We're baaaaack!

Whoa. After a whirlwind 2 weeks we're finally home! I was SO excited to get back home to my husband. That last night before our final stretch of road I could hardly sleep because I was SO excited to see him. I'm cheesy and I know it. 2 weeks seems like forever to be apart. Unfortunately his trial wasn't dismissed so he was stuck at home while we were off playing in the 90 degree temps. Poor Nate was stuck here dealing with horrible weather...and that included an afternoon of SNOW. In JUNE?? SERIOUSLY??

Let's go back...WAAAAY back. Our first leg of the trip took us down to St. George. En route we stopped at Kolob Canyon where were immediately attacked by bugs as soon as we stepped out of the car. These crazy flies were all over us...in our hair and buzzing right in our ears. Gahh!

Needless to say we drove in, got out of the car, snapped this pic and ran back to the car slamming the doors behind us.

When we got to St. George we went swimming at the condo before getting ready to meet up with the Starnes fam to see the Little Mermaid.

The show was absolutely positively AWESOME! I want to go again it was that good! It had water and fire effects, flying, people zipping all around on wheels so it looked like they were swimming underwater. It was fun as always to hang out with Nate's family. I love this crazy family I married into. We have such a great time together.

The next morning EE and I started on our adventure down to the Grand Canyon. On the way we made a pit stop at the National Monument Pipe Springs. It is a place rich in American Indian and Mormon pioneer history. A natural spring comes up out of the ground and this water was a necessity for American Indians, Mormon pioneers, plants, animals, and others who depended on it in the dry harsh desert. We took a tour and did some worksheets so the boys could all became official "Junior Rangers." While we were there we met up with my uncle and his family as they were on their way to St. George. It was fun for the boys to see their cousins!

After our stop we continued up the mountains until we reached the glorious Grand Canyon! My Grandma worked there during her High School years cleaning cabins. It was fun to be there with her and relive some of her favorite memories. When we pulled into the parking lot Dallin says, "Hey Mom, can I just look at the canyon from the car?" I should have been clued in then that we were going to have a problem.
We had a delicious lunch overlooking the canyon walls and then we started hiking up the VERY narrow little paths to the incredible look outs.

Everything was going well until Dallin started getting nervous about how incredibly high up we were. He started complaining and whining and then he had a full blown melt down.

He cried and cried the entire time we were there. The other 2 boys loved it though. Its so funny how DIFFERENT each of my boys are.

It was very beautiful and majestic. It felt like we were on top of the world. I'm glad we went.....height fears and all. ☺

After the Grand Canyon we headed to the Kanab to stay the night. We stayed at this fun little lodge called Perry Lodge. Lots of famous people have stayed there over the years as many of the classic western movies were filmed down in Kanab.

Here is a pic of the little house we stayed in:

 And of course we had to cool off in the pool right in front of the house:

The next day we went over and toured some of the original movie sets:

Then we drove all the way back to Salt Lake.

I am SO done blogging for the day....this has taken FOREVER! I'll start working on the Lake Powell section of the trip tomorrow!

One more post for the road......

I know I know...I've already said goodbye.

 We've leaving tomorrow but I couldn't resist posting what we did this evening..........

♪♪ Happy Birthday to Jack

We had a party for our cat

We've turned into weird cat people

and that is a fact. ♪♪

The boys insisted we throw a party for our furry brother a few months ago. We have no idea how old the cat is or when he was born. We decided June 1st would be a great day for a birthday party..little did I know it would be on the day before we head out of town...a CRAZY day to say the least. SO...we whipped up a cake, made a hat, wrapped up some cat food and cat litter and turned the sprinklers on. A couple of friends heard the commotion and came over to join in the fun.

Easiest party ever.

This cat had NO IDEA what he was in for when he decided that he was going to bail on his original family and join ours. Hey....he chose us! Happy Birthday JACK! You're annoying, sweet, funny, furry, and sometimes a bit dumb. We love you!

Farewell.....for 2 weeks anyway.

What is wrong with that Staci girl? It's technically still MAY and her whole blog is decked out for the 4th of July already??

She doesn't REALLY have a cute coutdown set out (that her awesome friend made her becuase she knows her so well) to count down the days to the 4th? And she hasn't actually had it out for weeks now??

YES my friends....the 4th of July is coming quickly! It's my FAVORITE HOLIDAY and I can't WAIT!!!

You see, I am leaving in a couple of days and I won't be home for 2 full weeks. By the time I return, there will only be 18 days left until the holiday of food, family, fun, fireworks and freedom celebration! Squeeee!

So, where are we off to?

First we're heading down to St. George with the entire Starnes crew to attend Tuachan's production of The Little Mermaid:

Then we will continue on South down to behold the magestic Grand Canyon. Which I have NEVER been to! I'm SO excited to see it with my own eyes! I think the boys will really like it too.

Then we will pack our swim suits and join the family caravan down to our favorite Rock Family Reunion destination.....Good ol' Lake Powell!

2 weeks without my man seems like an eternity. In his words...."Well, someone has to pay for all this fun." I'm keeping my fingers crossed he'll be able to join us at Powell...I'm praying that his trial gets dismissed.

 So, no posts for awhile.I don't think I have ever gone 2 weeks without writing anything. I'm sure we'll have MUCH to report upon our return!!

Summer is FINALLY here!!! We're starting out with a bang....and a zillion hours driving in the car. ☺

Lemonade anyone?

The annual "Starnes boys and friends kick off summer vacation" LEMONADE STAND took place today. If there is any ONE positive thing to living on a street with WAY too many cars that drive by (and at speeds that just drive me INSANE) is that the kids were quite successful! Keep in mind that the cups were a steal at ten cents each!

They made $9.80!!!

But if you take out the cost for the cups, lemonade and ice. They really made a grand total of  $2.80!!!

A HUGE improvement from years past!!! This was the first year we actually MADE money! The other huge plus was that it kept the kids busy for hours this afternoon. ☺ Fun Saturday afternoon.

The crazy crazy month of MAY!

Is it just me or has May been the most INSANE month EVER? I feel like I can hardly stop to take a breath with all of the big events we've had going on this past month! No wonder my laundry pile is to the ceiling and my house is in total chaos!

Time for a recap since the last time I posted...and its only been ONE week!

First off, Landon had his preschool graduation last week. We had a breakfast brunch at our house. The kids sang a song and were each recognized and handed a diploma. I also compiled a bunch of pictures and made a video for each child to take home so they could remember all of the work we did these past few months. Again, I am SO glad I asked around to see if any moms wanted to do this preschool Landon has absolutely LOVED it! I'm so glad that he has so many sweet friends now too!

Here are our kids walking in the room in their caps and gowns! So cute!

Tuesday night was the U2 concert! O_MY_GOSH!!!!! It was SO mind blowing and fantastic I can hardly find the words to describe it. I absolutely LOVED each and every minute of it! The stadium was just shaking it was so incredibly LOUD...and of course we danced and sang the entire time! The stage was just amazing with all of the lights, lasers, and smoke. Awesome.

A HUGE thanks again to my dad for the fantastic early birthday gift and also to our dear friends Ash and Shane for watching the boys until 1 in the morning! It's a night I won't EVER forget!

The next day we took the boys over to Liberty Park for a walk down memory lane. My Great Grandparents used to live right across the street from there and we used to walk on MANY a Sunday afternoon to see the pond and walk through Tracy Aviary. I haven't been back since I was a teenager so we thought we would go and see how it looks today.

Here is Grandma's house today:

 I'm happy to see that the house is still taken care of so well. Tracy Aviary has changed a TON since I was little but it was still so neat to walk around with my family and think about my sweet Great Grandparents. I miss them so much.

That afternoon we raced back home so we could be back for the boys last day of school! It was a day filled with fun as the boys had their end of the school year "field day" but had to do it inside since it was SO cold and windy outside today.

Parker has LOVED his teacher Ms. England. She is getting married and moving to Boise this summer! We will miss her!

 Dallin has absolutely ADORED Mrs. Sharp. She is retiring this year (much to my disappointment.) After teaching for 32 years she is finally calling it quits. She has been wonderful working with Dallin and pressing him in ways to help him grow and think more in depth. She knew how to stretch him and encourage him unlike any teacher he has had. Many tears were shed today as she said her good byes. I have to admit, I got a little choked up myself.

I have been so impressed with this school and with the education that my boys are receiving over here in Idaho Falls. I was SO worried when we first moved here and felt unsure about my decision of sending them to a brand new school that is open enrollment...a school that none of the neighborhood kids go to. It has been a huge blessing and I'm grateful to look back and know that we continue to be taken care of....in so many ways. 

School's OUT for summer!!! Let the MADNESS begin!!!!