Family Togetherness

The last six weeks or so have all been about family time. We took a nice long vacation to visit my family in Richland, WA the week of the 4th of July. We did lots of fun things while we were there. On the 4th we decided to go to Fish Hook park and play on the Snake River. There is a nice little swimming area for the kids. They had lots of fun, especially playing with the mud.

My cute Adam, getting dry

After swimming we went back to Grandma's house for dinner, and of course, my 4th of July surprise cake. After dinner we went over to my Aunt Robin's house to watch the fireworks. They allow areal fireworks where my family lives, in West Richland, there were fireworks going off all around us, for hours, it was amazing, unfortunately, not everyone was very careful, and several fires were started. Luckily there was no serious damage, but I wouldn't be surprised if this is the last year we will see something like that.

Later in the week we took a trip up to Spokane. There is a fun park on the Spokane River. The Spokane River Falls were amazing! We got to ride a tram over the biggest falls. It was a lot of fun.

We spent the night in Spokane and then went to Silver Wood Amusement Park the next day. We had lots of fun riding rides and eating yummy food. Adam was excited to ride the train.

And then it got robbed, by a giant named Tiny. The boys gave Tiny some money so he wouldn't shoot us. :0)

Jacob rode his very first scary roller coaster. He has been on some big rides, like Tower of Terror, and Splash Mountain at Disneyland. But this was his first real, big, roller coaster. He was scared. Look at that pout.Nervously waiting to get on the ride.

He loved it! He sat behind me with Randy. When the ride stopped I could hear him giggling. He said to Randy, "I kept my mouth shut the whole time." Randy said, "I only yelled a little." Jacob said, "No, dad, you yelled the whole time!" Maybe he was hearing me. Even thought he loved it, he didn't want to do it again. I rode the scariest roller coaster of my life there too. It was called Aftershock. It goes 65 mph, takes you straight up, straight down, twists and turns, it was awful, and I usually love roller coasters. I screamed my head off, I almost hyperventilated. It was no good, too scary for me. I feel light headed just thinking about it.

We loved visiting Grandma and Grandpa in Washington. It was sad to leave, and the drive home was not nearly as nice. But we made it.

A couple weeks after our vacation we got to go celebrate Randy's Grandpa Olsen's 91st Birthday. It was to see some of Randy's extended family, and especially to see Grandpa Olsen. He is getting old and doesn't remember us, but he made sure to tell each one of us how much he loves us. It was sweet.

Jacob pushing Natalie on the swings
Adam and Sunny on the teeter totter

The first week of August family came to us. My brother Aaron and his family came to visit from New Mexico. Because he was coming my mom decided to come down too, they have to meet in the middle. And then we were surprised by a visit from my Grandma Vicky, who lives in California. She just happened to come up for a wedding the same week.

Natalie Victoria loved Grandma Vicky! She went right to her and cuddled her, she doesn't usually take to people that quickly. It was so sweet. I guess something about the name links them.

One night we stayed up late playing Monopoly with Aaron. Jacob beat us all, by a lot, way to go Jacob!
He got to stay up late that night because he let Randy pull his tooth. The space is hard to see in this picture, but it really is pretty big.
While Aaron was here we took the kids to the Children's area of the Church History Museum. Natalie loved wearing this costume. She even twirled her skirt. It was so cute. There are a lot of fun activities there.

This is Nathan trying to lift the gold plates, they are heavy.
Playing in Nephi's Ship

Before we left the museum we walked through the rest of it. They have a replica of bunks in a ship that Mormon immigrants came to America in. Lots of our ancestors came across the ocean in ships, so it was fun to tell my boys about it and let them feel how uncomfortable it would have been to sleep in a ship.

Natalie, Sammy (Aaron's son), Adam, Jacob, and Nathan in front of a replica of a log cabin.

Natalie and Grandma Vicky4 Generations-Natalie, Me, my mom Gina, and Grandma VickyAdam, me, Jacob, Grandma Gina, Sammy, Natalie, Aaron, Grandma Vicky, and Nathan

One last picture, just because it is cute and funny. This is what I get when I let Nathan dress himself. I am going to have to pick his cloths for Kindergarten, I am also going to have to make sure that nothing is on backwards, that he is wearing underwear, and that his shoes are on the right feet. Cute Kid!