We had a great trip, it's also good to be back we love it here but oh how I wish Kirksville was a little-no! a LOT-closer to home!

Saturday we totally lucked out because the Mecham family was headed to St. George for Father's Day so we met up at Uncle Jim and Aunt Celia's for a swim and lunch and had a great time. So fun to see them and catch up! (And totally fascinating to Cannon that his Grama is their Grama's sister 😄) Then Grampa Chip got back from riding and had the horse all saddled so we went to the feed yard and played cowboy with all six little boys!! It was a too hot. I think they headed back to the pool after-and rightly so! But we still had fun.

The boys loved getting to see Uncle Jim's bird Captain. And speaking of birds-boy do we have a good story: Cannon loves birds of prey! (Pre-Cannon I don't think I even knew what a bird of prey was!...learning!) Anyway, Sunday we wanted to take the boys over to the temple grounds. Well, Isaac is always telling Cannon about the legend of the temple hawk that protects the temple and keeps the other birds from pooping on it. (He learned it when he did temple security and while I don't think he'd seen the hawk-I don't know maybe he has-but he has seen the evidence of it doing his job.) Anyway, Cannon wanted to see it sooooo bad! It was around 11 o'clock by time we were going over so we were just kind of trying to explain that it probably wouldn't happen and it would just be fun to see the temple and so on, BUT as we are walking around I said "There's a bird in that tree." And Isaac looked and said "That's a Hawk!" Check it out!!!

 https://youtu.be/UchveLpRBxk

It was so cool! We named him Temple Talon! He totally knew we were checking him out and taking pictures and he just sat there and watched us and let the boys wave at him and look at him, (those talons really were super impressive in real life) he was right in the same spot after we'd been into the visitors center and everything so we got to see him again and wave goodbye too, was really fun.

Also I have to post a couple pics with the temple in them because it was Tanners first time and because it's where this little family of ours all began! 😊

Check out Colts pink tie! He loves pink-the brighter the better, thankfully bright green is also making a strong push right now but pink has been his favorite for a long time. There's not much I'll give in on that is pink--but we did make a deal on the pink tie, so he got to wear it for the first time Sunday.

For  Father's Day my mom was making some German Chocolate frosting cuz Chip loves it (and he's no dummy her's is dang good) Colt is proudly helping...

...and then we have a picture of Grama explaining to Chip why Grampa isn't getting his frosting-little Mr. Helper starting adding things (like the egg whites she'd separated out) when we had our backs turned. Whoops. Sorry Chip. Happy Father's Day anyway! 

Grama and Grampa kind of like this little Tan Tan too

We went up and saw Poppa Great for Father's Day too. We gave him some knuckles and took a cookie-which he seemed to enjoy :) 

Monday we had to get the last of our feed yard time in--even Tanner got in on the horse riding!

And we got Grampa to go swimming with us--such things require picture evidence ;)

Tuesday we headed for Emery County. Where we got a little Blue Hill and dog walking time in.

Great Grandma Kenworthy rode up with us--and Dolly dog too, it was fun to visit with Grandma and Colt especially loved Dolly

Barbies...had to make the post--I might need black mail material someday. 

We hit the road Wednesday afternoon. Tanner in the car seat...and Tanner when we got out.

When we got home Isaac said "I think Tanner is the happiest to be out of the car...well, next to you." Probably true.
The drive was long. We went straight through. Colt puked in the Van not because he was sick-because he was he was throwing a big ole hissy fit. I caught most of it with a plastic bag but still. UG and then what? Sorry middle of nowhere Kansas, I really am not usually one to littler but...in that situation :( I did. We had planned to stop at Liberty Jail as we came through Kansas City but everyone was sleeping so we drove on. The boys stayed up so late that they just slept until we were within about 45 minutes of home so we didn't even stop for breakfast or anything. I think we got here about 10:00 Thursday. True to our cross country trip form we got pulled over. This time we were totally in Kirksville City limits. Cannon was really upset about it. He kept saying "Dad can't you read?" Not in a snotty tone more just a worried one.  Isaac was like "What? What are you talking about?" And Cannon said "Can't you read the speed limit sign." And I tried not to laugh. The officer was really nice and we didn't get a ticket, but I will tell you I've heard a LOT of "Police" and "Pulled Over" and "Ticket" in the imaginary play the last two days. HAHA

But were back and sliding back into our normal routine.

Me "I hate unpacking."

Isaac "Why don't you just leave it?"

Me "Because it will just be there for me tomorrow or the next day or the next."

Isaac "Why can't you just leave it there until next time we go somewhere else?"...Oh Isaac--and I'm not unpacking his bag so it might really be there until we go next time. Oh brother.
Life is good. And this picture is to remind me they don't ALWAYS fight ;)

Tanner's blessing week

Saturday morning we hit Costco to pick up some stuff for the shin dig after Tanner's blessing, then we stopped by Grandma Cottam's because we had roped her into hanging out with us while we got stuff ready. Tanner got to meet a couple of my Uncles. That was fun. Here he is with Uncle Steve (reminds me most of Grandpa Cottam but Uncle Rob is a close second) and then Uncle Don took Colty and I for a spin around the block in his tow truck. Colt was busy being a chicken/grouch and wouldn't crack a smile but it was pretty cool. 

Then I got a great surprise when Aunt Laur showed up. So so fun to see her! And she got to stay a while so I really got to see her more than I have in YEARS, I loved it. We even got to catch a temple session together one morning! 

Saturday I also got to go to lunch with Poppa Great, they were having a big "Ho Down" up at the VA home. He was alert but with all the ruckus I couldn't hear him when he did talk. I still don't know if he recognized me but it was fun to sit with him. And he'd stare into my eyes like he knew me but wasn't quite sure how or why. (And he looked WaaaaY better than when I'd seen him in bed.)

Tanner got to meet Uncle Ky for the first time, they're buds.

Grandpa went chasing cows because it was a Saturday in June so that is a guarantee, so when Isaac and Cannon got here they got to go out over the hill and the boys got to ride Monty. Grampa has a bum foot so Isaac had to lead the horse around and Grampa was on photography duty for me :)

That night we cashed in on some cousin time which is always a hit.

https://youtu.be/qnDqx861qcs

Sunday was busy busy busy but what a special day for our little Tan Tan Man

Isaac gave him a really beautiful blessing and we had tremendous family support. It was a great day!

Monday the boys went swimming with Grama at her neighbors so they missed the Ison family bike ride but we went over there for dinner that night and did some swimming.

Colton for some reason decided he didn't want his swim trunks on and took them off ???? I confess to taking a picture of his little nakey bum but I'm not one for posting naked pics. But I still can't figure out why he did it... he assured me he would put it back on if there was danger....???? danger...the kid has a mind of his own. I can't explain him. He didn't mention any danger but had me help him put in on a few minutes later. Hmm.

Tuesday and Wednesday Isaac and Cannon when hiking with the Ison fam but no pics cuz that's not really Isaac's thing. (I'm sure Grandma Ison took some though) Colt and Tanner and I stayed around here. Its been a very strange vacation as we've kind of gone separate ways but I'm glad that Isaac has got to spend some time with his family and I have got to spend lots with mine. So it works out. 

Wednesday night we headed down to the ball field to watch Trey play. Colt announced both our arrival and departure with major fits! Kind of embarrassing when he's screaming his head off but that's just tired Colt for ya and when we're here they get SOOOOO tired. Becky's nephew Silas was there and he was so darling with Colt. Such little cutie, he was so nice to Colt and called him "Colty" it was darling. Colt took a while to warm up to him but then they played together so cute. Cannon and Isaac didn't make it until way later and then with the fit they really didn't get to stay long

Maybe if we'd had a little more sleeping in the car seat we'd have had less fits. Oh well. 

Grama adventures with cousins include a movie, more swimming, a picnic, and a trip to the dinosaur tracks (not the museum-the real deal out in Warner Valley... my fault-my idea.)

Grama loves getting the whole crew together. I love that the cousins are close and making memories together but I ended up needing to be put in the looney bin after pretty much every adventure! I'll leave it at that. 

Grampa adventures are the feed yard, squirt gun fights, tickle wars, and Rhino rides. Good times. 

Colt's been pretty clingy though and missed out on some of the fun. Part of that is tired-part of is the movie they went to the little fish lost its mom and dad. That set him off, cuz I wasn't there, poor little guy.

The dog: The destroyer. Holy Cow. She just went along and nipped off  my mom's geraniums, those little spinning flowers you see in the picture didn't stand a chance. She shredded a piece of foam all over the back yard. Bushes, sippy cups, a pair of Ann's shoes, several of the sand toys my mom had bought...and who knows what else. Sigh. 

I really just love moments like this and want to document as many as possible. Even if they're repetitive-I love it. 

More pics with the great grandparents.

And I think that's about it...well no-that's what I have picture evidence of though, of course there is so much more!