Pictures

Our team's service project: packing food for a charity that takes food to starving children. Similar charity to the 5K we did, but not the same. 

After the service project we went to the Mall of America to do the theme park. 

Here's a few more pictures from that fun. 

I thought these hugging pictures were so cute!

Because of all the moving we've done, I haven't made homemade cookies for some time. Usually I make them a lot, so the kids were so excited when I made some the other day.  This is in our Texas kitchen. Lily sat down in front of the oven the whole time they were cooking. 

There is no shortage of swim time here in Texas. Really there isn't much else to do! 

This is during a work party.

Though there isn't a lot to do, we do want to try out a few fun things Abilene has to offer. This drive-in theater is one of them.  We saw a double feature of new releases - How to Train your Dragon 2, and Maleficent. It was cheaper than 1 movie at the regular theater and the kids thought it was the FUNNEST thing ever. (Although, really, I wouldn't stay for two movies next time. It was SO late!)

Trying to do our "dead" pose. I don't know what Ethan is doing.

Red Bud park isn't far. It's a  fun one for kids. 

Although Sydney got bit by a prairie dog the first time we went. Luckily it didn't break skin, just cracked her nail and it hurt like heck. She learned you don't put your hand near their holes. lol

More of our fun pool. 

I just had to throw one in of our "old fashioned" oven, specifically the timer. I swear this is the same oven we had growing up. Mom?

 Cheese!

Okay, so blogging really isn't something I can keep up with daily. I had high hopes, but rest assured I have been taking some pictures so I will post them when I find my camera, which I'm sure is in Wendell's car.

 Today I will post the cell phone pictures I have taken, which aren't as good.

First off, we are now in Abilene Texas.  The Sunday after we arrived in Minnesota, we were told that we were all moving to Texas. Wendell is selling for Vivint, a security system company.  After only a few days I had fallen in love with Eden Prairie, MN.  It was so green and pleasant. Now (as of last night) we are in dry, hot, ugly Abilene. lol.  But it's okay because it is all an adventure. Also we found out we will be coming home in 3 weeks, while Wendell continues working through September in various places.  Gotta love this job! You never know what is going to happen.  :O)

As soon as we found out we were moving to MN, we looked up what there would be to do. Mall of America caught my kids' attention and this guy hasn't been able to talk about anything else.  So we made a couple of visits. Here Ethan is standing in front of some lego sculptures which are up above the LEGO store. They were awesome.

We did go back and spend most of the day at the Nickelodeon theme park in the middle of the mall. I have more pictures on my camera. 

We have gotten A LOTTA swimming in! 

This is how we like to chill in the sun.

This is the best thing ever! Sydney turned 12 on the 12th - while in MN. The next week their YW/YM group was going to the temple to do baptisms for the dead.  I'm grateful my bishop had enough forsight to give her an interview before we moved and she has a recommend with her (he gave strict instructions not to use it before she turned 12, haha)! So these are some of the cute girls she did baptisms with. We are so sad we didn't get to spend the summer there. They were so nice. She loved the experience. 

I was a little bummed that I wasn't with her for her first time, but I couldn't leave the younger kids. But it's okay we will go together as soon as we can.  

The ward in MN did a Relief Society activity at one of 4 fire stations in the area. It was fun.

Last Saturday Sydney and I ran in a 5K benefitting a charity.  The Vivint girls all signed up to do it. We got their before everyone and they didn't actually make it on time, so we went ahead and ran it without them.  It was such a fun experience. I've never done a race before and I need to be training for the Top of Utah half, so this was really good for me. I was able to push myself, where I haven't been because my knee has problems. It was so nice to see that I could do this distance without pain!

After the race we hit the road for another 2 days of driving.

Girls car

And the boys with Daddy.

We passed through Kansas, Missouri (and stopped in Liberty to see Liberty Jail), and Oklahoma. 

Here's Texas.  Wide and flat as far as the eye can see. It's amazing.

Stay tuned for more for more awesome pictures!

day 6 - raining and stormy outside

It was kind of a lazy day today. 

Day 5

Today we found the local library just a few minutes away. I was able to sign up for a library card and check out a couple of books. When my card arrives in the mail I will be able to check out 30, and my kids can each have their own, too. They are excited about being able to get new books. Kinda hard to make them read 20 minutes a day if they don't have books, so this worked out great!

After dinner we went over to my sister's apartment where there is a tiny little "lake" with a walking trail around it.  We took the kids for a walk to wear them out. It was so beautiful.  

We saw rabbits, turtles and lots of cool birds. Most of all we saw a kazillion mosquitos making a meal out of us. sick. By the time we got home my kids were wiped out, so I think an after dinner walk might have to become our routine. 

Day 4 - Sydney's birthday

 Sydney's birthday started off with breakfast at OPH, as they call themselves, or Original Pancake House.  We had the buttermilk pancakes, and the birthday girl had french toast.  Boy, was it delish!

We also went to the local mall, which is a thousand times bigger than ours in Logan. At least it seemed that way. And no, I'm not talking about the Mall of America which some of you are anxious to hear about. That will be in a few days. 

We spent the afternoon swimming at the indoor pool at the apartments with Ashlee and the kids. 

Then after dinner we had cake and ice cream, without daddy because he works late most nights. Sydney's request was "better than kissing" cake, or "better than everything" cake. ha ha. Mmmm. Delish.

Sydney is fairly mature for her age, so she definitely seems 12. It's crazy to think of how old I'm getting, though. Yikes.

Day 3 - beach

After spending most of the day setting up house and shopping and SHOPPING, we got to spend some time with Ashlee and the kids at Lake Bryant. Or is it Bryant Lake? Anyway, it's a super fun place.

Day 2 - Mount Rushmore and more driiiiiving

 Mount Rushmore was really cool. 

And on the road again. Another 8 + hours to go!