Our Vacation-Part 2

Friday morning we were up early and on our way to the Wild Animal Park

Check out this family picture...everyone is looking...most people are smiling...everyone looks fairly cute aka no bare bellies, no one picking their nose, no strange faces...and Charlie is on his blackberry...GRRRR! He got yelled at when we got home.

This is us feeding the Lorikeets. It was definately one of the highlights of the trip. I think it was Chuck's favorite part! It didn't hurt that they all liked him!

Check out the cracker hanging out of Caleb's mouth. I think he thought he was one of them.

3 of my kiddos and the Flamingos

The train ride

The Carousel

And another highlight...feeding the deer. They absolutely LOVED it. All 4 of them. Last week they were taking pictures by the deer daddy "harvested." This week they are feeding/petting them. Love it.

We were taking a Diet Coke (wish it were Pepsi) break, and grandpa got this cute picture of my Caleb. Only water for him.

Completely worn out.

We had a great time at the Wild Animal Park, and I have a TON more great pictures, but I thought I would spare you. Be prepared for more on the next post.

We had a great day...but I royally screwed up. The weather before we left said the high would be 70 the whole time we were there. Chuck's friend said it would be a chilly 70. We were trying really hard to pack really lightly. I packed TOO lightly. I brought pants and only pants for everyone. We roasted. So after we left the park we headed straight for Old Navy (gotta love the GPS) to buy everyone shorts so we didn't roast at Sea World too.

After our shopping was done we drove to the San Diego temple to check it out. It was beautiful! I love that temple. We got a few pictures before it got too dark.

Our Vacation-Part 1

For fall break we decided to go to California. And can I just say...I love Priceline. We got 2 hotel rooms, for 3 nights, with full kitchens-big fridge, stove, microwave, sink, dishes...for $35 a night. Anyway, moving on, after school on Wednesday we jumped in the car and headed for St. George. We spent the evening visiting with the Balch's. Thursday morning we were up early. We got in the car again, this time with grandma and grandpa (thanks for coming, we love having you on vacation with us...and you are a HUGE help!). We stopped in Vegas to wander around The Bass Pro Shop. Cool stuff there...loved the big stuffed giraffe. After stretching our legs there, we were on our way to California. We checked into our hotel, then headed back out. We bought some groceries and then went to Old Town, San Diego. There were little shops, and restaraunts, and old buildings...

And a huge cactus

Prickly

Jacob really wanted to shoot a big ball out of this cannon...
Cute husband I have, huh?

We didn't spend long there, Chuck wasn't all that impressed.

Then, just to appease me, we went to the beach. We got there about 2 minutes before dark. We didn't spend much time there either, but I always like the beach.

This is Jacob...he takes after his dad...not really a beach person...


This was him last year at the beach...pretty unsure

I'll work on him.

My beach bum...she could've stayed there for hours running from the waves

Caleb seemed to enjoy himself too

Once we were good and sandy we headed to the Sizzler by our hotel for the salad bar. Then we crashed...

Officially Eloped!

So, I guess the cat's out of the bag! Rich got hitched! He has been dating Suzanne Rowser for quite some time now, and a few weeks ago they came over to announce that they had booked a cruise for November...which translates to "we are engaged." Then Suzanne's family planned a great family BBQ for us to get acquainted/reacquainted with the Rowser boys/in-laws/kiddos. It was a great time! But still a secret...until they showed up last night ranting and raving about the GREAT show they went to in Vegas...which translates into "we are married!" So...welcome to the fam Suzanne. And the rest of you Rowser people! We are excited! Jacob especially...he REALLY wants to go the the "volleyball house" again! Congratulations Dad and Suzanne. We love you!

Hopefully I will be able to post some pictures of the cute couple with Elvis soon! Just kidding guys! But you know I'm going to harass you about it.

Family Party

Last Sunday we had a huge family BBQ, and we had a blast. I took my camera...but my batteries were dead. So, I sneakily asked for some pics and got this awesome collage. So I'm using it. On my blog. Is that plagerism? Oh well, thanks Sooz! You're an awesome photography/collage maker. Never knew my dad could play such a mean game of volleyball. Thanks for a fun time!

Chad

My most awesome cousin (okay, ONE of my most awesome cousins) had a liver transplant over the summer. Please check out his story by clicking on my new link...NFT...and help out if you can!

9 Months

Caleb turned 9 months old at the end of September. This is the most awesome kid you will ever meet! We love him to death.

He started crawling awhile ago and I never posted about it. So here you go, some proud parent videos that no one but us probably want to watch!

Have you ever seen a cuter baby!?

I regret to say...

That finally...after years (only a few) of very successful hunts...Charles "knocked down a deer." I know, I know. Gross. But I had to post pictures. I try every year to talk him into NOT shooting a deer, and he has been very compliant. Until this year. What did I do with it, you ask? Did I slop it on my kitchen table, and butcher it myself, then wrap it and freeze it like a good wife would? He#@ no! I did not. I'm paying someone to do that. Anyone want to come to Sunday dinner?!

Tyler was with him. Which I was glad for.

Sadly I have no pictures of the last deer he took. I was meaner then. I made him drive down the mountain and straight to his aunts house to drop it off. And he did. I love this man!!!

And truthfully, I am happy for him. It is more fun to hunt when you get something. And my kids were so excited. Brielle was devastated when she woke up the next morning and it was gone. She wanted to show all her friends. They miss it. But Brooke is dang excited about the jerky!

Tumbleweeds

Tuesday night was windy...anyone in the market for tumbleweeds?!

You sure?! I'll give em to you for cheap!


So I took pictures of the tumbleweeds...and a little while later...I was taking pictures of this...

Notice it's September 30th

Work, Work, Work

So the last week of September we headed for the hills. It was the Muzzleloader hunt so we wanted to do a little camping/hunting. We weren't very prepared as we forgot the trailer keys, the contact solution, and baby bottles for Caleb, but we made do. Charles and Jacob spent Thursday night up there, and the rest of us went up on Friday. The kids each took an evening to go out on the 4-wheeler with Chuck. While we were in camp we adopted a dog. He must have been lonely because he hung out at camp all evening. He ate out of the fire pit, wandered around, and fell asleep a couple of different times. He was very nice, but having two girls who are deathly afraid of dogs, it was a very frustrating night for me. My kids wouldn't leave the trailer. That is way to little of a space for kids to hang out in hour after hour. Especially when it's nice outside.

Saturday morning we got up, and headed for the cabin. My dad, Blake and some of our relatives were out there putting a new roof on the cabin. So we went to help. We showed up the same time Nolan and Erica did and the boys got to work.
That's my man hanging out of that cage up there, but no worries...my cuz has a good hold of the back of his pants (pretty intimate for a first time meeting.)

And that's Rich clutching the side...completely exhausted. I think he eventually just stopped standing up...too much work.

And that is my entire life reaching for the sun...my man and 3 of my kids. I was pretty dang surprised at how high up that this goes. I wish I would've been able to get a picture of how high they actually were. Nervous....

We had a good time hanging out, and visiting, and eating...of course. After the roof was done we headed back to camp for a few hours, and then pulled the trailer home. It was a busy weekend, but fun!