kim and Jon's house. We got there later than expected but the boys were excited to be there and I was excited to see Bryan.
We went to dinner with Bryan's parents and Jon and Kim and the kids stayed home and watched a movie.
Thursday, Kim and I went to lunch with Melissa, with Luke and Julia in tow. And then Kim invited everyone over for dinner and swimming. My kids love spending time with their cousins. Sally and kids and Jordan and boys came over. I am grateful for the time we are able to spend with family.
Friday, I started to get us ready to make the long drive home while Bryan went to breakfast with his brother and then Kim took the boys to see Minions while we went to lunch with Sally for her birthday. When we got back, we loaded up and headed to El Paso, where we stopped for the night.
We got a 2 bedroom room with a sofa bed in the living/kitchen area. I think everyone slept very well, even though it took a little while for them all to calm down and fall asleep.
Saturday, we drove the rest of the way home. I started looking for properties with lots of acres. I don't want to move from my house but it would be fun to have lots of acres, for four-wheeling of course ;)
Sunday, back to life and church meetings for Bryan.
I am so glad we were able to go on this trip. My kids had such a great time with cousins. I had a great time visiting with everyone. I am glad my kids road trip well, better than me. And I am grateful for a supportive husband who only gives me a hard time about leaving for so long because he misses us so much while we are gone.
*I am ready but not ready for school to start. I wish we had a few more weeks to play with Texas friends.
We went to dinner with Bryan's parents and Jon and Kim and the kids stayed home and watched a movie.
Thursday, Kim and I went to lunch with Melissa, with Luke and Julia in tow. And then Kim invited everyone over for dinner and swimming. My kids love spending time with their cousins. Sally and kids and Jordan and boys came over. I am grateful for the time we are able to spend with family.
Friday, I started to get us ready to make the long drive home while Bryan went to breakfast with his brother and then Kim took the boys to see Minions while we went to lunch with Sally for her birthday. When we got back, we loaded up and headed to El Paso, where we stopped for the night.
We got a 2 bedroom room with a sofa bed in the living/kitchen area. I think everyone slept very well, even though it took a little while for them all to calm down and fall asleep.
Saturday, we drove the rest of the way home. I started looking for properties with lots of acres. I don't want to move from my house but it would be fun to have lots of acres, for four-wheeling of course ;)
Sunday, back to life and church meetings for Bryan.
I am so glad we were able to go on this trip. My kids had such a great time with cousins. I had a great time visiting with everyone. I am glad my kids road trip well, better than me. And I am grateful for a supportive husband who only gives me a hard time about leaving for so long because he misses us so much while we are gone.
*I am ready but not ready for school to start. I wish we had a few more weeks to play with Texas friends.
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| My 3 littles on the sofa bed in El Paso |
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| Julia getting out of the car in El Paso |
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| In the car a few hours from home. Everyone but Julia on a device. |
60 Hour Road Trip- Part 4 So Cal
Sunday, we drove to Mom and Dad's with a detour to Katie's house to drop them off and check out their house. Mike is wonderful and had dinner practically waiting for us.
Monday, we met up with Abby and boys at John's Incredible Pizza in Moreno Valley. Thankfully Mom came with us and helped keep track of kids. We decided that we should be next door neighbors and then it wouldn't be 4 years between visits. I also loved how the boys just picked up where they left off even though they don't really remember each other. Mike and Joanna had us over for dinner at their house and then Mom, Mike and Joanna took the boys to movie in the park while Dad and I took Julia home so she could go to sleep. I think Matt got to Mom and Dad's that night.
Tuesday, we went to the huge (HUGE) Sketchers store in Moreno Valley. I found a couple pairs of shoes for the boys in the clearance section. There was a big gumball machine with free gumballs. I think Luke had 5 gumballs.
Wednesday, we got loaded up and headed to Kim's house. It always takes longer than I think to get out the door and then I forgot about booster seats being in my mom's car and she was at work. So Matt, being the great brother he is, hopped in his car and went and got the booster seat.
Benjamin asks me almost every day when we are going back to "your mom and dad's house," it is sad that I don't have an answer for him. We went at Christmas time, Spring Break and then the summer, so I think he expects us to be going soon but sadly, it probably will be a while...I am not ready to get back in the car just yet :)
Monday, we met up with Abby and boys at John's Incredible Pizza in Moreno Valley. Thankfully Mom came with us and helped keep track of kids. We decided that we should be next door neighbors and then it wouldn't be 4 years between visits. I also loved how the boys just picked up where they left off even though they don't really remember each other. Mike and Joanna had us over for dinner at their house and then Mom, Mike and Joanna took the boys to movie in the park while Dad and I took Julia home so she could go to sleep. I think Matt got to Mom and Dad's that night.
Tuesday, we went to the huge (HUGE) Sketchers store in Moreno Valley. I found a couple pairs of shoes for the boys in the clearance section. There was a big gumball machine with free gumballs. I think Luke had 5 gumballs.
Wednesday, we got loaded up and headed to Kim's house. It always takes longer than I think to get out the door and then I forgot about booster seats being in my mom's car and she was at work. So Matt, being the great brother he is, hopped in his car and went and got the booster seat.
Benjamin asks me almost every day when we are going back to "your mom and dad's house," it is sad that I don't have an answer for him. We went at Christmas time, Spring Break and then the summer, so I think he expects us to be going soon but sadly, it probably will be a while...I am not ready to get back in the car just yet :)
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| Benjamin, Austin, and Isaac opening the gate at Katie's house. |
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| Isaac on the bumper cars at John's Incredible Pizza |
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| Luke on the train at John's Incred. He was not that impressed with it, especially since he had just gotten off a little roller coaster, that I got to ride twice ;) |
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| My mom snapped the group photo. Yep, 11 kids between the 2 of us, 10 of them are boys. |
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| Benjamin's new school shoes from Sketches. |
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| Papa playing the games before bed. |
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| Matt and Katie were fun and let a few of the younger kids do "around the horn" with just the 2 of them. Adam and Austin were too big. |
60 Hour Road Trip- Part 3 Nor Cal
Monday after Gma weekend, we headed to Nor Cal.
Drew and Evan were ready to be home and they hopped in with me. Grace also decided she wanted to ride with me. So that meant I needed to have a couple kids ride with Elizabeth and Tyler, Austin was already planning on it and Luke agreed , not verbally because he didn't talk to them until we were almost there.
We got a later start than we had hoped but planned to stop if all three adult drivers were too tired to drive anymore. We stopped at the rest stop with the salt flats so the kids had to go check it out. Just before Reno, I had Elizabeth drive my car while I soothed an upset Luke, he was pleasant the entire day with the Monsons and then cried for almost a half an hour after getting in the car with me. And Julia was ready to be in a bed sleeping not trying to falling asleep strapped in her car seat. But we made it and the next day we were really excited that we had persevered.
Tuesday, we hung out and then went with the Monsons to the lake and had dinner at their house. And Ann and Katie and kids came from Utah.
Wednesday, I went to Sam's Club while Ann took kids to the park and Katie stayed with sleeping babies.
Thursday, we went to the cement slide park. It was so fun. I only went down a couple times but the kids had such a fun time going over and over, especially after Katie came back with wax paper.
Friday, we went to the Folsom Aquatic center. That was also so much fun. Luke spent so much time in the little kid playground in water, at one point he was the only kid there. The high dives and inflatable obstacle course were big hits with the older kids. We stayed until they kicked us out for swim lessons. We went to the Monsons for dinner.
Saturday was Evan's baptism, the reason for our trip around the west. I felt the spirit so strongly during that meeting. I am so glad we were able to come and be a part of his special day. Not surprisingly, I do not have one photo from the special event. Afterward, we went to Ann's for nachos. Then we went to Monsons for a movie (Big Hero 6) in their backyard with pizza and candy and s'mores. Soccer and trampoline jumping also happened and little kids went up to the loft to play too.
One of those nights we had a cousin sleepover at Ann's and Austin and Conrad were brave enough to sleep out on the trampoline, reminded us of our childhoods. It was such a fun week, when are we all going to be neighbors?
Drew and Evan were ready to be home and they hopped in with me. Grace also decided she wanted to ride with me. So that meant I needed to have a couple kids ride with Elizabeth and Tyler, Austin was already planning on it and Luke agreed , not verbally because he didn't talk to them until we were almost there.
We got a later start than we had hoped but planned to stop if all three adult drivers were too tired to drive anymore. We stopped at the rest stop with the salt flats so the kids had to go check it out. Just before Reno, I had Elizabeth drive my car while I soothed an upset Luke, he was pleasant the entire day with the Monsons and then cried for almost a half an hour after getting in the car with me. And Julia was ready to be in a bed sleeping not trying to falling asleep strapped in her car seat. But we made it and the next day we were really excited that we had persevered.
Tuesday, we hung out and then went with the Monsons to the lake and had dinner at their house. And Ann and Katie and kids came from Utah.
Wednesday, I went to Sam's Club while Ann took kids to the park and Katie stayed with sleeping babies.
Thursday, we went to the cement slide park. It was so fun. I only went down a couple times but the kids had such a fun time going over and over, especially after Katie came back with wax paper.
Friday, we went to the Folsom Aquatic center. That was also so much fun. Luke spent so much time in the little kid playground in water, at one point he was the only kid there. The high dives and inflatable obstacle course were big hits with the older kids. We stayed until they kicked us out for swim lessons. We went to the Monsons for dinner.
Saturday was Evan's baptism, the reason for our trip around the west. I felt the spirit so strongly during that meeting. I am so glad we were able to come and be a part of his special day. Not surprisingly, I do not have one photo from the special event. Afterward, we went to Ann's for nachos. Then we went to Monsons for a movie (Big Hero 6) in their backyard with pizza and candy and s'mores. Soccer and trampoline jumping also happened and little kids went up to the loft to play too.
One of those nights we had a cousin sleepover at Ann's and Austin and Conrad were brave enough to sleep out on the trampoline, reminded us of our childhoods. It was such a fun week, when are we all going to be neighbors?
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| Isaac, with Drew and Conrad in the background, at the Salt Flats. |
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| Julia loved Louie |
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| Benjamin fell going up the "steps" at the cement slides. Thankfully he didn't hit a metal stake that was sticking out of the step. |
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| My 3 big boys going down together |
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| All my boys, Benjamin was not that excited about taking a photo. This was post fall on the steps. |
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| Isaac and Grace waiting for their turns on one of the inflatable obstacle course |
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| Ann and Luke in the deep pool near the high dives |
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| Conrad, Austin, Adam, and Evan waiting in line for one of the inflatable obstacle courses |
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| Isaac and Grace |
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| Evan |
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| Adam |
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| Austin with the thumb's up and Conrad getting started |
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| Edie at Elizabeth's post dinner |
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| Juju getting ready to take a nap post baptism |
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| Movie in the backyard |
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| Juju eating pizza waiting for the movie to start. She really enjoyed sitting by Jill, who gave her whatever she wanted. I was just glad she was contained in the high chair for a little bit. |
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| Julia playing with girl toys in Elizabeth's loft. |
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| Luke playing store in the loft |
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| Benjamin enjoying a s'more |
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| Luke being silly while eating a s'more |
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
60 Hour Road Trip- Part TWO Pallisade State Park, Gma Weekend
I am confused on why I don't have more photos. Maybe I was having too much fun to take photos.
Friday, we rented paddle boats and paddle boards and had a great time with water wars and cliff jumping and jumping off the dock and swimming and floating in tubes and playing in the sand and playing at the playground.Then a Elizabeth, Ann, Katie and I abandoned everyone at the cabin to meet Mom at Audra Dedrickson's wedding reception. It was good we went and represented but it was chaos at the cabin with all the extendeds over for dinner and Bryan cooking food and being responsible for our 6 kids, one being Julia who likes to be with Bryan and is one-year old and she gives toddler Isaac a run for his money. Luke also had a issue while we were gone too. I don't gush over Bryan very often but he really is a good dad. We ended the night with Pinochle.
Saturday was the four-wheeling day. My boys have said over and over when asked what there favorite part of the trip was and they almost always say "four-wheeling." They have their dad trying to figure out a way to go again. And then it rained while we were at the water, so that ended the water fun. We played at the cabin and some of us who didn't get to go on the first ride got to go on a little ride after the downpour. We played BINGO after dinner and Pinochle after kids went to bed.
Sunday Bryan left early for the airport so he could go to the office to work on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and then head to San Antonio to represent us for Baby Lily's baby blessing and Eli's baptism the next weekend. We went to Sacrament Meeting in Manti and then went back to the cabin and went geocacheing around the lake. The kids loved it. We facetimed with Jill and Dad while we were geocacheing, they really just did it to tell Mike happy birthday but we all got to talk. We took a big family photo at the Manti Temple. While we were waiting for everyone to get there (yes, I was the first one there), the boys walked down the sidewalk down to the fence to race or just run. Isaac is really fast and has so much energy. We played BINGO again and then Pinochle after kids went to bed.
Monday, we had breakfast and then packed up to either head to Gma's or head to Nor Cal. It was a fun weekend. It really makes me want to "vacation" with everyone more often.
Friday, we rented paddle boats and paddle boards and had a great time with water wars and cliff jumping and jumping off the dock and swimming and floating in tubes and playing in the sand and playing at the playground.Then a Elizabeth, Ann, Katie and I abandoned everyone at the cabin to meet Mom at Audra Dedrickson's wedding reception. It was good we went and represented but it was chaos at the cabin with all the extendeds over for dinner and Bryan cooking food and being responsible for our 6 kids, one being Julia who likes to be with Bryan and is one-year old and she gives toddler Isaac a run for his money. Luke also had a issue while we were gone too. I don't gush over Bryan very often but he really is a good dad. We ended the night with Pinochle.
Saturday was the four-wheeling day. My boys have said over and over when asked what there favorite part of the trip was and they almost always say "four-wheeling." They have their dad trying to figure out a way to go again. And then it rained while we were at the water, so that ended the water fun. We played at the cabin and some of us who didn't get to go on the first ride got to go on a little ride after the downpour. We played BINGO after dinner and Pinochle after kids went to bed.
Sunday Bryan left early for the airport so he could go to the office to work on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and then head to San Antonio to represent us for Baby Lily's baby blessing and Eli's baptism the next weekend. We went to Sacrament Meeting in Manti and then went back to the cabin and went geocacheing around the lake. The kids loved it. We facetimed with Jill and Dad while we were geocacheing, they really just did it to tell Mike happy birthday but we all got to talk. We took a big family photo at the Manti Temple. While we were waiting for everyone to get there (yes, I was the first one there), the boys walked down the sidewalk down to the fence to race or just run. Isaac is really fast and has so much energy. We played BINGO again and then Pinochle after kids went to bed.
Monday, we had breakfast and then packed up to either head to Gma's or head to Nor Cal. It was a fun weekend. It really makes me want to "vacation" with everyone more often.
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| Luke enjoying the party favor from the wedding reception |
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| Bryan and Luke paddleboarding |
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| Benjamin jumping from the paddleboat |
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| At the Manti temple after the family photos |
60 Hour Road Trip- Part ONE Utah pre-Gma weekend
The first part of our 60 hour road trip brought us to Utah.
We stayed at Gma and Gpa Nielson's house. Oh how I wish Utah was closer. I just love coming to visit. It reminds me so much of my childhood and I think I had a pretty great childhood, why wouldn't I want that same greatness for my own kids?
Sunday we went to church at the VA and visited with Gpa Stewart when it was over. He is such a delight. I wish we lived closer so we could visit more often. Then we went to a combined birthday party at Aunt Kathy and Uncle Gregg's house for a couple of their grandkids.
Monday we hung out at Gma's house enjoying the yards and playground but being cautious about the ditch as the water was going to come in any day. Then we headed down to the farm after dinner. The boys got to see the cows and Bryan even got to help to try to get 2 cows in the trailer. Try being the key word in that sentence. Two cows, not one jumped the ditch to the neighbors to get out of getting in the trailer. Pretty exciting evening down at the farm. My wonderful cousin Jackson washed my disgusting car, that is what he is doing for a job these days.
Tuesday, we headed up to Provo to spend time with Mike and Jake. They had been in AZ for Dedrick's wedding and it was the first chance we had to see them. We were pretty excited to see them since we hadn't seen Mike since he had been home from his mission. We met at the BYU bookstore, of course, bought the new game day shirts and then went bowling in the Wilk. And then headed to Brick Oven for pizza.
Wednesday, Bryan and Matt worked on Matt's brakes and after getting started realized the roters needed to be replaced too. Emily and I took the kids and met Shauni and her kids at Fat Cats in Provo. We thought it had laser tag but it really only had bowling and a small arcade with no prizes. Emily and Shauni headed down to visit with Gpa Stewart and I stayed up in Provo to meet up with Jake and Mike again. Matt brought Bryan to the bookstore and then we met the boys at Cafe Rio for dinner. Then we went to Bridal Veil Falls before going to their flag football game. And then Creamery after the game. Those boys are so much fun and so good to my kids.
Thursday, we got ready to go to the "cabin" in the Pallisade State park. And went to a double baptism for Logan and Cheyenne. We got to the cabin a little later than we would have liked but I am glad we went Thursday night, it gave us all Friday to play in the water.
We stayed at Gma and Gpa Nielson's house. Oh how I wish Utah was closer. I just love coming to visit. It reminds me so much of my childhood and I think I had a pretty great childhood, why wouldn't I want that same greatness for my own kids?
Sunday we went to church at the VA and visited with Gpa Stewart when it was over. He is such a delight. I wish we lived closer so we could visit more often. Then we went to a combined birthday party at Aunt Kathy and Uncle Gregg's house for a couple of their grandkids.
Monday we hung out at Gma's house enjoying the yards and playground but being cautious about the ditch as the water was going to come in any day. Then we headed down to the farm after dinner. The boys got to see the cows and Bryan even got to help to try to get 2 cows in the trailer. Try being the key word in that sentence. Two cows, not one jumped the ditch to the neighbors to get out of getting in the trailer. Pretty exciting evening down at the farm. My wonderful cousin Jackson washed my disgusting car, that is what he is doing for a job these days.
Tuesday, we headed up to Provo to spend time with Mike and Jake. They had been in AZ for Dedrick's wedding and it was the first chance we had to see them. We were pretty excited to see them since we hadn't seen Mike since he had been home from his mission. We met at the BYU bookstore, of course, bought the new game day shirts and then went bowling in the Wilk. And then headed to Brick Oven for pizza.
Wednesday, Bryan and Matt worked on Matt's brakes and after getting started realized the roters needed to be replaced too. Emily and I took the kids and met Shauni and her kids at Fat Cats in Provo. We thought it had laser tag but it really only had bowling and a small arcade with no prizes. Emily and Shauni headed down to visit with Gpa Stewart and I stayed up in Provo to meet up with Jake and Mike again. Matt brought Bryan to the bookstore and then we met the boys at Cafe Rio for dinner. Then we went to Bridal Veil Falls before going to their flag football game. And then Creamery after the game. Those boys are so much fun and so good to my kids.
Thursday, we got ready to go to the "cabin" in the Pallisade State park. And went to a double baptism for Logan and Cheyenne. We got to the cabin a little later than we would have liked but I am glad we went Thursday night, it gave us all Friday to play in the water.
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| The new "umbrella" stroller I had shipped to Gma's house |
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| Benny Boo loves to squeeze and hide in little spaces. This box was loads of fun for the kids. |
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| The 2 little boys watching the cows and their dad chasing cows. |
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| The big boys near the cows. This was right before all the excitement of the ditch-jumping cows. |
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| At Fat Cats with Shauni |
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| My 3 big boys climbing the rocks at Bridal Veil Falls on Wednesday |
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| Mike carrying BennyBoo up the rocks through the water |
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| Jake carrying Luke through the water to get to climb the rocks |
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| Julia and I were content to wait at the bottom watching them climb and then the crowd followed them. |
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| Watching and feeding the fish "NO WADING OR SWIMMING PERMITTED" |
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| Three boys had to ride with their cousins but that didn't stop us from stopping at the Provo temple for a quick photo op. Julia had different plans. |
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| So the smiling kids got to come with me and take a decent photo :) |
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| Mike photo-bombing while the boys were trying to get together for a decent photo |
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| Everybody watching the boys play flag football |
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| Mike is in the black and Jake is in the gray, they play on the same team just no official uniforms |
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| Bryan and Julia at Bridal Veil Falls |
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| Mike and Benny before the game. I seriously love those boys. |
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| Bowling with the big boys |
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| Brick Oven after bowling |
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| Mike, Luke, Benjamin, and Jake at Bridal Veil Falls |
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| What you cannot see very well is Jacob tossing a football with my boys as we "hike" up to Bridal Veil Falls |
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| Oh that Benny just smiled and his cousins would do anything he asked in his voice. |
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