Childs Family: May 2013

Memorial weekend we had the chance to run away with lots of family to Yellowstone. It was wonderful. I wont lie, i was extremely worried about the 7 hour drive with Parley smashed between two loving helping constant touching hands, but he lived thorugh it. In fact, he thrived. We honestly had to adjust his straps one morning when we put him in, they were too tight. Oh my, baby why must you grow so fast!!?

We left Friday morning at 5AM. Quickly took the older kdis out to the car hoping that they would fall back to sleep. I predicted Kyler would zonck back out and Brooklyn would be awake. They proved me ever so wrong. Brooklyn crashed and didn't wake up till we parked at Walmart and i went in for a few last minute things. Kyler stayed awake forever before he finally went out about 1PM or so.

They drove like little champions and continued to do so the whole trip. Wonderful fabulous little travelers we have created with our insane amounts of trips up North and such.

We got to our cabin we were sharing with the group we went with. It consisted of: Brandon's parents and our nephew, SaraJo and Derek, and then Derek's mom and dad, Grandma Idaho, and Grandma and Grandpa Obray, Derek's sister Courtney and her boy friend Maverick, and then a really close friend of Dereks his wife 2 teenage boys and other son who brought his wife and 2 young kids. Grand total of 17 adults and 6 kids. Lots of people, lots of food, lots of fun.

We drove around saw all the sights. Kyler loved seeing all the "Buffalos" and "Elks". Thats all we saw in the park. We went to a museum place that had live bears/wolves/eagles and the little boys loved it there. They ran around like crazies with their "Ipads" (Innotab) taking pictures of everything there. So cute.

The kids loved the endless supply of treats and juice i provided. I am not that nice of a mom. In fact, i think i gave them too much. At one point a mixture of way too much sugar and a long day in the car merited vomit coming from my pretty little girl. Poor thing. She was miserable for a few minutes. Then like a champion she snapped out of it and had a great night. Love her. :)

It was so nice having so many helping hands. Brooklyn adores her Uncle Derek. Seriously. No one is as important and as fun as he is. She spent 95% of the trip on his shoulders, in his arms, or holding his hand. Im pretty sure he loved it as much as she did. Kyler, well he and his little cousin Hueston spent there time fighting Maverick for Courtney. They never left her and his side. They always had a hold of her hand or Mavericks hand. Thanks guys for entertaining our kids soooo well. The one night we went to Bar J Wranglers I had to explain to Kyler that he was to leave Courtney alone. That that night Courtney was on a date with Maverick and they had to leave her alone, and that he needed to spend time with mommy and daddy. Kyler was kind of let down by that. I think he thought he was her main man. :)

We had a blast at Bar Js. I have always loved watching them. So entertaining. So fun. SO different going with 3 kids than as a single collage student or a wild and free teenager. Getting food for the whole family with their system was complicated....I had Parley in my arms, Derek (bless him) had Brooklyn, Brandon was trying to keep Kylers plate from tipping while they put food on it and hold his own. We did very well....then came time to grab a drink...thats what broke the camels back. Kyler couldn't hold his plate, walk and carry a drink and even at that he was struggling with his plate. So Brandon grabbed all 3 of our cups (remember i had parley in my arms and then grabbed Kylers plate so it didnt dump on the way to the table) We turn to walk into the place to eat and the cups slide in Brandon's hands and he dumps lemonade all over Kylers head. I cringed. I was expecting a huge fit and tears from Kyler. He was so tired and hungry at this point. But, someone was watching over us. He just looked up at Brandon with a dirty look and says "Daddy!" and then giggled and kept walking. Miracles happen. They really do. We sat down to eat. Kyler and Brooklyn ate so well. Parley on the other hand was not happy. Long story short....I hurried Brooklyn along in her eating trying to bounce parley until he couldn't do it any longer...then bless Golden, Derek's Grandpa, he took Parley for a few minutes to so i could finish helping Brooklyn and gave her his applesauce. He isnt even her Grandpa. Sweet man. the show started i inhaled my dinner along with Brandon. Took Parley back, went to the back and fed the little man. And tried to rejoin the group. Nope. Parley didn't appreciate the loud music and laughter. So me and him snuggled and walked around the grounds enjoying the sounds of nature. Really, it was wonderful. I could hear the frog croaking in the pond they have. Horses, cows, everything that is wonderful to me. He finally went to sleep. I went in and Brandon had Brooklyn fast asleep in his arms. We got her in the stroller and sat down and enjoyed the rest of the show. Kyler, oh that kid. That kid LOVED the show. He was doing his little jig dance, singing along, tapping the table to the beat. He adored the whole thing. He now keeps asking for a guitar to play. He wants to play music like them. I woundt mind a bit buddy!

The ride home was longer. Brooklyn had had enough of her seat. Parley felt the same way. But we lived through it, and loved our trip. Kyler keeps asking when we can go back to the cabin and see the buffalos and waterfalls again. It was a hit of a trip.

Sweetest little monkeys looking sooooo comfy in a big fluffy hotel bed. We stayed in a hotel in Jackson, the kids at this point were so exhausted, They didnt even move all night. Sleep tight my babies.

Kyler decided to go for a stroll into the river. I was nursing Parley in the car and assumed someone was watching him. I kept having a gut wrenching feeling that he was going to go down to the water, because where we were having lunch it was shallow and slow moving, and there was stairs right down to the river. Well, someone was watching him, but he watched him walk right into the river, wet boots, wet pants to his shins. Go me for forgetting to pack extra clothes in the car, so we hung them out to dry. 45 minutes later they were dry and thank heavens for cowboy boots that are more waterproof than other types of shoes.

Kyler watching for his animals. "keeping my eyes pealed mom!"

Car loaded, kids entertained with their new headphones....mom enjoying their own music for once!

Kyler finally earned his new game for his "Ipad" he was sucked in . Perfect for long trips!

Grandma Jo and 3 of te 4 grandkids

This was the first Buffalos that Kyler saw. He was so excited! His "noculars" sure helped him see them! :)

My little papoose and pretty lady

This was amazing. At one stop the sun made this perfect circular rainbow thing around it. It was beautiful. Everyone was taking pictures of it and not the waterfall we were at. Does anyone know what it is?

He loved those "noculars" until my dollar store purchase totally broke in half after one day of use. Opps.

The kids had fallen asleep in the car, and Papa and Grandma Jo volunteered to stay back and sit in the car with them all while we hiked down to get a better view. Oh my beautiful. Oh my poor out of shape legs. They were complete jello by the time we got back up to the top. I think its time to whip myself into shape.

Me and my sleepy perfect baby all snuggled in

Mr. Parley clasped his hands like this while he enjoyed being held so tight and snug next to mom. So cute.

Oh Brooklyn....she figured out how to get out of her car seat straps....only thing is is that it is actually a painful process and she screamed the whole time she did it. Why do you do it!! I had to snap a picture for posterity sake.

Old Faithful time!!!

Ky and Hueston. The lighting was beautiful

Brooklyn and her BFF Uncle Derek

Funny story behind those Lays chips. Some East Indians were sitting next to us while we waited for Old Faithful to do his thing. It was about 7PM we hadnt had dinner yet, i had fed them i swear to it. SO many snacks, but didnt bring any down to the show. Well This one man had a bag of chips and Kyler was relentlessly asking for chips. I told him i didnt have any, and no money to get some right then so he would have to wait. He was ornery. Well bless this strangers heart handed over another bag he had in his pack. The kids inhaled them. He thought it was so funny. Then Brooklyn wanted "mo chip" and walked over to him while none of us noticed. Ya, he gave her yet another bag of chips. So the kids had a great snack thanks to a stranger who just wanted to help out my deprived children. Thanks dude, you are awesome.

This is the man who gave the chips to the kids, ya creepy me i snagged a picture so i could tell a story...he is the man on the back row by the backpack.

Parley was there too, wont remember much of it though with all the ZZZZZ's he was putting out.

Papa and Parley...so perfect

So i may or may not have stuck my head out the top of the car to get these. I felt like a kid again. But it was a beautiful sunset when we were headed back tot he cabin and i didnt want to make Brandon stop. So i just opened the skylight and took care of business that way.

The boys were so exhausted. But, we got them to eat their dinner by saying if they ate it all they could get in the hot tub for 10 minutes. Best 10 minutes of their day i think.