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Camping at Grandfather Mountain

2012-02-12T23:37:00.001-05:00

What a great trip!! We headed out for a weekend trip up to Grandfather Mountain where we hiked, camped, fished, and crossed the Mile High Bridge. The ride up was fun..I feel like we are finally to the point where traveling is easy and the kids are much more mature. We ended up hitting some traffic heading into the park so we made good use of our time and prepped for Christmas by cranking up the Christmas tunes and entertaining all of the cars around us. After the Christmas tunes we enjoyed some Michael Jackson..We were dancing, singing, laughing so hard and really enjoying each others company.

view from the sunroof

entertaining ourselves in the car

I love London's face in the next couple of pics...not sure why she was mad but the other two were having a blast

At the start of the hike it was soooo windy. Neil had to hold on to the kids so they wouldn't blow away!

walking a path

the monkies loved climbing the trees at rocks

Cannon finishing up taking a wiz:)

The wind was crazy strong!

I can't even explain how scary this was for London and I...we were almost crying. The wind and the height on top of the swinging bridge were freaking us out!

I didn't dare look down

What a beautiful view!

I love my boys!!

And my girls!!

My buddy got banged up his lip on a fall

Then London did the same thing!

Then a knee scrape

all in about 10 minutes

London and Cannon were comparing battle wounds

Posing...

Me and my Man

The Grandfather Mountain Museum

Love this picture of my super boy

All the kids wanted to do was fish

Teaching Cannon to cast...he picked it up right away

I was so excited to see him release, cast, and reel on his own. Proud mama moment.

London accidentally threw her pole in the stream

The girls knew exactly what they were doing

London was the BEST at gathering sticks for the fire

Neil and I were having fun taking pics of ourselves brushing our teeth and spitting :)

ALL of my kids are wuite good nose pickers!

Kennedy got a little hyper!

We had a great dinner of turkey and veggies and then smores. Breakfast was just as good and also followed with more smores :)

The kids all caught their first trout...they tasted soooo good!

I LOVE this picture of London

and this on of Cannon

They were good size fishes!

We had so much fun and we can't wait until our next camping trip!!

My cuties.

2012-02-12T22:11:00.000-05:00

Bonfire and Corn Maze with Friends

2012-02-12T22:07:00.000-05:00

I wish that I would have gotten more pictures of our outing with friends! I always get pics of the kids but not too often of the adults...it is as though we weren't even there:) Michelle put together a great night where we went to the corn maze, wagon rides, and had smores around the bonfire. We went in September and so the place was practically empty so we had the place to ourselves. I think that there ended up being around 50 of us. The kids had so much room to run and play. What a fun night!!

Cannon heads to school

2012-01-24T01:05:00.000-05:00

Apple Festival and apple picking

2012-01-24T01:03:00.000-05:00

We headed up to the apple festival in Hendersonville on a super rainy day...too rainy so we ended up just getting lunch and then decided to go and pick some apples. We ran into the Jolley's and decided to go do the apple picking together.

The awesome turkey legs!! They reminded us of Disney World!

The kids enjoyed cotton candy

Michelle tried to get a family picture for us :) This is what it really looks like when we try and get a photo together!

We always love picking apples and we always love hanging with the Jolley's. Oh...and we had the most AMAZING apple cider doughnuts (good idea, Michelle!) that were the best I have ever tasted. Melt in your mouth good.

Fun swimming and playing around

2012-01-24T00:50:00.000-05:00

Friends

2012-01-24T00:47:00.000-05:00

The kids all had friends over one day. They all had so much fun so I shot a few photos.

Kennedy and Savannah made a cake...they always seem to bake when they get together.

Hanging out in a fort

Braxten and Cannon helping each other out with costumes

London and Maddi making lunch

Happy 10 Year

2012-01-22T11:07:00.001-05:00

This summer Neil and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary. I wanted nothing to do with the planning since I do all of the planning for our trips so I left this one up to Neil. Ideal situation would have been to go on a cruise but we just spent a lot of money on our Utah trip so we wanted to go low key. Neil did a great job with the planning and all of the details...even making sure the kids were taken care of. We headed off to Savannah which was just beautiful. We put in a book on CD, Manhunt, and we were entertained the whole drive. This was my first trip (Neil had been before) to Savannah...I loved it but Charleston is still our favorite.

We carried around this silly map the whole time...true tourists! We had to search out a cupcake shop.

I love the creative ideas for the ghost tours!

I have a love for all southern trees

Lots of relaxing and people watching

We ate at Paula Dean's The Lady and Son's and we hated it. Usually there is a huge wait. We got really lucky with only an hour wait but we were sorely disappointed...it tasted like cafeteria food. See Neil's peach cobbler? Yes, those are canned peaches.

View from our hotel room

Neil set up para sailing for us. I was terrified and it was a first for both of us. WE. LOVED. IT! 850ft up into the air! I was gripping the ropes so tight that my hands were sore for a few days afterwards. We could see jellyfish all over the place!

After we went para sailing we grabbed lunch, went to the beach and then relaxed along the harbor before we did some kayaking on the ocean. We found these great rocking chairs in the shade and watched some Brian Regan on Neil's phone. It was relaxing watching everyone else chase their kids!

The next day we did an enviro tour and did some dolphin watching. It was super fun!

There was a storm coming in and we got some great pictures!

We had such a great trip! It was so relaxing yet we did fun things that we can't so with the kids in tow. What a wonderful 10 year with my sweet, handsome hubby! We need to get away more often!

5 Million Pictures and our Utah Trip...out of order and I am too lazy to fix them!

2011-10-24T00:05:00.002-04:00

I guess I will start out by saying that we had such a great trip to Utah and had so much fun with family and friends! We basically spent the whole month of July in Utah...by we I mean the kids and I. Neil came out for the last week that we were there. The car rental company accidentally zeroed out our bill after we returned our car, so we ended up getting a free car rental for the month...what a nice surprise!

Hanging with the family playing psychiatrist.

Cute little boys watching Hot Wheels: Battle Force 5

Every time we head out to Utah we hit up Sugar House Park so the kids can play on the hills. We used to go there on Sundays when Kennedy was little. This time we met up with Stacey and Aiden then went to lunch and to an inflatable jump around place.

This was our first trip meeting Lyla. We all loved her and had so much fun with her, Jeff & Andrea. They live with my mom so we were able to spend a lot of time with them and their little cutie.

She had a little static from the trampoline.

Hollywood Connection Day

We did a lot of park days with friends.

Anji, Danielle, myself, and Kellie

We did some pool days

London and her friend Afton

Sprinklers at grandma's

Lots of trampoline time...London actually landed on her neck this jump...poor girl.

Cannon playing with my camera

Summer and Marisa....two of my dearest friends. We had the funnest night and it was just like old times. I only took a couple of pics...they used their cameras so I just need to get the pics from them.

Fun new place in Provo called Provo Beach. I think we might have been the only ones there!

Home made water slide

Grandma spraying off the kids before they head back inside

Lyla pooping :)

Still pooping :)

All done and so cute!!

Shina

playing with sparklers and doing bottle rockets

Lafe

I think Jeff is picking his nose :)

Not sure what the girls were doing...by the look of London's eyes it may have been something a little freaky.

Fireworks on the 4th of July....we had our own fun. I stepped out of the dancing so I could take pics.

There was some hip-hop, tango, 80's, 90's, Michael Jackson's Thriller...

kick line

Not sure what Merrie and Andrea are doing but it looks GOOOOOD

That's what I am talking about!

not quite sure again

Hiking in Alpine up above sliding rock..I took my kids, Avery and Sage

We had to be careful of rattle snakes

Alpine has a new park with a splash pad that is 1/2 mile from my moms house...we walked there SOOO many times and always had fun.

Afton, London, Sage

Avery and Kennedy

Kennedy and Aiden watching a movie

Kennedy, London and Aiden ran around for awhile trying to make it to the end of the rainbows

I love Utah skies

At the airport on the way TO Utah...told you these were out of order!

4th of July Parade in Provo

A place where I would lay when I was little. With all of the things that we did while in Utah, this was one of the kids favorite things. We played there for hours. When I was little there was a lot more open space and fields but now there are so many houses.

Old tree house

Cannon would pick these any time he would find them...they are so big in Utah. I also got my kids to eat wild wheat...something we used to always do.

Alpine Cemetery

Love the views

We thought that it was interesting that the first man to be buried in Alpine was from NC.

Provo Canyon

The girls getting ready to go for a ride with Neil on Jeff and Andrea's mo-ped

Spanish Fork Rodeo

Get-together with the Wagstaffs and the Gasiks...look at all of those kids.! Last time we took a picture with all of our kids together there were only 3:)

My dear friends Amy and Monica

Neil, Mike, and Bart

Cannon and his "best friend" Milton

playing the candy bar game

Cannon, Jackson, and Quincey

Taking a picture of Nathan taking a picture

playing football

Merrie and Laural

Cannon wanted to take a picture of me with this rock :)

Merrie and Chad

Aiden and Jackson

24th of July

something funky happened to my skin on my hands and feet...it all peeled off and was so disgusting! Still don't know what caused it.

Kennedy practicing cheer

Neil and London on the scooter

London running around my dads grave...the only one I got while at the cemetery

We had such a fantastic trip...lots of family time, eating Subway and Iceberg, playing with family and friends, mountains, parks, and lots of playing.

CHEER

2011-09-17T23:57:00.000-04:00

THe day after we got back from Utah Kennedy started tryouts for Cheer. She had 4 days of tryouts for 3 hours each day. To let the girls that made it know that they were on the squad, they sent out an email. Kennedy was in bed but not asleep yet and I had Neil go in and tell her the good news. You can see the excitement on her face. We are so proud of her! It was a last minute decision to try out but she really worked hard. Her squad is 4th and 5th graders and they cheer every Saturday. She is having so much fun! I will post pics and hopefully videos soon.

Funny Little Guy

2011-09-17T23:06:00.002-04:00

Wanted his towel just like dad

4th of July Stake Activity

2011-09-08T23:17:00.000-04:00

We were able to celebrate the 4th of July with Neil the day before be headed out to Utah. We only went for the fireworks but we still had a great time. I think that we have a set spot to sit with the same families each year. Our kids always have fun and the fireworks are amazing.

CHARLESTON

2011-09-08T23:03:00.000-04:00

We headed down to Charleston in June as soon as swim team ended and before we headed to Utah. We love Charleston so much and we always have such a good time while we are there. Our first stop was Patriots Point and it was our first time there. We loved it and had so much fun. The kids loved all of the planes, touring the ship, and exploring the submarine.

Neil had to take a picture of this sign...he loved that it said "toots". I wonder where Cannon gets his love for potty talk?

I did get sea sick on the ship...sad since there was barely any wind the day we were on the ship.

We stayed at the Charleston Harbor Resort right by Patriots Point. When we got into our room and I opened the curtains their was a hawk on our balcony. It was a fun welcome for us all.

Ate at the Charleston Crab House...tradition.

We promised the kids that we would go to the beach the first day there so we got there as the sun was setting. We didn't have time after dinner to stop and get our suits.

I love how Cannon's burring in the wave after he fell...you can see the top of his head:)

London's crack is always showing...Neil was had to point it out:)

Making lines in the sand while I run...the kids try to follow the lines and catch me.

The next morning we got to the beach by 5:30, ate breakfast and watched the sun rise.

The kids found a dead horseshoe crab

Something about the mornings...there is crab poop everywhere!

Swim Team 2011

2011-08-16T01:51:00.023-04:00

I can't remember if I have blogged about swim team this year...I haven't been so consistent with blogging. The girls had another great year and brought home a lot of ribbons. I love watching them swim. I love yelling for them and and seeing their sweet little faces come up out of the water for breath. I love that they swim so much better then I could ever dream. I love that they are part of a team, that they cheer for each other and their teammates. I love how much hard work they put into practicing. I love that whether they win or not, they still have fun. I am proud of my girls and I LOVE watching them swim.

The girls had such a great swim season this year!! They both were so much fun to watch! They improved so much and they came home with some great ribbons! Here are some pics from a few of their meets.

London had never done the backstroke before so her coach had her try in practice the morning of a meet. That night when she competed in the backstroke she won...first time. So proud!!

Kennedy's favorite was the butterfly...she took so much off of her time in all of her events!

Look at the win she pulled of....look at that distance!!

London graduates from Kindergarten

2011-08-16T01:13:00.000-04:00

London and her wonderful teacher, Mrs. Starnes. She was such a great teacher and so kind to her students. London lucked out getting her!

London and her friends Alexa and Lexi

London with Mrs Archer, her assistant teacher.

London had such a great year and learned so much. She was given the award for the Most Athletic Girl. Way to go London!!

Why we LOVE living in a culdesac

2011-08-16T00:53:00.000-04:00

Nightly bike riding makes my kids happy!

London mid-air of her crash

Kennedy's 9 Year Photo Shoot...when did she grow up?

2011-08-16T00:38:00.000-04:00

Saying Good Bye to Girl Scouts

2011-08-16T00:13:00.000-04:00

Kennedy had her bridging ceremony which was the most boring thing that I have ever been to. Besides the ceremony, we have been so happy with Girl Scouts and Kennedy's wonderful troop and leaders. It had been such a positive experience and we are sad that she is no longer doing the program but since this last school year was so busy and chaotic the kids had to choose which activities to drop.

We had a great party with the other Girl Scout families where the girls received their final badges for the year and we had food, fun, and a presentation by the girls. Kennedy will definitely miss Girl Scouts and I am so grateful for the experience that she had.

Dance 2011

2011-08-15T23:23:00.000-04:00

The girls went to a brand new studio this year and we were so happy with it. It is small and very age appropriate. The girls worked really hard in their classes. They each took Ballet, Tap, and jazz/hip hop. Here are a plethora of pictures (completely out of order, mind you) that I took at their performance. One of these days I will try and put video on here. We are so proud of our girls!

The girls were so excited to have their Aunt Melinda, Grandma and Grandpa at the performance!

Playing around before bed

2011-06-23T15:35:00.000-04:00

Great Wolf Lodge

2011-06-23T15:29:00.000-04:00

We headed up to Great Wolf Lodge a few weekends ago and had such a great time! I wish that I would have taken pictures at the water park because we had such a great time but it was because we had such a great time that I didn't take any pictures. It was well worth the money and I am sure that we will definitely go back!

London showing off the jammies that I made for her with guidance from Deb

Kennedy showing the jammies that she made with Grandmas help.

Speaks for Itself

2011-06-23T15:19:00.000-04:00

I sure love this spazz!

Love having great neighbors

2011-06-23T15:18:00.000-04:00

This is our neighbor Rachael. She is 16 and such a beautiful, smart, and great girl. This was before she headed out to prom. The kids all love her so much and she is a fantastic babysitter. She was 11 when we became neighbors and turns 17 this weekend. I can't believe it has been that long! We sure love her!

Parent observation week at dance--London

2011-06-23T15:13:00.000-04:00

Our Little Super Hero

2011-06-23T15:12:00.000-04:00

Cannon has become quite obsessed lately with super hero's. This Spider-man costume is the only one we have though so even though it is too small, it will have to do.

Strawberry Picking

2011-06-23T15:10:00.000-04:00

Easter

2011-06-23T15:08:00.000-04:00

Did I post this photo already? I can't remember. This is the only Easter pic that I have of the kids together. Love em'!

Spring Break

2011-06-23T14:54:00.000-04:00

For Spring Break we headed up to DC. It had been almost 5 years since the last time we were up there so we thought that it was about time. Neil's sister, Melinda lives there also so we thought it would be great to see her also. The first day of Spring Break was April 18th...Kennedy's birthday. We stopped at Target on the way up and Kennedy picked out an Itouch that she used her birthday money and other money that she had been saving on. She was ecstatic and she has taken to that thing like no other gift. So, we spent the day driving. Cannon was still sick with some sort of stomach bug and a fever. I rode in the back of the van with him on my lap where he slept for almost the whole drive. He had been throwing up the night before and I thought that it was pretty much done. We checked into our hotel and then headed to the DC temple.

Poor Cannon felt horrible. Look at that sad face!

The girls insisted on having pictures of them, hoping that it looked like they were holding up the temple.

After the temple we headed to Red Robin per Kennedy's request and had her birthday dinner. I can't believe she in 9!

Cannon threw up on the table and on my lap and then zonked out on Neil's lap.

She always gets embarrassed when the servers sing to her.

The next day we headed to the Smithsonian. We walked almost 9 miles...the kids were exhausted.

Playing tag on the lawn of the Washington Memorial.

Thank goodness Cannon started feeling better!

London tried taking off her sweatshirt and got stuck. Silly girl.

Cannon is slightly obsessed with maps.

One of the days we headed to Mt Vernon. I had never been there before. On my mission I served in the Mount Vernon ward and passed it nearly every day so it was nice to actually visit. It was fascinating and so beautiful. The kids really enjoyed themselves. I think that we were all cranky and tired while we were there but overall it was a great experience.

London trying to push the stroller up the stairs and Neil getting a kick out of her.

Neil thought that it would be funny to take a picture of me getting mad at Cannon for punching Kennedy in the eye.

Cannon, always picking his nose....we will take what we can get.

The next day we headed to the national zoo. Honestly we were not impressed. It was SO crowded and the animals were not much different then the ones at other zoos. There was a panda so that was neat. We decided to skip the rest and go do something else like eat cupcakes.

Waiting in line for over an hour...thank goodness for technology.

We promised the kids that we would ride the subway one day. We almost lost Kennedy on one of the trains...seriously so close. we went to the Holocaust museum and then hit another cupcake shop on the way back. Both cupcakes places were delicious.

Overall it was a great trip!! Love family vacay's!!

Daddy Daughter Date

2011-06-05T23:57:00.001-04:00

Kennedy had her annual Daddy Daughter Date for Girl Scouts. She and Neil had a great time as usual dancing the night away with the other dads and daughters. Neil always makes it special for Kennedy and dances like a mad man. It seems like every year he comes home saying how bad he feels for some of the other girls because their dads just sit on the side and won't dance. Poor girls. Neil and Kennedy came home exhausted from a great evening together. I am grateful for bonding times like this!

Kennedy is 9!!

2011-06-02T21:43:00.000-04:00

This year for Kennedy's birthday we allowed her to have a sleepover and invite as many girls as she would like. The party was a a lot of fun! Neil grilled up some hot dogs, and the girls munched chips and fruit and then we did smores. I was SO surprised how may girls had never roasted marshmallows and never had a smore. We had to teach most of them how to do it and how to put them together. They had a lot of fun. The we played games in the yard, played kick-the-can, sardines in the can, and played in the rock park by our house. I bought quite a bit of candy so after presents were opened, movies were watched and the girls did lots of munch. THEN...the party turned a little sour. The girls went to bed REALLY late and I think that they were all overly tired. Girls were scaring other girls and some of the girls started crying...I am looking back on it and it really was funny...but at the time I felt horrible for Kennedy that it had turned into a cry fest. I warned the girls that were scaring the others that if they didn't stop then I would take them home...and I ended up taking one home and another one's dad came and picked her up...at 2 am. In the morning everything was fabulous and and the girls were all in great moods. Overall it was a success but I think that sleepovers are now a thing of the past!

16 GIRLS!!!

Kennedy decorated her own cake this year...now that I think of it she did it last year also. 9...where has the time gone?

Kennedy has been saving up her money and used her birthday money and bought herself an i-touch. She loves the thing. Kennedy is such a great girl and we love her so much! We are so happy that she is part of our family!

Another Zoo Trip

2011-05-26T01:17:00.000-04:00

Comparing his wingspan with the birds'

Look at that giraffe tongue

Poor tortoise was stuck

Love her little bum crack

What a TERRIFIC Kid!!

2011-05-26T00:10:00.000-04:00

Kennedy was selected by her teacher as the Terrific Kid for the quarter. We went to a breakfast where she was honored along with other kids that were selected by teachers. Per her teacher: "Kennedy is always very respectful to both adults and her peers. She is always kind and patient with others. She is very soft-spoken. She always does what she is asked and sets a positive example for other students. She is truly a terrific kid." We are so proud of her and how she always aims to do her best. She truly is a joy and a wonderful daughter.

Smores

2011-05-21T22:00:00.000-04:00

We love our little cheap-o fire pit that we got for Neil for Fathers Day a few years ago. We lvoe hanging out by the fire, spending time as a family and roasting marshmallows...then turning them into smores! The kids love it and would do it every night if we would let them.

Making sad faces

It's all about the hair

2011-05-10T22:24:00.000-04:00

Cannon is very particular about his hair. He does NOT like it cut, does not like it brushed up in any way...he likes it flat, flat, flat. HE took it upon himself the other night to wet the comb and do his do...what a cutie.

Crafts with Mom

2011-05-10T21:40:00.000-04:00

The girls school has a crafts with mom day...last year it was "muffins with mom". I went to London's class on Monday and Kennedy's class on Tuesday. We did 2 foam crafts with each visit. The girls seemed to have fun and liked their crafts. With Cannon in attendance also, these are the only photos that I was able to get. I always feel bad for those kids that have no one come...it make my heart ache and ant the same time it makes me so grateful that I am able to stay at home and be there for my kids and their special occasions at school.

I love these girls so much. They make me want to rip my hair out..but I love them just the same. It is always fun to do some girl time.

Cannon insisted on putting his feet in front of the camera---that was no accident. :)

GOTR Spring Season

2011-05-10T21:08:00.000-04:00

This was a great season of Girls on the Run. I had 16 girls on a lot of different levels. There were a few girls that ALWAYS complained but they were all ROCK STARS on race day. Neil ran with Kennedy on race day while I was planning on running with a few girls that weren't going to have a parent run with them. They ended up having their parents run with them so I just pushed Cannon in the stroller. After about half a mile some of the parents decided to leave their girls in the dust (I know...really???) so I ended up running with 3 of my girls through most of the race and finish with 1. I was so proud of them all. Neil and Kennedy had a great run and had a great time together. SO PROUD!! A few days after the race Kennedy and London went on a run with me and we did 3 miles...London keeps saying that she can't wait until she can do Girls on the Run also!

Most of my girls

Stretching before the race

The first stretch of the race..a little crowded. London was going to sit in the stroller also but when she saw Grandma there she decided to sit with her.

On the last stretch

My last stretch with Alysa...this was a big deal for her to finish...she does not have a great support system at home and is in the principals office a lot. I was so proud of her...she had a HUGE smile when she crossed the finish line.

Kennedy and London with Molly Barker, the founder of Girls on the Run. After I crossed the finish line London ran back with Neil across the finish line and received a medal.

A reenactment of them crossing the finish line.

Introducing...

2011-05-08T23:47:00.000-04:00

The newest High Counselor in the Charlotte, North Carolina South Stake. This isn't the actual picture taken when President Cheney issued the calling...but I think that this is how Neil possibly felt inside. Our friends have been having a good time teasing him and giving him a hard time about the boring talks that he will be giving. It is all out of love! All joking aside, I am so very proud of Neil. He is such and amazing husband, father, and so devoted to our Father in Heaven. President Cheney said that the Spirit strongly confirmed to him of Neil's new calling when he visited our ward during ward conference. We have such an amazing Stake President that I am so in awe of. He is amazing and the meeting with him when Neil was issued the calling was so spiritual. He truly is a man of God. This is a big calling and will require quite a bit of time and preparation. He is over the Stake Young Womens program and I know that he will do fabulous. He will be attending Youth Conference, YW camp, dances, etc. Meetings 6:30 am on Sunday mornings, and 3rd Sunday speaking assignments. His first speaking assignment is in the Spanish Branch this Sunday where he will have to have a translator. Love my hubby...proud of the man that he is.

Easter

2011-05-08T23:27:00.000-04:00

Bill and Deb put on a wonderful Lunch and Easter Egg Hunt. The kids had a blast and the food was fabulous as always.