2868 miles & 13 1/2 hours later

We're home! We got home last week from our fun filled vacation. Lots to show. I'll start from the beginning. Left on Wednesday and headed to Moab, UT for a few days. As we left Blanding we ran over something and blew a tire. Yep, can you see our culprit. A jagged BBQ spatula.


This was a great start to out trip. All ended up going well. We rented a house and loved it. Mom and Dad came too. Once again they were a HUGE help. Thanks mom and dad. Here is our condo. No one slept on the floor, well the girls did, but they thought it was fun.
So after fixing the tire, only two tire stores in Moab. We were on our way to Canyonlands. It was HOT, not as hot as Arizona, but getting in and out of the car, well you get the idea. Dad stayed with Joshua a bunch, while he slept, so we did the quick tour. Jumped out took a few pics, said way cool and moved on. The kids were getting tired of Greg taking pics. Let's just say he took OVER 3,000 pictures in ten days. You get the idea. So here are the highlights. I could pass on Canyonlands and spend more time in Arches (more on that later). Enjoy!







Oops...I forgot. Mesa Arch was way cool. Small easy hike. Great views! Grandpa stayed in the cool car with Joshua. Mom did great and these are a few of Greg's favorites.

Brandon & Braces!!!!

My little boy seems to be growing so fast...I know if he knew I said "little boy" he would give me his "ahhh mom" look. But oh well, love him tons. Today he missed his last swim team practice and headed to the orthodontist for one and half hours. Greg took him and of course since I couldn't be there asked him to take a bunch of pics. He chose lime green and black for his first official band colors. Yeah. He'll only have to wear them for a year! Thank goodness he took after the McCown side of teeth and a tad of mine. Still isn't he handsome...

Greg is Finally 35 and yes Fireworks....

Greg's birthday falls on the day after the 4th! This year I wanted to wisk him away for a couple of days. So Kim and Roy were superb and watched my angels. First we spent the 4th in Sierra Vista. They have a great show and it is soooo much cooler. The kids had a blast playing on grass, I know sounds strange but if any of you know what it's like here in the desert you know that grass is not cheap to have. Ok, so anywho...We ate and had a blast. We had quite a few friends come this year. Thanks to the Steven's, Robinson's, Stockman's, Power's, Gomez's and Mott's there wasn't time to sit down. It sprinkled a little, just enough to cool us off. Joshua LOVED it! He sat so still and kept trying to grab them in the air..too cute. Ok, so onto the birthday weekend. We dropped the kids off at Kims and headed home. I know this is going to sound weird, but it is really WEIRD to come home and sleep and your children aren't there to tuck in, kinda sad, but I moved on. So we slept in, yeah 7:30 a.m. and woke up to Scott, Greg's little bro singing Happy Birthday. So we got ready and headed to the temple and had a wonderful time. Had lunch, went and saw Hancock, (so so movie), split a dinner (yea, we're old), and walked the mall (yes, we are getting really old). Oh, yeah, we also spent some time in Borders! We like to get a bunch of books: travel, cooking or anything that catches our eye and sit on a comfy couch and hang out and read for FREE...Does it sound like we're boring? Well we like it. We had a great time and couldn't have done it without Kim and Roy and of course my little bro hookin' us up at the resort once again.

The kids took Greg to Macayo's for lunch...He totally made out on the birthday gift..A new lens for his camera...
Here is our big group picture. Thanks Justin for taking a few moments out of your busy schedule and posing for yet another pic...Love ya Justin..hahahahaha
The Gomez's finally showed up...Yeah...Don't ya love Kara...she is the bestest...LOVE her..wouldn't be any fun in YW without her...
Mott's also showed up LATE...hahaha..love them too...hey you guys can't move yet...Heather, we need to set up a pre arranged marriage...wink wink....

McKenzie turns 4! Golfland Sunsplash!!!

This past weekend we headed up to Mesa to go to McKenzies 4th birthday party and spent a day at Golfland Sunsplash water park. McKenzie and Kaile flew in from Wisconsin for six weeks. We only get to see them a couple of times a year so we try and celebrate birthdays together when we can. He had a huge inflatable jumping castle with sprinklers. The kids had a great time getting soaked. Especially in 100 degree weather it's nice to cool off. They broke open a pinata and of course the cake and presents. We also went to the water park with the Power family. Joshua was up for over 12 hours and finally fell asleep! He is quite the fish. Not afraid of water. Greg even had him dunking his face and head in the water. No fear.. My brother Scott hooked us up at the resort he works at Westgate Painted Mountain Country Club. Really nice place. Thanks, Scott!!

Water World....

We spent many hours in the 110 degree sun. Yes, that Arizona for ya. Moms came home with sunburns and was ready for a shower. Kalie and McKenzie were visiting so they braved heat and were real troopers. The kids have been swimming since April and this was our first invitational..we've had many swim meets but this was with a bunch of teams all around the area. They each swam the Fly, Back, Breast and Free. They all swam great and some beat their fastest times. Way to go guys!!!
Congratulations Megan! She took home 1st Place in the backstroke. Gee, can you tell which is her favorite stroke...
And the GOLD goes to Trevor. I know he placed 1st and 2nd in each event but I can't remember which ones. Sorry Trevor... Keep up the good work, maybe the Olympics in years to come...
Beau and Brandon are head to head in the Breaststroke. Both winners....
Bailey working hard on Freestyle. Keep going...Keep breathing
Jessica..bring it home with the Breaststroke..
Kim and the girls standing in this blistering heat..cheering on the kids.
Tayelor took home 3 Best times. He's ready for state!
Laura killing the water with her Butterfly...
Megan swim, swim, swim. She is a quite the fish and her second favorite stroke is the Breaststroke.

Movin..Movin..Movin..That's What Were Doing....

It's sold...Yeah...Sad too. Greg sold our house in two months, even in this market. Not sure where were going, but we have awhile to figure it out. We'll be staying at Greg's parents house while they go on a mission, near the end of the year. Brandon is not that excited about changing wards, but excited that he'll be in the same school. The girls are mixed. They are hoping to have their own room, yeah right. Greg, well he is planning our move to either Costa Rica or Chile..What do you think? Who knows what we'll do but Greg would LOVE to move out of the country, I have to admit, it does sound more and more appealing. Kids are taking a break from swim team and Brandon is up at camp all week earning some merit badges. Joshua is walking faster each day.

Kimmy turns 35....

We took a weekend away from our thoughtful and giving husbands and adoreable children. We spent four hours roaming IKEA and again before we left home. Ate way yummy food at Cheesecak Factory. Checked out many scrapbook stores. Drove tons. Laughed more and even slept in until 11:30...heaven. We realized this was the first time I took away since I had Joshua. Sure love ya Kimmy...i love laughing, crying and just hanging out with ya...Can't wait till next year.