This week we took a trip to Boone Monday and Tuesday for my birthday then four kids went to DC on Thursday and Friday. Saturday we cleaned and cooked for Madalyn and Spencer's farewell on Sunday. Definitely a picture overload week. Sorry! But I don't want anyone to feel bad if I don't put their picture on. Click on them and you can move through the pictures closer up.
Monday: We borrowed a friend's minivan so we could have a girls' van and a boys' van. Seven girls in my van (Lexi drove so I could sit in back and read on my birthday!) and four boys in the other. Caravaning cost us some time and gas money but safer and more comfortable than squishing. We haven't gone anywhere all together since the BYU kids came home so we hadn't needed a 2nd vehicle until now.
We missed a few exits so we got to Linville Falls later than I wanted. Instead of looking for picnic tables we parked ourselves outside the visitor center and quickly ate so we could start hiking. I loved seeing my kids happily eating and chatting. I couldn't believe I was on a trip with them all.
Linville River
We were going to recreate a photo from 2010 of the kids sitting on this tree and were so sad it was cut down! Spencer is saluting it.
Everyone sad.
The picture of the 4 oldest in 2010 we wanted to recreate.
Linville Falls
Here's another picture we recreated. We tried to get every pose and facial expression the same.
All of us!
I loved hiking with my kids. They held hands with their buddies and talked and laughed the whole time. My heart was so full.
Spencer and Samuel carried the backpacks and were the leaders behind me.
Another viewpoint of the falls.
Kylie and Tilly. Oldest and youngest.
My 3 big girls. Alexis 16, Kylie 21, Madalyn 20.
Kaitlyn, 12, with her doll.
Not sure what the 6 girls were doing but it looked like a great picture.
Samuel and Spencer, 8 and 18.
Next stop was Linville Caverns. We were the only ones there and it was nice and cool after hiking. It's the first time the 5 little kids have been in a cave before. It was a short 30 minute tour, perfect for our attention span.
Recreating the picture from 2010.
And everyone else wanting their picture on the rock.
Then we drove into Boone and ate dinner at a Mexican restaurant. I've never taken all 10 out to eat before so it was really special. The kids couldn't believe we were eating at a real restaurant. Since it's the last quality time with all 10 every moment was special actually. Not to mention getting to see sites we saw in 2010 and 11. We were excited to relive those memories too. It was a great trip!
Spencer and Thomas eating a huge plate of nachos after eating their entree.
My grandparents would take all their kids and grandkids to a Mexican restaurant in Payson so I hope to carry that on by being able to take my kids and grandkids at family reunions.
The girls put together a little party for me while I was in the exercise room.
They bought me a lidded frying pan we needed and rubber spatulas.
We got 2 suites. One slept 6 and the other slept 5. The only time we've ever had enough beds. :)
Tuesday: I took this to send to Spencer to get him to come to breakfast. He was missing out!
I brought my own breakfast from home but everyone else enjoyed the hotel food.
We took 3 of the 6 tables. :)
Grandfather Mountain. We saw it in 2011 and were excited to see it again with the little kids.
First we saw the animals and heard the ranger talk about them.
The sea lions are my favorite.
Everyone wanting a picture of their wingspan.
I looked over and saw Samuel reading his map like an old man reading his paper and it was so cute.
In front of the bear exhibit.
Crossing the mile high suspension bridge.
Talea
Makenna
Makenna and Madalyn
Madalyn 2011 age 9.
Kylie
Alexis
Kylie and Alexis in 2011 ages 10 and 6.
Thomas holding a doll while the girls take pictures.
Six sisters!
It was so windy and hard to get a good picture.
I love the view up here with rolling green hills as far as you can see.
A 2011 throwback.
They were so cute! Where does the time go?
Kylie and Alexis. They'll be BYU buddies next year. Can't believe they're that old (21 and almost 17.)
Madalyn. Soon to go to Nauvoo on her mission.
Hiking under the bridge.
Not quite a re-creation pic but close.
The rocks are so huge!
Samuel
Tilly and Kylie
Watching Thomas and Spencer try to climb them.
Alexis
We heard Thomas calling us and looked up and he was way up there!
Can you see him now?
Kylie thought this was a perfect place for a splits photo. I agree!
Spencer thought this was a perfect place for a dead man photo? Or a nap?
Alexis
Thomas
Madalyn and Makenna
Eating a picnic dinner before heading home. It was a wonderful trip! Everyone was cooperative and cheerful, the best birthday gift ever. Nobody complained or insisted on doing things their way. I got to pick everything and the kids went along with it and had a great attitude.
Wednesday: Hunting for all the metal in the front woods and dragging it to a big pile.
Getting quite the big pile.
Thursday: Someone gave us this desk and Talea loves it! She's been an artist since birth.
The 5 little kids playing dragons in their nests.
First sugar snap pea picking!
Friday: Tilly happily producing picture after picture in her new desk.
Saturday: Alexis went to a girls camp meeting and was going to bring home my order of groceries. Spencer needed cheese for lunch and said he'd wait. He asked me many times when she'd be here so I called and asked her, telling her he's dying of starvation. She said her meeting went long. When she finally pulled up at 2:15 I was on the porch cutting Spence's hair. She walked up with a grin on her face and said, "Spencer I bring you a peace offering for being so late with your cheese." He jumped out of the chair, grabbed the container of sandwiches left over from her meeting and yelled, "Wahoo!! Lunch!" and ran inside with them. He sat down and ate them all. They were both laughing and talking. It's the best thing when your children are best friends.
Time for a missionary haircut! One week until he starts home MTC.
With all 10 kids here, my mom here, and my cousin and his wife visiting, these 3 ended up camping in the reading spot.
All of us after Spencer and Madalyn spoke in church. My cousin and his wife are on the far left. Then my mom. The rest are me and my kids.
We invited the whole ward for lunch after church. We live so far out of town I didn't figure many would come. Just the right amount did. We had sandwiches (Maddie's request) and taco salad (Spencer's request) and a great time.
Playing games with my cousin Nathan and his wife Alyssa.
Kylie holding our friend's baby.
Tilly and her friend Elijah.
Thomas has passed Kylie!
But not Madalyn!
Some of the little kids with Nathan and Alyssa. It's the first time they've been here or met my kids and they were great. They just got married in December and so fun to hang out with.
Looking out the kitchen window toward the driveway. It was so pretty with the lights just coming on.
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